Silverstone Results 050415

A change of date and organizing club brought about by outside circumstances attracted a modest entry for the first race of our season – but there were many there to cheer the action including JB & Gareth Jones, Pat Barford, Jan Nycz, Steve Jones, Simon Frost, Andy Turner, Charles Reynolds and Steve & Elaine Lewis-Evans (apologies to anyone I’ve missed). For the first time we were visiting the Silverstone International Circuit which entailed an interesting introduction to The Wing pit complex, a very far cry from what we are used to, with pit garages big enough to hold an indoor race in – club racing has changed!

All very orderly

12 cars took the track for practice which produced no great dramas but the usual incidence of post-winter magneto ills. Fastest, even after a two year absence, was Nigel Ashman so no surprises there! Darrell Woods, despite some spluttering was second and new boys Peter de la Roche in the ex-Alan Hartfield Mk V – JAP and Mike Wood in his Iota both explored the track at their own pace.
In Race 1 Nigel led the field away from the start with Darrell, Ian Phillips and Mike Fowler in a bunch. Next time round Darrell was missing having had a spectacular moment up near The Link and minor bump with Peter who was coming up fast behind. Ian faded a little, and with no ceremony Peter was up there and challenging Mike. Next time round he was snapping at Nigel’s heels into Vale and carried his speed to outdrag, with his JAP engine, and take the lead on the Pit Straight. Nigel was having none of this and recovered the lead through the Abbey bends and down Hangar Straight but at Vale the scene was repeated and again Peter took the lead. If The Wing had been a ship it would have needed stabilisers as, led by jubilant mum Lesley, about 30 people rushed from side to side as this dramatic duel emerged on each lap with Peter just edging it enough to take the flag by about 25 yards, this despite minor suspension derangement in his contretemps with Darrell. Half a minute behind this excitement Mike drove to a steady but lonely 3rd from Ian with Stuart Wright in the ex- Patrick Morin Mk XI Cooper not far astern. Roy Hunt struggled round to finish with a very sick sounding motor and poor Richard Bishop-Miller had a catastrophic primary chain breakage resulting in a broken crankcase and gearbox housing – Silverstone must be rapidly becoming his least favourite venue.

Some debate about the racing line

 Race 1 Classified Finishers

Ashman chases Roche

In Race 2 the battle for honours was short-lived as Peter, from pole, went almost immediately into a lead from Nigel which he simply extended as the race proceeded to half a minute. Mike and Ian scrapped for a while until Mike’s gearbox broke leaving Ian clear in third. Meanwhile a spirited battle was on between Stuart and Nigel Challis until Roy who had resolved his earlier problems sailed past the pair of them into 4th and Stuart pulled off. Darrell, having spent some time parked up on Turn 1, rejoined 2 laps down and behind Roy Wright who had a steady but unspectacular day’s racing. Hill climber Mike Wood’s race ended prematurely, as did that of Maurice van der Brempt, who still went home with a smile on his face.

Our thanks to all involved and to the BRSCC for accommodating us.

Race 2 Classified Finishers

Wright chases Hunt