FUELFORCE CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2004

 Round 6.          Castle Combe        August 7th 2004

Mitch is King of the Castle!  

After 39 years of trying, Ian Mitchell secured his first pole position and his first win in B-Sport, at Castle Combe. At the front of the field, Mike Evans took a tremendous overall win, despite starting from the back of the grid (Pete Harper’s advice on how to get considered for ‘Driver of the Day’), after his car failed to restart for the green flag lap.

Both classes produced some superb racing, thrilling the typically large Castle Combe crowd and the welcome contingent of the FuelForce sponsors and their guests.

Entry

A strong entry of 23 cars made the trip to the glorious Castle Combe circuit, set in the Cotswold countryside. Once again, a very strong representation from A-Sport, with 13 cars, including all of the series regulars, Robin Booth being the only absentee from the previous round at Oulton Park .

7 B-Sport cars were present. Championship leader, Barry Webb was missing, as were Phil O’Halloran and Mark Charteris, but the field was supplemented by three people having their first runs of the year. Macau(just south of Watford I believe) based Neville McKay (who probably owns more Mallocks than anybody else in the world! 14 at the last count!!!) was persuaded by David Childs, to join in the fun in the works hire car, Bristol based, David Bain left his Formula Junior in the garage and ventured out in his race winning Mark 11 and Paul Morris was having his first run in the formula, in Phil O’Halloran’s Mallock.

In the F1300 class, Richard ‘Hyper’ (how appropriate!) Hypher literally stepped off the plane from Canada , hooked up the trailer and made his way in the general direction of the circuit. Steve Clamp (and Stella!) were finishing their honeymoon at the meeting and Alan White-Aldworth was having his second outing of the year, in his Mallock.

Jared Wood was on holiday and the rumour that Chris Denham was bringing out the Wells, turned out to be false. It was also good to see Phil Williams at the meeting. Bring the car next time, eh Phil?   Pretty please.

Qualifying

Even at 9:30 in the morning, the temperature was climbing into the 80’s (old money!), so some quick times were expected. Nonetheless, I don’t think anybody expected the lap record to be surpassed so easily. Pete Harper was a man on a mission (I think he was trying to post a time before something broke again!). He very quickly got down below the 1 min. 10 sec mark to take pole, before a large chunk of brand new air cleaner broke off and went into the carb, putting the engine on to three cylinders. Joining him on the front was Mike Evans, the only other person to break the magical 70 second barrier, despite both car and driver overheating.

Ominously close on row two, were the Phantom twins, Ray Harper pipping DC to third spot by just 0.04 secs, Ray was distinctly uncomfortable in the car, with recurring back problems. Sadly, DC would not make the race, as his diff had expired. As it seized, it rotated and sheared off the rear callipers in the process.

Mike Hickson was on the inside of row three, 2 seconds quicker than he had ever been before. He was joined by a very rapid Anthony Denham in the Doris , despite blowing yet another head gasket.

Malcolm Jackson was on row 4, very disappointed to be so far back, but I think this reflects the ultra competitiveness of A-Sport now. He was joined by Gavin Childs in the Gryphon.

Row 5 saw Finlay Bason (who kindly choose us over a good Cornish surf!)in the Myers and Geoff Cogan in his Gryphon. Finlay felt his session was OK, but sadly he would non-start, as the front suspension had parted company from the monocoque and this would require a complete strip down to fix(calm down girls this means the car). Geoff on the other hand, was OK, apart from the nose frame breaking, ending his session at Bobbies.

The Gerry Attrix pair were in team formation on row 6. Darren Green won this event two years ago, but sadly he had left his furry dice and handbag at home this time! Graham Onion had no problems to speak of.

On row 7, we saw the the pole sitters for the other two classes. ‘Hyper’ Hypher was the fastest F1300 by far, on his first visit to the circuit and alongside him, Ian Mitchell had the B-Class pole by over 1.5 seconds. Row 8 saw the next two B-sports, David Bain, having his first Clubmans race for two years and Dave Facer, suffering from a severe lack of brakes.

Steve Chaplin and Alan Davenport sat on row 9, both trouble free, although the exhaust on Alan’s car needed some attention afterwards. Reg Powell sat on row 10, after his car had just ‘died’ after two laps. He was joined by Clubmans newcomer Paul Morris, Paul suffering from fuel starvation on righthanders.

Macau resident, Neville McKay was on row 11, in the Works B-Sport Mallock, sadly very down on power. He was joined by Alan White-Aldworth in his F1300 Mallock.

Steve Clamp occupied the final grid position, the F1300 Drat refusing to run on all four cylinders. It was 80 degrees Steve. It can’t be icing! (or was that the wedding cake).

Race

By 2:00 pm the temperature had risen to the high 80’s. Nonetheless, the BRSCC insisted in bringing the cars on to the grid with no indication of how long they would be kept there. Several drivers switched off to keep the temperature down. Sadly, the starter on front row sitter, Mike Evans’s car failed to kick in and he was left with his arms waving wildly as all of the other cars weaved passed him to start their green flag lap. Fortunately, the car restarted with a push, so Mike caught up with the pack, overtook the course car, and prepared to start the race from the back of the grid.

For the first time, the guys were subjected to their first ‘grand prix-style’ lights sequence, with the red lights coming on one by one. Nobody was fazed by this, so as the lights went out, away went the pack. Sadly, as the polesitter, Pete Harper, left the line, a driveshaft let go and he coasted to a stop. Fortunately, the rest of the field were sharp enough and everybody avoided him as they hurtled down to Quarry on lap 1.

With no front row men to hinder them, it was Ray Harper and Mike Hickson fighting for the lead and as they crossed the line to complete lap 1, it was Ray, followed very closely by Mike and then Malcolm Jackson and Anthony Denham. Mike Evans was on a real charge. He was 8th. by Quarry and up to 5th on the completion of the first lap, Then came Gavin Childs, the Gerry Attrix twins and Geoff Cogan.

Ian Mitchell had made the break and headed class B. David Bain had been boxed in at the start (as everybody avoided Pete Harper), so it was Dave Facer hot on his heels. These two were joined in battle by a charging Reg Powell and ‘Hyper’, leading the F1300 class. They were closely followed by Steve Chaplin, Alan Davenport and a recovering David Bain.

At the back, Steve Clamp lasted just two laps before his head gasket failed and he posted the second retirement of the day (well icing can’t happen if the oven packs up)

As the race started to settle down, some superb dices (no not the furry ones!) were emerging. The action at the front was top class, with Ray and Mike putting on a great show. Mike Evans had eased up to 3rd. and very soon, appeared menacingly in their mirrors. Malcolm Jackson was opening up a gap in 4th. just ahead of Anthony Denham.

2002 winner, Darren Green had fought his way past Gavin Childs into 6th. and a three way battle for 7th. emerged, Gavin being joined by Graham Onion and Geoff Cogan.

Reg Powell and ‘Hyper’ were battling mightily with the leading B- Class cars, until we lost Reg and then Richard, on subsequent laps at Bobbies chicane. Reg tried to take it without braking (silly boy!) and ended up spinning into the cornfield (Reg says the view is much better from there). Richard expired in a cloud of smoke (subsequently found to be head gasket), leaving the B-Sport battle to continue unabated.

By half distance the inevitable happened, Mike Evans charged through into the lead. Ray briefly took it back, but soon Mike was back through, into a lead he wasn’t to lose. Mike Hickson made it impossible for Ray to focus on the leader and Mike Evans eased out a 2 second cushion.

Unfortunately, we lost Anthony Denham on lap 7. The rocker cover gasket was leaking oil and this was getting on to the exhaust manifold. Rather than risk a major failure, Anthony decided to call it a day, elevating Darren to 5th and the Childs/Onion/Cogan battle was now for 6th.

In class B, David Bain had recovered from his atrocious start and had forced his way up to 3rd. in class, just a few seconds behind the leading pair. Steve Chaplin was just holding off Alan Davenport for 4th. these two being shadowed by Paul Morris.

Alan White-Aldworth was now the lone runner in F1300. He was just ahead of Neville McKay in a badly smoking and down on power works car (Neville’s pit crew denied they were timing him on an hour glass, but did have a calendar handy if that failed to give accurate times)

The chequered flag came out on completion of lap 10 and it was Mike Evans who took the spoils. Second was finally settled as they crossed the line, Ray Harper pipping Mike Hickson by less than 0.1 sec.s. Malcolm Jackson and Darren Green had (relatively) comfortable finishes in 4th.and 5th respectively, whilst it was Gavin Childs who just clung on to 6th ahead of Graham Onion and Geoff Cogan. The top 8 A-Sport cars all finished within 13 seconds of each other. That’s pretty competitive racing in anybodies’ book!

Dave Facer had managed to get alongside Ian Mitchell as they headed for the Esses on lap 10, but Ian had the inside line and that was close as Dave got. Ian crossed the line just 0.2 secs to the good, to take his first ever win in 39 years! ( which earned a deserved Driver of the Day), David Bain was not far away, finishing just 5 secs. adrift in 3rd in class.

Steve Chaplin just managed to hold off Alan Davenport for 4th these two being the last unlapped runners. Alan White-Aldworth took the F1300 spoils, finishing a lap down, and Neville McKay and Paul Morris completed the finishers, Paul having dropped back after his front splitter came adrift.

David Childs, watching with the FuelForce guests on the roof of the Strawford Centre, was stunned by the speed of the cars and the impressive racing. Maybe we can get him to spend more time watching!

The day was as near perfect as it could possibly be (our logistics specialist – Mike Hickson – denied that he had had a hand stage managing the race for the benefit of the FuelForce sponsors) it really was as good as it gets…. and to round it off Mike, and the social sub committee, really did arrange another successful Summer Ball at Mike’s country residence. (I was thrilled to receive the Mitie Spanner and, quite unusually for me, I was lost for words!!)

A final word Mrs and Mr Stella Clamp thanked everyone for their beautiful gift of Edinburgh Crystal glasses and decanter.

Look forward to seeing you all at Snet. (a few more B class cars would be good – just a thought)

Lots of love XXX

Sue Facer

Aka the Demonic Perm.

Scroll down for pictures and a further race report...

  

Evans wins from the back

Mike Evans took a remarkable victory from the rear of the grid as the Fuel Force Classic Clubmans Championship visited a packed Castle Combe for round six on Saturday (August 7).

In qualifying Peter Harper put his Mallock Mk20B on pole position by just 0.033s from Evans (Mallock 16B), who in turn was less than three-tenths of a second quicker than Ray Harper's Phantom P79. But double startline drama appeared to dent the chances of both front row men, with Evans not making it off the grid at the start of the green flag lap.

"I'd been having overheating problems so I was conscious of not starting the engine too early," revealed Mike. "Then when I tried to start the car nothing happened." Evans did eventually get away and was able to start the race behind the rest of the field.

When the red lights went out Peter Harper went nowhere, with the rest of the field fortunately avoiding him as they streamed towards Folly. Sadly, Peter's problem - a broken driveshaft - was terminal, and he was pushed back to the pit lane.

Ray Harper therefore led away with Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B) chasing, but Evans was on a charge and within two laps he was up to third. He nosed alongside Hickson on a couple of occasions before bravely slicing up the inside at Camp corner to claim second place, setting off in pursuit of Harper. On the seventh circuit he got a better exit from Camp, the extra momentum allowing him to get alongside through Folly and ahead over Avon Rise to take a memorable win.

"I pushed hard and locked wheels a few times, but I stayed on the tarmac," confirmed a delighted Evans. Harper described his race as "frightening", having struggled with the set-up of the car. "I'm sure he got past just because it was bouncing around so much," he rued.

Hickson just missed out on taking Harper's second place away, while Malcolm Jackson (Mk20B) took fourth. A good battle for Class B honours resulted in a popular win for Ian Mitchell's IM Mk1 over Dave Facer's Mallock Mk18BW, while the 1300cc-powered version of Alan White-Aldworth took Class D.

Result - 10 laps:
1 Mike Evans (Mallock Mk16) 12m23.103s (89.62mph); 2 Ray Harper (Phantom P79) 12m25.276s; 3 Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B); 4 Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B); 5 Darren Green (Mallock Mk19); 6 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75); 7 Graham Onion (Mallock Mk14); 8 Geoff Cogan (Gryphon C73); 9 Ian Mitchell (IM Mk1); 10 Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW). Class winners: Evans; Mitchell; Alan White-Aldworth (Mallock Mk18). Fastest lap: Jackson 1m 11.474s (93.18mph) record.

Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Clubmans Register
(tel 01952 510382)