HSCC/FJHRA Silverstone International Circuit
Saturday 10th May 2008

The Qualifying for race six on the HSCC Silverstone programme attracted only nineteen Juniors, understandable with a clash with the prestigious Monaco event.

The weather was superb, sunny and warm, with track conditions ideal for racing. Newcomer to Junior racing Stephen Gibson in the ex Carter Lynx Mk 3, was in danger of being excluded due to lack of a suitable silencer, but a spare borrowed from Peter Jackson enabled him to continue. Jeremy Bouckley in the Peter Denty Cooper T56 now had the benefit of a Gathercole Ford engine replacing the earlier standard Ford version.

The Qualifying session was underway at midday.  It was soon evident that the pacesetters were James Claridge (Lola 5A)  with 1.36.174 and Benn Simms close in the Cooper T59 on1.36.546; this latter car was overheating but was still on the pace. An early pit visitor was Andrew Hibberd’s Lotus 22 to carry out adjustments; he was then able to continue, his times 1.37s being close to the two leaders and Simon Armer and Steve Smith both Cooper T59 mounted were also on 1.37s. These five class E cars were to occupy the front of the grid. Neil Dawes Lotus 18 was the top class C car and completed the top six to qualify. Stephen Gibson showed early promise on his first FJ outing being best in class D and seventh overall. Best front engined runner was the Brendan Roberts Lola Mk2 though his car suffered a misfire through the session. A leaking crank seal in the BMC engine of Jeremy Deely’s Cooper T52 handicapped his qualifying and was to result in a DNS in the race later.
Richard Smeeton in his first outing in his Lotus 22 suffered engine damage, thought to be the result of over revving and stopped after two laps.

Race six was under way on time and at the end of the first lap Claridge’s Lola and the Simms T59 were very close together ahead of Andrew Hibberd’s Lotus 22.
The early pattern of the race was a very close contest for the lead, the Lola and the Cooper contesting first place all around the International circuit, according to the commentators.
James Claridge kept the lead until lap 5 when the non stop pressure from Benn Simms paid off with him getting the still overheating Cooper into a tenuous lead.

Further back in the order David Hall BMC Mk2 was out after four laps with fuel feed problems. Peter Jackson Cooper T56 was engaged in a long chase after the Mike Waller Kieft having messed up his start, the T56 now having a new grippy clutch.
Simms continued to lead up to lap ten when James Claridge had the Lola ahead again, Simms was still hanging on in the Cooper but as the laps reeled off he gradually lost contact.
On the eleventh lap David Brown BT6 and Simon Armer T59 collided while Simon was lapping David; Simon was able to continue but David spun off in his Brabham and stopped, with some chassis damage.
Jackson finally got the better of the Waller Kieft at Abbey when Mike suffered fuel shortage.
Steve Smith Cooper T59 also ran out of fuel stopping on the run up to Bridge on the final lap.
A very hectic race between the first and second finishers with Claridge in his Lola having a 4 secs. winning margin (but some severely flat spotted tyres) at the end over Benn Simms Cooper.
Andrew Hibberd Lotus had an untroubled third place some 12 secs. behind the winner at the end.
Simon Armer held on for fourth after his coming together with Brown’s Brabham
Stephen Gibson in the Lynx 3 was fifth and class D winner on his debut in the car, a good omen for future races.
Justin Fleming Elva 100 took sixth overall and won class B.
Mike Waller Kieft was sole finisher in class C.

There were two non starters.
Seventeen cars started the race, four cars failed to finish.

Results Race 6

Winner and first in class E                    James Claridge    Lola Mk5A
Second overall and in class E               Benn Simms         Cooper T59
Third overall and in class E                   Andrew Hibberd   Lotus 22
Fifth Overall and first in class D           Stephen Gibson   Lynx Type 3
Sixth overall and first in class B           Justin Fleming     Elva 100
Eleventh Overall and first in class C    Mike Waller           Kieft

Fastest lap  James Claridge  Lola Mk 5A  1.35.461  (84.81mph)

Stan Hibberd   16th May 2008.