FUELFORCE CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2004

 Round 1.          Silverstone        April 12th.2004

It’s Childs Play on the World Wide Webb!

 

David Childs and Barry Webb dominated proceedings on the Silverstone National Circuit on Easter Monday, with untroubled  pole to flag wins in their respective classes, whilst Steve Clamp gained his first class win in the F1300 category.

 Entry

 Although only 12 cars had entered by the official closing date, the final entry list consisted of 20 cars, although this was reduced to 19 by the no show from Finlay Bason in the Myers Special.

The 9 A-Sport cars featured one interesting addition and a couple of welcome returns. During the winter, the Doris had been upgraded from F1300. It’s progress will be watched with interest. Ray Mallock took a moment from his birthday celebrations to find the time to play, before the Touring Car and GT Championships get underway in earnest, so it was a welcome return for the Mk.11, it’s first outing since it’s unfortunate demise from the Snetterton race in 2003. Also returning to A-Sport after a much extended break, was Malcolm Jackson, who tested the water in B-Sport for the last two races of 2003.

B-Sport also featured one welcome addition to the championship (although he did win the class at the Haggispeed Trophy race). Barry Webb was back out in the Mallock Mk.16 that he first built back in the 70’s

F1300 managed just three cars. With the Tasman up for sale and the Doris now running in A-Sport, the mantle is now on Richard Hypher’s shoulders, to mix it with the class A cars.

 Qualifying

Although not particularly warm, it was a pleasant  enough day and the 19 cars unleashed themselves for the first time in anger in 2004. It was obvious from the outset, that the new “slim line” flying great-grandfather was going to be the man to beat, DC’s time of 61.4, was 0.4 secs clear of his nearest rival. Mike Hickson joined David on the front row. It’s either all of that training in Basra , or practicing on the Autobahns!

The second and third rows were totally Mallock territory. Malcolm Jackson was the only other driver to break into the 61 second bracket. He was joined on row 2 by Ray Mallock, slowed slightly by a cracked exhaust manifold.

The third row was a Gerry Attrix affair, Graham Onion just heading Darren Green. Both drivers complaining about their lack of talent! (Don’t worry guys, it’s only old age and rust!)

Anthony Denham in the Doris was on the inside of row 4 and he was joined by Reg Powell, both drivers in the 63’s. Gavin Childs was the final A-Sport, on row 5, also in the 63’s.

Joining Gavin on row 5 was the first B-Sport, Barry Webb setting a time a second and a half quicker than his nearest rival and well inside the lap record.

Ian Mitchell was next up in the IM1, sporting a car 60 pounds lighter (the secret tip being leave off the paint!) than last year and with a very quick engine. He was joined on row 6 by the ever improving Steve Chaplin, also with a fresh engine.

Richard Hypher was the first F1300 car, although he was disappointing down on row 7. An intermittent fault reduced him the three cylinders, so maybe row 7 wasn’t so bad after all? He was joined by Iain Morton, also with a mild ignition malady.

Dave Facer was in a lowly 15th.spot, having spent much of his time in the kitty litter at the end of the straight. The marshals got him out in time to qualify, so he then liberally sprinkled the pit lane with kitty litter before resuming (well his Mum always said it’s nice to share dear)! He was joined on row 8 by Alan Davenport.

Peter Carter was the last B-Sport, loose rear wheel bearings playing havoc with the handling. Steve Clamp in the 2nd. F1300 joining him on row 9. Jared Wood was the single occupant of row 10 after rather carelessly losing a plug lead.

Race

I’ll have to stop saying ‘As the lights turned to green’, because this time they didn’t! Classic Clubmans enjoying their first Grand Prix style start. Anyway, they all got the message and as the lights went out, DC seized a lead he was never to lose. He was closely followed by Malcolm Jackson, Mike Hickson getting bogged down (again!) and giving himself it all to do.

The whole field moved cleanly through Copse, but exiting Becketts, Ian Mitchell, who was holding the B-Sport lead after a flying start, half spun and made contact with Richard Hypher. In the ensuing melee, they collected an innocent Iain Morton. Richard and Iain retired on the spot, whilst Ian Mitchell struggled on with a badly bent rear axle.

Across the line at the end of the first lap, it was Childs and Jackson followed by a recovering Hickson. The A-Sport train continued with Ray Mallock, Graham Onion, Anthony Denham and Reg Powell under serious pressure from Gavin Childs. Darren Green spun at Luffield having lost his brakes.

In B-Sport, Barry Webb was not having it all his own way. Steve Chaplin was pushing him very hard and Dave Facer was up to 3rd. having benefited from the Becketts accident.

Alan Davenport and Peter Carter followed with Steve Clamp and Jared Wood having a tremendous tussle for F1300 honours at the rear of the field.

As the race progressed, David eased away from Malcolm Jackson as Malcolm had to drive defensively to keep Mike Hickson at Bay.  Gavin Childs found his way past Reg Powell and started to challenge Anthony Denham for 6th.

Peter Carter got it all wrong at Copse on Lap 4, luckily avoiding anything hard as he went off on the inside. A lap later, Darren Green’s race went from bad to worse and he retired with a total lack of drive.

In class B, Barry Webb had eased clear of Steve Chaplin and Steve suddenly found

himself under pressure from Dave Facer. A missed gear exiting Becketts on lap 7 and Dave was through into 2nd.place, a position he wasn’t to lose.

The F1300 battle continued, with regular place swapping, until Jared retired on lap 10, leaving Steve Clamp to continue unchallenged.

 

So at the end, it was DC by a comfortable 6 seconds. Malcolm Jackson just scraped home by inches from Mike Hickson, followed by birthday boy Ray Mallock in 4th.(53 Ray? You’re not old enough for Classic Clubmans!)  A further 4 seconds back. Graham Onion had a steady drive to 5th. Whilst Gavin Childs got the better of Anthony Denham for 6th. Reg Powell was the last of the A-Sport runners, complaining about lack of grip and being let down by Avon.

Barry Webb had an equally comfortable B-Sport win, beating Dave to the line by 6 seconds. Steve Chaplin was 3rd. just 2 seconds further back and Ian Mitchell was 4th.with hideous toe in on his offside rear wheel. Steve Clamp was last home, but wrapped up the F1300 class in the process!

By virtue of his fastest lap, Barry Webb now leads both the K-Sport and the Classic Clubmans championships. Let’s see how long you can keep that up Barry!

On a more serious note, A-Sport could not look more prosperous, with 10 cars entered and several more to come (The Harper Brothers, Mike Evans and Geoff Cogan to name but a few). B-Sport and F1300 on the other hand are worryingly thin, both formulae losing cars to A-Sport.

Come on guys! Dust off those cars and get out. Your formula needs you!

                                                                                                            Sue Facer

                                                                                                            The Demonic Perm

 

 

Clubmans Register news: Fuel Force Classic Clubmans round one

 

April 13th 2004

 

Childs opens with a win

 

David Childs took the opening spoils as the Fuelforce Classic Clubmans Championship kicked off at Silverstone on Easter Monday (12 April). However, the Mallock MK20Bs of Malcolm Jackson and Mike Hickson pressed Childs hard during an excellent contest as class victories fell to Barry Webb (Mallock Mk16) and Stephen Clamp (DRAT F1300).

 

A strong field assembled for the start of the new season, with Childs fresh back from spending six months in Australia. Despite only sitting in his Phantom P79 for the start of qualifying, Childs set pole with a lap that was more than a second under his own lap record. In Class B, Webb took his ex-Chris Hart Mk16 to class pole from Ian Mitchell (IM Mk1) while Richard Hypher (RAE) headed class D.

 

Childs got an excellent start as Hickson struggled away from the outside of the front row, allowing Jackson to slot into second from Ray Mallock (Mallock Mk11G). Unfortunately, a tangle at Becketts on the opening lap eliminated Hypher and Iain Morton (Mallock Mk14).

 

With Hickson fighting back into contention and edging ahead of Mallock, the leading quartet made a superb sight running in close formation with Graham Onion (Mallock Mk14E) leading the chase. It took until lap seven for Childs to finally extend a gap on his pursuers when Jackson lost out in traffic on the run to Copse. "There were a few backmarkers and David just got the jump," said Jackson.

 

With a five-second lead, Childs could finally relax a little, but Jackson had his mirrors full of Hickson. Despite setting a new lap record on the final lap, Hickson could not find a way ahead of veteran Jackson, who was making his debut in Class A. "I would have liked to have gone forwards at the start, not backwards," added Hickson.

 

Mallock, celebrating his birthday and having a relaxed day out after over-seeing SEAT's first BTCC victory the previous day, was a close fourth from Onion.

 

Webb's perfect day concluded with a commanding Class B victory as Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW) worked ahead of Steve Chaplin (Mallock Mk14) for the runner-up slot. Meanwhile, Clamp was elated to take his first Class D victory. "I'll go home with a big, big grin," he said on the podium.

 

Results – 12 laps:

1 David Childs (Phantom P79) 12m37.386s (93.71mph); 2 Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B) 12m43.743s; 3 Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B); 4 Ray Mallock (Mallock Mk11G); 5 Graham Onion (Mallock Mk14E); 6 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75); 7 Antony Denham (Doris); 8 Reg Powell (Gryphon C73); 9 Barry Webb (Mallock Mk16); 10 Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW). Class winners: Childs; Webb; Stephen Clamp (DRAT F1300). Fastest lap: Hickson 1m01.007s (96.71mph).

 

The Classic Clubmans action resumes at Mallory Park on 2 May.

 

Issued by Paul Lawrence on behalf of the Clubmans Register

(tel 01952 510382)