HSCC Snetterton Historic Race Meeting 17th April 2005
AMOC/Millers Oils Historic Formula Junior - Round Two

Race day was sunny and warm, an early start for FJ Race three contenders, meant 8 am signing on and scrutineering at 9.50 am.   

Qualifying got under way with 23 cars recording times. Mike Hibberd in the Lotus 27, looked and sounded the quickest, he recorded the pole time of 1.20.273, the Lotus 20/22 of Mark Woodhouse was also very quick, just ahead of Robin Longdon in his Lola 5A  who made up the top three, these three were separated by just 1.275 sec. after 10 laps. Derek Walker in the Crossle 4F was pacesetter in class B with a best of 1.29.097
Best front engined car in class A2 was the Alexis Mk 2 of Stuart Roach on 1.30.585, ahead of Bill Grimshaw in the Gemini Mk11.  Class A1's only contender was the Peter Mullen Osca FJ with a time of 1.34.990. Mike Waller in his BMC Huffaker  suffered a head gasket failure after eight laps, this dropped some fluids onto an already greasy track surface, which caused one or two anxious moments in the last couple of qualifying laps.

Race three was scheduled for 2.15 pm start, rather remarkably it did start a couple of minutes early, remarkable because having published the grid showing side by side two by two grid positions, and putting up line markers for the drivers, confusion reigned, this while the grid was reformed, to single staggered format, after the formation lap, but before the green flag lap, if you can follow all that, believe me it wasn't easy for the pit crews, most drivers stopped their engines while it was all sorted.

When the red lights went out the Lotus 27 on pole suffered from wheel spin and Mark Woodhouse smartly had the Lotus 20/22 into the lead, Mike tucked in behind him, Mark went a little wide at Sear Mike was able to get his 27 past and lead as the cars reappeared at the end of the first lap, Mike's 27 had an advantage of about 50 yards over the Mark's 20/22 with Robin Longdon in the Lola challenging into Russel's and nose to tail out of sight, Mallory winner Barry Westmorland Had his Lotus 22 in fourth spot, just ahead of the James Claridge  yellow Lola 5A, fifth Steve Smith in his Fillipinetti red Cooper T59 who was under pressure from Andrew Hibberd's Lotus 22, on lap four the lead positions had settled down for the moment, further back Andrew Hibberd was in front of Steve Smith, the two of them began changing places contesting sixth spot, this went on for the rest of the race, lap five saw Bill Grimshaw retire his Gemini.
On lap nine Barry Westmoreland retired his Lotus 22 with oil pressure problems, this allowed James Claridge into third in his Lola after a spin by Robin Longdon's similar car lost him a place.
Derek Walker also retired the Crossle 4F on lap nine, this left Simon Hamilton in his much improved Lotus 18 in the lead in class B.
It was all a bit lively, Mike Hibberd was about 5 secs ahead of a hard driving Mark Woodhouse who was still chasing hard having the 20/22 very sideways on the penultimate lap through Russell's.
At the finish Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 had a 5.8 secs advantage over the Mark Woodhouse 20/22, third was James Claridge Lola 5A, fourth Robin Longdon Lola 5A, fifth Andrew Hibberd Lotus 22, just, from a very hard trying Steve Smith sixth in his pretty Cooper T59.
Front engined honours and tenth overall, went to the Alexis Mk2 of Stuart Roach the only front engined car to complete 11 laps.
Eleventh was Gordon Pate who finished a lap behind in only his third FJ race in his Lotus 20, and thoroughly enjoyed driving at Snetterton
Final finisher was the Osca FJ driven by Peter Mullen the only class A1 runner this time.

The commentator Ian Titchmarsh awarded the winners laurels to Mike, he had some very complimentary things to say about Formula Junior in general, past and present, and about Mikes Lotus 27.
The presentation saw Duncan awarding first and second places in class A2 to Alexis drivers Stuart Roach and himself, he felt sure it was a record result for the Alexis Marque.
A cracking Snetterton Historic weekend, we saw and heard, an F1 car lap in 1.07, not a bad crowd of spectators on the banking, great weather, hot and sunny.

Stan Hibberd 18th April 2005