Classic Touring Car Racing Club, CTCRC, meeting at  Thruxton on 12 April 2009, organised by the BARC

Good Racing at Poorly Supported Thruxton.

The weather was grey, the grids were thin,but the racing was good. With the Capri still hors de combat after Oulton Neil was only racing in Group 1, in the 1300 class. The car isn't going very well in its new guise and Neil finished tail end Charlie, albeit with a class win, as Brian Goodwin retired with cooling system problems.

The new 1300 engine in the Fiesta isn't delivering yet but it didn't stop Neil enjoying himself at the chicane. (Picture by Marc Lawrence)

Post Historic

David Howard wins race long battle with Steve Primett.

Steve Primett was on pole, qualifying a clear one and a half seconds faster than David Howard in his familiar XJ12. David must have been sand bagging though, as he shot off the line to take an early lead. The pair were quite evenly matched and stayed within a second of each other throughout the race. Steve managed to get in front approaching the complex on lap 5. David managed to come back past again, round the back of the circuit, but Steve was soon back in front. He stayed there until lap ten when David stormed past and held on to the end, albeit with Steve clinging to his coat tails.

There were plenty of other battles throughout the field. Jason Christie (Escort RS2000) and Mark Osborne (Triumph Dolomite Sprint) were locked together for the whole race, honours going to Mark by a fraction of a second at the flag. They should have been joined by Tony Crudgington (Triumph Dolomite Sprint) but he retired with mechanical problems on the first lap.

They were followed by Len Allgood (Escort RS2000), who had a lonely race ahead of a fantastic Class D scrap. James Christie had started at the back of the grid after his brakes seized on during qualifying. This was soon fixed and James powered his Avenger into an early class lead, ahead of Tony Crates (Lotus Cortina Mk2) and Phil Waller (Hillman Avenger). Phil had worked hard to come to Thruxton, going to Holland to collect a new engine after his rebuilt unit blew up at Oulton.

Phil got past Tony on the second lap to have a long battle with James before he dropped back after a major moment at the chicane. David Hall (Lotus Cortina Mk1) bought up the rear having had a moment early in the race, picking up a penalty as a result.

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Group 1

A Champions Performance from Jim McLoughlin

Reigning Champion and pole sitter Jim McLoughlin sat on pole in his 3 Litre Capri. However, it was David Howard who led off the line in his XJ12. Jimmy Mac is a tough competitor though, hustling David into the Complex and emerging in a lead he held until the end.

Matt Irons had a great start in his familiar BMW 323, taking an early third place before slipping down the field. Alan Roper had a good race to take third in his Rover SD1 but had to work hard to stay in front of Mike Dugdale's Production BMW, who surely should have been given an award for drive of the day.

Neil's Fiesta went a bit better in the race after some post qualifying tuning. It was still some three seconds a lap slower than Brian Goodwins similar 1.3 Fiesta, but still ended with a class win after Brian retired when he lost his water.

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