Click on the thumbnails to enlarge them.
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Steve Primett fixing his broken car with help from class rival Jason Christie
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Steve just before the start. He's going to get a Jag when his hair's long enough.
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All close together on the first lap as David Howard leads them up the hill.
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Neil in a Dolomite sandwich
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David Howard drove another immaculate race in a big car on a tight circuit. Jason stuck to his boot lid until the engine went off song.
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Roger Stanford reminding us of Jim Clarke.
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Neil qualified well and was fifth fastest on the grid,
headed by David Howard. Stephen Primett was third but pulled off early
with a broken half-shaft. Neil's rebuilt engine was going well but it was
a very hot day and the motor was getting very warm so he eased off and
pulled in a lap early.
There was a lot of frantic work going on in the paddock
before the race. Neil’s team taped up all the gaps around the radiator and
did a lot of other things to get the air flowing through the radiator as
best as possible. The two Michael’s also checked all the nuts and bolts to
make sure nothing had come loose after the rebuild.
Further, up the paddock Stephen Primett was beavering
away to repair his car. He got the half shaft out OK and saw where it was
broken. Although he had a spare there was another problem, the diff was
locking up. Fellow competitors gathered round to help and someone lent him
their spare diff. It wasn't straightforward though, as the flange of the
spare half shaft had to be ground down to fit inside the rear discs. Steve
got everything together just in time and he took up his position on the
grid just before the green flag lap.
When the red lights went out David Howard led the field
away with Jason Christie in hot pursuit. Neil got away well and on the
first lap the order was Howard - Christie - Lucock - Crudgington - Bray.
Steve Primett had problems, bogging down as his borrowed diff had a higher
3.7 ratio compared to his normal 3.9. All this put him right at the back
of the field at the end of the first lap. He started to gain places,
slicing his way through the back markers before the engine started to run
roughly, slowing him down a little, but not enough to stop him steadily
making up positions.
Meanwhile up at the front David Howard was driving his
usual immaculate race, it wasn't easy though as Jason Christie was having
a great day and was right up the big Jaguars boot lid. David had to keep a
very careful eye on the water temperature, which was 100 and rising when
Jason's Escort suddenly went off song. Jason kept going, maintaining his
place in front of Mark Lucock,, but slowed enough to allow David to ease
off in the interest of his car.
Mark Luclock maintained a steady third place throughout
the race and try as he may Tony Crudgington was unable to get close enough
to challenge. Mark Aistrup and Len Allgood both got by Neil towards the
end of the race, when he started to "think championship" and eased off to
stop the water temperature going off the clock. Stephen Primett also got
by Neil and Len Allgood just before the end, only for Len to retake his
position on the very last corner.
Keith Calver had a lonely race but tells us that Steven
Young hopes to get his Mini fixed and rejoin the series soon. Trevor
Pickard was the only Post-Historic non-finisher, retiring on lap five
after a good start and battle with Neil.
The Classic Saloons were in the same race and it was
very nice to see these old cars on the circuit, especially the magnificent
Zephyr and the two Lotus Cortina's, one driven by ex-committee man Brian
Stevens.
Steve Primetts misfortune means Neil has increased his
lead in the championship.
Race Result
