Mallory Park, 9th March 2008
Round 1; HSCC/FJHRA "Millers Oils" UK Championship

FJHRA National Championship racing regs select entries dependant upon points scored to date, which encourages those interested drivers to get themselves organized for the first meeting when a single point gained for a race finish may influence their selection for subsequent races.

Thus it was that the 750 Club rose to the occasion and gave FJHRA an additional race slot when over subscription threatened to create a reserve list for this first championship race of the season.
Thank you 750 Club, we are very grateful for this accommodation, which enabled separate races for Classes A, B & C and for Classes D & E.

Seventeen Class A, B & C cars lined up for qualifying under blue skies with a cool breeze and we welcomed John Hutchison, Lotus 18 and Jeremy Deeley, Cooper T52 along with the returning
Neil Daws, Lotus 18.
Jon Milicevic, Lotus 18, set a pole time of 54.2 on his 4th out of 12 laps and his sparring partner from last season Derek Walker, Terrier, made 55.62 with Bill Grimshaw, Moorland, only one hundredth of a second behind. Dr Tony Goodwin completed the front two rows running a long stroke BMC in his Gemini, in preparation for Monaco. Third row was Andrew Robertson, going very well in his Crossle, ahead of Crispian Besley, Elva 100.
Brian Arculus, Emeryson and Paul Hewes, Lotus 18 set identical times and Brian was placed ahead of Paul on account of setting his time earlier in the session than did Paul, both on row 7.
Cutting quite a dash was the striking and very appropriate chequered helmet of Paul Dixon in his Gemini Mk2 with polished aluminium body. BJ Colaric wisely took things gently, easing in a new BMC engine in his Elva 100 following a comprehensive blow up towards the end of last season.

Then it was the turn of Classes D & E and a glance down the entry list of nineteen cars revealed at least six drivers capable of winning, so it was going to be a tough qualifying session.
One of these six was Ben Simms, reigning Classic F3 Champion but new to Formula Junior, in Stuart Rolt’s Cooper T59 having it’s first circuit race for many years ~ Stuart concentrating mostly on Alpine and other European hill climbs nowadays, when he isn’t building race engines.
Also welcomed was Peter Hughes in Dr Mark Green’s beautiful silver & red Tojeiro and David Brand, Lotus 22. Edwin Jowsey, FJ champion a few years ago, decided to try his hand again in his Lotus 22 and he and Ben Simms looked to be setting the fastest times. When the eagerly awaited sheets emerged from the office it was clear just how fast these two were pushing each other. Edwin set a stunning 50.84 near the end of his 17 laps, with Ben just one tenth behind set early on in the session. James Claridge, Lola 5A and Steve Smith, Cooper T59 occupied row 2 with Mark Woodhouse, Lotus 20/22 and Simon Armer, Cooper T59 completing the top six places, all covered by less than 1.5 seconds.

There was an air of expectancy as the cars lined up in assembly for Race 4; Classes A, B & C.
When the red lights extinguished they made off in a tight bunch towards Gerrards, but no sooner than he had had time for a couple of gear changes than Milicevic’s Lotus 18 was in trouble with transmission failure and his hand shot up in warning to those behind and he coasted to a halt.
Coming round for the first time Walker’s Terrier led from Goodwin’s Gemini and Besley’s Elva who had come up from a 3rd row start. Grimshaw in the Moorland had dropped places, now behind Robertson’s Crossle in 4th place. Daws’ Lotus 18 drew up over the next few laps to do battle with Besley, Grimshaw and David Stevenson’s U2. Robertson was in trouble on lap 7 dropping down and retiring with suspected ignition failure, which was a great shame for him as he had run consistently 3rd for a good number of laps. Brian Arculus retired his Emeryson in clouds of oil smoke on lap 10, but fortunately this turned out to be a chafed oil pipe and not the feared terminal and expensive blow up that it looked.

So at half distance the top 6 order was Walker, Goodwin, Besley, Daws, Grimshaw and Stevenson.
Hutchison was maintaining his Lotus 18 position midfield and by now the cars were well strung out and mixed up with lapped cars, all of which thoroughly confused your humble scribe.
Peter Mullen kept his OSCA ahead of Keith Roach’s Gemini & Dixon’s similar model, whilst Paul Hewes’ Lotus 18 had gradually moved up to pass these three by half distance.
The usual battle between Besley & Grimshaw was developing quite nicely until the Moorland had fuel pick up problems and stopped on lap 16 leaving Besley to finish ahead of Stevenson.
Tim Bishop’s Sauter ran reliably well on last year’s engine, which was very pleasing for him.
BJ Colaric’s new engine ran perfectly in his well presented Elva, which was a huge relief for him and finally Jeremy Deeley thoroughly enjoyed his trouble free maiden race in his lovely Cooper.

Race 4 ~~ Awards & Positions
Class A >
1st Peter Mullen, OSCA (the only Class representative)

Class B >
1st Derek Walker, Terrier (and 1st overall)
2nd Tony Goodwin, Gemini Mk2 (and 2nd overall)
3rd Crispian Besley, Elva 100

Class C >
1st Neil Daws, Lotus 18 (and 3rd overall)
2nd John Hutchison, Lotus 18
3rd Paul Hewes, Lotus 18

An hour later and it was the turn of Class D & E cars to do battle in Race 6 and as he left the assembly area Edwin Jowsey gave an indication of his intentions by fishtailing down the pit lane.
The cars were very quickly formed up on the grid and Jowsey and Ben Simms shot away into Gerrards almost side by side. Simms managed to keep the inside line and hauled past Jowsey as they hammered off towards the Esses. Jowsey was back ahead, but only just, as they came round for the first time and blasted down to Gerrards once more. However the start was not good for James Claridge who suffered gear selection difficulties with his Lola and lost many places.
Also in trouble were Chris Drake who retired his Brabham immediately on the opening lap and Andrew Hibberd who called into the pits a lap later aware of some suspension irregularities collected in the melee, but he continued at a modest pace thereafter.
Meanwhile Steve Smith had bagged 3rd in his Cooper hotly pursued by Mark Woodhouse’s Lotus and Simon Armer’s Cooper. Barry Westmoreland’s Lotus hung on to complete the top 6 places.
This order continued for some laps although Westmoreland gradually dropped back whilst Claridge picked his way back up the order, deposing Paul Smeeth, Lotus and then Westmoreland.
The two leaders, Jowsey & Simms, were still at it hammer and tongs but not pulling away from the Smith, Woodhouse, Armer, Westmoreland & Claridge bunch. Most unfortunately David Hall lost his BMC at the exit of Gerrards on lap 4 and shot down the grassy slope into the tyrewall. Also out was Paul Davis who’s Lotus lost its rear brakes on lap 11, a recurrence of an unresolved problem that had cut short his qualifying session and Hibberd retired his now evil handling Lotus on lap 14.
More excitement came at Gerrards when Smith’s Cooper got away from him and he spun but maintained control although Woodhouse, Claridge, Armer and Smeeth all got past. Then sadly Simms’ Cooper started to sound rough and he gradually dropped back from Jowsey’s tail where he had been since the off. The problem rapidly worsened and he pulled up on lap 16 leaving Jowsey out on his own.
Pete Morton meanwhile had been doing very well indeed in the family Lightning. He had qualified a fine 10th and was now holding a steady 8th place ahead of David Brand’s Lotus. Brian Mitcham in his now beautiful shark nose Wainer had lost out to Brand somewhere, but he headed Lorraine Gathercole’s Lotus 18 who had got past Alex Morton’s Ausper. Rudi Ernst had a steady race in his Lotus 22 and completing the finishers was a delighted Peter Hughes who not only collected a point from his maiden race in the rare Tojeiro, but also a Class award ~ a great start for him.

Race 6 ~~ Awards & Positions
Class D >
1st  Lorraine Gathercole, Lotus 18
2nd Alex Morton, Ausper
3rd  Peter Hughes, Tojeiro

Class E >
1st  Edwin Jowsey, Lotus 22 (and 1st overall)
2nd  Mark Woodhouse, Lotus 20/22 (and 2nd overall)
3rd  James Claridge, Lola 5A (and 3rd overall)

Crispian Besley has changed his allegiance to a different brewery, so now we have a choice of Freedom Beer and Lager for our post race celebrations ~~ what a fine chap he is !

Our noble leader DCPR being away racing in Australia, the prizegiving ceremonies were conducted by Crispian and Sarah Rabagliati who also made an appeal especially for many more Brands Hatch Super Prix entries.

Whilst on the subject of Brands Hatch appeals ~ you scribe is particularly short of British front engine cars for the Formula Junior Display at the A1GP race meeting on May 2/3/4.
So far we have altogether 16 cars promised and there is plenty of room for as many more of all types as would like to participate.
For those who may have missed the publicity for this event ~~ cars are displayed in a marquee with 24/7 security and we get VIP hospitality tickets for our trouble, which means unlimited food & drink and full paddock access & viewing.
The A1GP series is very exciting racing and FJHRA are honoured to have been invited to supply the historic display at this prestigious event.
Please support it if you are able to spare your car for the weekend.
Contact > Peter Jackson peter@jaxontrax.freeserve.co.uk   t.02380 845835