Classical Gas
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David Howard moves into Championship Lead David Howard won a damp and action-packed race at Pembrey on 19 August, fending off a fierce challenge from James O’Mahony in his Camaro. Steve Primett was up with the leaders when he spun on the last lap. Click on the Links for:-
The entry was notable for an absence of Class D’s. Neil Bray was on holiday in Italy and deemed it politically incorrect to succumb to the wishes of his crew to fly back for the race! There was also a new kid, well Camaro, on the block as James O’Mahony bought his American machine across the Irish sea. Qualifying saw the end of the weekend for Ken Selfe who’s Dolomite blew up and Andrew Clarkson who stuffed his Firenza into the wall to the detriment of the front end. The chassis rails were bent and the car may need a new shell before it reappears. The Camaro was fastest with Steve Primett sharing the front row. David Howard was on an unaccustomed second row, alongside Mark Osborne who was hoping his Dolomite would hang together for once. Come the race the racing line was dry, but the rest of the track was damp, so it was going to be very tricky. David Howard made up places from his second row position and led across the line on the first lap, closely followed by the O’Mahony Camaro and Steve Primett with Jason Christie and Mark Osborne a couple of seconds behind. This group had already pulled well ahead of the rest of the fields that now included Mark Lucock who had spun on the first lap. It only took three laps for the leaders to come upon the tail enders. Jason had been getting very close to Steve and just edged in front for third before Steve shot by again. They were amongst the back markers now and Mark Osborne squeezed by Jason in all the confusion. By lap seven David Howard was right on the Camaro’s bootlid, they were four seconds ahead of Steve Primett who had now pulled away from Mark Osborne and Jason Christie who were stuck together like glue. The pressure from the big Jaguar started to tell and James lost the Camaro on the far hairpin. David gratefully nipped by and Steve managed to sneak ahead as well before the big car rejoined just in front of the Osborne Christie battle. Steve Primett had the Camero right up his backside and it only took a couple of laps for the big American car to get by and set of in pursuit of David Howard. Steve didn’t fight back but was now under pressure from the Mark Osborne and Jason Christie battle behind. The last lap started and it looked like everyone would hold position. However, there was further drama in store when Steve spun his RS2000 just before the chequered flag, letting Mark and Jason by to take third and fourth respectively. All this has thrown the championship wide open. David Howard is now leader by one point over Steve Primett with two rounds remaining. James Christie finished behind Tony Crates in class D so he has slipped back, as has Neil Bray who was away on holiday. There will be some complicated mathematics necessary before giving odds on who will win, as everyone will have to drop two scores before the final points are calculated. Hope you enjoyed this report. You can show your support for our efforts on Classical Gas by joining our Frappr Map. Click here to join.
Championship Position David Howard A 72 points + 1 + 8* + 1**
= 82 points |
