The Tomster and the Turbo-Nutter.

We’re getting there slowly. Molesey’s scrutineering is, bit by bit, persuading drivers to turn up with cars that bear some resemblance to the type of car that the club’s calendar says we should be racing.

Take this week for example. The calendar said “Sideways Group 5” in big bold letters and, lo and behold, eight drivers turned up with a total of six-and-a-half Group 5 cars. In any normal world, 6½ out of 8 would be considered poor, but in Molesey’s it’s a miracle.

It would be unkind to single out one person as the class dunce or rebel, so instead let’s single out two: the Tomster and Simon.

The Tomster’s Slot.it Sauber-Mercedes C9, which last week fooled nobody by pretending to be an NSR Classic, this week fooled nobody by pretending to be a Sideways Group 5. Julian, the night’s scrutineer, just sighed. Much better was Simon’s effort, his Schnitzer BMW M1 almost legal except for its turbo-nutter motor. Julian sighed again.

Once racing started, it settled into the familiar pattern for Group 5, Josh battling Julian for the lead and throwing away his chances by crashing several times. There’s no questioning Josh’s speed – his best lap was a mere 0.003 slower than Julian’s – but with Julian the undoubted king of Group 5 at Molesey, Josh can’t keep making costly mistakes if he wants to win.

Simon’s turbo-nutter motor gave him a small advantage on the straights, so he was comfortably the best of the rest and took third, while the Tomster’s Group C Sauber-Merc gave him no advantage whatsoever, leaving him to finish a dispirited last despite periods of very close racing against Graham and Neil.

Gents, it’s Group 5 again next week, so if it’s not too much to ask, could the miscreants amongst us at least try to turn up with legal-ish cars? Please. It makes the racing much more fun.