Formula Junior at HSCC Croft 17/18JUN06

A rather poor FJ turnout for this meeting was further thinned by various mechanical maladies as the week-end went on.    A pity, as this circuit offers the driver a great variety of corner, is set in beautiful country and offers plenty of room for motor-homes/ tents.    On top of these attractions, the circuit was available for un-timed  practice on the Friday for those able to get away a day early.

Saturday weather was fine and dry, and qualifying resulted in:

There was a noise check at the entrance to the collection enclosure, and Douglas Martin’s Elva 200 with BMC ‘A’ series fell foul of it.   This necessitated a dash to get a bigger silencer.

The race got away on time at 15:45.     Barry Westmorland bogged down, then recovered with such a boot-full that a trip onto the grass was involved.   This enabled John Sykes to get up to third, though he later had a spin round the back of the circuit while fighting with Barry as he caught up.     John Chisholm did not get as far as the first corner, the quill shaft between clutch and gearbox having failed when he changed up to third.     Bill Grimshaw led until he was caught and passed by Westmorland, while John Truslove fell back with brakes locking on, enabling John Sykes to get by at the last corner.

Sunday dawned cool and grey, with the promise of rain moving in from the North West by late afternoon.   In fact the rain turned up early, so the race was held on a wet track, though the rain was never really heavy.    Peter Anstiss pulled off on the formation lap with gearbox trouble.    The drivers were allowed an extra green flag lap to get some experience of the conditions.     Barry Westmorland got away into an early lead, but was overhauled after one lap by John Truslove, whose brake trouble had now been overcome.      Truslove eased away to an emphatic victory, but not by quite enough of a margin to erase the deficiency from the first race.     Behind him Westmorland was not challenged, but there was a close chase led originally by Grimshaw though he had eventually to give best to Sykes.    Though initially up with these two, Douglas Martin had a few  “moments” and lost touch.     I regret I cannot give the reasons for the non-finish by John Monson and Andrew Robertson.

The rather sparse entry enjoyed this magnificent circuit, though there were no trophies from “The Management”  and as Crispian Besley was not present there was no Cobra Beer.   For those of you who were not there it would be worth making the effort next time, but first make sure of your noise levels.    The circuit has to placate the half dozen or so householders in the vicinity.

John Greenwood.