All the members of the Royal Aero Club Records Racing and Rally Association spent most of the week watching the weather reports in preparation for their flight across the English Channel to Abbeville in France, a former WW2 German Fighter base. An infamous airfield commanded by the German Ace Adolf Galland and now the home of the Aero Club de Somme.

As always a very warm welcome awaited us and after an uneventful flight down the country from Netherthorpe, I met and circumnavigated several very heavy rain showers, coasting out at Lydd to arrive at Abbeville to find the airfield smack under the biggest shower so far. After a few minutes orbiting to the south and performing the statutory sheep removing fly-by I was able to land and after tying the RV down in yet another shower I settled down in the very welcoming bar to await the rest of the racers.

The weekend was set to be a memorable one as it fell on the very same day 100 years after Louis Bleriot’s first flight across the Channel. Needless to say a commemorative race had been arranged and the various air traffic authorities were having kittens as our planned course ran from Abbeville to the Boulogne VOR and then to the Bleriot Plage (where the man took off from originally) and then directly across the channel to the top of the White Cliffs just passing to the right of the old “Chain Home” radar masts of WW2 Battle of Britain Fame. Needless to say very many other aviators wished to fly the route on this day and the area promised to be very busy!

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For the first time in a couple of years the weather smiled on Compton Abbas when the Royal Aero Club turned up for the now almost annual air race meeting. Compton is a wonderful privately owned airfield with a slightly undulating runway but more than adequate in terms of length. With plenty of parking albeit giving a lengthy walk to your aircraft when you have been one of the later arrivals.

Many of the racers arrived on the Friday and enjoyed an excellent meal in the re-opened Italian restaurant in the former church in the town of Shaftsbury, famous for Gold hill as seen in the old Hovis adverts and a must see item on the sightseeing tour.

Saturday dawned and at the practice briefing for the Strongbow Trophy a new course was revealed. Not usually a problem but it made the run up to turning point three a completely different picture and as this turning point is usually hidden over a ridge and behind the end of a wood several of the racers had difficulty in finding it. I eventually found it after three laps and then promptly lost it again on the first lap of the race.

The race began and the new handicapping software again proved its worth and the racers came to the finish nicely bunched with the RV of Gerry Humphries and the Pup of Neil Cooper crossing the line first only to be excluded Neil for excess speed and Gerry for switching his smoke on!

In the end Dan Pangbourne in a PA28 was first followed by Craig Beevers in the red Siai Marchetti and third was new racer Ben Chapman who flew his RV4 very capably. There were many other penalties due to missed turning points.

Saturday evening’s entertainment was provided by Clive the owner of the airfield in his very tasty restraint and the bus collected us around 11:30 to be abed ready for the following days racing.

The weather held for the Sunday race the Goodyear Trophy and the race got underway on time, an uneventful race ensued and Neil Cooper kept his speed down just enough to cross the line without exclusion unlike Gerry Humphries who did indeed exceed his handicap speed and was gonged out again. Second was Roderick Morton in the Slingsby T67 200m and Geoff Boot managed a third.

As always at Compton a great weekend and good fun was had by all (except possibly those excluded) but I for one will try harder next time.

John Kelsall

The RRRA decended on a sun soaked Menorca last weekend with our Spanish hosts making the whole weekend an absolute pleasure. Their enthusiasm and help was second to none and every possible little problem resolved with ease.

A fantastic airfield with some 3000 mtrs situated just a mile to the east of the main International airport, the venue was indeed ideal. ATC at Mahon being exceptionally helpful in assisting the performing of Octagons and race practise, The course some 28 miles a lap consisted of 4 laps with an unusual slight right turn on the home run to avoid urbanisation thus testing the skills of the race pilots. Some 12 entrants from the UK, 1 Italian ( Complete with supporters club ) and 2 Spanish completed the line up for Saturdays Isle of Mallorca race, a magnificent trophy designed and fashioned by our Spanish colleague Gabriel Gomilla Frau.

With temperatures soaring and the surface temperature approaching 30c the competitors lined up for the 4.30 start. All under way in under 30 mins the field completed 4 laps with some very close racing and overtaking in the airfield turns. As the field descended past point Alpha it was the very distinctive black and white fresian RV7 of Gerry Humphries accross the line first followed by Geoff Boot in an SF260, being hotly pursued by Craig Beevers also in a SF260. All the field coming home safely with the Spanish Yak 52 coming in a long way behind due to overheat issues. Our Itaian competitor Luigi coming a respectable 4th in his first 3R's race.

Saturday evening saw a gala dinner attended by senior Spanish officials from local Government and the Spanish Royal Aero Club and the Mayors from the island held in S'Algar on the complex where the racing fraternity were based. All in all a fantastic evening with good food and excellent local beverage. The trophies and certificates awarded by the official guests,

Sunday dawned yet another fantasic clear hot day and looked ok for an earlier race and indeed the competitors lined up agian for the Isle of Menorca race with yet another beautiful trophy designed and supplied by Gabriel. With under 5 mins before the start of the race, ATC at Mahon concluded it unsafe to race due to sea mist rolling in on the south coast and reducing visability. but within 20 mins it had cleared sufficiently for the race to start. with all aircraft away nicely and on time, the race continued with some more exciting and competitive racing being evident in the 4 laps. Some magnificent scenery and views on the race circuit adding to the fantastic weather made for a great race with Race 293 Roderick Moreton in a Slingsby T67 crossing the line in first place to take the trophy.

Full results on the results page of the site. In all a brilliant weekend of air racing with all due credit and respect to those pilots who made the trip from afar. Special thanks to Robert Calloway-Lewis in the Auster. The President of the San Luis Aero Club presenting the 3R's with the flag of Menorca.....on the condition we return it next year. Thanks to all at San Luis airfield especially Jose Luis Barrero and Gabriel, Peter Earp, and all the competitors and officials who made it possible for this first ever Anglo-Spanish event to happen. The journey home delayed by a day for some pilots due to bad weather in France, but made bearable by the excellent weather enjoyed in Menorca. Racing in the sun ...Yes please.