BARC/MGOC Championship
Mallory Park
September 28th
(Round 12)
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Mallory Park
The Friendly Circuit
1.37 miles plus chicane
1.35 miles minus chicane
1 mile (Oval)
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On the programme at Mallory Park their were a further two races for the BARC / MGOC Racing Championship, both, as ever, were guaranteed to give us close racing, as the series payed its only visit of this season, to Mallory Park, Nr Hinckley in Leicestershire.
Racing Maestro's at Mallory Park
Colin Simpson
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Andy Campbell
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A fine run through the first half of the season gave Colin Simpson a useful lead in the saloon car division with his MG Maestro, but a couple of bad results in recent races have allowed Andy Campbell to narrow the gap. Today's race starts a three- race run that concludes the season and the pressure is now on Simpson to regain winning form.
Adrian Olsson and Darryl Davis, however, are the drivers currently on top of their form, and will fighting to imprve their point position!
The Maestro's provided superb entertainment at Mallory Park
Adrian Olsson after the exit at 'Shaws'
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Nick Golhar (no.12) is just a blur!
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In the class A for MG sportscars, Terry Farman has had a superb season and only a mighty effort from rival Mick Mercer at Thruxton in June prevented a clean sweep for Farman once he joined the championship at the second race.
The title is still open, but Farman needed only to finish in the top six, in this the 12th round to seal the crown....How did they all get on!
Side by side!
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Bumper to bumper
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Above.....the mighty Midgets of Farman & Mercer....
Race Report - Class A
The biggest drama of the afternoon was in the Class A race, & on the very first lap. As the field thundered into that first corner, 'Gerrards' which just seems to go on and on. Amongst the jostling for track postion, most drivers held their station, only too aware of the danger of
going off on the first lap!
They all seemed to get through 'Gerrards', safely.
I was, at this point standing on the banking between the Devils Elbow and the Chicane (see map above) with a clear view across the circuit towards 'Stebbe Straight' & 'Lake Esses'.
then sudenly there was a puff of tyre smoke, & then some more tyre smoke and then even more!!!! Cars were going in all directions! Amazingly, no one appeared to make contact!
Terry Farman and Mick Mercer, were already well ahead of the field and were not involved.
It was the next six or seven cars that it affected most! One driver was affected more so than any of the others, that was Lorraine Clark. Driving a Midget, prepared by herself and her husband. Lorraine had started on the third row of the grid, after the quallifying fifth fastest, during the practice session! After the 'Mayhem' at the 'Esses' she was relegated to last place.
I spoke to Lorraine later for her version of events:
"Basically the way I saw it too many cars tried to squeeze through the
esses. Phil Walker (BGT) touched Darryl Atherton (Midget) which caused
him to veer sideways into Sean Valentine and me, I took the grassy option, and
lost control and ended up heading towards Richard Harrison, who fortunately had the foresight to put his foot down and get past. Unfortunately I was left waiting for the entire field to pass before I could get the car facing the right way again. After that incident the unlucky Darryl Atherton had a spin at the hairpin, enabling me to get past him. I then set about the
business of catching the field, but there were just not enough laps. Darryls time was the third fastest so he was incredibly unlucky to end up at the back, but as they say 'that's motor-racing'!"
Lorraine Clark attempts to make up lost ground!
At the front of the there was the usual terrific battle of the 'that' Blue No.5 & 'that' Black No.2!
these two cars have got to be the most evenly matched racing cars in the world, this can be demonsrated by the identical 'fastest lap' set both by Farman & Mercer.
I must just mention that I believe that the five fastest qualifiers were running David Gathercole built engines....where can I get one?.. Congratulations to David.
Class A (10 laps)
1..Terry FARMAN.......MG MIDGET
2..Michael MERCER.....MG MIDGET
3..Phil WALKER........MGB GT
4..Huw TAYLOR.........MGB ROADSTER
5..Richard HARRISON...MG MIDGET
6..Ian JOHNSON........AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE
Fastest Lap: shared by Farman & Mercer 59.79sec @ 81.28mph
Below - inside Dave Mellors race car - Below - Daryl Davis, finished fourth
Race Report - Class B
Not quite so much drama in this race, a warning had gone out from the RAC steward following the 'protest' and subsiquent slapping of wrists for certain drivers, following an incident during the last round , at Snetterton. The race officals will be watching you all very carefully, went out the warning to all the Class B drivers.
Practice times were once again very close, with less than a couple of seconds seperating first and last.
Despite the 'conduct' warnings there were still a few incidents with cars making contact. On the second lap, Ollson and Simpson, nudged each other, then on the next lap, Colin Simpson ran on at the hairpin and into the tyre wall.
Into the tyres!
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Select reverse!
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He was able to back out and continue, but was to finish last, after slowing with what appeared to be a failing engine. Michael Weidner who was pushing hard had a few scrapes, firstly with Nick Golhar and seconds later with Nick Evans, driving the only Montego amongst all the Maestros, as they all pushed hard up thru to the hairpin.
All incidents were adjudged to be fair racing 'scrapes' and not dangerous driving.
Just like on public roads, racers you can be fined and have their racing licence endorsed!
Class B (10 laps)
1..Andy CAMPBELL......MG MAESTRO
2..David MELLOR.......MG MAESTRO
3..Nick GOLHAR........MG MAESTRO
4..Darryl DAVIS.......MG MAESTRO
5..Adrian OLSSON......MG MAESTRO
6..Michael WEIDNER....MG MAESTRO
Fastest Lap: Olsson 58.78sec @ 82.68mph (new class lap record)
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