|
Early Morning Practice
Early morning practice was just that, with the MGs out on the Silverstone
circuit in sessions 2 & 4. The plus side of early practice/quallifying is that if there are any
problems then there seems to be more time to put it right. The downside though is that the track is cold, and the choice of things like tyre pressures are a little more crucial perhaps.
Class A were out first, and it was good to hear the sound of so many MGs
out on the circuit once more after the long winter break. There were
some familiar names in list of competitors but also there were some new
names too. But how do you spot the newcomers and their cars when so many
of lasts years cars appear with new paint and in some cases new race
numbers? Its going to take a couple of races for it all to sink in!
New to Class A this year is the MGF, first seen in the championship last
year, but in Class B. There are just two MGF's registered at the moment, but can the modern MGF be dominant amongst the other 25 or so MGBs and MG Midgets? The MGF is still considered by the purists as the 'black sheep' of the family. But will it be like 'lambs to the slaughter' for the older MGs up against the modern dynamics of the MGF ? Only time will tell!
Class A Top Ten Qualifiers
The sole MGF of Darryl Davis performed well on its debut, setting a cracking pace, with the F being well suited to this particular circuit. But it was not the MGF that got pole position, that went to Julie Clark in an MG Midget. The F was second fastest & then hot on the tail of the MGF were: 3rd Dave Rees (MG Midget), 4th Jim Baynam (MGB), 5th Lorraine Clark (MG Midget), 6th Alan Yeoman (MGB), 7th Gary Smith (MG Midget), 8th Steve Lewis (MGB), 9th Dave Amphlett (MGB), 10th Peter St Barbe (MG Midget)
The Class B cars, MG Maestros (and a sole MG Montego) came to their practice after the Formula Fords had been out on the circuit.
Unfortunately one these cars had sprung a leak, the driver blissfully unaware of this also failed to notice his oil pressure drop, and he gave the whole of the circuits racing line a coating of slippery fluid! The lap times recorded by class B cars reflected the conditions out on the circuit.
Class B Top Ten Qualifiers
1st Jim Edward Snr, 2nd Nick Evans, 3rd Jim Edward Jnr, 4th Andy Campbell, 5th Adrian Groocock, 6th Doug Cole, 7th James Perry, 8th Nick Golhar, 9th David Mellor and 10th John Lane (all in MG Maestros)
Race Class A
Good starts from Darryl Davis & Dave Rees, but the girls, Lorraine Clark and
Julie Clark (no relation) were caught napping a little on the startline! As Davis
sprinted to the first corner he gained some useful distance.
Davis soon pulled away from the rest of the field, but fixed firmly in
his rear view mirror were the Midgets of Dave Rees and Julie Clark.
Though loosing some ground on the straighish bits, the Midgets was able to close the gap
under braking at the corners. Dave Rees had to make an unscheduled pitstop, a plug lead came adrift, after he rejoined he had dropped way back, leaving the girls chasing Darryl Davis (lucky man!) Jim Baynam moved up to be ahead of Lorraine Clark to take third. But as the race progressed Davis's MGF began to smoke, and with a couple of cars in the wake of the MGF reporting their cars being covered in oil, it looks as if some work will need to be done to cure an oil leak?
Davis took the decision to retire on lap nine, fearful of perhaps causing serious engine damage
So it was Julie Clark that went on to win, with Jim Baynam was not far behind (4.9secs) in second place
It was Lorraine Clark who came in third, she had kept the pressure on Jim Baynam who had been the
filling in the sandwich between the two ladies!!
Steve Lewis had his best finish to date in the yellow and blue MGB,
coming in fourth behind Lorraine Clark. Lewis was extremely pleased with
both himself and the car. After the race he said excitedly "it's
probably the only time I'll get so close!!".
Julie Clarks win is not only her first win in the championship, (she has
been close many times) but she became, I believe, the first woman in the
championship to score an outright win!
Race Class B
Father and Son Jim Edwards Snr. & Jim Edwards Jnr, set a fast and aggressive pace.
Determined to win they were taking no prisoners! Out on the track there did not appear
to be any, as it were, 'team orders'!
The whole ten laps were packed with the action described by the commentator as 'rowdy' !
After about 4 laps the 28 cars or so had spread themselves out with little groups of three or four cars fighting to gain a few places. As they pulled away further out in front four cars battled for the lead. Andy Campbell seemed to thrive on the pressure from the Edwards duo, as they fought over first place. Dave Mellor sitting in fourth was always in there with a chance, but resisted the temptation of getting into a tangle. Had the three up front tripped over themselves, Mellor was well placed to take any advantage that may have come his way.
So after a tough ten laps, and a daring manoeuvre at Lufffield ahead of the home straight it was Andy Campbell who took the win just 0.4s ahead of Jim Edwards Snr.
Unusual to see a car written off so early in the season, but sadly thats whats happened to the Maestro of Nick Evans. Nick Evans who last year was dogged with head gasket problems was hoping for better luck thisyear. Nick told me he has another car, and so he will be back!
James Perry & John Lane too were wounded in action, the new paint for the new season on their cars now in need of some touching up!!!!
Elsewhere, Darryl Davis who you will remember raced an MGF earlier in Class A, was now racing in his MG Maestro. He and Nick Golhar both had a tremendous race, the two who are good friends, raced very hard, both showing great trust in each others ability. It was a 'Gutsy Golhar', who had spun ealier after getting a nudge from Jim Edwards Jnr who beat the 'Determined Davis' into fifth place.
Simon Kendrick was pleased with his middle order finish (14th) , Kendrick who started his racing career last season in an MG Montego will have been pleased to see also amongst the Maestros a lone MG Montego driven by David Watkins, one of this years newcomers. ( and a very nicely turned out car too) In the early nineties in was John Bracy, and then later Terry Farman, who dominated the championship in an MG Montego, it would be nice to see someone repeat that success!
|
