Classic Touring Car Racing Club, CTCRC, meeting at  Snetterton on 27 & 28 June 2009, organised by the BARC

Exciting Racing at Sweltering Snetterton

The weather was hot and humid, especially on the Sunday. The racing was dramatic, incident packed but without any real damage to man or machine. Neil only took the 1300 Fiesta which went much better after a lot of attention since it last raced at Thruxton on Easter Monday.

The 1300 engine was is working much better now. Neil got a good start in the Sunday race, holding off a host of bigger engined cars until running wide exiting the Russell Chicane just after this picture was taken.

Post Historic - Race 1

Tony Crudgington wins thrilling Post Historic Race

Neil hadn't entered this one as No1 Capri is still not repaired after Oulton Park. No David Howard either, as the engine he damaged at Silverstone will not be back together until Lydden. So it was Brian Stevens on pole, in his Jaguar XJ12, with Jason Christie and Steve Primett second and third fastest in their RS2000’s.

It was a dramatic first lap. First pole man Brian Stevens disappeared with something amiss in his recently rolling roaded engine. Steve Primett hadn’t made a good start so this left Jason Christie and Tony Crudgingon (Triumph Dolomite Sprint) fighting for the lead. They came round the Coram Curve side by side and they were still that way when they put the anchors on for the Russell Chicane. Who locked up first it was hard to say but they both spun off the circuit, albeit without touching. Tony ended up on the inside, restarting in seventh place behind Len Allgood (RS 2000). Jason finished up on the grass on the outside and try as he may he couldn’t get the motor to fire, bringing out the safety car for a lap while the marshals helped him push it away.

So we had the familiar sight of Steve Primett’s white RS2000 in first place when the race restarted, followed by John Wright (RS 2000) and Mark Osborne (Dolomite). Tony Crudgington was on fire though, charging through the field towards the front. By lap seven he was up to third, behind Mark Osborne. Steve was still in front but not for long as his engine was down to three cylinders when something broke in the top end. Steve dropped back through the field before retiring, elevating Tony to second, not for long though as he charged by into a lead he held to the flag.

While all this was going on at the front there were battles all through the field making the race a super spectacle for the spectators.

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Group 1 - Race 1

Jim McLoughlin Dominates, Neil's Fiesta runs well

Reigning Group 1 champion Jim McLoughlin dominated proceedings in Group 1. Putting his immaculate Capri on pole and leading the race from flag to flag. Jim was pursued throughout by Mark Fowler, his similar Capri having been re-engined a few days before. However, although he posted the fastest lap Mark was not consistent enough to beat flying Jim, as could be seen by the flurries of dust as he grazed the grass all the way round the circuit.

Brian Stevens had a lonely third place, having cured his earlier engine problems. Tim Scott Andrews was pleased with fourth place in his Rover fighting off an early challenge from Alan Roper in his similar machine. Later in the race Alan had a coming together with William Jenkins, leaving the latter's beautiful BMW 3.0 CSL rather battle scared.

Neil Bray was pleased with the improvements to his 1300 Fiesta. The car had been very slow at Thruxton and Oulton. However, after a lot of head scratching and burning midnight oil some extra horses had been found. This moved Neil ahead 0f class rival in qualifying. Neil got a good start and was drawing ahead of Brian when his similar Fiesta has an engine failure on the last lap.

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Post Historic - Race 2

Brian Stevens wins from the back of the Grid

Race 1 winner Tony Crudgington was on pole in his Triumph Dolomite, and must have been feeling pretty confident with three of his main rivals at the back of the grid after their problems first time out. However, it was Mark Osborne who was first away in his Dolomite, followed by Brian Stevens, who sliced his XJ12 up the inside from the back, with Jason Christie (Escort RS2000) tucked in behind.

On lap 2 Brian powered past Mark into the lead and the order was Brian Stevens – Mark Osborne – Tony Crudgington – Jason Christie – Steve Primett (RS 2000). Then a sizeable gap before the rest of the field came by, headed by William Jenkins in his repaired BMW 3.0 CSL. Reigning champion Steve Primett harried Jason mercilessly before getting past on the fourth lap, but could not pass Tony. This enabled Jason to stay in touch and the three of them were either nose to tail or side by side for the remainder of the race, although they always crossed the strip in that order until Tony spun coming out of the Russell Chicane on the very last lap.

There were two retirements, James Christie when his Avenger shed a fan belt and Tony Crates whose clutch gave out.

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Group 1 - Race 2

Brian Stevens Dramatic Race after Jim McLoughlin is Black Flagged

Mark Fowler headed Jim McLoughlin off the line. The two Capri’s followed by Brian Stevens in his Jaguar XJ12. Then on the second lap all hell broke loose in the Bomb Hole. Jim and Mark had gone through The Esses side-by-side, they touched and both went pirouetting across the grass, taking Brian with them when he tried to take evasive action. Jim was soon going again, at the front of the field. Brian rejoined in seventh but it took Mark nearly a lap to restart, a firm last.

So the order at the end of lap two was Jim McLoughlin – William Jenkins – Tim Scott Andrews (Rover Vitesse) – Mark Lucock (Triumph Dolomite) – Matt Irons (BMW 323). Tim was soon past William and they had Brian right behind as he recovered lost time. William was back up to second when Tim spun on the exit from Russell but this didn’t last long when Brian powered the Jaguar past the BMW.

Then Brian found himself taking the chequered flag when Jim was black flagged for the bodywork allegedly rubbing on a tyre, although this was later revealed to be a rather imaginative ruling.

Neil had a good first lap before running wide at Russell, letting three or four cars past and had a lonely time for the rest of the race.

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Page added 5 July 2009