CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
A mixture of regulars, returnees and newcomers were in action at Mallory Park for the annual exclusive test day.
Mike Hickson became an early casualty when his Mallock had transmission problems. “We changed the gearbox over winter, same make but a different set up, more suited to racing whereas last years was for hillclimbs,” he said. But after a handful of laps he was sidelined when the propshaft seized solid.
Gavin Childs Gryphon now has the engine that father David used in his Phantom to good effect last season. “We make sure everything works in these tests and that’s usually where the trouble starts,” he reckoned.
“We have rebuilt our car over winter to make it more reliable,” said Antony Denham. “We hoped to give the Doris new paint job too, but it looks OK from a distance,” he added.
Malcolm Jackson has rebuilt his Mallock’s engine and gone for new tyres and pads. But defending champion Mark Charteris is delaying his move into the A sports until mid season. “I have had the engine and gearbox rebuilt and will start the season in the same spec as last year,” he confirmed.
Ray Harper has changed from his Phantom to a Mallock Mk20B for this year. “I bought the car as spares as originally, it’s an old Bob Prest Hillclimb car. It made sense economically to have the same car as Peter, so I sold the Phantom to Mike Sales,” Ray explained. For Sales a former champion, it will mean a track return after a very lengthy absence.
Peter Harper has modified the brakes and had a new clutch and shockers for his Mallock, but had problems with a slipping clutch during testing.
“I’ve done some work on the motor, rebuilt the gearbox and got a new paint job,” said Raffo driver Steve Campbell.
Simon Andrew is doing selected rounds again with his Mallock, after a “general winter tidy up.”
“I have worked on my Mallock’s rear suspension set up over the winter. Hopefully it’s going to stop the rear end roll and make me go faster,” said Alan Davenport.
Although Ian Mitchell has been a stalwart of the championship, he is bringing out the CTG for the first time for about 30 years. “My IM is ready but after a two year rebuild I decided to race the CTG. It last competed in hillclimbs, and I gave it a shakedown at a karting circuit before bringing it to Mallory,” he explained.
Peter Carter (Phantom) and Graham Onion (Mallock) turned up for the afternoon session in their rebuilt cars, after problems with their truck had delayed them.
Ian Megson’s immaculate Mallock ran in the morning session and will once again be out in selected rounds.
Jared Wood is hoping for more competition in the 1300’s. “I have had my best pre-season preparation and test ever and now I want to challenge some of the class A cars,” he reckoned.
Clive Wood is making a return to Clubmans racing with a Mallock Mk20, prepared by Richard Mallock.
Another racing returnee, but newcomer to Clubmans is John Deane-Bowers. “I raced Renault 5TS’s about 20 years ago,”said the ski instructor. He has bought Steve Chaplin’s Mallock and hadn’t even sat in the car before the test. Chaplin himself will be out in the ex David Childs race winning Phantom.
Simon Townsend is also considering joining the championship later in the year with his Mallock Mk20B. “I have never raced anything before, but we got the car from Jersey where it was hillclimbed by James LaCarriere and Bill Cohu. At the moment it’s got some newer modifications on so I might do some hillclimbs or sprints first,” he explained.
The opening round of the championship is at Thruxton on May 6th.
Issued by Peter Scherer for the Clubmans Register April 10th 2006. Contact 01332 362577/07802 853244 or peter@scher.freeserve.co.uk