Monoposto 2000 & 2000 Classic Championship (by Tony Cotton)
Snetterton has become a traditional starter for the Monoposto club in the last few seasons, but the new “300” circuit caused some apprehension – would it be a “Tilkedrome” with slow corners breaking the flow? Would it be the desecration of a well loved old friend? As it happened, praise was almost universal for the new JP-designed circuit, with perhaps a little minor weeping for the loss of Russells. Even the weather smiled benevolently (if a little coldly) on the new venue.
Qualifying
Entries were a little down on expectations, but still pretty solid at 16 taking qualifying. Qualifying raised a few eyebrows as MSVF3 competitor Matt Draper chose to run the same car in Mono as well, with all the mods that entails. He stunned us all by pipping reigning champ Tristan Cliffe to pole by a second (1:52.948). Richard Purcell was, as expected, just behind Tristan, but another surprise was Robbie Watts, in his self-built “US FF2000” bewinged Van Diemen. Beautiful cars as these are, and we have become used to Malcolm Scott wringing wonders out of his similar model, it seemed almost miraculous to put the spaceframe car in with carbon Dallaras and 1.5 seconds ahead of the similar car of Malcolm. Interestingly, our 2 “surprise” drivers had both competed at the first round last year but we did not see them again – we hope that Matt and Robbie will become Mono regulars. Anthony Bishop, in the Omicron-run ex-Jeremy Timms Dallara 397 was 5th and told us that he was enjoying his new mount, feeling as though he and it were capable of more speed, and pleased to have a team-mate with whom to share data.
I never tire of seeing Peter Venn’s Anson, and as first classic he was sandwiched between Anthony and Malcolm. Graham Read was the final 2000 car, in a very smart new red and white livery. Kevin Otway was second classic in his FVL, showing a fine turn of speed with a time only just over 2 minutes (2:01.08). Doubtless the adoring Lotus fans, present for the Elise racing, urged him on as “one of theirs”. (For the benefit of younger readers, GM used to own Lotus and liked using the badge to remind people.) I hope the rest of the grid will allow me to skip to the back row, where we had 2 new cars, with Henry Fryer appearing in the tube frame FR Tatuus debuted at the Ray Dackombe Trophy and Lou Watts in a Mk2 Vauxhall Lotus instead of the more familiar Mk1. Sadly I was unable to ask whether it’s a new car or a rebodying.
Race
Pic: Norwich Photo
I asked Tristan if I could have a “Bernie Button” to give him a problem at the start of a race as watching him recover is always good spectating. He replied that one wasn’t needed, he was quite capable of doing it himself…. In this case, after a fairly undramatic start, Tristan was putting the pressure on Matt Draper and put a wheel onto the mud at Hamilton. Around he went, at fairly high speed, fortunately with no damage. He rejoined, just missing Jim Timms. There then began an almighty catch up which was wondrous to watch. Tristan’s described it for us, but if we posted that you wouldn’t read my waffle so we’re holding his prose back a day or two. 10th at the end of lap 1, 8th at 2, 5 at 3, 3rd at 4, including a superb pass at Riches to claim a place over Graham Read, the hard work now began. It took 2 more laps to reel in Richard Purcell, and then the extreme fun started. Would he catch a rapid Matt Draper? With Matt having sped up a little (whilst developing a slight audible miss) Tristan was still around a couple of seconds a lap faster, and eventually took Matt on the final lap. Body language after the line was joyful to say the least.
Richard Purcell had what looked an uneventful race to third on the road, initially being pursued by Peter Venn but losing him after a couple of laps. Peter, in turn, rose to 4th overall with a superb passing of Robbie Watts into Montreal, and then being slightly incongruously involved in Dallara battles. Anthony Bishop came past both Peter and his pursuer Robbie Watts on laps 4 and 6, doing a pretty spectacular 7th lap a full 2.4 seconds faster than qualifying – a man to watch in the future.
The VD F4 pair of Malcolm Scott and Robbie Watts were initially separated by various fighting Dallaras but after 4 laps battle royal was joined. At first it looked as though Robbie easily had the legs over Malcolm but he gradually drew closer until they crossed the line less than 4 hundredths of a second apart. Bet Malcolm wished he’d had an extra coat of paint…..
With Peter Venn wrapping up Classic, the second place fell to Kevin Otway who spent the race in Graham Read’s company, though generally not so close that people might talk. Whilst I’m sure Francis Phillips was pleased with 3rd in class, he didn’t seem to have the most exciting of races, circulating almost in a high speed sprint. Steven Griffin initially had a close race with Jim Timms, but in the last couple of laps Jim slowed quite dramatically, reason unknown. Jim was, of course, re-entering 2000, as his VDFI initially competed with a 2 litre before conversion to 1800 spec. Lou Watts at first ran just outside the top 10, but slipped back a bit and suffered mid race from a deranged front wing. He was racing fairly closely with Lenny Coleman who failed to finish, being parked up at Murray’s covered in dust on lap 7. The lap chart shows Lou having a very slow last lap, and he was last recorded finisher, just behind Henry Fryer, who was consistent and drove well, showing his customary courtesy to the leaders, and probably with a fair bit less power than most of the grid.
After the race, Graham Read and Matt Draper were disqualified. I do not know why, but have heard that both had rear wings slightly above regulation height. Since both had ride height adjustments, this may not be unconnected.
With no material damage, no red flags, a good finishing percentage, a warm welcome for a new circuit and a cracking recovery drive this race was a good start to the season.
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Pic: Norwich Photo
Monoposto 1000-1400-1600-1800 classes (by Patrick Huston)
One can only be impressed by the improvements that MSV have made to the UK circuits that they own, and on Sunday 20th March Monoposto competitors experienced Snetterton 300 for the first time. There was universal praise for the latest incarnation of the Snetterton circuit. Unprompted, drivers sang its praises. Spectators, especially those accessing the new spectator banking at the eastern end of the paddock are offered an excellent raised viewing position. Given the raw earth nature of many of the areas that will be grass, it was fortunate that the weather was exceptionally dry for March, a bit cool, but overall excellent weather for racing.
Mono1000/1400
Qualifying. Your scribe was not at the track for qualifying, but learnt of several incidents. Dan Clowes set a pole time of 1:52.422, the only Monoposto car to average more than 95mph, but problems with the engine’s cam tensioner were diagnosed, and despite a heroic attempt to change the engine before the race, the team failed to make the grid. This left Dax Ward on pole with Mark Fortune three quarters of a second further back. Darren Freeman and Dave Connor were next, all Jedi mounted. The first non Jedi was Adrian Wright’s home constructed GEM, the AW2 version, Adrian said that the debute of the AW3 is imminent.
The large field of Mono1000s include the Jedi of Stuart Digby and Len Turner, and the Aztecs of Daniel Rowbottom, and James Tanser, the latter in his first race. A cloud of smoke indicated that Peter Whitmore’s season got off to a very poor start when his Mono1400 Hayabusa dropped a valve after only two laps. That left Geoff Fern and Christopher Hill as the two Mono1400 runners, starting eighth and tenth respectively.
Two immaculate bright yellow Aztecs caught the eye in the paddock but only one was on the track because Daniel Rowbottom’s version refused to start. Cooperative officials enabled him to make the race, starting at the back of the grid, the prelude to an impressive drive through the field.
The Race. Marc Fortune won the start but ran wide at Melbourne letting Dax through, and into a lead that he held throughout the race. The lead was greatest mid-race, it reduced to 1.5s at the finish, perhaps Dax was pacing himself. Adrian Wright took third place from Darren Freeman on the first lap at Melbourne when the latter ran wide (deja vu, I have just written that), by lap five Darren had caught Adrian, and was lining up to overtake when a misfire started, he retired his Jedi to the garage where it resumed running perfectly. After taking third place in class and overall the Gem stopped, it was towed in without its engine cover.
David Connor’s Jedi finished fourth comfortably ahead of Daniel Rowbottom’s Aztec, the latter drove through the field with some panache. Daniel caught the Woodhouse-run Speads of John Rawlings on the last lap, they rounded Coram together, but the traditional Snetterton sprint to the line never occurred because the Speads broke a drive shaft at the last corner and crawled across the line losing a place to Geoff Fern’s 1400 as it did so. Thus John Rawlings split the two 1400s as Christopher Hill was next up. Geoff had recovered from a first lap incident that delayed some slightly, but put Peter Bragg’s 1800 Mygale into last place, (for the first lap only).
On lap five James Tanser suffered a tyre failure on the Bentley Straight which gave David Parkinson as well as himself an interesting moment before he parked the Aztec neatly on the inside of bombhole with a spectacular tyre failure that threatened to destroy his rear bodywork. The car was at least fifty metres away from the track, on the inside of the circuit, but regulations dictate that while James or the marshals were
trackside of the Armco the corner was covered by waved yellows, and while the car remained trackside the corner had a static yellow i.e. for the reminder of the race.
Stuart Digby and Len Turner bought their Jedi home in tenth and twelfth places respectively, while Dan Levy retired on lap three for reasons unknown to your scribe.
Mono1800
Qualifying. The Mono 1800 field looked significantly different from the entry list I downloaded on the 16th March, Simon must have had a busy few days keeping up with the changes. A loss to the class since last season is the defection of Jim Timms and his Van Diemen FX to the Mono Classic 2000 class. Hopefully Jim will soon see the error of his ways and re-defect.
As one has come to expect, Peter Bragg set the standard with a time of 2:04.288, he was in class of his own, about 6.5s faster than second in class Michael Dale. Michael was in his familiar orange RF82, looking resplendent after its winter rebuild, it must also be said that Peter’s Mygale was also looking good, its driver having finally invested in some blue paint. James Chapman’s smart Van Diemen qualified third in class, followed by two directors, Jonathan Baggott just edging out Doug McLay. Jock Sergison, doing his own spanner work this weekend, headed the final qualifier Marcus Sheard.
The Race. Peter Bragg naturally lead away but took to the rough to avoid spinning motorcycle engined cars, the commentators judged him to be an innocent victim of the incident, when he came through Nelson on the first lap he was dead last, a situation that changed as he rounded Corum. Peter’s speed advantage was such that he rapidly worked his way through the field of 1600s and 1800, and a few 1000s as well. He had a dominant win in the 1800 class and finished ninth overall, the last unlapped car.
James Chapman took second in class comfortably, entertaining himself by chasing Stuart Digby’s Jedi. Jonathan Baggott, in the familiar green Van Diemen, just had the upper hand in the competition between the two directors, but Doug retired on lap three when his gear linkage failed. Jonathan was third in class, the new circuit suiting him. After Doug’s retirement he won a private contest with 1600 victor, David Parkinson, the pair chasing Len Turner’s Jedi.
Jock Sergison reminded the crowds of the old days by spinning as he entered Senna Straight exiting Murray’s (nee Russell). Marcus Sheard was the final finisher, Michael Dale’s immaculate RF82 finishing its day on a tow rope. He was reported to have suffered some sort of failure on lap 2 and pulled off on Bentley Straight.
Mono1600.
Qualifying. Current champion Nigel Davers demonstrated his class by qualifying nearly four seconds ahead of second in class David Parkinson. David had made it easy starting his season with a collision, deranging AVIT’s shiny new bodywork, diffuser and rear wing. The Reynard was to make a rapid return to Ewen’s emporium on Sunday night so Ewen could redo his work. Tony Davies and Michael Wilkinson in their Formula Renaults were the third and fourth qualifiers, while Eddie Guest’s Lola was the final healthy car, Joe Venor’s version managed two slow laps and blew its engine, naturally it failed to make the race.
The Race. Favourite, Nigel Davers, failed to complete the green flag lap. One must presume an electrical glitch, because after the race he drove theTeam Fern RF89 back to the paddock. This left the race to David Parkinson’s somewhat battered Reynard. The Formula Renaults could not challenge David, Tony Davies, running without a rear wing was second in class, but Michael Wilkinson’s version retired on lap 6. In the latter part of the race Tony kept close company with Jock Sergison’s 1800. Last on track, Eddie Guest in his smart but misfiring Lola picked up third in class.
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Anthony Bishop leads Malcolm Scott
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Pic: Norwich Photo
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Pic: Norwich Photo
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The 2011 GT Cup Championship began in fine style at a sun-drenched Silverstone this weekend, with a varied and colourful grid delivering up two great races to entertain the crowd. Both of the 25-minute events were characterised by close racing throughout the classes, and by several duels that went down to the flag.
LoTRDC (Lotus on Track Racing Drivers Club) celebrate their fifth season of racing from this weekend but there’s little time to relax as this is very much the dawn of a new era. Here are five good reasons why:
