MG Owners Club Racing Championship 2000

The start of this years 13 round championship seems a very long time ago now, which was back in March at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. Since then the championship has travelled the length and breadth of the UK taking in a total of 10 different circuits, visiting Snetterton twice and one round outside of the UK, that being Zolder in Belgium. This final round of the championship would determine who would be crowned Class A champion and who would win the overall championship. The Class B championship had already been decided at Oulton Park, with Andy Campbell taking the honours.

For anyone who may have read the race programme they may have been fooled into believing that the outcome of the Class A championship was a forgone conclusion. At the front of the programme it said "we should see Julie Clark crowned champion in the category for MG sports cars" The writer of this really should have done his homework as he failed to take into account the dropped scores in the championship. Of the 13 rounds, only 11 of a competitors best results count towards the championship. After you do the sums it is fact Darryl Davis who looked favourite to take the title, with Julie Clark perhaps praying that Davis would finish well down the field or even not finish at all!

The Overall championship looks to find the driver from the two classes, that has the most points! Again this gets a little complicated with the mathematics. It was quite possible that Andy Campbell who already has won the Class B championship for the front wheel drive MGs (Maestros and Montegos) to take the overall title, (depending upon the Class A result). To do this he would not only have to win his race, but also score the vital extra point for getting the fastest lap. It promised to a tense day!!

The allotted time for qualifying would allow drivers to complete between 10 and 12 laps of the 1.952 mile Snetterton circuit. There was perhaps just a touch of early morning moisture in the track as the MGs were the first cars to take to the circuit for the BARC championship finals meeting, and if there were any moisture it did not present any major problems. Standing trackside it can sometimes be difficult visually separate the top drivers. Watching from the 'Russell Chicane' Nigel Woolcott was certainly very tidy, both into and on the exit of this quite difficult complex of curves. Julie Clark too looked to be very quick, both these MG Midget racecars gripping very well. Darryl Davis in the Pink MGF did not appear to be as quick through this section of the circuit, locking up his tyres on more than one occasion as he went into the chicane. Chris Pollard also looked very tidy and would be rewarded with fourth spot on the grid. So the pole position actually went to Darryl Davis in the MGF, any time lost through the chicane he must have pulled back on the back straight.

Class A - Top Ten
1...Darryl Davis         MGF     1:30.623
2...Nigel Woolcott       MG Midget +0.073
3...Julie Clark          MG Midget +1.033
4...Christopher Pollard  MG Midget +2.341
5...Lorraine Clark       MG Midget +2.920
6...Nick Golhar          MGF       +3.001
7...Peter St.Barbe       MG Midget +3.052
8...Gary Smith           MG Midget +3.085
9...Philip Waterman      MG Midget +3.138
10..Michael Weidner      MGF       +3.392

Shortly after 10.30 it was the turn of the front wheel drive MG saloons to record their best efforts on the time sheets. Best efforts recorded include Nick Evans, who set a tyre-blistering pace to get pole position, a full 1.374 seconds ahead of the next best time set by James Perry. As usual the top positions were extremely close. One name missing from the time sheets was that of Nick Golhar, he failed to finish the practice session after a wishbone broke and sent him off the circuit at the first corner! Though not until much later in the morning, I was to learn that my own road car would help Nick Golhar to have another shot at qualifying and the chance to race. Upon my return to the paddock, I was to find my car up on a jack with the some parts missing, which had been hurriedly removed and fitted to Nick's racecar. It's a good job I know the Golhar racing team, and of course I was only too happy help out.

Class B - Top Ten
1...Nick Evans     MG Maestro 2000cc  1:30.021
2...Jame Perry     MG Maestro 2000cc    +1.374
3...Kevin Bull     MG Maestro 2000cc    +1.576
4...Andy Campbell  MG Maestro 1600cc    +1.621
5...Doug Cole      MG Maestro 2000cc    +1.695
6...Darryl Davis   MG Maestro 2100cc    +1.918
7...Paul Roberts   MG Maestro 1600cc    +2.299
8...Martin Lovell  MG Maestro 2000cc    +2.301
9...Paul Naish     MG Maestro 1600cc    +2.308
10..Simon Byrne    MG Maestro 2000cc    +2.415

If you follow motor sport on a regular basis then you will be well aware of team tactics and the gamesmanship that sometimes comes into play to ensure a win. With championship titles at stake I'm sure several game plans had been worked out to cover all eventualities.
The start as ever for all the front-runners would be crucial, all needed to get away quickly and safely. The first corner at Snetterton often catches out even the most experienced of drivers, just a little nudge from another car and you are out! Thankfully everyone did get away and there were no fallers at the first! Nick Golhar made a tremendous start, moving up from fifth to second, with pole man Davis out in front. Julie Clark really needed to be out at the front to control the race, as Davis would be sure to ease away along the back straight. Further down the field of 18 cars there were other battles going on. The title for novice champion 2000 was also up for grabs, the two main contenders being Jim Gotobed and Kelly Mercer. Kelly qualified the better and was six places in front of Jim on the grid, a lot of ground to make up for him, especially when he was hampered by a misfire. Gary Smith of Summit MG the current novice champion in this class had problems also. Recent 'improvements' to the cars braking system had in fact made the brakes worse, the dual system just not working efficiently as the single system had done.

After the first lap the commentator got all excited as Nigel Woolcott came into the pits, he described the scene as team members apparently checked the plug leads! Everything seemed ok and away he went once more re-joining the race in last place. Perhaps there was a problem with the car? but Woolcott was just cruising. It would not be long before 'Dazzling Darryl' in the pink MGF would catch up with Woolcott in the equally dazzling bright yellow MG Midget. And catch him he did! Woolcott remember is at the 'back' while Davis is the leader, with Wollcott legitimately allowed to defend his position to prevent being lapped, this of course would allow the chasing cars to catch up.

Lap eight saw a dramatic exit for Darren Young as he approached 'Russell' he appeared to brake heavy, spinning the car which sent him into the direction of the tyre wall. Darren was forced to retire! Mick Weidner who you may remember rolled his MGF during the last race at Brands Hatch was moving up through the field from tenth got past Julie Clark to relegate her to fourth. Apparently there was some contact between Clark and Weidner, but its unlikely that it had any bearing on the final result. Which was 1st. place to Darryl Davis, 2nd. Nick Golhar and 3rd. Mick Weidner. It was an MGF 1-2-3, a result which for many reinforced their belief that modern MGs should not be racing alongside (or even ahead of) the older MG Midgets and MGBs. What do you think? Email me!

Race Results - 10 Laps
1..Darryl Davis      MGF     15:39.654  @ 74.78mph  Best Lap:1.32.432
2..Nick Golhar       MGF        +6.579
3..Michael Weidner   MGF        +7.286
4..Julie Clark       MG Midget  +7.962
5..Peter St.Barbe    MG Midget  +8.636
6..Chris Pollard     MG Midget  +9.331
Fastest Lap: Nigel Woolcott 1:31.574 @ 76.74mph

There was another good turnout of MG Maestros for the final race of the year, this time with 18 cars on the grid. As already mentioned Andy Campbell is already confirmed as class champion. Dependant on results from the Class A race earlier in the day it was possible for Andy Campbell to clinch the overall championship also. As things stood when the cars went onto the start line, nothing less than 21points, equal to a win + the fastest lap would do! As the race got under way it was Nick Evans who soon stamped his authority on the race as it progressed, building up a comfortable cushion between himself and the yellow and red car of Andy Campbell. Not satisfied with the class championship Campbell could see the overall title just around the next corner, and the next and the next! Slowly but surely he hauled Evans in, closing the gap to inches, instead of yards! Nick Evans in the 2 litre and heavier car was putting far to much load on his tyres and brakes, had the race been a 12 lapper then I think Campbell would have been a double champion. Behind the scrap for first place was James Perry, very much on his own finishing some 11 seconds ahead of the first group of three cars battling for a place in the top four. Kevin Bull one of this years' novices had started from third on the grid but had fallen back a few places to fight it out with Paul Roberts and Nick Arden. Paul Roberts made a mistake at 'Russell' which sent him across the gravel shortcutting the circuit. It was not a very tidy piece of driving, and certainly was not an intentional shortcut, but none the less, Roberts who crossed the line in fifth had one second added to his time, thus relegating him one place to sixth.

Race Results - 10 Laps
1..Nick Evans     MG Maestro 2000cc  15:26.015 @ 75.88mph Best lap:1:31.022
2..Andy Campbell  MG Maestro 1600cc     +0.424
3..James  Perry   MG Maestro 2000cc     +4.011
4..Nick Arden     MG Maestro 2000cc     +11.975
5..Kevin Bull     MG Maestro 2000cc     +13.540
6..Paul Roberts   MG Maestro 1600cc     +14.420
Fastest Lap: Andy Campbell 1:30.972 @ 77.25mph

After the days racing there was a special ceremony.
An award has been donated by the family of Terry Farman, the former champion, who passed away earlier this year. Memorial Trophies often serve as a reminder lest we forget, Terry Farman was a great competitor and a true sportsman. His 12 wins from 12 races record set in 1999 is unlikely ever to be broken, or forgotten!

The first recipients, Darryl Davis and Nick Evans spoke of their pride at recieving the award, and of their admiration for Terry Farman, a man they both had great respect for, and missed dearly! Kelly, Terry Farmans daughter presented Darryl Davis with his trophy and Vicki, his wife presented Nick Evans with his trophy.

The Terry Farman Memorial Trophy will be an annual award and will go to the first in class A and first in class B at Snetterton each year. A keepsake trophy will be awarded on the day by a member of Terry's family, with a further annual award presented at the awards dinner, again to the winner of each class at Snetteron - this is a splendid Silver Cup.