CLASSES A & B

Stuart Roach (a late entry) led away, holding the narrowest of leads from new and welcome face Ian Bankhurst in the ex Tony Goodwin Gemini, Derek Walker and Jack Woodhouse held on before gradually losing contact. Roach and Bankhurst were hard at it up front, Roach clearly at the cars limit – ten tenths – nothing less.
There seemed to be Elvas throughout the field; Peter St Barbe flying in 5th place some way behind the ultra smooth Jack Woodhouse. Geoff O'nion’s car seemed a tad wayward over the mountain – since his nosecone (Well the Car’s actually) pointing skywards – Geoff had found Roger Dexter’s DKW car “braking harder than expected” at the hairpin, leaving Roger with a flapping tail, and after one further lap, and then a pit stop, he pulled sadly into retirement on lap 5. Roger is a tender 76 years young, and if perseverance was a byeword, he deserves it !

Stephen Barlow in the BMC Huffaker was flying, on lap 8 managed a heart in mouth manoeuvre to overtake a back marker and Peter St Barbe through Hall Bends – they breed them brave in East Yorkshire! – In Joke – he lives 1 mile from me!
Sadly Derek Walker, loosing touch with the leaders, retired on lap 5, with a brake cylinder leak – fortunately before he arrived at the hairpin !!

David Bishop at the tail caught and passed the rare and highly original Bandini of Tony Pearson – I rather feel that this car was our Chairman’s favourite – the car which most caused me to salivate was the immaculate and sublime Stanguellini of welcome visitor Jan Biekens from Belgium – Jan did say how fantastic he thought Cadwell to be and how much he enjoyed driving it for the first time – Jan, some of we old duffers have been driving Cadwell for 30 years – we feel the same way – it wont wear off!
There were interesting dices throughout the field, Justin Fleming, Keith Roach and Geoffrey O'nion circulating together just in front of the flying carrot driven neatly as always by Duncan – peace and blessings upon his name.
By lap 8, Bankhurst began to falter – his Gemini dropping back then picking up with high drama, as the leaders were about to start their last lap, the red Gemini headed for the pits – his crew clearly had other plans and sent him on his way without stopping – this drama (caused by Points problems) allowed Jack Woodhouse to close – finishing 4 seconds down at the finish.
An exciting race – full marks to Stuart Roach who despite driving absolutely on the limit throughout, never put a wheel wrong – a superb performance – well done.

CADWELL PARK 19 APRIL CLASSES C – E

Sadly we were denied the polesitter Jon Milicevic whose Cooper T59 had its driveshaft let go in practice – doing what our American friends are pleased to call “significant collateral damage”.
Denis Welch (Whose Merlyn enjoyed Goodwood ratios) from a lowly 4th spot, made an absolute peach of a start – blasting ahead of James Clardge and Mike Hibberd at the start – these three treated us to a rerun of last years close dice at the front – Claridge got very close indeed on several occasions almost, but not quite ,getting a run on the wiley Denis. Mike Hibberd ( having requisitioned Andrew’s 22 to test out a few handling problems) was a couple of lengths behind both – a great dice. Mark Woodhouse, his Lotus 20/22 unfamiliar in its smart new white colour, kept the front 3 in sight – well placed if their close tussle should end in tears.

Further back, Chris Drake led Paul Smeeth by a narrow margin until the last lap when fuel pump failure caused Chris to slow – actually Chris bribed me into writing the failure of the pump rather than reveal that the problem was insufficient fuel! Sorry Chris – you think 1 beer is enough to ensure my silence?
Lotus battles were the order- the 20/22s of Peter Anstiss and John Boyes were hard at it with David Hall’s BMC keeping up until Peter eased away after 5 laps. The 18 of ex Lurani Champ Kevin Musson was well up having taken the fellow 18 of John Hutchinson when he spun and had it all to do again. Andrew Robertson won class C – remarkable as his car sounded dreadful throughout the race .
Steven Futter, perhaps the furthest traveller (Aberdeen) enjoyed himself as ever – finding various Loti to squabble with – at the back, John Dowson’s Elva comfortably led Martyn Crump having his first outing in his ex-Julian Wakeley Elva 200.

Lt Col Bob Birrell