“Loton Park is the ancestral home of the Leighton family and was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The magnificent Grade II listed mansion is steeped in history, surrounded by lovely gardens and views over rolling farmland; it is a truly tranquil Manor to visit.” So says the Loton Park website.
I am not sure that “tranquil” is the word I would use to describe the atmosphere of the race meeting, organised by the Hagley and District Car Club, held across the road from the Big House. Though it probably was tranquil just before over 100 race cars descended on the place for the hill climb on Saturday the 3rd of August, amongst them your three representatives from the AMOC.
This time, those determined to get up the hill as quickly as possible were the ever-present Guy Staudt (Luxembourg), accompanied this time by his wife Huguette; Peter House (God's own Country), accompanied by nothing other than his knowing smile; and your author, Nigel Grice (Southerner), sporting only a bad haircut and a battered panama.
Guy had his serious, quick, ultra-late model Vantage, and Peter his rare light-weight early Vantage GT4 Rally, all stripped out and mean, and equally serious. We know this because the steering wheel comes off, and when the car is not in use, hangs from a special hook on the dashboard. I was in my trusty DB2/4 Mkll, which the day before had transported a lovely bridesmaid to a wedding, and in spite of searing heat and traffic jams, did not overheat.
But today the weather was utterly glorious, and the deer park through which the fabulous Loton Park hill climb runs was at its lush best, and the track conditions near perfect. And nobody hit a deer, which was good.
The DB2/4 was, obviously, in a class of its own. I had been set a target of beating my previous personal best, of 75.47 seconds. And I did, at 73.38. But the other two were not interested in my private battle with myself.
During the morning's practice they had either beaten or got very close to their target times as set by The Computer, aka Anne Reed at AMOC HQ. But their times were close, very close. Over lunch, I am sure I detected a certain narrowing of the eyes, some straightening of the shoulders.
It all came to a head with the choice of nourishment. Me, I just went for a cup of tea – I need all the help I can get in the weight department. But Guy nonchalantly packed away the speciality of the refreshment wagon (which is a real class act btw) in the shape of the Cheeseburger and Chips. I thought this was bold, and especially when Peter, with that smile, said “ I think I will just have an Eccles Cake”. Wow.
And in the first timed run of the competition, both Guy and Peter recorded EXACTLY the same time: 62.39 seconds. This was quite extraordinary – I don't think I have ever seen such a thing before. And it is seriously quick.
And their last run? Who came out on top? It was the Eccles Cake and the smile: Peter swept to victory on 61.91, and poor Guy, his digestion still clearly working overtime, went backwards and his last run of the day was 62.43, slower than his first run by a mere four hundredths of a second, but still slower.
So, we all congratulated Peter, and commiserated with Guy, with only one unsporting, peevish person suggesting that if Guy had been a bit more restrained at lunchtime, perhaps the result would have been different.
We will never know.
Nigel Grice.