Blauwhuis Drivers of the Days 30/04/08 & 01/05/08, Friesland Field Special. Options

[Stephen Waz]

I think that there were just enough Stoxnetter's at the Blauwhuis mid week double header to enable a DOTD / RR vote.

Blauwhuis, What a track a kind of squashed 'D' shape with a dyke around Home Straight, Turns 1 & 2 and Back straight with a Mud wall on turns 3 going into 4. And various others smaller dykes placed around the centre green edge.
Clay Surface with a slight camber on the back straight towards the dyke.

So what kind of racing does this produce? AMAZING Old School Stockcar action with more rollovers than a rolly-polly factory. Had an absolutely fantastic mid-week break, not a dull moment from getting on the ferry at Hull on Tuesday night to my some what slightly knackered return on Friday Morning.
Really hard to pull out an out an out DotD as the Track changes not only from race to race but often duing the race! A hole appears here and there, and slidy bit of Clay is exposed here and a rough bit there. Brilliant.
The racing might not be as slick as we expect in the UK, but that in no way makes the racing dull, it's just as hard, as fast but different.
My DotD will go to,
Wednesday DotD - H29 & R/R of 9/10

Thursday DotD - H64 & R/R of 7/10, Sadly had to leave after Heat 4 for boat back home.

with a big to H52 going so well, in fact a for every driver in every race, No holds barred just going for it and having great fun doing it. The team spirt that the 'other' F1 teams showed in helping H88 fix his car after a visit to the dyke / rollover was a joy to watch.
All the above for only 16 Euros for the 2 days, the great vibe you got off the locals - "you're English! What are you doing here?" "Look, look his steering wheel is on the wrong side! But how do you drive?"
Planning to return? definately.

So over to our Dutch Stoxnetters

[Carl H]

Wednesday
DOTD: 3 Ouwe Bijlsma. Looked very quick in all his races, seemed to be able to adjust to the varying conditions better than the others.
RR: 9. Would have been 10 had the rain not spoiled the first heat, but the rest of the races were superb. The last few laps of Heat 2 were fantastic, and led to one of the most spectacular race endings I've ever seen. Think 1991 WF or 1999 WF, and you're in the right ballpark.


Thursday
DOTD: 64 Richard Tolsma. Either his brakes just didn't work at all or he was feeling particularly aggressive, but he seemed to be on a mission to hit as many cars as possible in every race. Didn't always gain him anything, but great to watch.
RR: 8, based on the heats that I saw (had to leave after heat 4 to catch a ferry, so missed the Final). Good solid racing for the most part, and I'd have rated it 9 had Heat 4 been anything like the first three, but another short burst of rain ruined it. Wet shale still seems driveable, but it looks like wet clay is like ice.


Great racing from the support formulae on both days too. Some of the Standaardklasse heats were like watching a stunt show, I just didn't know where to look there was so much happening, and despite there not being all that many F2s, most were evenly matched and put on a good show.

The organisation was first rate - the track was cleared of dead cars, regraded, then the next race lined up in less time than it takes to open the pit gate at some UK tracks.

[Sean]

Was two good days of racing and good to see a few english fans over!!

Wednesday, DOTD: Hard one, both withe tops 40 and 52 did very well but both where unlucky, will go for 40 he was so fast and desereved a win on the two days..

Thursday, DOTD: 64 had a good drive al day and put the bumper in hard a few times but i will go for 29 for winning the final, he tried very hard both days from all the way from the back of the grid and just didn´t succeed till the final where he was ever so smooth and put the bumper in on several occasions.

[Stockcar fan]

Some videos of Blauwhuis 30 April and 1 May...with onboard video on the H29 car!!!

F1 Finale 30 April Blauwhuis

Finale F2 30 April Blauwhuis

Onboard H29 3e manche Blauwhuis 1 Mei 2008

Finale F1 Blauwhuis 1 Mei 2008

[Stockcar H29]

Wednesday DotD - H3 RR 7/10

Thursday DotD - H29 & RR 9/10

Great racing for two days, and the track stayed in good shape on both days. Well done to the track staff.

I always wonder how the uk top drivers will do on tracks like this. On shale they usually have the upper hand ( hopefully this gap will be closed over the coming years with our new shale track.)
Do u think they would be faster, or will it be pretty much even with our top drivers on their home ground?

[Kay]

Wednesday DotD H88 RR 8/10

Thursday DotD H52 RR 7/10

Had a brilliant time over at Blauwhuis, the racing was very entertaining and everybody was friendly - I'm sure we'll be back there at some point

Special mention and to Stoxnet member Frits too on his heat and final wins.

We even came back with a bit of colour in our cheeks too, but not sure if that was from the sun or the wind!!

[MrTerp]

Thursday i was there and Haye Postma white topper did very well!

And the final was very nice.. Who wins #3 Bijlsma? / #17 B.A Hiddinga? / #29 Greidanus but the winner wass Greidanus very good! and the track was good!! Best driver off the day i say DURK GREIDANUS #29

[Colin C]

Just back home from Blauwhuis, stopping off at home for an hour before heading up to Coventry.

Brilliant racing, and action packed racing. A great 2 days. Don't you just love the Dutch mid-week bank holidays!

Too many good drives to single anyone out, but hard luck award goes to Willem-Hein de Hann (88) who rolled over in 2 races on Wednesday

[misterbreg]

Was only on Thursday at Blauwhuis.

DotD: H40 Jac Tesselaar winning 2 heats in only his 5th meeting.

R/R: 6/10

PS: H52 rolled in final

[Trev]

Very interesting thread and thankyou for the excellent videos Stockcar Fan.

A couple of random questions out of interest, firstly what were the approximate F1/F2 car turnouts, and what was the average grid size in the races?

Secondly, were there any recogniseable ex-UK cars racing in the hands of dutch drivers?

Thirdly, I know that a number of UK-built F1's find a new permanent home in Holland each year, is there any market for second-hand ex-UK F2's over there?

Thankyou in advance.