Classic Touring Car Racing Club meeting on 28 May 2007 organised by the Castle Combe Racing Club

Sunshine and Showers

Trying to stay clear of a sliding Brian Stevens in his XJS Neil makes up places on the first lap of the Group 1 Race.

The sub title refers more to the team 76’s mood. It was a very cold and miserable day weather-wise, with all Neil’s track time either in the rain or on a wet track. The Fiesta went really well in a race won by Peter Halford in his orange Camero. Neil made a fantastic start finishing sixth overall and winning his class. Things weren’t so hot with the Capri which wasn’t able to take the grid after technical problems.

Post Historic

With limited entries of older cars Classics and Post Historic were merged into one race.

The track was awash with water during qualifying and Neil lost all hope of setting a good time when he was involved in a coming together with Ian Clark at The Esses on the second lap. Ian went into the corner much faster than Neil, hitting his rear quarter, spinning him round and hitting him again. Both cars suffered body damage but were able to continue, albeit with Neil towards the rear of the grid. Simon Kinsey set the fastest time followed by the Mini’s of Andy Messham and Phil Manser and James Christie in his Avenger.

Ian Lawson helped straighten out the bodywork ready for the race but number two 76 Capri wasn’t able to take the grid. The wheel studs were irreparably damaged when changing the wheels just before the car was called to the assembly area.

The track was dry for the race. Simon Kinsey (Escort RS2000) capitalised on his pole position and led for the first two laps before David Thomas (Capri) took over the lead. Come lap four he had to relinquish this to a slow starting Peter Halford (Camero). Simon Kinsey was having gearbox problems and retired without any drive, just as he was starting a battle with Stephen Primett.

David Howard finished fourth, making up places after starting in an unaccustomed fourteenth place. The dry conditions weren’t so friendly to front row starter Andy Messham who was lapped by Peter Halford in the dry race.

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Group 1

Pole sitter Peter Halford made a slow start on a damp track and was swallowed up by nearly half the field before the first corner and David Thomas took an early lead. Neil made his usual excellent start and was up to seventh place by the first corner, where we lost Mark Fowler (Capri), and Brian Stevens (XJ12) retired soon afterwards.

Neil got by Martin West (Capri) around the back of the circuit, to finish the first lap in fifth place, holding that until the third lap when Peter Halford thundered by in his Camero. Peter demonstrated superb control of his big car, going on to pick off the other front-runners and win by nearly seven seconds from David Thomas and Jim McLoughlin in their Capri’s. The rest of Neil’s race was quite lonely, the leaders pulled away from him and he increased the gap to the pursuing pack, finishing twenty five seconds in front of Steve Barber driving Chris Bray’s Escort.

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