FUELFORCE CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
Pouring rain greeted the Fuelforce Classic Clubmans field as they went out for qualifying at Thruxton. But it was seasonal debutant Darren Green securing pole in his Mallock Mk14, by a staggering 2.421s. “I haven’t got a clue why I am so quick. It’s my first time out this year and we have rebuilt the back axle so the car is going straight now,” he explained.
Peter Harper’s MallockMk20B was next up, with another 2.3secs in hand over brother Ray’s Phantom. “The plan was just to go as fast as possible in the conditions,” said Peter. Mike Hickson was fractionally further back in fourth. “I just drove too slowly,” he reckoned. Class B frontrunner Mark Charteris was next up, while Ray Mallock completed the top six in a rare championship round appearance. Ewan Bason headed the fourth row in the Myers Special, with Antony Denham alongside, with Doris finally behaving, “it was a case of who was the bravest, although we had to change the fuel pump before the session started,” he said. Tony Harman (Haggispeed) and Steve Chaplin (Mallock Mk14) completed the top ten qualifiers, while among the fancied who were well down, were Malcolm Jackson, Steve Campbell and both David and Gavin Childs.
“I spun at Noble on the first lap and then again at the start and finish line in puddles. There’s no grip and no traction,” said the Raffo driver. “I didn’t like that at all, with puddles everywhere I just went steady,” said Jackson.
The rain had stopped but the track was still damp as the 21 car grid assembled. But as the green flag was prepared Green’s pole sitting Mallock was in trouble and was pushed away to non start. Having recently tasted success at the Doune and Harewood Hillclimbs, Peter Harper made the best start, but had Mallock hard on his heels. As the RML supremo made a challenge at the Complex, Harper kept the door closed and Mallock spun, as did Ray Harper.
Hickson moved into second with Denham pressing, while Bason, Charteris, Jackson, Reg Powell, David Childs and the recovering Mallock sorted themselves out behind.
Charteris spun at the chicane and Hickson at the Complex, leaving Bason to chase Denham for second. Then both Bason and Hickson spun at the chicane, as Mallock stormed back to snatch second from Denham at the chicane on lap three. “I think I woke Malcolm when I went past him, because he started to follow me,” said Mallock. Both started to close on Harper and Jackson took second on the fourth lap. “I had a few lurid moments early on but didn’t spin. Ray woke me up, so I thought if he can go that fast, so can I,” said Jackson.
Jackson’s charge gave him the lead into Allard a lap later, with Mallock following into second, Harper then had the first of three spins, moving both Denham and Ray Harper ahead. But Ray started spinning too, only to recover and claim third with a lap to go.
While Jackson cruised to a clear victory, Mallock held a solid second. (When I spun challenging Peter, it really got me fired up,” said Mallock. Denham reclaimed third, after Ray Harper spun again on the last lap, but still held off brother Peter for fourth. We altered the rear wing and it didn’t help. I think three spins is the most I have ever had in one race,” said Peter.
Most of the rest of the field had spins too, so Geoff Cogan fought back to sixth in his Gryphon, after Campbell made a smokey exit.
The rest of the top ten was made up of the class B leaders. Dave Facer had grabbed the lead when Charteris had his early spin, only to spin himself on a couple of occasions, to hand the advantage back to Charteris. The battle for second went to the flag though, with Facer just keeping Steve Chaplin at bay.
Jared Wood’s Batten was the only class D starter and retired after three laps.
Next round Croft, August 13/14th
Issued by Peter Scherer for the Clubmans Register May 16th 2005. Contact 01332 362577/07802 853244 or peter@scher.freeserve.co.uk