The Summer Autotest held at the regular venue at Johnstone attracted the usual regular competitors plus a few new faces to tackle the tests on what was a dry and bright afternoon, the threatened rain staying off until the event was over.
The tests were pretty open and the "two laps" of the last test was a fair belt round the area and left more than a few drivers breathless!
Class 1 for Road Cars up to 1400cc was as closely contested as ever with the much improved driving of Robbie Butler being just too much for David Halley's indecently rapid Fiat Cinquecento, although a penalty on Test 6 for David did not help the cause.
Andy Butler understeered his way to third in the class some 9 seconds behind David H while Charlotte Halley just wishes "He" would fit power steering to the cinqu.
Paul Branney rapidly three wheeled his Toyota on his way to victory in Class 2 for Road Cars over 1400cc ahead of the well driven big MG ZT of Iain Provan - does Paul know how high his rear wheel is off the ground? - maybe somebody should tell him!
Archie Simmonds was all out for FTD in the Midget and was well in contention all event, the dry conditions suiting the well driven rear wheel drive MG but he had to give best to Gordon Clendinning at the end of the day and settle for the class.
Alastair Reid had a clear run in the family Mini 1000 to take Class 4, although the handbrake could still do with being a bit more efficient.
Class 5 for untaxed road cars over 1400ccwas dominated by Gordon Clendinning's autotest Nova, however as he took FTD, the class went to Davie Cochrane in the multiple entered Merc 190 with the welded diff.(trade it for a BMW please Davie) who left a tyre smoke screen at times trying to keep ahead of an equally enthusiasically driven Mk 2 Escort of Gordon Winning - just 0.6 seconds in it at the end of the day. It was good for discipline though as the co-drivers all struggled to beat the No 1 drivers!
Alan Robertson won Class 6 in the Mini Special but was trying too hard - let the car do the work! A poor time on Test 4 and a penalty on Test 5 dropped him away from the battle for second overall.
Grant Reid had a tidy run to the Production Class 7 win and gains in confidence with each event.
Gordon Clendinning in his autotest prepared Nova in Class 5 was really in a class of his own and ran away with FTD from a hard trying Archie Simmonds.
Results
FTD Gordon Clendinning Nova 244.1
Class 1 Robbie Butler Mini Pimlico 283.4
Class 2 Paul Branney Toyota 300.6
Class 3 Archie Simmonds MG Midget 258.5
Class4 Alastair Reid Mini 1000 309.6
Class 5 David Cochrane Merc 190 297.8
Class 6 Alan Robertson Mini Special 277.0
Class 7 Grant Reid Mini 1000 356.3
