Following a slight delay in the Aspid being ready, Rob took the opportunity to race an historic Formula Ford in last weekends Historic Sports Car Club (HSCC) meeting at Donington Park. The drive was offered to Rob not so long ago as the Car, a Merlyn mark 11a, had not been raced for over a year and was in need of an outing. With the owner of the 11a racing in the same race in his Cooper T43 Formula One car, the job fell to Rob to dust of the car's cobwebs. The car was set to compete in the HSCC Classic Race Car Series which is for Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Junior, Formula Libre and Formula Ford single seater built between 1960 and 1970.

"This was a fantastic opportunity for me as I love this era of cars, it took me all of two seconds to say yes!!" commented Rob. " It was a bit of a learning curve as the first time I would sit in the car would be the 15 minute qualifying session which isn't the best way to learn a new car. Another added complication was that the tyres available that were eligible for the race were 20 years old and little past their prime. I feel this added to the experience as the car squirmed and slid all over the place, just as I had imagined these cars to do. That being said it wasn't going to help with my lap times!!!".

Qualifying started with the Cars being formed up on the Melbourne loop, as this race meeting was being run on the national circuit layout, and then being released for their 15 minute session. "The session went well although it was just about learning the Car. The fact that you weren't allowed to pass from McLeans through to Coppice due to the problems with the new access tunnel that had been built (see Donington Park refused racing licence due to safety concerns) was very frustrating as I kept catching cars as I was getting towards that area". Rob put this aside and got quicker and quicker setting a time of 1:29.982 mid session. "I felt I could have gone quicker towards the end but I kept catching up with the more powerful Formula 2 Cars through the yellow flagged section of McClean and Coppice and then they would just clear off down the straight. The last two laps of qualifying I more or less coasted through McLeans and Coppice and still set times in the low 1:30, so I reckon I could have knocked at least a second off my time. Anyway I was pleased to find out that I had set pole position for my class by over a second and would be starting right in the middle of the Formula 2 boys".

The race came around pretty quickly and once again Rob was strapped into the mark 11a again and set off to the assembly area. "I was looking forward to the start as it would be a standing start and since moving into GT's all I have done is rolling start. Once the lights went out, I got a flyer and over took 2 of the more powerful cars off the line, I was then re passed by a Formula 2 going down towards Redgate and set off chasing the leaders". Rob held position for several laps and eventually passed one of the Formula 2 Cars and latched onto the back of another, the No 73 Palliser of John Rand. "The Cars I was racing against had on average 80 bhp more than I did, that's about the same as the power of a Ford Fiesta on top of what I had. I had no chance on the straights but made up alot of ground through the corners, especially through Craner Curves. I managed to get past John at one point and pull a bit of a lead but he soon reeled me in and retook the place down Starkeys Straight. I stayed with him until the end but my tyres were starting to show their age and the rears went off with 2 laps to go". Despite this problem Rob still finished the race winning his class by over 31 seconds and set fastest lap for the race.

"It was a brilliant result and I had a fantastic day, I would like to thank Geoff for giving me the opportunity to race his beautiful race car and especially to Claire and everyone that helped out during the day. I was very pleased to win my class and finish up in with the more powerful cars, even with 20 year old tyres!! If I get the opportunity again I think I will invest in some new tyres for the car."