HSCC Finals, Silverstone - 17th Oct, 2009

[John Turner]

Paul, great effort to get the green Elan out, and look forward to seeing the red Elan once rebuilt. Are they to identical spec?

[John Turner]

33 starters; 32 finishers

In association with Avon Tyres, this 15 minute race was the last HSCC race of the season and the title decider for this championship. Amanda Whitaker led Westie Mitchell by 2 points going into this race, so Mitchell needed to finish two point scoring places ahead of Whitaker to take the championship. He started well enough in his Merlyn Mk20 (11), battling with Will Schryver (29- Titan Mk4) for 2nd place, whilst Darren Bourke (64 - Macon MR8), even on the first lap was drawing away in the lead - see Pic 1, as they exit Brooklands for the first time. At the other end of the field, Roy MacGregor spun his Hawke DL2B (44) in Luffield - see pic 2 - but returned to the fray to finish 30th. Pic 3 - Lap 2 and, with Bourke already away, Mitchell holds a tenuous 2nd place, ahead of Schryver, with David Wild (57 - Lola T200) in close attendance, and just a few lengths behind is Whitaker (7 - Elden Mk8) and Derek Rodgers (88 - Merlyn Mk11A). Pic 4 - heading two orderly midfield queues are John Hayes-Harlow (38 - Elden Mk8/10) and Crispin Schlaefli (48 - Macon MR8). Although classified 32nd, Hayes-Harlow finished the race in the pits, whilst Schlaefli was 11th. Pic 5 is of Andrew Oliver in his Alexis Mk15, in which he finished 27th. 88 is Derek Rogers who was always in touch with the 2nd place battle but eventually finished 5th.

[John Turner]

Amanda Whitaker (7) was as high as 5th early on but spent most of the race in 7th where she finished. Thomas Arme was 9th in his Alexis Mk18 (82). Pic 3 shows Alex Meek spinning his Merlyn Mk20A (54) as Michael Richings approaches in his Alexis Mk15 (39). Meek finished 19th and Richings, 14th. Looking very sinister in his black Darth Vader like helmet is John Bladon who finished 17th in his Merlyn Mk11A (44). Matthew Sturmer was 23rd in his Macon MR8 (63). Meanwhile the battle for 2nd continued to rage with Robert Wainwright having worked his way forward, inserting his Elden Mk8(32) between Mitchell and Schryver. He was to finish 2nd by a whisker.

[John Turner]

46 is Mike Bromley who finished 28th in his Merlyn Mk11A. 71 is Philip Green who came 15th in his Merlyn Mk20. Dick Dixon (27 - Lotus 61 - 22nd) was eventually passed by Peter Lavender (40 - Merlyn Mk11A/17 - 21st) and both are about to be lapped by Burke. Paul Sleeman (2 - Jamun T2) managed to fend off Chris Sharples (77 - Palliser WDF1) to take 12th by just 2 tenths. Michael Richings (39), again, and finally the winner, Burke (64) who won with what appeared some ease by 12.3 seconds although it's possible that the fierce battle for 2nd made that gap larger than it may otherwise have been. There was consternation in the Mitchell camp when he was unceremoniously dumped back to 6th, baulked by a back marker exiting Luffield, but there were just enough laps for him to battle his way back to 4th which was enough to secure the championship, so congrats to him, a worthy winner after several seasons of effort.

This season has been a pretty traumatic one for HFF, but I disagree with those who say that big accidents have always been a part of Formula Ford throughout; it certainly hasn't been the case in Historic FF, but we have to admit that this year it has had its highs and lows with nasty accidents at both Snetterton and Mallory. It's a miracle that no-one was really seriously injured at either event, or, bluntly, even worse at Mallory which was the nadir of the season, the fallout from which sadly rumbled on into the Gold Cup meeting. You will see that Dick Dixon started a thread a little while back, looking at establishing a code of conduct; I don't know the outcome as I'm not privy to it but it is clear that rules/sanctions already exist and may simply need to be re-emphasised. However, the fact is that, as so many have said, this is a very successful formula, providing (relatively) cheap and very close racing. Despite the earlier setbacks, the above Silverstone race made a fitting finale to the season, providing close, exciting, and above all, safe racing. It was real high note to finish the season on and to carry into the next one.

The HSCC should be congratulated on another very successful season of racing, and whilst I'm sure grids were adversely affected due to the recession, this was not so readily apparent from a spectator's point of view where, with the exception of the DBT at Snetterton, the fields still looked pretty strong.

[bigvalveelan]

Originally Posted by John Turner

Paul, great effort to get the green Elan out, and look forward to seeing the red Elan once rebuilt. Are they to identical spec?

It is close to the same spec, except the green one is a '63 S1 which has FIA papers and can race approx 55kg lighter (in roadsports) than the red S4.
So, should be a bit quicker.