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Andrew Willoughby

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  1. Andrew Willoughby
    It’s mid-April and I’m about to start the 2011 Autoglym Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship.  I’m Andrew Willoughby and I’ve competed for the past four years in Class 1 of the Championship, winning the class for the last two years.  Class 1 has been brilliant – great people, excellent banter and wonderful competition.  However, I felt that i needed a new challenge and this winter I bought a 2001 Roadsport A car to enter Class 3 – the class in which my son, Matthew, competes.
     
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    It’s been a busy winter.  The car’s had new wheels and tyres, I’ve fitted Tillett seats, changed the roll cage, (we grandads aren’t as agile as we used to be!), and it’s got a new exhaust system, supplied by Simon Rogers of 7Tips Racing.  Andy McMillan (McMillan Motorsport) has been brilliant in preparing the car for action.
    I’ve just taken the car out for a final run on the road before fitting the timing strut and numbers for the first sprint of the year at Silverstone on Sunday.  It feels really quick on the road, but we’ll have to wait and see how it performs against the clock.
    Roll on Sunday!
  2. Andrew Willoughby

    It's all over!

    By Andrew Willoughby,

    I’d never intended going to Anglesey, but as my slender lead in Class 1 was so under threat from Nick Chan and Alistair Gibbins I just had to go!  Class 1 was the only one still to be decided, so it was arranged that we should run last so that our colleagues in the other classes could watch the unfolding battle.  To make me even more nervous Alistair, Nick and I were to be the very last to go out as the class leaders.  I didn’t go with high expectations, particularly as I was the only one of the leading three not to have driven the track before.
     
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    I’ve already waxed lyrical about the many great places we’ve visited this year, and Anglesey was no exception.  Matthew, Lisa and I walked the damp National circuit on Saturday morning and the views were breathtaking, particularly the view of the sea after rounding Peel corner – this was to be my only chance to take it in!
     
    First practice was all over the place, despite my resolve to take it easy, but I got a 72.65 – OK for a first go.  My second was better, 70.37 seconds and third quickest, but Alan Johnson had done a 68.95, with Alistair getting 69.34.  They were ahead of me, but I didn’t feel too far back.
     
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    The first timed run came before lunch and I was surprised to be quickest with a 66.36, though Alistair was only just over a tenth behind me.  Time for lunch and a prayer for rain while I was in front!
     
    The rain didn’t come, but my second timed run went well – a bit quicker at 65.87, but both Alistair and Nick had spins and I was managing to eke out my lead.  One more to do.  Deep breath.
     
    The last run felt great.  I got off the line well, managed to carry more speed through School and braked later for Rocket.  Peel was good, and I breathed a sigh of relief to exit the awkward and off-camber Seaman’s corner safely.  Just needed to brake later for the final hairpin.  The speed came off just in time and I drifted over the line knowing it had been quicker.  I waited to see the clock – 64.65 seconds.  With trepidation I cruised back to the paddock to find that Alistair had gone quicker than before with a 65.83.  Nick was marginally slower, so I’d secured the win ahead of Alistair in second and Alan in third.
     
    I’d never considered the scores all day, but on learning my time Alistair said he thought it was enough to secure the championship.  After a nervous few moments while Al consulted his whizzo computer simulation it emerged that I’d done it – Class 1 champ, and I’d not even realised it was possible on the first day!
     
    The Sunday was a different matter now.  I could just enjoy it, though I’d not been out of the top three in any event this year and didn’t want to spoil my record.
     
    My first runs were dire – almost slowest in practice, with a spin on the second one.  The first timed run wasn’t much better with a spin at Rocket.  After lunch I gave myself a good talking too and tried, successfully this time, to keep on the black stuff – 110.76, behind Alistair and Nick on 109.95 and 110.02.
     
    The next run saw me in the lead with a 108.15, and I went into the last run hopeful of another win.  I got a 107.77 on a run which felt really good, but Nick just pipped me with a 107.6.  Alistair was third with a 108.22.  It was a close finish, typical of the whole season.
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    When I entered the competition this season I’d hoped for a top three place in the championship, but never dared to hope for a class win.  The year has been fabulous and I have enjoyed every venue enormously.  As ever, the best thing about this championship has been the friendship of all of my Class 1 chums.  Super-competitive wind-up merchants to a man, but unfailingly supportive of one another, I feel privileged to have been in their company throughout the year.  Special mention must go to Nick and Alistair – I enjoyed the combat greatly, but know they’ll be keen to show me a clean pair of heels in 2010!
     
    Class 1 champ and about to be a grandad for the first time.  2009’s turned out to be a year to remember!
  3. Andrew Willoughby
    Those who say ‘it’s grim up north’ should visit Harewood Hillclimb.  Looking over the course from the paddock with the Wharfe valley as a backdrop is one of the most stunning views in motorsport.
    I’d  competed here last year, but never really came to terms with the course.  To help, I came to the Harewood Hillclimb School in July, and instructor Tim Wilson gave me the confidence to push much harder.  So that I was fully prepared for the qualifying round of the Seven Club Speed Championship on Sunday 2nd August I entered the non-qualifying event on the day before, along with many other Seveners.
    The Saturday was really wet, but the experience of the day was great.  After a disastrous wet meeting at Curborough last year when I’d spun, I’d convinced myself that I just wasn’t very good in the wet.  This time was quite different, and the confidence of knowing the lines better helped me to get the fastest time of the Class 1 entrants.
    Sunday was a very different day – bright and dry, and it meant I was going to be able to try to break my personal best of last year, 71.23 seconds.  There was a good field of Class 1 entrants, any of whom were capable of beating me.  What’s more, several of them had been to the Hillclimb School too.  A particular worry was David Lynch, who had done very well last year.  Also, Matthew was there, though he’d never driven the course before.  He’s a much quicker learner than me, though, so I knew that my advantage over him would be short-lived.
    Practice 1 was OK – 71.40 – so I was nearly to my best already, but David was just ahead of me.  Practice 2 was better but David was still improving and Andy Bramall and Matthew were looking very threatening.  Time to regroup – I had to make up time, but I had to keep on the black stuff, even more so because my parents were going to be there watching me for the first time in the afternoon.
     
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    My first timed run felt great, and I knew it was a good time as I went through the beam at Quarry.  I was delighted to see my time on the display – 68.76, and my daughter Lisa came excitedly to my car to confirm that I had read it correctly.  As I waited for David to park up, anxiously wondering what his time was, word came through on the tannoy – my time hadn’t registered, and I had to do a re-run, along with the cars that followed me.
    Disappointed (to say the least), I went down to the start hoping to do it again, but this time was a bit slower – 69.05; just enough to be in the lead, with David posting 69.14.
    Run 2 was less good at 69.42.  What’s more, David was breathing down my neck, getting a near identical time to his first.  I knew that his final run was likely to be a stormer.
    Run 3, the final one, felt good – the best of the day, and I was pleased to get 68.80.  David had a big lock-up early in the run, and despite a great second half, he wasn’t quite able to make up the time lost, finishing with a 69.50.  Andy Bramall and Matthew both had excellent final runs - 69.85 and 70.19 – both much better than my 2008 time.
    As ever, paddock camaraderie and support were much in evidence, and I particularly enjoyed the company of my neighbours Greg and Kristy Price and David Lynch.  As David and I stood shaking with the exhilaration of our final runs, adrenaline levels through the roof, we both agreed that it didn’t get much better than that – nip and tuck competition all day.
    What’s more, I managed not to embarrass myself in front of Mum and Dad! 
  4. Andrew Willoughby
    As Matthew has taken it upon himself to describe his season I thought I'd do the same - particularly as he seems to think he's going to give me a good hiding. We shall see.
    Like Matthew, I'm entering my third season in Class 1 of the Lotus Seven Club Speed Championship. Last year I came fifth, just one position below Matthew, and I'm quite keen to show him that there's life in the old dog yet.
    My car is a 2003 ex-Academy Rover K series. It's been prepped by McMillan Motorsport over the winter and I'm impatiently waiting to try it out for the first time this year at Goodwood on 25th April. Class 1 has a very healthy entry again this year and I look forward to another season of competition, camaraderie and banter.
     
  5. Andrew Willoughby
    Matthew and I have appeared in a feature on this year’s sprinters in the April edition of Low Flying. It’s good to read the features on the other competitors – you tend to forget that everyone has another life not involving Sevens.
  6. Andrew Willoughby

    Goodwood

    By Andrew Willoughby,

    At last the season’s underway!  Driving 200+ miles with trailer after a day’s teaching looked very daunting as Janice and I set off on Friday.  Thankfully, the journey was good and we arrived at the hotel at 9.30.
     
    We met Matthew, who was sharing my car, and his wife Mel at the circuit on Saturday morning.  Seeing many familiar faces, and some new ones, was great, and pit banter was soon in full flow.   It had rained earlier in the morning so Matthew and I waited as long as possible for the track to dry before doing our practice runs.  By 10.15 when Matthew did his practice run it was virtually dry. 
     
    I was pleased to get into the 105 second area on the practice run – the best in Class 1.   My best last year, when I won the class, was 104.76.  I looked forward to improving on this in the afternoon timed runs.
     
    I had an awful start in my first timed run but got my time down to 105.13 – not a bad time to use as a banker.  Matthew fared much better, getting a time of 104.04 – three-quarters of a second better than his best time last year.
     
    I went out for my second run determined to have a really good one.  The start was much better and I carried much more speed through Madgwick.  Fordwater was flat and I managed to hold my nerve through the first part of St Mary’s, taking it with only the slightest lift.  The left hander flowed well and I got my line just right through Lavant, exiting so well that I had to change up to 4th before the end of the corner.
     
    As I approached Woodcote from the flat out Lavant straight I was determined to carry more speed unto the first part of the corner.  I changed down mid-corner but didn’t get my heel-and-toe smooth enough.  The back wheels locked briefly, unsettling the car.  I was going too fast into the last part of the corner and ran wide, beyond the kerb.  I kept on the power hoping to get back to the tarmac, but I lost the back end, spinning a full 360 back onto the track.  Disconsolate, I limped back in.  Ironically, despite the spin I still got a time of 110 seconds, so if I’d kept it together it should have been a really good time.
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    Matthew’s next run was fabulous – 102.52 seconds and the one which secured his first class win.  We got a third run and I looked forward to having one more crack at improving my time. In the event I made too many mistakes and didn’t improve on my first run, getting third place.
     
    I’m really pleased that Matthew did so well but a bit disappointed that I didn’t improve on last year.  However, the year is only just beginning, and I’m grateful that despite my rallycross moment, the car and I are still in one piece.
     
    Roll on Curborough, my next event, on 17 May.  
  7. Andrew Willoughby
    A big weekend coming up at Curborough – I’ve entered the British Motorsport Marshals Club Midland Region Sprint on Saturday, then it’s the Club Sprint on Sunday. It’s only a small entry in my class – four cars – in the Marshals Sprint, but I’m really looking forward to the competition. It’ll also, hopefully, give me some useful practice for the Club Sprint.
     
    The entry for Class 1 in the Club Sprint is great – eighteen cars – so the competition is looking really strong.
     
    Matthew seems to think I’m better than him at Curborough, but he’s very capable of getting a really quick time there. It’s all going to be very weather dependent – he’s much better in the wet. In the Club event last year on a wet track I had a spin in my first timed run and went round like ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ on the second, scared of going home without posting a time at all. It meant that I came just about last, and ended up with a score deficit that I never made up in the rest of the season. I wasn’t the best company on the drive back to Lincolnshire!
     
    If it stays dry I might just be in with a chance!
  8. Andrew Willoughby
    Not the most pleasant weekend to spend at Curborough weatherwise, but great motorsport.
     
    I’d entered the British Motorsport Marshals Club Sprint on Saturday to get some sneaky practice for the Club event on Sunday.  It was quite a small entry, with only three cars in my class.  Alan Johnson was still glowing from getting his first win at Llys y Fran hillclimb last weekend and Alistair Gibbins was keen to show his mettle.
     
    The showers were very kind to us – our timed runs were done on a track which had dried really quickly after some heavy downpours.  I had a lairy moment in practice when I went into the Fradley hairpin too fast and went round completely on opposite lock.  It’s fun drifting, but perhaps not the quickest way of taking the corner!
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    It was nip and tuck all day, but in my last run I managed a 66.7 – a couple of tenths slower than my PB, and enough for a win.  Alistair had a storming last run, just managing to pip Alan.  The following day was going to be tough, and the weather forecast was grim.  What’s more, Matthew was to be competing, and he was praying for rain!
     
    Sunday opened dry, and first practice went quite well for me with a 68.25.  Matthew got a 69.29, but I knew he could go much quicker.  Nick Chan was there with his new car and clearly meant business.  He got a 68.17 and looked very smooth.  Still, I was close to him, and the day before I’d gone quite a bit faster.  I was pleased to finish first practice in second place and quite close to Nick.
     
    Second practice was taken in torrential rain and I had a spin at Fradley.  All of our times were much, much slower.  We sheltered for what seemed an age when we got back in, watching some very balletic spins on a track that was, by now, almost a river.  Then it suddenly stopped raining, and lunchtime was spent looking alternately at the drying track and the sky.
     
    Class 1 went out after lunch for the first of the timed runs with the early runners posting low 70s.  I was the seventh to go and found the track more grippy than I’d expected, though still very damp at Fradley.  I was pleased with a 68.65.  Matthew went out immediately after me, and although he said the run felt quick, he got a time of 71.46.  The track kept on drying, and Nick’s run was great at 66.96.
     
    We longed for another go, but I needed a dry track for my second run.  I was hopeful of a good score – my time the day before had been quicker than Nick’s first time.  As we sat in line waiting to go out the first spots of rain started to fall, rapidly followed by torrential rain just as I left the start line.  This lap took 81.59 seconds - the results of the first timed run were the ones that would count. 
     
    I was thrilled to get second place out of a field of 15, but I need to get nearer to Mr Chan – he’s looking very good indeed!  I look forward to MIRA next weekend - I just hope for a nice dry day!
  9. Andrew Willoughby
    After last weekend’s drenching at Curborough I’d been hoping all week for fine weather at MIRA.  I wasn’t disappointed - it was a lovely day.
     
    I walked the course with Matthew and my elder daughter Lisa, who’d come along as spectator (and supervisor: her Mum had given her instructions on how to keep me sorted).  It’s strange how your memory plays tricks on you – my recollection of the course was quite different from reality, despite having driven it for the past two years.
     
    In addition to the Caterhams of the Lotus Seven Club the Midland Automobile Club event included an interesting mix of other cars including Westfields, Reliant Scimitars, single seaters and various tintops.  There was a particularly fine MG TA in the Classic Cars class.
     
    First practice started with Matthew first out followed by Paul Boston, then me.  I had a senior moment in the first long left-hander, going from 2nd to 5th gear.  It was a scrappy run, and I was amazed that it was in the 59s, only just behind Matthew and Paul.
     
    Second practice was better, though I had a heart-stopping moment at the end of the first corner when the rear part of the front left cycle wing came unstuck.  I thought for a moment I’d lost a wheel, but I managed to keep my concentration and managed a 57.79 – the fastest time in Class 1.  Matthew was about a second behind me in second place.  The track was much grippier than last year, and I felt that there was more time to come.
     
    After lunch we had the first of our timed runs.  The run was OK, but, as often seems to be the case with me at MIRA, it was a slightly untidy lap with several places where I felt that could have been quicker.  My time was exactly the same as in second practice – 57.79.  Matthew was second with 58.12.
     
    I approached the second timed run with trepidation.  I could see Matthew in his car waiting beside me in a state of meditation – clearly he was aiming to give the old man a mauling.  What was more, Nick Chan, on his first visit to MIRA, was getting to grips with the track, and I knew that he was more than capable of a storming final run.  I just wanted to do a run that didn’t leave me disappointed.
     
    The start went well, and the long left-hander went smoothly, though I was a bit slow getting the power down on the exit.  The left kink went well – a better line than previously - and the control tower complex felt better with more speed on entry.  The left-hander at the end of the complex was untidy but I got through it without losing too much speed.  I braced myself to brake as late as possible for the final last long left-hander which I took as fast as I could without losing grip.
     
    Meeting a smiling Matthew as I went back in didn’t fill me with confidence – he looked pleased with his run.  We went for the results where Lisa told me I’d got a 57.39.  Matthew’s second run had surprised him by being only slightly quicker than his first at 58.00, though it was enough to get him second place.  Ian Keen came third with an impressive time of 58.38.  Nick Chan got a 58.59 – a brilliant time on his first time at the course.  It was excellent to see so many good times in Class 1, with many drivers achieving their personal targets.
     
    I’m delighted to get my first win of the year.  It’s not been a bad week – on Wednesday it was confirmed that our younger daughter Rachel is expecting a baby in November.  I’m going to be a grandfather, and that’s something Jenson Button can’t match!
  10. Andrew Willoughby
    One of the great things about sprinting has been the opportunity to visit wonderful places, and the Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb is one of them. Starting in 1905 it is the oldest motorsport venue in the world still in continuous use.
     
    Matthew and I competed here last year, and were lucky to get places again in 2009. I’d done reasonably well last year, getting second place to Malcolm Hickey with a time of 37.55. I’d loved the place then, and hoped for a time this year in the 36s.
     
    We were some of the last to be scrutineered, so we were quite late getting our first practice run. The other Class 1 runners were all in the 38-40 second area, and I was pleased with a 37.68 for a first go. Matthew, running his own car, came in just over 40 seconds, which he was quite disappointed with.
     
    While we were at the top waiting for the rest of the cars to have their runs there was a long gap – a car had gone off at Crossing. We learnt it was a lovely Austin-Healey 3000, and after over half an hour it was brought up the hill on the recovery vehicle, on its roof and totally wrecked. It was a massive relief when we heard the driver was OK, but what a sad end for such a lovely car. Practice was curtailed, so several of us only had the one practice run.
     
    The timed runs in the afternoon went very smoothly, cars going through without incident. My run was 37.78 after a slightly stuttering start, and I was beaten by Ian Keen and Alistair Gibbins who both posted times of 37.69 seconds. Matthew improved his practice time with a 38.44. I just prayed that the rain clouds would be kind and give me a chance of another dry run.
     
    About half an hour before we were due out again it started raining quite sharply, but, luckily, it was dry by the time we went out.
     
    My start this time was much better, and Kennel and Crossing went well, apart from a panicky split second when I thought I’d gone from second to fifth gear. The Esses went well and I was quite pleased with my time of 37.26 – a personal best.
     
    I parked the car at the top hoping that it was good enough to beat Ian and Alistair. I was met by Alistair who said we’d both been beaten by Ian, who’d got a 37.16. Alistair pipped me by 2 hundredths, getting a 37.24. Matthew improved his time to get a 38.11, as did Michael Burnham with 40.43.
     
    I’m a bit disappointed not to get to my target time, but pleased with a new personal best. Looking at the video I can see where time was lost (that fluffed gear-change didn’t help, nor jinking left when changing down just before the Bottom ‘S’.). It was great for Ian to get his first class win, though – there have now been 6 winners in Class 1 this year, showing how close the competition is.
     
    I just want to get out and do some more!
  11. Andrew Willoughby

    Loton Park

    By Andrew Willoughby,

    Another lovely venue – this time Loton Park in Alberbury, Shropshire, and this was my third time competing there.
    Janice and I arrived on Friday afternoon night. The organisers, Hagley and District Light Car Club, were doing signing on between 5.00 and 7.00 pm for those who arrived early. After unloading the Seven we walked the course. It was sunny and warm and the deer park which the course wends its way through looked beautiful. At the top we saw six of Sir Michael Leighton’s deer enjoying the peace before the weekend’s competitions.
    We stayed at the Old Hand and Diamond just a mile down the road in Coedway, just over the Welsh border – a good pub with great food, and really handy for Loton.
    In the morning we went to Loton early. Matthew had already arrived with his replacement car – a former Caterham Roadsport A race car in which he was competing for the first time. He’d had it checked over by McMillan Motorsport and knew it was safe, but was quite nervous never having driven it in anger before. Fellow members of the Lotus Seven Club, who knew about his change of steed from Blatchat, came in a steady procession throughout the day to view the new beast. There was much peering and prodding from fellow club members, but the unanimous impression was that he’d made a canny purchase. It still had to prove itself, though.
    First practice went really well for me. I felt confident to throw the car in and at the finish line looked forward to getting my time. It was 64.08 – almost a complete second better than my personal best from last year, and three seconds quicker than the next quickest Class 1 car.
    Practice 2 was fractionally slower (64.36), but worryingly Alan Johnson (the man with the magic goggles) was snapping at my heels and had reduced my advantage to a second.
    Timed run 1 was a bit disappointing. Everyone else was improving their times, and I couldn’t seem to get down to the time I’d set at the start of the day, managing only a 64.32. More of a concern was that Alan was continuing his assault and was now well within a second of me with a 65.05.
    I gave myself a stern talking to and was determined to really go for it in the second timed run. It felt faster, and for the first time I managed to hold my nerve at Fallow, not braking until the 50 yard board. The time was 63.40 – almost two seconds better than my personal best from last year. Alan improved again, getting into the 64s with an excellent 64.90.
    Matthew’s car proved its mettle, despite a small overheating problem at the start of the day, and he finished his Class 3 debut with an impressive 60.79.
    I’m delighted to have got the class win, but the championship is moving towards its climax. It’s still all to play for, and Messrs Chan, Gibbins, Johnson, Keen et al are all close to the top spot. I think I’m looking forward to my last two events, Curborough and Aintree, though my spies inform me that Mr Chan has been having some rather intensive practice at Curborough. I’m praying for a dry day on Sunday – watch this space.
  12. Andrew Willoughby
    Where has all the time gone? It’s now mid-September and I’ve not posted since Loton. Curborough 2 went well and I just managed to get the win with Nick and Alistair close behind. I was lucky with the weather this time and wasn’t too sorry to see rain approaching after a really good time in my first timed run – 65.77 – another PB.
     
    Aintree didn’t go quite so well – I never matched my 2008 time, though I redeemed myself with a third place which bagged a reasonable score. Neil (Flymo) Fraser got his first win, narrowly beating Nick Chan into second place.
     
    That was all 2 weeks ago and now I face Anglesey in three weeks for the final shoot-out. I lead Class 1 currently, but that’s quite academic - it is virtually neck and neck between Alistair, Nick and me as we enter that final crucial round. It’s a great way to finish a brilliant season and I just can’t wait to get out there!
  13. Andrew Willoughby
    Class 1 Dad is now Class 1 Grandad.  Our grandson, Thomas Alexander Jeffery, the son of our younger daughter Rachel and her husband, Viv Jeffery, was born at 6.45 pm on Friday 27 November.  He was 7lb 10oz at birth and he and his Mum are doing fine.
     
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    Needless to say, Janice and I are absolutely besotted with our new arrival, and have been very touched by the many congratulations we’ve received from my fellow sprinters on Blatchat; yet another example of how great the Speed Championship fraternity is. 
     
    What a year! 
     
    Andrew 
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