Classic Touring Car Racing Club meeting on 16 September 2007 organised by the BARC

Mark Fowler on Fire at Thruxton

Neil had another good Post Historic race, finishing fourth overall in his no2 Capri. The race was won by Steve Primett who had a super race, passing and keeping Dave Thomas at bay. Group 1 saw an epic battle between Jim McLoughlin, David Hickton and Steve Cripps but this was overshadowed by Mark Fowlers superb drive after starting from the pit lane.

Post Historic

Steve Primett wins epic battle. Neil fourth overall.

It was an all two litre front row, with Tony Crudgington on pole in his Triumph Dolomite with Steve Primett alongside with his Escort RS2000. There were two Capri's behind them on the second row. David Thomas was third quickest with Neil Bray beside him in his number two machine.

When the flag dropped Tony Crudgington got away first followed by David Thomas. Neil got alongside Steve Primett but they went wide in the process and both Mark Lucock and David Howard passed him in their Escort RS2000's. Next came Al Weyman in his Camaro after nursing the big car away with a dodgy clutch.

It all happened on the second lap. Neil passed David Howard in the Campbell-Cobb-Seagrave complex to move into fifth place. Up at the front both David Thomas and Steve Primett got by Tony Crudgington and the three of them were nose to tail as they crossed the line. However, Tony couldn't quite hang onto the two leaders as they disappeared round the back of the circuit. Steve was right on David's tail as they climbed the hill to the chicane. Steve was braver on the brakes to slip by David to lead across the line. David clung on until just before the end, allowing Steve to cross the line five seconds ahead.

Despite briefly loosing his place to Mark Lucock after a moment on lap three Tony held onto the flying twosome until the very last lap when he spun entering the complex at Campbell, narrowly avoiding Mark Lucock's Escort as he rejoined but letting both Mark and Neil past in the process elevating them to third and fourth overall at the chequered flag.

Mark and Neil had been battling for most of the race. Neil's Capri was very stable around the fast sweeps at the back of the circuit, nosing ahead as they exited Church but loosing out when the No 2 Capri's rev limiter cut in at 6500 around the long uphill sweep of Brooklands.

In the midfield there was a major class D battle between class championship contenders James Christie (Avenger) and Tony Crates (Lotus Cortina) until Tony's Lotus pulled into the pits on the last lap. Mark Aistrup spun his Escort on the second lap, restarting way behind the field in last place but clawed his way back up to pass Gregor Marshall's Droop Snoot Firenza before the flag.

Al Weyman slipped back a bit behind Mark Osborne after his temporarily repaired clutch refused to disengage. Al's glorious yellow Camaro and the wail from Keith Calver's straight cut Mini gearbox delighting the spectators gathered at the chicane.

Click here for results

Thruxton Circuit

Group 1

Fowler Flies through the Field

This was a real thriller, especially the battle for second place. It went to Jim McLoughlin (Capri), but either David Hickton (Opel Ascona) or Steve Cripps (Escort Mk2) could have taken the place. However, Mark Fowler was the star of the show, starting from the pit lane exit after his throttle cable became disconnected in the assembly area.

Mark carved his way through the field, getting up to fifth and nearly latching onto the battling trio before having a moment and loosing the place to David Thomas.

Neil didn't get away from the line very well and was swallowed up by most of the cars behind. He fought back but later on the first lap made contact with Jeremy Knight's Capri at the chicane, both cars suffering panel damage. Neverless Neil finished 2nd in class, the win going to Don Hughes who circulated near the front. Fellow class D man Steve Barber had a replacement engine fitted after his Donnington problems. This offered torque rather than revs so wasn't suited to Britain's fastest circuit and Steve dropped back at the end when it went onto three cylinders with electrical issues.

Special mention for David Howard whose newly rebuilt XJ12 engine leaked an oil seal in qualifying. David and former Club Chair Hugh Poston went back to Newbury to collect David's Escort. He started from the back of the grid to finish tenth overall.

Click Here for Results (Note Jeremy Knight was driving a Capri in class B not as shown).