CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2007
Reigning Champion Peter Harper was able to consolidate his title defence, with a double win at a blistering hot Pembrey.
Only 0.374secs separated Harper’s Mallock from rival Mark Charteris after qualifying for Saturday’s race, “I was pleased with the time made early on. I came in early after scaring myself a couple of times spinning,” said Harper. “I had a good session but I still think Peter pipped me. I had a small shaft seal leak and it was getting onto my rear tyres too,” replied Charteris.
Steve Chaplin’s Phantom was third best, “it understeered when the tyres warmed up, but it was beautiful until then,” he reckoned. Completing the second row was Antony Denham’s Doris, “it started misfiring after the session was halted with the red flag,” he explained.
Bob Crozier was both surprised and delighted to have his Mallock Mk11 as high as fifth, “that was fantastic and I think I can go quicker. I did have a little off though after touching the rumble strips near the paddock exit,” he admitted.
Down in sixth Gavin Childs’ Gryphon was “getting better but still not driveable around Hairpins.” “I hadn’t been here for 20 years or so, but seemed to get along Ok,” added Keith Whyman, after his Mallock made seventh best.
In eighth was Clive Wood, fastest in class B. “I was taking Honda flat for the first time and a mudguard flew off. It surprised me and I spun,” he explained.
Mike Evans’ class A car was next after a troublesome seasonal debut. “I am getting used to the car again and to handle the new engine, which is fine. Just trying to get everything else to work,” he said.
Dave Facer’s Mallock was second in class B, “that was maybe quicker than I have been around here, and flat through Honda,” he said. Sam Lancaster was next but his Mallock brought out the reds, “I was in fourth gear and ran out of road exiting Dibeni,” he thought, but brake failure proved to be the cause. John Deane-Bowers survived as he learned the circuit, but Ian Mitchell’s IM fell off and buckled the nose at Hatchetts, restricting him to eight laps. Also off was Jeremy Banks, damaging his nose after running wide at Hatchetts too.
RACE 1
Evans pitted on the green flag and was unable to take the start. But Harper led the chase to Hatchetts, with Charteris, Chaplin, Denham, Childs, Whyman and Wood following line astern. For Lancaster it was already over, “the throttle stuck open heading for Hatchetts, so I just looked for somewhere safe to park it,” he said.
The lead pair soon extended their advantage, with Denham chasing Chaplin for third and Childs keeping Whyman at bay. By lap three though Harper was easing clear and Chaplin followed suit for third a few laps later. Although Childs still held fifth, Whyman was poised to challenge and Crozier was also too close to be discounted.
Whyman made it past Childs on lap 10, but Denham started to lose ground with a misfire. Charteris was also sounding flat, which dropped him back and allowed Harper to cruise to the end and his first win of the weekend. “I didn’t know I was so far in front after Mark had trouble,” said Harper.
It was to get worse for Charteris though, “I could stay with Peter but then had to back off, but had no drive at the end, the diff went,” he explained after cruising pitwards with a lap to go.
Chaplin therefore picked up second, “it was hot, but we had less understeer after our wing adjustment,” he reckoned. Despite his misfire Denham was third after Charteris’ demise. “I think the misfire was something electrical, but at least we finished this time,” he said.
Whyman and Childs continued their duel and successfully kept Crozier at bay. “There was one place I was quicker than Gavin, and that was Brooklands and I got him there,” said fourth placed Whyman. “After Keith got me the temperature soared and I backed off a bit,” Childs replied. “I lost out at the start, I still do it the American way and have to try and catch up,” said sixth placed Crozier.
In class B Wood was dominant. Mitchell had started to close on Facer, until a misfire afflicted the IM after seven laps. Facer was left clear in second, “it was comfortable, but I couldn’t get anywhere near Clive,” he said. Deane-Bowers and Banks both made it past Mitchell too, after he nursed his car home. “It went off and then cleared, but came back worse, it was a plug,” Mitchell reckoned.
RESULT
1 Peter Harper (Mallock Mk20B) 18 laps in 17m31.243s (89.74mph); 2 Steve Chaplin (Phantom P79) 17m59.918s; 3 Antony Denham (Doris CKM); 4 Keith Whyman (Mallock Mk20B); 5 Gavin Childs (Gryphon C73/76); 6 Bob Crozier (Mallock MK11); 7 Clive Wood (Mallock Mk20); 8 Dave Facer (Mallock Mk18BW); 9 John Deane-Bowers (Mallock Mk16); 10 Jeremy Banks (Mallock Mk20). Class winner: Wood. Fastest lap: Harper 56.195s (93.26mph).
There were no casualties from Saturday’s race and so all 14 made it out for Sunday morning qualifying in temperatures already exceeding 20C. Harper and Charteris once again claimed the front row. “I had a bit of a misfire, so only did a few laps,” said Harper after claiming pole again. “I’ve not got the right ratios for here, it’ll be OK and we cured the oil leak,” Charteris replied.
“I only did a few laps too, it was starting to feel a bit loose and slide around, plus the engine temperature was a bit high,” said third placed Chaplin. Denham managed fourth, “but the misfire came in after seven laps,” he explained. Evans was fifth and much happier with his mount. Whyman just headed Crozier for sixth, “I broke a half shaft at Hatchetts,” said the New Yorker. Childs was down in eighth, “it was car preservation and the first time Steve Chaplin did as he was told to come in early,” said Childs.
Wood headed the class B contingent again from Facer, “I was losing out to Clive every lap at Hatchetts,” said Facer. Mitchell was next up, “well the misfire was cured, it was a plug lead,” he confirmed. Deane-Bowers survived a seized brake piston at Hatchetts for 12th place, heading Lancaster and Banks.
RACE 2
Harper was into his stride as soon as the lights went out, with Charteris and Chaplin in hot pursuit, while Whyman and Denham exchanged places for fourth exiting Hatchetts.
After a couple of laps the lead duo were clear again, but Denham was chasing Chaplin and taking Whyman with him. But a couple of laps later Denham’s misfire was back, and both Whyman and Childs profited.
Childs was next to lose ground though, “the battery was failing,” he said. So both he and Denham started to fall back, leaving Chaplin clear in third. Evans and Crozier were next in line to demote Childs, but it was all change at the front too after Charteris slid off. “It just understeered off at Dibeni and broke the nose. I had managed to get alongside Peter at Brooklands earlier,” he explained.
There were more problems on the horizon though when Chaplin slowed with four laps to go. “It was just like I had run out of fuel, it started and just got worse,” he explained. Harper was left unchallenged to secure win number two, “I had a misfire but managed to short shift and work around. It never missed a beat otherwise, it could have been fuel starvation,” said the double winner.
Whyman clinched second in the closing laps sort out, with Evans and Crozier heading the unfortunate Chaplin.
In class B Wood had briefly lost out to Facer at the start, but took command from the end of the opening lap. Towards the end though he slowed and had the second place battle catching. “The gearbox mount broke and the engine was moving and pressing against me through some corners. I thought about pitting,” he said. The second place duel went to the flag after Facer and Mitchell shared a number of exchanges. Although Mitchell led into Honda for the final time, Facer won the dash for the line by 0.003secs. “I saw where the line was and knew I had got it,” said Facer.
Childs limped home behind Wood for seventh overall, and Lancaster, Deane-Bowers and Banks followed Mitchell in both class and overall.
RESULT
1 Harper 18 laps in 17m52.865s (87.93mph); 2 Whyman 18m14.978s; 3 Mike Evans (Mallock Mk16); 4 Crozier; 5 Chaplin; 6 Wood; 7 Childs; 8 Facer; 9 Ian Mitchell (IM); 10 Sam Lancaster (Mallock Mk20). Class winner: Wood. Fastest lap: Charteris 57.105s (91/78mph).
NEXT ROUND: BRANDS HATCH, JUNE 30TH/JULY 1ST.
Issued by Peter Scherer for the Clubmans Register, June 12th, 2007. Contact 01332 362577/07802 853244 peter@scher.freeserve.co.uk