Classic Touring Car Racing Club, CTCRC, meeting at Thruxton, 27 June 2010, organised by the BARC

Neil went well at Baking Hot Thruxton. David Howard was back on top in Group 1 but couldn't touch the flying Nigel Garrett in Post Historic

It was the hottest day of the year at Thruxton on 27 June. The on track action was pretty hot as well, despite thin grids, as there were very few of the recent make-weight entries this time. In Group 1 it looked as if Tim Scott-Andrews would repeat his Brands success until David Howard piped him on the last corner. In Post Historic the immaculate Nigel Garrett gave another master class that even David Howard couldn't match.

Neil had a good day, finishing sixth in Group 1 with the 1300 Fiesta, outpacing bigger engined cars on this fast circuit. With the no1 Capri still out of action after Brands the No2 car was drafted into action, putting up a good performance in Post Historic with its cooking engine, earning Neil a fifth place finish.

Post Historic competitors are a close community! Winner Nigel Garrett takes the opportunity to take the lead at the chicane on the second lap as Mark Osborne takes to the kerb and Mark Lucock runs wide. Meanwhile David Howard and Neil Bray are up close ready to join in.

Group 1

David Howard wins on the last corner, Neil 6th

There was drama at the start when third fastest man Steve Cripps found one of his front wheels was loose during the warming up lap. Steve pulled into the pits, and with the help of Chris Bright, borrowed a torque wrench. Not in time to take the grid however and he set off from the pit lane a lap behind.

David Howard was back in business, his engine refreshed after it's problems at Silverstone. He had qualified 4th but was in the lead at the end of the first lap, ahead of David Hickton (Opel Ascona), William Jenkins (BMW 3.0 CSL) and Tim Scott Andrews (Rover Vitesse).

Neil Bray had made a good start in his 1300 Fiesta and was up from 10th to 5th ahead of Matt Irons and Alan Roper. However, power told and a couple of laps later they were past the smaller engined car..

By the third lap Tim had passed William, whose engine was starting to go off song and he retired soon after. David Hickton has started to challenge David for the lead but by half way he too had retired.

Tim Scott Andrews was really motoring now, passing David for the lead and it looked as if he would hold it to the end. It was not to be, experience told, and David slipped by at the chicane on the last lap to take the win.

Neil was 6th after being overtaken by the charging Steve Cripps just before the end.

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Post Historic

Easy win for Nigel Garrett, Neil fifth in No2 Capri

With Classic and Historic competitors not racing at Thruxton only ten cars took the Post Historic grid as neither Tony Crudgington (Dolomite) nor William Jenkins (BMW 3.0 CSL) could overcome their earlier mechanical problems. Entries were thin in the clubs other races as well, despite the championship coordinators efforts to persuade people to turn out. Neil's number one car was at the engine builder after going off at Brands and he took the grid in his second Capri.

Nigel Garrett had his Dolomite in pole position, with David Howard alongside in his Jaguar XJ12. However, it was Mark Osborne, in his Dolomite, who got the best start and led the first lap, followed by Nigel, Mark Lucock (Escort RS2000), David Howard and Neil Bray (Ford Capri). They had a four second gap over the next group, consisting of David hall (Firenza), Steven Young (Mini 1275GT) and Phil Waller (Avenger).

By the second lap Nigel Garrett was in the lead, steadily building it to more than eight seconds on the penultimate lap before slowing before he took the chequered at the end.

Behind Nigel the two Marks, David and Neil circulated nose to tail for a few laps before the pace became too much for the cooking engine in Neil’s No 2 car. he gained a place by lap ten though, as the two Marks touched entering the complex sending Mark Lucocks RS2000 spinning across the grass, rejoining after Neil but getting by him a lap later.

The experienced David Howard took advantage of all this commotion, easing his big cat into second. Free of the pack David's lap times came down and he closed on Nigel but couldn’t catch the flying lime green Dolomite Sprint.

Although there was a small entry it was still an entertaining race with the Hall/Young/Waller group providing close racing and lots of action at the chicane.

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