BY KEITH BLUEMEL

Also on the Thursday, and Friday morning, there were the practice and qualifying sessions for the drum and disc brake groups in the Historic Challenge series races. Both drum and disc brake groups had good entries, with sixteen runners in the former category, and twenty in the latter. The numbers were bolstered by a regular stalwart of the European series, Carlos Monteverde, who brought three cars over from his base in England in his 1966 ex-Ferrari works transporter, for himself and Gary Pearson to drive.

At the end of the qualifying sessions, it was the monoposto Maserati 250 F of Peter Giddings that topped the drum brake times, a fraction under 1.5 seconds quicker than the 250 Testa Rossa of Carlos Monteverde, with Florida resident and long time U.S. Historic Challenge participant, Ed Davies, third quickest in his 375 MM, whilst his equally competitive wife Leslie was fifth fastest in their 250 Testa Rossa. In the disc brake category, it was Ed Davies, this time in the family 512 M, who headed the times, a fraction over 0.1 seconds quicker than the 512 BBLM of Todd Morici, followed by the 512 M of Bill Adam, with the diminutive Dino 206 S of Carlos Monteverde next up. Thing looked promising for some exciting racing on the Friday!

NEXT: EXCITING BATTLES OPEN HISTORIC RACING SEASON

Copyright © 2005 Cavallino Magazine.