Classic Clubmans Race Report 2004

Despite a strong turn out by the local boys (two of them live within ten miles of the circuit!) in was an invader from the borders, venturing south to snatch the win and the points from under their noses. Wielding his Claymore (at least, I think that’s what he said it was!) David ‘Mc’Childs just drove away from the opposition, to win as he pleased.

The fifth round of the Championship attracted an entry of 22 cars. Impressive point to note, is that 14 of these cars were A-Sports, the best turn out ever, for the class. The regulars were joined by Geoff Cogan, for the first time since his major engine failure at Rockingham in April 2003 and one complete newcomer to the class, Peter Carter (although not to the formula). After a disappointing start to the season in his B-Sport Mallock, a one off appearance in the Mallock work’s car, Pete dipped deep into the family coffers (hope Anne is reading this) and bought the Tony Richardson Phantom.

Seven B-Sports had made the trip, headed by Championship leader Barry Webb. Newcomer Mark Charteris was having his second ever race and hoping to record his first finish. Just one F1300 made the journey, All Jared Wood needed to do to secure the spoils, was finish – talk about pressure!!

For the second season running, Classic Clubmans were billed as the last race (what’s that about saving the best till last………#?++?*$!!), so it was just before midday (in real time it really was the same day) when all 22 cars took to the track. Local maestro, Mike Evans immediately set the pace and secured pole with a time in the very low 1 min. 28’s. David Childs was the only other driver to break into the 1 min.28 second bracket and he joined Mike on the front row.

Only two other drivers broke the 1 min 30 second barrier, Ray Harper in the Phantom and Malcolm Jackson in his Mallock, both having trouble free runs to take their places on row 2.

There was a 2 second gap to row 3, with Darren Green in the extremely rare Mk.19 and returning local, Geoff Cogan in his Gryphon C73, both logging times in the 1 min 31’s.

Row 4 had another Gryphon/Mallock combination, Gavin Childs in 7^th. And Mike Hickson in 8^th. Whilst row 5 was the first all Mallock affair, with Robin Booth and Graham Onion. These 4 cars all recording times in the 1 min. 32 sec. bracket.

Finlay Bason was on the inside of row 6 with the Myers special. He was joined by Jared Wood in the Batten F1300, the first non A-Sport car on the grid. Jared had just had his car on a rolling road and gained another 15 bhp.

Row 7 saw the first of the B-Sports and boy, was it close! Barry Webb securing the class pole by just .019 secs from Dave Facer, both of these guys in the 1 min.35’s.

Just behind them was Ian Mitchell. He was joined on row 8 by newcomer Mark Charteris. A remarkable performance for someone in just his second ever motor race.

Anthony Denham completed only three laps in the A-Sport Doris, when a head gasket failed. He was joined on row 9 by Alan Davenport. On row 10 was the Vegantune pairing of Steve Chaplin and Phil O’Halloran. Vegantune’s blonde bombshell overlord, unable to attend as he is still slowly recovering from his horrific motorcycle accident.

Finally on row 11, we had the last two A-sports who both had trouble. Snetterton winner Pete Harper was on the inside. He had suffered gearbox maladies and only completed three laps (Or so he told us. I secretly wonder if he just likes starting from the back! Helps with ‘Driver of the Day’ award deliberations). The final grid position was taken by Pete Carter in the ex-Tony Richardson Phantom (It never went when Tony had it Pete!). Ignition maladies limiting it to four laps.

With so many stoppages in previous races, there was even some doubt that Classic Clubmans would get their race in before the 6:00 pm curfew. It was just after 5:00 pm when the cars took to the track with a few dark clouds hovering over the circuit.

As the lights went out, David Childs streaked away into a lead he was never to lose. Behind him, the field all cleanly negotiated the first lap, Mike Evans 2^nd, Malcolm Jackson 3^rd. and Ray Harper sneaking past Geoff Cogan for 4^th.

Lone F1300, Jared Wood was running strongly in 12^th. And Barry Webb had got the jump on Dave Facer to head class B, this pairing closely followed by Ian Mitchell.

As the race started to settle, several two car dices were emerging. At the front, Mike Evans was trying all he knew to get past DC for the lead and Ray Harper was pushing Malcolm Jackson for 3^rd. Darren Green and Gavin Childs were fighting over 5^th. With Mike Hickson holding a watching brief and waiting for a mistake.

Sadly after three laps, we lost Pete Harper with an engine problem. (That wasn’t in the script Pete!) and then Geoff Cogan a lap later. Anthony Denham however, was working his way through the field and was up to 9^th. by half distance.

Qualifying suggested that the battle for class B would be close and so it proved. Barry Webb held the lead, but he was having to work very hard keeping a distance between himself and Dave Facer. Dave was holding station about 30 yards back, unable to get right on Barry’s tail. The gap opened a little, as Pete Carter came through from the back of the grid. Ian Mitchell was keeping Barry and Dave honest and Mark Charteris was having a superb race, hanging on in 4^th. A little further back, Steve Chaplin and Alan Davenport were nose to tail with Phil O’Halloran just behind them.

As the race entered its final phase, the situation at the front became less frenetic. DC had eased out a small gap to Mike Evans and Malcolm Jackson and Ray Harper were comfortable in 3^rd. and 4^th. places respectively. Mike Hickson now held an equally secure 5^th. after Darren Green had spun out of contention. Gavin Childs was 6^th. and Graham Onion 7^th. although Anthony Denham was continuing to make progress through the field. The big battle was for 9^th. where Finlay Bason in the Myers and Robin Booth in his Mallock were constantly fighting for the same piece of tarmac.

Peter Carter was secure ahead of the B-Class battle in 11^th. and on lap 9, all of Barry Webb’s efforts to secure his 4^th. class win of the season came to nothing as his car faltered at the Island Hairpin and finally rolled to a stop at the Knickerbrook Chicane. This allowed Dave Facer through to head the class.

In the meantime, Jared Wood had pitted the lone F1300 car with some strange handling, but seeing nothing visually wrong, his pit crew sent him on his way again (as they were eating ice creams anyway!).

On the last lap, Mike Evans very nearly lost his 2^nd. place with a spin at Knickerbrook, but just managed to stay in front of Malcolm Jackson, although well behind winner, David Childs. An ailing Ray Harper was comfortable (but disappointed) in 4^th. and Mike Hickson was very pleased with 5^th. Gavin was 6^th., Graham Onion 7^th. and Anthony Denham had to settle for 8^th. in a car sounding very rough at the finish. Finley just managed to keep ahead of Robin for 9^th. and Pete Carter was the final A-Sport runner home, in 11th. (Tony will be proud of you Pete)

Dave Facer was the last unlapped runner, as he came home with a comfortable win in Class B. Ian Mitchell picked up the class runner up spot and Mark Charteris was well pleased with the final podium position.

Steve Chaplin managed to keep Alan Davenport at bay to take 4^th. and Phil O’Halloran came home in 6^th. Jared Wood was the final finisher, two laps down after his unscheduled pit stop.

Anthony Denham was credited with Driver of the day after his storming drive from a lowly grid position and Dad, Chris won mechanic of the day, with all of his sterling work after practise after Anthony had blown a head gasket.

After most of the other races were punctuated with accidents and restarts, pushing the last race close to the curfew, Classic Clubmans once again, put on a display of clean exciting motor racing. What a shame, that once again we were given the final slot on the programme and many people had started to drift off home – more like “Playing to an Audience of One”. Oulton is a great circuit, much loved by many of the competitors. Hopefully next time, we will get a slot worthy of our formula.

Sorry I did not get round as much as usual (and I did not see many of you coming to talk to me!). See you all at Combe. Hopefully I will be mobile enough to dance, if not I’ll make up for with alcohol!!

PS The collection for Steve and Stella Clamp’s wedding showed what an Ab Fab bunch you all are, the response was amazing not only in generosity but the spirit of Clubmans really shone through.

David Childs showed a clean pair heels to the local ace Mike Evans at Oulton Park, taking a lights to flag victory in round five of the Fuelforce Classic Clubmans Championship on Saturday (24 July).

An excellent 22-car grid made the trip to Cheshire and as expected local ace Evans secured pole in his Mallock Mk16 by 0.639s over Childs’ Phantom P79. In class B only 0.019s separated championship leader Barry Webb (Mallock Mk16) from Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW), while Jared Wood’s Batten was clearly fastest in class D.

Although everyone made it to the starting grid, defending champion Peter Harper (Mallock Mk20B) only made three laps in qualifying, before a gearbox problem ended his session. Peter Carter was left on the back of the grid, after wiring problem hampered his first run in the ex-Tony Richardson Phantom P79.

As the lights went out, Childs made a lightning start, with Evans, Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B) and Geoff Cogan (Gryphon) in pursuit. Jackson managed to ease alongside Evans as they plunged down the Avenue, but Evans held his line and place into Cascades. Ray Harper (Phantom P79) had taken Cogan for fourth before the end of the first lap, as the lead quartet started to spread out a little.

With Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75) and Darren Green (Mallock) fighting over fifth, the top six started to pair off by the end of lap three. Evans kept the pressure on Childs, but was unable to make inroads on his rival’s lead. “I lost out exiting the hairpin. I had wheelspin and David didn’t,” explained Evans.

Despite the respective gaps opening and closing, the top four held station for remaining seven laps. Evans’ challenge finally ended with a last lap spin at Knickerbrook. “I was just trying too hard,” he said. Childs was delighted to take the win particularly on Evans’ home ground. “It really meant a lot to me, beating Mike here,” said David. Evans managed to recover from his late spin just before Jackson arrived on the scene.

Ray Harper was a fairly solitary fourth, while Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B) snatched fifth from Gavin Childs exiting Old Hall on lap six, after Green had a grassy excursion and fell from contention. It was Hickson’s first finish at Oulton Park and made the round trip from Germany well worthwhile.

In class B Webb had to work hard to pull out a gap on Facer. Onto the last lap Webb was in trouble though. “It just cut out at Island and then stopped at Knickerbrook,” he explained. Facer therefore charged by to take the class, well clear of Ian Mitchell (IM Mk1D). Despite a late pit stop Wood took class D, having run as high as eighth overall in the early laps.

Results – 10 laps:
1 David Childs (Phantom P79) 14m 49.723s (90.06mph); 2 Mike Evans (Mallock Mk16) 14m 58.968s; 3 Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B); 4 Ray Harper (Phantom P79); 5 Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B); 6 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75); 7 Graham Onion (Mallock Mk14E); 8 Antony Denham (Doris); 9 Finlay Bason (Myers Special); 10 Robin Booth (Mallock Mk20B). Class winners: David Childs; Dave Facer (Mallock MK18BW); Jared Wood (Batten MkI). Fastest lap: Evans 1m 27.709s (91.36mph) record.