Classic Clubmans Race Report 2004

Ray Mallock claimed a marvellous victory in the final round of the Fuelforce Classic Clubmans Championship at Thruxton on Sunday (10 October). Mallock won a tremendous race-long contest with Malcolm Jackson for victory, while Barry Webb clinched the overall championship title.

The scene for what was to be a thrilling race was set when Jackson took pole by just four-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, Ian Mitchell continued his remarkable run by taking Class B pole by less than a second from Dave Facer and Barry Webb.

Mallock's first drama came on the green flag lap when the rev counter failed. Nevertheless, he made a blinding start to edge ahead of Jackson on the dash to Campbell and their pace quickly took them clear of the rest of the pack. For the next 10 laps the appreciative crowd was treated to a thrilling contest as the two cars ran neck and neck. Jackson tried repeatedly to find a way ahead, but he was offered no chance and they crossed the line split by just half a second.

Throughout the race the leading pair smashed the lap record, each lowering the standard three times before Jackson claimed the new mark at 1m18.077s, two and a half seconds under the previous record!

"That's the fastest I've been for a while," said Jackson after a truly sporting contest that both drivers enjoyed to the full. "It was great from where I was sitting," added Mallock after what was thought to have been his first overall Clubmans race win for three decades!

Behind the leaders, Gavin Childs ran third until Mike Hickson got into his stride and squeezed ahead on the rush up to the Chicane for the seventh time. A little way further back, Antony Denham finally worked clear of a fine tussle with Darren Green and Ewan Bason to claim fifth.

Another mighty contest raged for Class B as Mitchell had his hands full of Facer, Mark Charteris and Class A racer Graham Onion. It was a great battle and the result was in doubt until the final corner. However, Mitchell kept them at bay with another excellent drive to claim his third win of the season!

A quiet run to fourth in class, hindered by the wrong diff, was enough to secure the championship title for Webb at the conclusion of a record-breaking season.

Results; round 10 - 10 laps:
1 Ray Mallock (Mallock Mk11G) 13m13.019s (106.95mph); 2 Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B) 13m13.566s; 3 Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B); 4 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75); 5 Antony Denham (Doris CKM); 6 Darren Green (Mallock Mk19); 7 Ewan Bason (Myers Special); 8 Ian Mitchell (IM Mk1); 9 Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW); 10 Graham Onion (Mallock Mk14E). Class winners: Mallock; Mitchell. Fastest lap: Jackson 1m18.077s (108.63mph).