HSCC/FJHRA Millers Oils Historic Formula Junior
Cadwell Park 23rd April 2006.

A damp track awaited the Juniors for the fifteen minute Qualifying/practice session.

Qualifying began on time at 10.15am,  Cadwell looked very narrow and challenging after the wide-open spaces of Brands Hatch GP for the Lurani round a week earlier. First man round in the session was Mark Woodhouse looking and sounding very quick in the Lotus 20/22. Also impressive were Steve Smith Cooper T59 and Paul Smeeth Lotus 22. Derek Walker Terrier Mk1V was making the best of the conditions as always easily the quickest front engine car. John Chisholm Gemini 3A and Doug Martin Elva 200 only managed a couple of laps in the session. Newcomer Paul Dixon Elva 100 sensibly started right at the rear of the pack and managed seven laps in the session.
Pole position went to Paul Smeeth in his 22, with a time of 1.47.349 Steve Smith in his T59 was second and Mark Woodhouse 20/22 third. An excellent fourth was Derek Walker in the Terrier which seems unaffected by damp conditions, or could it be the driver, either way he headed the front engine brigade with a time of 1.49.795.  Paul Davis Lotus 20 was best in class C1 and only class runner to survive the session. Kevin Musson was the best class B runner in his Lotus 18.
Twenty cars took part in the qualifying on a damp track in cloudy conditions that looked set for the day.

As race time approached skies cleared, sunshine and a dry track appeared much to every ones surprise and evident relief.

Race Four as the drivers departed straight out of the assembly area into the green flag lap, the pit crews were left to scurry over the road to the pit wall, before the cars reached the Mountain on their way round to the starting grid.
When the red lights went out the pole sitter Paul Smeeth was left on the line, either wrong gear or wet plugs whatever it was no go. The rest of the cars streamed away first back into sight into the Mountain was the Cooper T59 of Steve Smith, his lead however was short lived as an early spin lost him several places.
Mark Woodhouse now had the Lotus 20/22 firmly up into a lead that was never seriously challenged. Paul Smeeth and Steve Smith were quickly recovering ground on the leaders, Barry Westmorland in his 22 was second early on but dropped away steadily as he was overhauled by Smeeth Lotus 22 and Smith Cooper T59 and later by fifth place Andrew Hibberd also in a 22, who only just failed to catch him, this when Barry suffered a very alarming spin on the downhill section just before the pit straight, on the penultimate lap of the race.
Further back in the race Paul Hewes was having smoking engine dramas and thought it prudent to stop after six laps.  Bill Grimshaw Morland was having a lonely race in midfield, Walker's Terrier  and Truslove in the Lola Mk 2 were still in touch with the leading pack, Kevin Musson was right behind this pair in the Lotus 18 leading class B. Paul Davis had the Lotus 20 in ninth , the last car on the lead lap. Paul Dixon in the Elva 100 managed eleven laps on his debut in the car.
An interesting Junior race on a testing drivers circuit. Eighteen cars started the race there were two non-finishers.

Results

Winner and first in class C2              Mark Woodhouse Lotus 20/22
Second                                               Paul Smeeth Lotus 22
Third                                                   Steve Smith Cooper T59

Sixth overall and winner class A2     Derek Walker Terrier Mk1V
Eighth overall and winner class B     Kevin Musson Lotus 18
Ninth overall and winner class C1     Paul Davis Lotus 20

Fastest lap   1.43.251 75.76 mph      Mark Woodhouse Lotus 20/22

Stan Hibberd 24th April 2006