Classical Gas
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Classic Touring Car Racing Club, CTCRC, meeting at Lydden, 17 & 18 July 2010, organised by the CTCRCExcellent Fourth Overall for Neil in Post Historic. David Howard won in his Jaguar XJ12 and made it a Double the following day in Group 1The meeting was billed "The 2010 Classic Festival" but it was a very strange program, encompassing all the CTCRC classes, some of the BARC SE lot and some short circuit racing on the Lydden "oval". The full program was rather ambitious and only just made the Lydden curfew on Saturday after a delay getting the non-MSA oval racing insured. The barriers are very close to the track on this tight little circuit and there was a fair amount of damage, especially on Sunday when both Al Weyman and Brian Stevens came away with badly bent cars. With his No 1 Capri still not ready Neil was in the slower No 2 car which was handling more to his liking after improving the suspension since Thruxton. It wasn't good enough to challenge David Howard for the win but team 76 were delighted with his fourth place after race long battles with Brian Stevens and Tony Crudgington.
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| Behind David Howard there was the battle of the Dolomites. Nigel Garrett leads Mark Osborne and Tony Crudgington | The American Muscle cars of Chris Bright and Al Weyman take on the Lotus Cortina Mk2's of Tony Crates and Mark Apps. |
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| Tony Crudgington getting a lot of assistance as he makes an unorthodox exit from his Dolomite. | Neil Bray trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Matt Godber at scruitineering. |
Mark Osborne made a great start from the second row, powering his Dolomite past Nigel Garrett's similar machine and David Howards XJ12 to lead out of Chessons Drift. Neil was over on the grass as they were six abreast at one point, getting into fourth before being overtaken by Tony Crudgington and Brian Stevens and slipping back to his sixth position grid spot.
Mark Osbornes lead only lasted until the second lap when David Howard powered the big cat past, pulling away for an easy win on this tight circuit. Behind David Mark Osborne had Nigel Garretts similar machine in close attendance. These three soon pulled out a gap on 4th placed man Tony Crudgington in his Dolomite, followed by Brian Stevens in his Lotus Cortina, Neil Bray (Capri), Mark Aistrup (RS 2000) and former CTCRC stalwart James Christie in his Avenger.
It took about half a dozen laps for Nigel Garrett to win the second place battle with Mark Osborne and once he was past pulled away, although he couldn't make an impression on David Howard.
By half way Neil was harrying Brian Stevens and finally got his nose inside around The Devils Elbow, holding the place and immediately pulling away and closing on Tony Crudgington. Brian was soon harried by Mark Lucock who had sliced though the field from the back of the grid after problems in qualifying. A couple of laps later Neil had passed Tony Crudgington for fourth place. Tony himself was being challenged by Mark Lucock who had passed Brians Lotus.
The Crudgington/Lucock battle had hardly started when Tony lost control coming down Hairy Hill, rolling gently into the bank. Tony escaped with only his pride injured but the race was red flagged a couple of laps early.
Neil was pleased with his 4th place in the number two car which had suspension improvements since Thuxton to improve it's handling vices. Although it's nicer to drive after these changes it is still under powered and he is hoping good old no 1 will be back for Snetterton.
| Posn | Race No | Class | Name | Car | Laps | Time |
| 1 | 55 | A | David Howard | Jaguar XJ12 | 15 | 12:40.80 |
| 2 | 41 | C | Nigel Garrett | Triumph Dolomite | 15 | 12:44.55 |
| 3 | 49 | C | Mark Osborne | Triumph Dolomite | 15 | 12:46.12 |
| 4 | 76 | B | Neil Bray | Ford Capri | 15 | 12:53.13 |
| 5 | 16 | C | Mark Luclock | Escort Mk1 RS2000 | 15 | 12:54.71 |
| 6 | 25 | D | Brian Stevens | Ford Lotus Cortina | 15 | 12:55.88 |
| 7 | 69 | C | Mark Aistrup | Escort RS2000 | 15 | 12:59.25 |
| 8 | 3 | G | James Christie | Hillman Avenger | 15 | 13:00.51 |
| 9 | 36 | G | Chris Bright | Chevrolet Camaro | 15 | 13:11.66 |
| 10 | 12 | D | Tony Crates | Lotus Cortina Mk2 | 15 | 13:19.08 |
| 11 | 26 | A | Al Weyman | Chevrolet Camaro Z28 | 15 | 13:19.13 |
| 12 | 82 | D | Paul Pochiol | Ford Lotus Cortina | 15 | 13:19.82 |
| 13 | 82 | G | Mark Apps | Ford Lotus Cortina Mk2 | 15 | 13:23.77 |
| 14 | 169 | G | Richard Langeveld | Ford RS2000 | 15 | 13:34.09 |
| 15 | 39 | D | Phil Waller | Hillman Avenger GT | 14 | 12:41.29 |
| 16 | 8 | D | Nick Jones | Ford Anglia | 14 | 12:43.12 |
| 17 | 20 | E | Keith Calver | Mini 1275GT | 14 | 12:48.68 |
| DNC | 14 | C | Tony Crudgington | Triumph Dolomite | 15 | 12:52.73 |
Fastest Laps
| 55 | A | David Howard | Jaguar XJ12 | Lap 7 | 49.80 | 72.27 mph |
| 16 | C | Mark Lucock | Ford RS2000 | Lap 12 | 49.94 | 72.07 mph |
| 76 | B | Neil Bray | Ford Capri | Lap 12 | 50.47 | 71.32 mph |
| 25 | D | Brian Stevens | Ford Lotus Cortina | Lap 4 | 50.53 | 71.23 mph |
| 3 | G | James Christie | Hillman Avenger | Lap 15 | 51.12 | 70.40 mph |
| 20 | E | Keith Calver | Mini 1275 GT | Lap 3 | 52.72 | 68.28 mph |
Another win for David Howard
Apologies for being brief and no pictures but our reporters/photographers were not at the circuit on Sunday.
David Howard had another conclusive win, ahead of Tim Scott Andrews and Mark Fowler.
Neil had a quiet race and came in 9th overall. Brian Goodwin had his 1300 Fiesta back after its Silverstone accident but didn't race after engine problems in qualifying.
Fastest Laps
