CLASSIC CLUBMANS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
FROM ROVING REPORTER - SUE FACER
THE SAINT STONEWALLED!
Mark Charteris was relegated to second place for the first time this season, when Malcolm Jackson took his opportunity to sneak past and log his first win of the season.
In Class B, although beaten to pole position, it was Clive Wood who triumphed once again, with Dave Facer glued to his tail.
Entry
At last, Classic Clubmans recorded its first 20+ grid of the season. 22 cars were entered and 21 turned up on the day, the missing car being the sole Class D car of Jared Wood.
Having their first runs of the season were Mike Evans in Mike McDermotts Mallock Mk.16 and in class B, Jeremy Banks (Having attended a Natural Childbirth Trust meeting instead of coming to Donington!) and David Childs, fresh from the Antipodes. Also, a very warm welcome to Paul Marshall, having his very first race ever in the ex-Mike Gurr Mk.18.
Also for the first time ever, we had two Class C cars, Richard Fry with fresh engine, joining Bob Yarwood. Both driving Mallock Mk.8’s
Qualifying
Unlike last year, the day remained pleasant, if a little cool. 21 cars took to the track and the speed differential made it a very busy time, certainly for the front runners. Pete Harper was immediately in trouble and it was Mark Charteris who snatched pole from Malcolm Jackson by just 0.004 secs!
John Harrison and Steve Chaplin were the other two runners in the 45’s and made up row two. Mike Evans wringing every ounce of available power out of the Mk.16, was on the inside of row three, joined by Mike Hickson, disappointed to be so far adrift.
Row four saw the RSM Motorsport run pair of Sam Lancaster and Robin Booth. Row five was made up of the first of the Class B cars, Dave Facer just pipping Clive Wood to the class pole, both with times under the magic 50 second barrier. Joining them in the 49 second bracket was Ian Mitchell in the IM1. It’s a long time since Ian set a sub 50 second time in his B-Sport! He was joined on row six by Pete Harper, logging just one flying lap.
The next three grid places were taken by B-Sport cars within just 0.2 secs of each other. Jeremy Banks just had the edge over David Childs in the Centaur. Hot on their heels was newcomer Paul Marshall, showing an amazing turn of speed.
Paul was joined on row eight by Alan Davenport, albeit 2 seconds adrift. The last of the A-Sport cars, Bob Crozier was on row nine, joined by the first of the Class C cars, that of Bob Yarwood.
Rob Beazer was on row ten, having just completed one lap of practise, when his gearbox tried to select two gears at once. You need a good gearbox man Rob! He was joined by Tony Harman. Richard Fry in the other Class C car brought up the rear, having had his very smoky engine from Thruxton successfully rebuilt.
Race
Boy, were those lights held for a long time! It seemed to catch everybody out and a few people were creeping when the red lights were finally turned off. John Harrison was already with the front row, but it was Mark Charteris who grabbed the initiative and stormed away into the lead, closely followed by Malcolm Jackson. Pete Harper got an absolute flyer, but threw it all away with an over zealous move at the hairpin, causing him to spin.
In Class B, Dave Facer got bogged down, so it was Clive Wood who grabbed the initiative he was never to lose. Dave held second, closely followed by Ian Mitchell and David Childs.
At the end of lap one it was Mark from Malcolm, closely followed by John Harrison and Steve Chaplin. Next up was Mike Evans and Mike Hickson, already being harried by a recovering Pete Harper. Clive held the Class B lead from Dave Facer. Then there was already a gap developing to Ian Mitchell. Ian was clear of the squabbling trio of DC, Paul Marshall and the last A-Sport car of New Yorker, Bob Crozier. These three were being hounded by Rob Beazer, making good progress from the back of the grid.
Jeremy Banks was ahead of Bob Yarwood and Alan Davenport. Then came Tony Harman and Richard Fry.
The speed differential meant that the front runners were very quickly lapping the backmarkers. Inevitably this would have some affect on the final result. At half distance, Marks initial advantage had been eroded and a slight hesitation in passing a slower car, allowed Malcolm to slip through into a lead he was never to lose. John Harrison was pushing Mark close for second, but inevitably the ten second penalty board came out with the number 30 against it. His cracking start was considered just too premature!
In Class B, Clive maintained his slight advantage over Dave, although this was also at risk as the pair lapped slower cars. Ian was comfortably in third and Rob Beazer was secure in fourth place.
So at the flag it was Malcolm from Mark. Johns third on the road was relegated to fourth when the ten seconds were applied, so Steve Chaplin inherited the final podium place. Pete Harper was fifth, but had the consolation of setting a new lap record during his fruitless chase. Mike Evans was lonely in sixth and Mike Hickson equally lonely in seventh. Robin Booth came out on top in the close battle for eighth with Sam Lancaster, these two just ahead of the Class B battle.
Clive was just 0.5 secs. to the good over Dave, to secure the Class B win. He backed this up with a fastest lap just 0.027 secs. better than Dave’s best effort.
Mitch was comfortable in third and Rob Beazer equally comfortable in fourth in class. DC was fifth, just holding off newcomer Paul Marshall, who drove a very mature first ever race and Bob Crozier, who admits to not really getting to grips with the fast sweeps of Mallory Park.
Jeremy Banks headed home class C winner, Bob Yarwood. These two were followed home by Alan Davenport, Tony Harman and then Richard Fry, a further lap down.
The great news was, that 21 cars started the race and 21 cars finished. After the multi car pile up in the Classic Saloon race immediately before, it was pleasing to see very fast, but eminently sensible driving, bearing in mind the speed differences.
It was also good to see, that several other drivers, not yet racing in 2008, made the effort to come and support. Steve Campbell brought the whole family and B-Sport protagonists, Mike Sales and John Deane-Bowers were both present and both plan to be out at Brands.
21 cars takes our average number of starters (based on cars qualifying) up to 16.5. We must bear in mind, that the MSA have raised the bar from 16 to 18 cars. We must achieve the 18 car average for the season, otherwise the championship could be subject to a yellow card. So come on you guys who have yet to appear. Dust off those cars and come out to play!
Sue Facer
The Demonic Perm
Note: For those of you who didn’t study history and failed to understand the headline, General ‘Stonewall’ Jackson was a Confederate General in the American Civil War!