HSCC Brands Hatch Superprix 5^th July 2003

Round six of the UK FJHRA 2003 championship, on the Brands Hatch GP circuit. was blessed with a full entry and fine weekend weather throughout. Thirty seven cars took part in the qualifying practice in perfect sunny conditions. Edwin Jowsey Lotus 22 set a blistering pace his best lap of 1.41.829 being 3.152 secs ahead of second man Michael Schryver also in a Lotus 22, Mike Hibberd’s similar car was third with a time .15 of a second away and Robin Longdon's Lola 5A fourth by a similar margin, the Lotus’s of Mark Woodhouse and Marcus Mussa both on 1.47s made up the top six runners, Schryvers Lotus was a pit visitor after he was involved in some sort of incident with a slower car, but he continued after checking the car, Mark Stevenson Mallock U2 was the pacesetter for the front engined cars with a time of 1.52.484. Goodwin Gemini, Pickering Osca, Besley Elva and Robinson Elva all set times within a second or so of each other promising a close race for class A honours, newcomer Kevin Steele Lotus 20 recorded a 2.02 and Marek Reichman in his recently acquired Cooper T56 a 2.05 despite gear selection problems, David Woodhouse Cooper Mark 9 the only F3 car entered recorded a 2.05.737

The grid formation proved to be confusing, the.non start by Michael Schryver's 22 somehow led to a large gap being left at the front of the grid, the race though was under way spot on time, as last year the GP circuit loop sufficed for the green flag lap, Edwin Jowsey's 22 was firmly in the lead Into Paddock chased by Robin Longdon's Lola, Mark Woodhouse had his 20/22 in third Mike Hibberd 22 fourth after a poor start lap two saw Jowsey in a clear lead with Longdon chasing hard in the Lola, Mike Hibberd up to third, Woodhouse in fourth. Mussa 22 in fifth, Smith T59 in sixth, Hargrave BT6 seventh, Hicks Caravelle eighth, as the leaders reappeared for the third time out of Paddock it was Longdon's Lota Leading from Hibberd's 22, with Woodhouse close in third, Edwin appeared coasting to a stop on the infield below paddock with engine failure, Smeeth's 22 passed the Hargrave BT6 up Pilgrims rise, Kevin Steele's Lotus 20 exited Paddock backwards at great speed into the gravel trap which did it's work well, the under tray became detached and was run over by the front wheels but little harm done, meanwhile Duncan's Alexis was parked next to the Armco at Bottom bend after breaking a half shaft, altogether an interesting third lap!, the race seemed to settle down after all this excitement, Robin Longdon kept his Lola at the front to the end, with Mike Hibberd's Lotus 22 hard on his heels and trying every way to get past, Mark Woodhouse was a comfortable but rather lonely third, with Mussa, Smith and Smeeth still holding station behind him, Hargrave's BT6 was battling to hold on to seventh and lost out for a time to Hicks in the Caravelle but clawed it back before the end. The front engined class was won by Crispian Besley's Elva 100. who was followed home by the Geoff Williams 20/22 and Michael Waller in the Kieft. Grant Wilson BMC Mk1 was second front engined runner, just ahead of Peter Mullen's Osca, David Woodhouse brought his Cooper Mk9 home as the final finisher, an incident packed race with the front runners setting a very fast pace to the end, private dices galore down the very large field, in perfect conditions, great to watch. After the race we bade farewell to Ned Spieker and Carole, also Candice and Norman Thursby who all returned to the U.S.A. after two months on the Junior circuit; we hope they will be back soon.

Stan Hibberd