CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
Peter Harper may have battled through to take another outright win in the penultimate round at Oulton Park, but the attention was focused on the battle for the class B crown between defending champion Mark Charteris and Clive Wood. Although Charteris got the win, Wood’s fastest lap guaranteed that the battle goes down to the wire for the Donington finale.
In a greasy qualifying session Harper’s Mallock scorched to pole by 3.784secs, “I was really surprised in those conditions and I had to abort one lap which I think was quicker,” he explained. Malcolm Jackson’s Mallock was second best, “well everything seemed OK, nothing wrong, but still over three seconds behind Peter, so I need to wake up for the race,” he said.
Mike Hickson’s Mallock headed the second row, just ahead of Steve Chaplin’s Phantom. “I had a few twitchy moments, but only one clean lap,” said Chaplin. Steve Campbell was happy too with his fifth place, “I was pleased today that our revised suspension set up worked. We had softened it after Mallory,” said the Raffo driver.
Class B leader Charteris completed the third row, with class pole by over four seconds in his Mallock. “That felt really good and under the lap record too,” he said.
Having this year concentrated on the Clubmans Cup, Mike Evans brought his Mallock out for a seasonal debut in the Classic’s, and qualified in seventh, with Gavin Childs Gryphon alongside. “My right rear tyre went down, but I didn’t notice it until we got back to the pits, apart from the strange handling,” explained Childs.
The class A cars of Robin Booth, Sam Lancaster and Peter Carter were next up, before Barry Webb’s Mallock that was second quickest in class B. “It’s not an excuse but I do have a cracked chassis,” explained Webb. “I took it easier than I should have done, but thought it had gone fine. I got sideways a couple of times, but that time of Mark’s was phenomenal,” said third placed Wood. Mike Gurr, Ian Mitchell and Robert Beazer completed the 16 qualifiers.
Peter Carter’s Phantom was the only absentee from the starting grid, but when the lights went out it was fellow Phantom racer Chaplin that just snatched the lead into Old Hall, over Jackson and Harper. “I just wasn’t concentrating and then thought oh the lights,” explained Harper. Campbell slotted into fourth, but Jackson wasted no time in piling the pressure on for the lead, slipping ahead into Island.
Hickson ousted Campbell from fourth on the opening lap and by the end of the second, Childs joined in for a six car break. A lap later Campbell and Childs had started to fall back, while Jackson’s lead grew as Harper battled for second with Chaplin, and Hickson started to close on them both.
Into Cascades for the fourth time Harper was into second. “I realised I was holding Peter up, so decided to let him go,” said Chaplin. With Hickson next to threaten Chaplin, Campbell and Childs found Evans closing in on their duel for fifth. Back at the front though Jackson’s advantage was quickly erased as Harper closed in. “I went side by side with Malcolm up Clay Hill and then got him into Druids,” said Harper. “I thought I might have held on if Peter hadn’t got past Steve Chaplin when he did. I was on the marbles when he got me though,” Jackson replied.”
Once ahead Harper held on, but Jackson was never far behind. Chaplin kept Hickson at bay for third, “that was the first time I have ever led a race,” he said. “I was quicker than Steve into Druids and closed up to get level at Lodge a couple of times, but he’s got a very wide car,” replied Hickson.
Campbell held onto fourth, “my brakes started to go and I got on the grass at Old Hall, but still didn’t lift,” he said. Childs reconsolidated sixth over Evans and Booth completed the class A finishers, after Lancaster was blackflagged.
Charteris led class B throughout and was aided by an early spin from Wood at Cascades. “I know I didn’t get fastest lap, but I can’t have everything,” Charteris concluded. Wood reclaimed second in class from Webb within a lap. “I just wasn’t quick enough, and only got in front of Clive when he spun,” said Webb.
Mitchell and Gurr were barely separated in the entire race and completed the finishers, after Beazer retired on his ninth lap.
1 Peter Harper (Mallock Mk20B) 12 laps in 17m45.638s (90.24mph); 2 Malcolm Jackson (Mallock Mk20B) 17m46.229s; 3 Steve Chaplin (Phantom P79); 4 Mike Hickson (Mallock Mk20B); 5 Steve Campbell (Raffo 77C); 6 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/75). Class A 1 P.Harper; 2 Jackson; 3 Chaplin; 4 Hickson. Class B: 1 Mark Charteris (Mallock Mk20B); 2 Clive Wood (Mallock Mk20B); 3 Barry Webb (Mallock Mk16BW); 4 Ian Mitchell (IM MK1. Fastest lap: P.Harper 1m26.528s (92.61mph).