RTG Espana Daily Dispatch - mid-res - Flipbook - Page 22
24 April to 5 May 2022
Day 10 Cangas del Narcea to Oviedo (115 km)
4 May 2022
Photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
Adrian Hodgson with birthday boy, Mark Bramall, in the 1955 Austin
A90 Westminster
Single seater championship at the Circuito Fernando Alonso
Today was a half day, but it was still a busy one,
thanks to some extra curricular activities thrown
in by the Organisers.
to see that Worth Birkill and Dick Appleton had rejoined
the fold. With less than a day left of this Carrera, the 48
hour car had been redeployed.
As enjoyable as the Regularities were, these were but a
prelude to the days main event, the Test at the Circuito
Fernando Alonso. The local boy, made good, was out of
town for a few days, so had generously given us the use
of his track for the afternoon. A tight course had been
laid out where the talent/hope/traction ratio needed to
be respected, and balanced as finely as the throttle, brake
and steering were. It was short certainly, but it was also
a difficult Test for the drivers and, with their forearms
tensed, sweat on their brows and the cars on opposite lock,
they wrestled their big beasts through the endless corners
of the two laps. The navigators meanwhile, reduced to mere
ballast, could do nothing more than hang on. There was a
lot of slipping and sliding for sure, adding to the spectacle
for the rest of the rally who were lined up in the paddock
watching events unfold.
And there was drama; Andrew Laing and Ian Milne’s
Datsun spun almost a full 360° in a very balletic fashion on
the last corner; Ean and Alison Lewin’s Escort developed
an engine fire immediately after crossing the line; Manuel
and Irene Dubs’ Mustang broke an engine mount thanks
perhaps to their energetic style of driving.
From the former monastery in Cangas we were sent on our
way with the strains of a traditional piper soaring over the
roar of the cars, thanks, once again, to the good offices
of Mike and Maria Velasco. They’re not here but, as the
old adage goes “he who pays the piper calls the tune”, we
couldn’t help wondering if this particular medley was one
of their favourites.
With the plaintive wail of the gaita asturiana still hanging
in the air, we ran down the valley and quickly arrived at the
day’s first Regularity from the village of Tuña la Vega and
climbed through the mist into alpine style meadows and
impressive mountain roads.
For most it was plain sailing, but Mike and Jonathan
McKenna’s Aston Martin suffered a puncture on the way
down the hill, causing them to divert to Oviedo seeking a
repair. Bill and Julie Holroyd stopped to lend a hand with
the wheelbrace, but the good Samaritan Bentley crew were
soon relieved by Andy Inskip and Charlie Neale, who took
charge of the trolley jack.
A Passage Control in Villandás led the rally to the second
Regularity over the Puente de Seaza where we were pleased
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