A bumper entry and a bumper day greeted the thirteen BARC SBD Speed Championship contenders at the new Long Course. The sun blazed down, the course was fast but tricky and the organisation for what was a new venture was great.
We kicked off with Class A3 – Road Going Series Production Cars Up To 1600cc, where Mike Edwards found his British Mini’s gearing spot on and stormed the track for a second place and a time of 2.03.35. Andrew Till’s MG ZR 105 put in a 2.06.18 for fifth place.
Class A4, the 1600cc to 2300cc split, saw Helen Currie and her Renault Clio Trophy battle some modded opposition to record a 2.06.41 for eighth place out of twelve in the class.
In Class A5 – The over 2300cc split, Alastair Hunt gamely pushed the Reliant SE5 on as hard as he could for a 2.17.16, but when your opposition includes a 911 GT3 RS and A Nissan 350Z GT you perhaps need to manage your expectations accordingly…
Class A6 – FWD All Engine Capacities, is the home for the Turbo Nutter brigade and one them John Mattingley in his Evo 11 did well to take third spot on a 1.48.30. Right behind Leo Martorana in the Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 hit 2.00.02 with brother Adriano in the same car on 2.01.96.
Class A7 – Road Going Kit Type & Replica Cars Up To 1700cc, had Graham Holdstock’s Caterham Seven putting a good performance in second place on 2.03.61.
Class A8 – The Over 1700cc Split of the above, had a fourteen car entry which made Simon Jones’s performance for second place even more commendable – He recorded 1.44.63, just four-tenths off the top spot. Elen Worthington’s Elise, a little outgunned here, put in 1.54.81 for ninth place.
Class B11 – Modified Series Production Cars Over 2000cc, saw a class winning performance from Will Hunt in the Cossie Sierra 4×4. Will put in a 1.45.16 to leave his next pursuer nearly 8 seconds behind!
Class C12 – Sports Libre Cars Up To 1800cc, had four protagonists – two Radicals, a Mallock and a Spire. BARC SBD Speed Championship contender Clive Wooster managed to run out of fuel in P1. Ooops – all those reruns! Clive eventually managed to complete the course and finished in third place on a 1.39.93.
Final BARC SBD Speed Championship runner was Phil Williams in the Jedi Mk4, up against two other Jedis and an OMS, he finished on a 1.44.83 for forth place.
So, a couple of weeks to fettle machinery and then its off to East Devon and Wiscombe Park Hillclimb for Round 3 & 4.
