Classic Touring Car Racing Club meeting on 18 June 2007 organised by the BARC

Fantastic Post Historic Race

Neil in his race long battle with Ian Clark and William Jenkins for 2nd in Class B

Group 1 was a Double-Header, with races on Saturday and Sunday. They were both a bit processional. Neil was the only starter in Class D and had two lonely races. Post Historic was a different issue. It was a cracking race up the front, despite the organisers cocking-up and not putting the chequered flag out after 12 laps. David Thomas was the worthy winner and Neil came seventh overall after a race long class battle with Ian Clark and William Jenkins. 

Post Historic

What an exciting race, between three skilful drivers in three very different cars. It ended with a win by David Thomas but Nigel Garrett or David Howard could easily have won. The organisers were so enthralled they forgot to put out the chequered flag! Neil didn't make his usual good start but managed to work his way through the field to finish seventh overall and second in class.

Nigel Garrett was on pole position, one of three Dolomites in the first three rows. It was David Howard who was first away though, followed by David Thomas, Steve Primett and Nigel Garrett. Nigel got by Steve on the second lap and by the fifth had formed a close group with David Thomas and David Howard, the three of them opening out a gap over Steve Primett who was well ahead of the rest, led by Mark Osborne. Tony Crudgington hadn't been able to make the most of his second row starting position and retired at the start line on the fourth lap.

Dave Thomas had been really close to David Howard and got by on lap six but couldn't pull away and David (Howard) powered his big Jaguar back past the Capri two laps later, but lost the lead again when David (Thomas) repassed on lap ten. This battle between the two David's had slowed them both a little, allowing Nigel Garrett to edge closer in his Dolomite and he got by David (Howard) on lap eleven.

This is how it should have finished, but the organisers didn't put the chequered flag out until lap fourteen, during which David powered the Jaguar past Nigel's Dolomite as the leading trio came up to lap class D leader James Christie. In the complex Nigel touched David, who spun, dropping him behind Steve Primett.

Further down the field Neil had an exciting race. He didn't qualify well and started back on the eight row, well behind his class rivals. He didn't get his usual good start either and entered the complex at the end of the first lap in third from last place. He made up a lot of ground through these final corners though, passing three or five cars, including Al Weyman to come across the line at the end of the first lap close behind Ian Clark and William Jenkins.

Al Weyman didn't give up though, latched on behind and entered the complex for the second time right behind Neil. Neil managed to out-brake William Jenkins to set off after Ian Clark. William got a bit sideways after he went by and Al spun the big Camero into the kitty litter as he took avoiding action.

Neil managed to pass Ian during lap four but couldn't pull out a gap and the two Mk1 Capri's and William Jenkins' BMW were covered by a postage stamp for lap after lap, Neil not managing to pull out any real gap on Ian until the extra two laps, during which it looked as if William would get his BMW past Ian. This didn't happen and it finished in the order Neil - Ian - William.

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Group 1

Saturday Group 1 Race

The track was dry for the race, suiting the orange Mazda which went off into a lead it was never to loose. Brian Stevens gave chase in the big Jaguar XJ12, coming oh so close but not actually able to get by. This continued until half way through the race when Brian had a moment at Copse, loosing more than 20 seconds and falling back to eighth place. In a marvellous display of driving Brian got back up to fifth but was not able to challenge again.

Behind Brian David Howard had another immaculate drive, appreciating the dry conditions after the wet races at Mallory and Castle Combe. The real scrap came after David. Jim McLoughlin started best of the ten Capri's that took the grid, closely followed by Nigel Garretts very rapid Triumph Dolomite. The pressure finally told on lap five when Nigel got by into what was then fourth, but was to become third after Brian Stevens mishap. Jim soon dropped back behind David Thomas and was to end the race in sixth place.

Further back there were battles between the Capri's of David Margalies and Adrian Fuller until Adrian retired on lap nine. Ian Clark and Alan Daffin had a Mk1 joust. Ian having repaired the rocker that broke in qualifying. Ian had the initial advantage but Alan was closing towards the end.

Class D (1600cc) and Class E (1300cc) both had only one starter, both Fiesta's. Neil had a lonely race, making up a couple of places of the start, pulling well ahead of the tail enders but not having the straight line speed to keep place with the other mid field runners. For a while he diced with Andre Severs in the turbo-charged Renault Gordini but decided to play for points and as they were not in the same class let him go rather than over-stress the Fiesta.

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Sunday Group 1 Race

The race was a procession after the 2nd and 3rd rows had a coming together on the start line. A very smoky Al Weyman retired after the second lap when he was shown the orange and black flag because the rocker cover gasket was split. Later Alan Daffin also started to smoke and pulled off when the dipstick came loose. David Weir finished his first race of the year although he to was trailing smoke at the end. Neil had another lonely race and won the class as the only starter.

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The Organisers C**k Up

Lets cover the cock up. The final instructions said this was a 14 lap race, the program said 12. To make sure Nigel Garretts helper went up to race control and they said it was definitely a 12 lap race. Come 12 laps there was no chequered flag. Unbelievably the marshal at the finish line didn't put the chequer out when the leaders went by after 14 laps either, waiting for the second group although the repeater marshal at the end stuck his out.

This affected David Howard who would have finished third overall if the race had ended after 12 laps but was placed in fourth after 14. Also Mark Osborne, who lost a place to Mark Lucock during the extra two laps.