Nope not come out. See all on our Historic ff website soon.
2018 HFF Finals report Plus 2019 race dates
HFF Carless Fuels and Vital Equipment Championship went down to the wire...
Sponsoring The HSCC Historic Formula Ford 1600cc Championship Race Series for pre 1972 Cars.
Cameron Jackson and Ben Mitchell settled the destiny of the HSCC Historic Formula Ford title after one of the most fiercely-contested seasons in the championship’s history.
Jackson had a four-point advantage when dropped scores are factored in. However, it was a winner-takes-all scenario. Each driver has scored six wins to date in the 15 races. Callum Grant had already sealed a safe 3rd in the Championship.
The Radio Caroline Over 50'S Championship couldn't have been much closer either.
Going into the final two races the current lead was TIED between Rob Smith and Brian Morris, both on 222 points.
Rob had a slight advantage on 211 points over Brian on 208
Again 3rd place boiled down to just 3 points (after 4 worst races removed) between Tim Brise (142 points) and Stuart Kestenbaum (139 points)
Before the race report, have a read of this.
I was a flag marshal at the HSCC Finals 20/21 October. This was a most enjoyable weekend of racing including the weather. My reason for writing is to congratulate the Formula Ford drivers for putting on 2 fantastic races over the weekend. Talking with other Marshals and officials on Sunday morning about Saturday’s race then following Sunday’s race, like me many Marshals felt this was some of the most exciting races we have seen for some time. Seeing 8 cars almost abreast coming out of Copse then the lead changing every few seconds was something very special. Well done Formula Ford, you normally put on a good show but that weekend was something very special.
Regards
David Turner
HSCC HISTORIC FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sponsored by Carless Racing Fuels and Vital Equipment
Support by Avon Tyres and Radio Caroline
Finals Races sponsored by
speedsport gallery
Rounds 16 and 17: Silverstone National, 20/21 October
Cameron Jackson won the 2018 HSCC Historic Formula Ford Championship in the best possible style during the final two races of the season.
At the wheel of the Fowler Motorsport Lola T200, Jackson won two thrilling races to finally see off the challenge of Ben Mitchell (Merlyn Mk20). However, this was never easy for Jackson as his combined winning margin over two races, and half an hour of wheel-to-wheel combat, was little more than a third of a second.
Qualifying; Jackson took pole position by a tenth from Callum Grant and the top 17 qualifiers were covered by less than two seconds from a 30-car field. This was going to be a weekend of Silverstone slip-streaming and glorious autumn sunshine offered the perfect back drop.
Race 1. Mitchell, Richard Tarling, Grant and Ben Tusting were the big challengers to Jackson in the opening race on Saturday, but the Lola was in the perfect place on the deciding final lap. Mitchell lost out when he was edged onto the grass and back to fifth on the final rush down the Wellington Straight and that was enough to cost him a remaining shot at the title. Right behind Mitchell at the flag was the leading over 50 racer Clive Richards after another impressive showing while a few seconds later Ross Dryborough headed Ted Pearson and youngster Pierre Livingston.
Jackson said: “There were six of us all going for it and it was another classic race. You don’t want to lead onto Wellington Straight on the last lap so I left Richard Tarling space to go into Copse ahead of me. I knew I’d get a decent tow from him.”
A measured fourth among the over 50 racers was a good result for Rob Smith as he closed on the category title, having seen his major rival Brian Morris go out on the first lap with suspension damage. Remarkably, Morris was one of only two non-finishers.
While Jackson was elated at taking the title in his first serious attempt at a season-long championship, Mitchell took the result with commendable good grace after a tremendous effort on limited resources.
A grand Chilli meal and a presentation was the order of the evening courtesy of Barbara & Stuart Dix with a fine display of our sponsors through the year.
Jackson won again on Sunday after another absolute thriller but his second win only came when Tarling missed a gear on the sprint to the flag. That allowed Jackson to grab victory by six-thousandths of a second with Mitchell almost level with them over the line.
“It’s been a challenging season in every race and there has always been someone to race with, especially with Ben Mitchell,” said Jackson. “Every single race we’ve been next to each other on the track,” he said after becoming the first champion in a Lola since his team boss Neil Fowler won his fifth title back in 2005.
Gislain Genecand drove a fabulous race to run in the lead pack and take fourth ahead of Tusting, as Grant slowed and retired. That was one of only two retirements as the other non-finisher was Kevin Stanzl who was ‘helped’ into the gravel at Becketts.
Genecand topped the Over 50s while Richards headed the second big pack in sixth place, with Dan Eagling, Pearson and Dryborough on his tail. Morris bounced back from his first race retirement to take tenth but the Radio Caroline Over 50s award went to Rob Smith.
Rob Smith strutting his stuff…
Paul Lawrence
Our Paddock presentation was headed by our Carless Fuels/Vital Equipment Sponsor MD Alistair Roberts
(From left) Main Sponsor; Carless Racing Fuels & Vital Equipment M.D. Alistair Roberts; Title Contender Ben Mitchell, Overall Champion Cameron Jackson, Radio Caroline Championship Contender Brian Morris, Radio Caroline Champion Rob Smith, Overall Championship third place Callum Grant and Tim Brise third in the Radio Caroline Championship.
A Big Thank-You to;
Carless Race Fuels supplied by Vital Equipment and Avon Tyres suppliers BMTR for their continuing prize support of sets of tyres. We greatly value their contribution. Also, all of us appreciated the 300 cartons of ‘Jimmy’s Iced Coffee’ each meeting. Thanks Jimmy!
We are especially grateful to all our Race-day sponsors for their invaluable support in helping to build our series. Also a big thanks to moustachioed David Alderson for lugging our equipment trailer along at each meeting, it means a lot..
Please be on the look-out for Race-day sponsors who may benefit with an association with us.
‘Radio Caroline’ advertising support is still on-line for 2019 too, their 45-second jingles 10 times a day help push our series and our sponsors name in a big way - two 1960’s iconic creations – us and them.
YouTube film commentator/compiler Josh Barratt is still with us in between other racing duties, anyone who wants to be named and see themselves in all their racing glory is reminded to fit an in-car camera.
Thanks to Charlie Wooding for his many shots of us in action, his HFF 2018 Yearbook is now in the making and can be ordered on his website.
More Finals shots here;
https://www.charliewooding.co.uk/v/p...c-formula-ford
Post-race technical matters;
On Tuesday 20th November at the request of Nigel Jones I examined the engines from Cameron Jackson and Ben Mitchell's Historic Formula Fords, Car Numbers 7 & 24, which were sealed at Silverstone on Saturday 20th October, at the premises of Neil Bold Engineering, Manchester.
After detailed examinations both engines were found to be in complete conformity with the 2018
FF1600 Technical Regulations.
Best regards Mike Harris. MSA Technical Commissioner.
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News round…
Well done to Callum, not only for winning the Walter Hayes Meeting Janet Cesar Trophy for 1982-’98 cars but also 15th as the best Pre-’99 finisher in the Grand Final in Roger Arnold’s Van Diemen.
Two weeks later he picked up his Championship Third-place trophy from famous racer Anthony Reid at the HSCC Trophy evening at Whittlebury Hall along with the HSCC Clubman of the Year Trophy for his role in Nelson Rowe’s fiery Cadwell incident. Callum was also the receiver of a set of Avon Tyres from Nelson as a gesture of thanks from him. He went home with a lot more than he arrived for sure.
Richard Tarling slipped at the first bend in the Cesar Trophy at The Walter Hayes but made for terrific watching to come an amazing 2nd from last place. His 6th in the semi final was rather good too.
Ed Thurston at the same meeting was a magnificent 4th! in a Speedsport Merlyn against more modern cars in the MAIN heats and FIRST in the Carl Harmer Trophy 1967-92 class. Nicely driven Ed.
Congrats also to another nice lad to grace our grids, Benn Tilley for first place in the Classic FF race and their Championship at The Brands FF Fest, a nano-second behind was Scott Mansell, F1 car & driver developer. Not bad for a young‘un.
HSCC Awards night saw Callum, Ben, Cameron and Max all scrubbed up being presented with their HFF Championship Trophies by Anthony Reid (centre).
Well done too to ALL for some great racing in 2018.
Our Calendar may look like this, provisional and subject to entries of course.
HSCC HFF PROVISIONAL (as of 18/12/18 ) RACE MEETING DATES 2019
We asked for a sensibly-spaced race programme however, this won’t happen in 2019: We have to honour pre-arranged dates but we hope your support will enable us to run our format of two groups of Heat and Final each day at most meetings. This format equalizes abilities and create full grids with tight racing.
HSCC Historic Formula Ford Race programme 2019.
30tht March Donington Park. Heat & Final format. 2 X 32 – car grid each day. 64 Total.
18th-19th May Silverstone (Grand Prix Circuit) 54 - car rolling starts, 1 X race each day. 54 Total.
1st June Snetterton. One of the best FF racing circuits. Heat & Final format. 2 X 32 (car grid). 64 total.
15 – 16th June Cadwell Park. ‘Wolds Trophy’ Lincolnshire’s ‘Little Nurburgring’ subject to entries; Heat & Final of max 26 per grid, each day. 52 total.
29th-30th June Legends of Brands Hatch ‘Legends’ SuperPrix. Grand Prix Circuit. The Best. Our race here is turning into an ‘International Event’ with visiting drivers each year – we’ll invent a ‘Euro Trophy’ again - Heat & Final format each day. 38 cars each grid. 76 Total.
13th-14th July Anglesey. 34 – car grid. A departure from our normal bill, two races with a 34 – car grid each. Asked for, and new for many, the Circuit will be putting on a good show for us – so it will be worth the journey.
3rd- 4th August Croft 'Nostalgia'. Subject to numbers this will be a Heat & Final format. 2 X 32 – car grid each day. Allows 64 Total to enter.
24th-25th-26th August Oulton Park Gold Cup. Our racing will be on Saturday and Sunday. Bank Holiday Monday travel home/watch the racing. Great circuit 1 X 34 – car grid each day. 68 total if Heat & Final format.
21st September Brands Indy. 2 X 30 – car grids. Important for Championship points, great racing, apologies for the M25 in advance… 30 cars Total.
19th-20th October Silverstone National Circuit Finals 1 X 36 – car grid each day.
Note; Qualifying allowance; most circuits allow 10% extra. Non - Q; Entry fees returned less £25.
We will continue our 'come one - come all' racing format where we will not have any reserves at some races (dependent on circuit grid and entry numbers). There will be double qualifying sessions where the top half of each will qualify for a Final each day, the lower group make up the first Heat race.
Top finishers in the Heat race then go into our Final (subject to grid size) each day.
It’s a good format, makes life interesting and like abilities race together. Good eh?
Special Invitations for 2019.(Subject to confirmation).
5th October Castle Combe. Special Invitation (non-Championship Round mixing with Classic FF guys) at the Autumn Classic FF Trophy Race Meeting celebrating their 50th year racing Formula Fords. 1 maybe, 2 X 34 - car races, one day meet.
7th – 9thJune Zandvoort (Invitation, non-Championship race this year but watch this space for a full Champ outing in 2020). Marcel Albers Memorial Trophy for pre-82 FF cars. Fixed Head Restraint required. Register directly on
www.circuitzandvoort.nl/mamt
Show date & news.
The Historic Sports Car Club will celebrate 50 years of Formula 5000 in a spectacular display at Autosport International at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Birmingham (January 10-13).
The Club will mark the 50th anniversary of the UK debut of this category and will feature six cars owned and raced by Club members including the ex-Mike Hailwood 1971 Surtees TS8 of Chris Atkinson and the 1970 McLaren M10B raced by Peter Gethin for Sid Taylor’s team. The 1969 ex-Horst Kroll Lola T142, now raced by Adam Simmonds, will represent the early cars, while the 1975 Lola T400, now raced successfully by Michael Lyons in the HSCC’s Derek Bell Trophy, is one of the ultimate F5000 designs.
Retro Show at Stoneleigh is on Friday to Sunday 22 – 24th February where our HSCC Stand will be showing a selection of our range of formulas. There is a place for an HFF car, if you want to show off, sell or simply turn up with a car for this busy show let me know. Delivery Thursday pm and take away Sunday eve.
Mass race medicals at a reduced price in Herts. It is that time of the year again . . . If you are near Hatfield, keep the date of Tuesday 15th January 2019 free for your annual race licence medical.
Their usual medical team, led by Dr Hugh Powell, will be at Malcolm Rickett's workshops in Wheathampstead from 7:00pm onwards.
Let Bob know to assess the probable numbers involved.
robertpomeroy@hotmail.com
News from The MSA Now ‘Motorsport UK’
All licence holders are now auto-enrolled in a new membership programme, which delivers a range of benefits and discounts to the Motorsport UK community.
Members will benefit from discounts with Motorsport UK Membership Partners, typically targeted at offsetting some of the costs of competition. These include: competition and road car insurance (Adrian Flux); road car and competition tyres (Protyre); safety-wear (Grand Prix Racewear); tools and parts (Halfords); outdoor wear (Ellis Brigham); and ferry travel (DFDS).
Christmas Shopping news.
Our Headline Sponsor, Carless Fuels/Vital Equipment will be in position in the paddocks in 2019 stocked with their 102 Octane Good stuff at a special rate for us and very MSA legal. You’ll feel the difference. If you are thinking of treating yourself with a HANS device this Christmas their trained fitter will be on hand for bespoke advice. Let them know on 01981 241169 Alistair’s email is
alistair@vitalequipment.co.uk and they’ll put fuel and other goodies they sell aside for you.
Here’s to some more GREAT HFF RACING in 2019. DD.
Drivers meeting report. Silverstone October 20th 2018. 1pm.
Retiring Championship Chairman David Wild introduced new HSCC CEO Andy Dee-Crowne and said he is going into the position with a new appetite to engage with our Series and our wishes.
Our ‘Red Flag’ occurrence was equal to other years and our racing was accorded to be fair by most observers.
David thanked our many sponsors for their support and Rachel Arnold for finance management, Barbara & Stuart Dix for their organising great parties during the year and thanks to Andy Wiggins for his work on Qualifying Order listings and Points Table for our Over50 Championship.
A discussion on irregularities of penalties was put forward on; driving to track limits, car weighing and driving manners. David said there were some disproportionate penalties handed out and these were noted by Andy D-C.
It was questioned as to how fierce did we want to be with rules and the subject of cameras fitted to all cars was discussed along with a myriad of complications including; penalising non-working cameras; Forward? Rear? Both? Costs of clerking, repercussions and some circuits not allowing their use.
A concern to consider increased Roll-Over Bar protection for taller drivers was aired and discussed; in particular, forward-facing stay bars. It was felt it may contravene regulations but could be looked into.
David said Motorsport UK (ex-MSA) Technical Delegate for our Series Nigel Jones would like to introduce new Parc Ferme Supplementary Regulations for ease of Regulations Checks. (note; added to 2019 regs).
Rachel presented our accounts for the year.
Drivers report then followed. See below.
The subject of the future change of Avon Tyres to a harder compound was discussed and Paul Nicholls from Suppliers and Sponsor BMTR/Avon explained the facts relating to their less wear, slightly less grip and cost benefits (same price and less tyres required per season).
(note; added 2019 regs as control tyre in 2020 Regs.).
David thanked him for his time and involvement with our Series.
David was thanked for his role in organising our popular Championship in 2018.
HSCC HFF Series Drivers Rep Report.
Our first race of the season was Donington with a healthy grid for our A + B Format. The racing was the best “ever seen in 50 years” as witnessed by some experienced spectators. Criticism of ‘bumping’ by some was made but with the close class of experience and number of cars in the top running, this seemed inevitable. Two collisions into spinning cars further down the field was the outcome of a packed grid. Some wrong decisions or bad luck when trying to avoid the guy sideways in front created a couple of rebuilds. We hope for their return.
It was felt that the circuit suited our cars and the format.
Next circuit had a very different flavour with Cadwell Park’s narrow track still popular with entrants. An unfortunate accident blotted the proceedings. Nelson Rowe’s car seemed to be damaged more than it should have been either in the accident or following recovery. We are still awaiting a scrutineer’s report to address our concerns re possible weak chassis points. A contested overtake adjudicated by the Clerk of the Course was the only other incident.
Two weeks later…
We now travel to Thruxton with an invitation to its 50th Celebrations. Although a high-profile event (fireworks, band etc) it did not attract as many entrants as may have been expected, although 30 cars is still not to be sniffed at… The reluctance to race there may have been due to its closeness to the previous race and the nature of it being a very fast track. Our racing was entertaining though. Criticism of off-track conditions was a concern- large flints off in the outfield, and our race was at the end of a long day’s programme.
Two weeks later…
Forward only another fortnight to Silverstone GP Race meeting. 40 cars entered from a possible a 64-car grid. Good turnout, but might have been better. Good fair racing all round.
Two weeks later…
Brands Grand Prix event attracted almost enough to run an A + B race format. This brought drivers from Switzerland and Germany and may be an attraction for more guests to come over. They certainly enjoyed their visit and said they will return. This is therefore likely to be popular and it would probably be desirable to have an A + B format for this event next year.
I know we need to stay on track but one or two had to take avoiding action and found the run-off areas full of damaging flint stones. Cost amounting to £2,000 occurred to cars and written off helmets. We ask the office to make the circuit owner aware and act on this.
Croft, A full entry and courtesy of Stuart and Barbara Dix a great evening party. Popular each year. Time restrictions and race programming change this year left one man to go home early due to overbooking. A better turn-out by us would have confirmed a full A + B format. Maybe next year? The more cars we have the more support we will get from the office.
Oulton Park. Bank Holiday Monday and one race did not attract a full grid; 18 cars was our lowest grid for some time. Some thought two races may have attracted more of a reason to venture out. I believe this was an oversight on behalf of the office? (Added; and has been admitted & noted).
Brand Hatch Club Circuit. Showed up some of our more ‘untalented traits’ in difficult conditions. We had more than our share of reds, yellows and Safety cars in the rain. There were some puzzling decisions from the Control Tower which didn’t help. Unusual Safety car procedures disjointing the field affecting positions made for a mixed race for many. Clarifying the acceptable method of overtaking backmarkers under the Safety Car period, and maybe controlling the speed of the damn thing needs to be addressed by our Clerk of the Course…
Our MSA Technical Scrutineer, Nigel Jones has done sterling work in his many checks of over 40 cars and found just one car for exclusion, and this was corrected.
Hospitality was used well (when our David Alderson amongst his Rally Tour commitments was able to bring it) especially in the hot weather we experienced. Along with Jimmy's Iced Coffees and Tea etc it was a welcome water hole. The times it wasn’t available showed with a lack of attendees at prize presentations but to be fair these events were far from home and people needed to be on their way.
We have to apologize to Ross Dryborough and his guests at Worthing Implant Centre for a glitch in our not supplying it at Brands. Sorry Ross.
I can see a better future for our hospitality, especially if there was an emphasis in financing circuit catering staff for part of the day to run it – we supply, they serve. We also have the opportunity to pay a team to build up & knock-down the equipment, to lessen extra work on busy racers, and we should take it.
If we can get our act together on setting up a consistent hospitality area with better service it will give us a base and become familiar with our fellow competitors. This will help fulfill all our intentions of racing WITH friends as opposed to racing AGAINST a stranger.
Race programming in 2019. Even though our grids were healthier than other formulas at most events this year I feel more entrants would have matched our 2017 Birthday numbers if race meetings were evenly spaced out. More A + B format races could have been well supported at less events. Accepting Thruxton’s invite compacted events at the beginning of the year and may have been a mistake.
As well as attracting new young drivers, older, and more experienced drivers are joining us. We welcome Clive Richards, Linton Stutely, Ted Pearson; some in our Radio Caroline Over50 Championship. These guys are giving our younger group a run for their money and all the better for them to learn from. Next year will see a compaction of talent at the front with good racing. May it continue. (Added; to date, as of December 18th, we have notification of a further six people joining our Series. Some with experience and some without).
The Radio Caroline-supported Over50 Championship continues to grow and looking at the results sheets we see at least ¾ of the grid in that category. Reports are shown on the Radio Caroline website with jingles advertising each round going out to 4 million listeners and help give us a platform of advertising for our sponsors. (Added; There are some drivers ‘coming of a certain age’ who wish to see another category of Over70’s… comments please!)
Driving Standards. Over the year, 5 drivers were asked to straighten out their driving either by the Clerk of the Course or quietly in one ear, we had three drivers observed for their driving manners during some races and most improved…some may require a two-ear approach…. one received a penalty on his licence and may just be forgiven for his youth and inexperience.
There were many instances of experienced drivers criticizing back-markers. I and others take the opinion that those at the front should be responsible for them and not the other way around. Maybe they have forgotten what it’s like to be a learner with a crowd coming up behind. To reinforce this concept, I would like us to introduce an addition to our supplementary regs to help respect our friends towards the back.
I would like you to back a move that penalizes anyone making contact with a lapped car. I.e.
……’If any competitors car comes in contact with another whilst lapping that competitor, the overtaking competitor will be excluded from that race result’.
(Added note. at the meeting this seemed not be fair (to whom wasn’t clear) and has been dropped. Any suggestions of how to reinforce - let me know.)
All-in-all, our racing was up to its great standard all through the season. We received a lot of applause and praise from marshals and spectators, and not just to the leaders. At some events we all were congratulated for great and fair racing right down to the last man.
For the 100 plus drivers at our many races it shows how well we perform. I am sure you all look forward to some good racing next year. I do.
Dick Dixon HSCC HFF Drivers Rep. Dec 2018.