Once more into the breech…….The Modena Centro Ore Classic
After the French Tour Auto the Cobra injured, not terminally,had been
driven down to Italy for remedial work prior to the Modena Classic in
which I was again to navigate for Mark. This time I did think that I
knew what I was meant to do and how to do it. [How I survived France I
really do not know] Anyway I arrived two days before the off to find
that the Cobra was still not returned to the owner!! When it was
delivered the only instrument that I as navigator needed 'the
odometer' [measures distance run and to go] either did not work or
only worked from time to time and the new gear box was very noisy.
Without the odometer my task is simple or impossible depending on ones
outlook. My instructions are either 'wait a minute and follow the next
car' or 'go like hell and catch up with the car in front' and then
hope that they are not making a detour for petrol!!
So Day Minus1
We were to have a leisurely drive up to Modena to sign in, etc etc.
Well the day stopped less than 2 miles from the garage that had been
entrusted with the remedial work. Noises like a kitchen blender with a
bag of nuts and bolts in it and then BANG the gearbox seized solid.
Whats to do? In the end it was decided that Mark would stay with the
car and see if the garage could get it going and the rest of us would
go on to Modena to sign in as far as we could without Mark being
present. Both Dorothy and I did a good impression of his signature!
After we had gone as far as possible I stayed in Modena and Dorothy
and the support group went home.
By 10 pm the garage admitted defeat; they could not get the gearbox
working again
Day 1.
Mark came up in my Mazda MX5 very early and the garage set about
putting in the old defective gearbox. With roles reversed I drove and
he navigated. I am delighted that the MX5 kept up with the Ferraris of
yesteryear. In the meantime the old gearbox was put in we collected
the car and returned to the rally. The Cobra worked well, odometer
worked , gear box worked BUT it had no power!!!!
After getting burned changing the plugs full power returned; thank
goodness.
Day 2 we entered the rally, a bit late but we were going properly and
everything worked.
Having missed day 1 Mark was placed almost at the back of the grid for
the first race at Magione. Undaunted he finished 7th of the
competition cars.
All was going well until we or to be more precise I
insisted on a very short lunch and we clocked in 50 minutes early on a
transport stage!!!! What a SIN. Hundreds of penalties! I did wonder
why we were the only car to clock in! So we were saddled with massive
penalties, however the officials locally decided that we should be
retired! We were urgently rushed through the special stage on the
pretext that we were to meet the director who never materialized.
Mark was irate and we remonstrated with all concerned
including the local police that we should have the massive penalties
and we never retired. In hindsight it was just as well that the
policemen refused to lend us their pistols!
That night there was ribbing among the other competitors that Marks
navigator had goofed so badly, but fortunately for me the navigator
has been recorded for posterity as Mike Ellis!! So apart from the
competitors present my reputation is unblemished. Bad luck Mike!
Day 3
This was good for us. Car ran well and Mark drove superbly.
Because of the 'retirement' he was placed last on the grid for the
race at Mugello. However after one lap Mark had passed some 25 cars
and was lying 6th with 3 faster Porches nipping his heels. He was able
to hold them on the straight but they were faster on the corners.
Despite all their efforts over the next 7 laps only one managed to
pass and he finished 7th.
From then on all went well until the end of the day when we heard
that Dorothy and the jeep had rolled down the hill on the white road
on the way up to their house.
Much consternation, but what could we do 100 miles away and having
imbibed more than we should to drive?
Much relief to hear that all occupants were both safe and well.
Day 4
Navigator still not perfect but no goofs or errors that could not be
recovered easily.
We did a special stage and were some 20 seconds behind another
competitor who had secretly explored the road previously!
The race at Imola was no different from the previous one. Mark was
placed last on the grid and then proceeded to carve through the fleet
and came 6th overall. Not bad.
So quick farewells and we returned to administer whatever it is that
men can do to a destroyed jeep and two battered Dorothys and one
injured Jim.
The death of the jeep!
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