Classical Gas
www.classictrials.co.uk
|
Neil wins again. It was three class wins in a row for Neil at a cold and damp Mallory Park on 23 April. It wasn’t easy though. Neil started well back on the grid and a had a real battle with a determined Ian Clark but the racer came through! Click on the Links for:-
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge them
It was cold and damp for qualifying, a contrast to last years Mallory Heat wave when sunburn and sunstroke were the order of the day. Neil didn’t set a very quick time and was 13th on the grid, six places behind class rival Ian Clark in his similar Mk1 Capri. The other Capri, driven by Phil Rhodes, suffered fuel feed problems and had to pull in early, ending up right at the back. Dave Nixon was on pole in his Mazda RX3, followed by Jason Christe, Mark Lucock and last years champion Stephen Primett, all in Escort RS 2000’s. Then came a driver I haven’t seen before, Kevin O’Brien, in a Firenza, followed by David Howard, qualifying his big Jaguar in an uncharacteristic 6th place. Come the race in the afternoon it was dry and Jason Christie who headed the pack into the long, sweeping Gerrards. Ian Clark got off to a stormer, passing Mark Osbourne and was even nudging ahead of Davis Howard before the Jaguar driver put him firmly in his place. Neil also got away well and got in front of the Escorts of John Wright and Graham Lepley. By the second lap a determined Stephen Primett had overtaken Jason Christie for the lead. Then came Dave Nixon, closely followed by David Howard. Then there was gap to Mark Lucock, and Mark Osbourne who had retaken Ian Clark, who was separated from Neil by Steven Young’s rapid Mini. Things stayed that way until lap six. Neil had been nudging in front of Steven Young on the back straight for several laps, but coming down to the Esses Steven was braking later and going through ahead. Finally, Neil plucked up his courage, braked later, stayed ahead and claimed his position, which he maintained and pulled away in pursuit of Ian Clark. Up in front Stephen Primett had been distancing himself from Jason Christie. Then on lap 7 Dave Nixon got by Jason. This must have disturbed him because he spun soon afterwards, right in front of Mark Lucock who had a major excursion on the grass to avoid him. Mark continued and so did Jason, only to spin again on lap 8, dropping right to the back of the field and retiring soon afterwards. Neil had been closing on Ian Clark and finally got past him on lap, ten to take sixth place overall and the all-important class lead. On the same lap David Howard finally overtook Dave Nixon but was so far behind Stephen Primett he had to settle for 2nd place. Ian Clark stayed in touch with Neil but was very occupied in fending of the close attention of John Wrights Escort he didn’t make another challenge. Race Result Neil Bray 32 points More Details on The MST Site:-
Page added 23 April 2006 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
