Classical Gas


 

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Pembrey
Donington Park
Snetterton
Cadwell Park
Lydden Hill
 

Classical Gas is an independent web site and is not affiliated to any of the clubs or organisers of the events featured. Words and Pictures by Michael unless attributed otherwise. Michael is a proud member of the MCC, ACTC, Dellow Register and Falcon amongst others, but does not represent their views nor the views of any other organisers or clubs.

Lydden Hill

Don't worry, Rover have got plenty of spare body shells!

Dave Nash strapping Neil in tightly in case he does the same thing.

Neil didn't get away very quickly.

The battle on the first lap.

It was this close for the first half of the race.

Mike Hayward helps check Chris Brays car after its coming together in its first of two races.

 

After the trip to the northernmost track on the calendar it was down to Lydden Hill, near Dover on 6 August for the southernmost round. Many competitors didn’t make the journey so Neil’s race was amalgamated with the Classic and Historic's. All the championship contenders where there though, so it was going to be serious stuff.

Neil had a good practice. The car went well and the new radiator kept the engine nice and cool, although it wasn’t a severe test as it was a dull day. We were all delighted when Neil qualified fourth fastest with a time of 50.41, more than two seconds quicker than class rival Peter Holton in his Rover P6. Championship leader Stephen Primett was on pole with a time of 49.53. then came Jason Christie (Escort) on 49.58, Julian Belcher in the Classic class with a very quick Vitesse on 50.11, then Neil on 50.41 and Tony Crudgington (Dolomite) on 50.44.

Tony Crudgington would probably have gone quicker but his front suspension collapsed after a few laps and he had to go into Dover to have it welded before he could start the race. Championship rival Steven Young was another to hit problems when the exhaust fell off his Mini but he was able to fix it before the race. Steven was going to be in a points problem as he was the only starter in his class.

On the grid the Vitesse didn’t take up its position on the grid and started from the back, which gave Tony Crudgington a clear run up beside Neil who didn’t get way very well and both Tony Crudgington and Roger Stanford (Lotus Cortina) got past. On the first trip up Hairy Hill Stephen Primett had a narrow lead over Jason Christie with Tony Crudgington on his boot lid and Neil battling with Paul Conboy (Vauxhall Firenza) and Roger Stanford.

By the end of the first lap Stephen Primett had got a gap on Jason Christie who had Tony Crudgington all over him and he soon got by during one of Jason’s characteristic sideways moments.

Stephen Primett kept his lead over Tony Crudgington and Jason Christie but Neil was only just behind having retaken fourth place. Behind there was a group consisting of Conboy, Stanford and Julian Belcher in the Vitesse. This was how it continued until lap ten when Jason Christie pulled off with something awry in his engine. Then Stephen Primetts engine went off song and slowly Tony Crudgington got closer and closer.

Behind, Neil could see the Conboy/Stanford/Belcher battle was getting closer and could get rough. He was a long way in front of class rival Peter Holton so pulled over and let the battling trio past. Just before the end Paul Conboy had to retire when once again the Firenza’s clutch exploded and Tony Crudgington overtook Stephen Primett to take the chequered flag.

Neil came home in a safe fifth place to win his class. A successful race for the Capri team. The championship table now reads:-

Stephen Primett 64
Neil Bray 59
Steven Young 57

 

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