BARC (inc CTCRC) Snetterton - 27, June, 2009

[John Turner]

I went to Snetterton for the first day of the BARC doubleheader, mainly to see the saloons in action. Of the 6 races on that day I'll pictorially review (say that when you've had a few!) the 4 saloon car races and maybe the Classic Clubmans since most of them must be pretty old although my knowledge of when which model of Mallocks were built is pretty hazy.

It was good to meet up with another of our members, Tim Scott Andrews (Rover SD1 racer)

A few pit and paddock shots to kick off.

[Al Weyman]

Thanks John. I could not make this one as I was in sunnier climes, actually its almost as hot here as it was in Marbella! Is'nt the white BMW CS a beauty and going better and better?

[John Turner]

Sorry not to see you, Al. Yes the CSL was lovely, but got a bit assaulted during one race, unfortunately!

[Al Weyman]

Did it, oh no! I once put my old beast into the gravel trap rather than hit it when he half spun in front of me, hope its repairable OK. Should be as I think he got 2nd overall on Sunday which should be Willam's best ever result.

[craig j]

Can't wait to see the pictures John. Saw your review of the TTRS & PBMW meetings a couple weeks before (which I also attended) and thought it was a cracking write up. Last weekend was very enjoyable for myself and the crew so we will all be very happy to see any pictures of the Pre-93 race on Saturday.
Thanks
Craig

[John Turner]

14 starters; 11 finishers

Sponsored by Autoglym and in association with Dunlop, Brian Stevens was on pole with the big Jaguar XJ12 (25). However, he was beaten off the line by both, fellow front row man Jason Christie in his Escort RS2000 (2) and Tony Crudgington in Triumph Dolomite Sprint (14). It was the latter that just had the lead going into the Russell Chicane for the first time with Christie trying a run on the outside. They both spun although I'm not clear whether there was contact (see later comments), and the first pic shows the aftermath, with Crudgington on the inside and Christie on the apex on the outside, with Stephen Primett (1 - Escort) passing between them to take the lead. The next shot shows Primett with a small lead over John Wright (21 - Escort) and Brian Stevens, with Crudgington rejoining in 4th. However, as he is getting up to speed, he is about to be overtaken by fellow Dolomite driver, Mark Osborne (49), with William Jenkins (22 - BMW 3.00CSL) also in shot (pic 3). Stevens pulled the Jaguar into the pits at the end of lap 2 to retire. Pic 4 shows the leader passing the stationary Escort on lap 2. Jason Christie had been unable to restart the Escort, suspecting a loose ignition lead, and the Safety car was deployed, whilst the car was pushed to a safer place. Since he was a spectator. I was able to speak to Jason, and at the time he wasn't sure there had actually been contact between his car and the Dolomite. He had decided that discretion was the better part of valour and had braked too heavily going into the chicane, promoting a spin, with the Crudgington in the Dolomite reacting to it and also spinning. However at the end of the race when interviewed at the end Crudgington felt that there had been an impact. So pic 5 shows Christie observing the safety car passing (lights off) with the race about to restart. Last pic for this post shows Jeff Orford (61 - RS2000) on his way to 11th.

[John Turner]

Exiting Coram, Primett having already gone through in the lead, we see that Crudgington has already recovered to 2nd, closely followed by Osborne, Wright, Jenkins and Len Allgood (95 - Escort). Primett initially looked unassailable however, but Crudgington closed in on him as the Escort suffered power loss and was to retire on the last lap! Crudgington therefore ran out the winner, with Osborne completing a 'Dolly' 1-2, 2.5 seconds behind. Next pic shows Tony Crates in his Lotus Cortina Mk2 (12) holding off the Mini Marcos of Ken Selfe (89). Crate was later to spin out of the chicane losing a couple of places to finish 10th whilst Selfe was 8th, with the Mini 1275GT of Keith Calver 9th. Pic 3 shows 3rd place, Wright, and pic 4, the 4th placed BMW of Jenkins. Len Allgood (95) finished 5th, just one second ahead of James Christie's Hillman Avenger (3), and the final shot shows Bob Kett's Dolomite Sprint (56) which finished 7th.

[G.Walker]

Excellent report & pictures.

[Al Weyman]

Thanks John, coming to the next one at Lydden?

[John Turner]

Al, I love Lydden and when I was living in the SE I went there a few times but now it's miles too far for me, I'm afraid.

[Al Weyman]

Shame because we have a full grid with reserves for the Classics & Historics (pre 66) and Chris Bright will be debuting his 1st Gen Camaro hopefully alongside my 2nd gen if this new engine runs OK. If you change your mind let me know and I may be able to get you a ticket

[John Turner]

Thanks, Al.

19 starters; 14 Finishers.

Probably not regarded as historic but Clubmans, apart from being an established element of grass roots motor racing has been around for a long time, so, I will at least cover the older 'Classic Clubmans'.

In the early stages of the race a fine dice for the lead developed between Mark Charteris (1 - Mallock Mk20B) and Peter Harper (17 - Mallock Mk 18) - see pic 1. Unfortunately, Charteris was to retire after 4 laps, having set the fastest race lap. Harper, then ran out the winner, although he was closed down by the Phantom P79 of Steven Chaplin who finished just 1.4 secs behind. These two were well clear of the 3rd placed Mallock Mk20B of Malcolm Jackson. 54 is Paul Webb who finished 9th in his Mallock Mk20B, whilst pic 3 shows the other Phantom P79 in the race, that of Mike Sales who was 12th. Pic 4 is of Robert Yarwood retiring what was probably the oldest car in the race, the Mallock Mk8. It was great to see Ray Mallock finding time to race his faithful Mk18B (4), and equally disappointing that he retired it after 9 laps. Finally, a pic of Ian Mitchell (28) in his CTG M8 and Jared Wood in Batten Mk1 (90). They had swapped places at the end finishing, 7th and 8th.

[Al Weyman]

Blimey how am I ever going to see that Mini Marcos in me wing mirrors?!!

[John Turner]

With difficulty, Al, with difficulty. It also helps me understand how broad the definition of 'touring car' can be; that's not a complaint; merely an observation!

13 starters; 13 finishers.

Hard to believe that all of these cars are over 15 years old but they are, so on my arbitrary cut off, they count! As Craig Jameson's Ford Sierra Cosworth (82) got a bit bogged down at the start, it was the two pristine looking BMW M3s of Andrew Busby and Roger Stanford who took off in the lead (see pic 1) and held it for a couple of laps whilst Jameson got himself back into contention. Pic 2 shows Tim Scott Andrews in his SD1 Rover Vitesse (4) who came in 10th. Whilst, I'm sure I could do no better, I was perplexed by Dean Raymond's regular off at the exit of the Esses of which this is just one example, in his Vauxhall Astra GTE (93). He finished 9th, 12 seconds behind the BMW of 8th placed Ryan Gorman, most of that time surely lost in these clouds of dust! 77 is the 12th placed Ford Escort Mk 3 in evocative Datapost livery, driven by Stephen Yates. And here is Gorman in his 325i (21) in another car I have a soft spot for, since I owned one some years ago, and that straight 6 sounds a whole lot better than the 4 pot M3, although that is probably it's only advantage! Craig Jameson worked passed both M3s to win by a couple of seconds in a surprsingly standard looking Sierra RS Cossie (82). Behind him the M3 battle really hotted up with Stanford eventually finding his way by Busby to take 2nd.

[Al Weyman]

Dean is a novice driver and has been doing OK in his first season, probably trying a tad too hard on the day.

[craig j]

Very nice pictures and write-up John. The M3's do look great and its superb to have them both racing with us. Worth mentioning that Tim got driver of the day award for steering the oil tanker round well all weekend.
Cheers
Craig

[John Turner]

Craig, I didn't know that, so well done to Tim ..... and to you, too, for winning!

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Dean is a novice driver and has been doing OK in his first season, probably trying a tad too hard on the day.

Al, I know you are right, but it seemed to happen almost every lap! Perhaps you could persuade him to join us and give his account of the race?

[Al Weyman]

I have emailed him lets see if he comes back, he is also only 19 so its good to see a young guy in historics even if they are not that old (pre-93's)!

[John Turner]

Agreed, Al! Oh, and any driver that I have a dig at is welcome to have a go back, as long as it isn't personally abusive!

[Al Weyman]

No I am sure he would'nt do that he seems a nice chap.

[John Turner]

15 Starters; 13 finishers.

Sponsored by Hammerite in association with Dunlop, this was a race over 15 minutes (11 laps). It was good to see that whatever had ailed Brian Stevens Jaguar XJ12 (25) had been sorted and this time it lasted the race. Although I believe it was on pole, he was jumped by the Capris of Jim McLoughlin (1) and Mark Fowler (5) and was never able to get on terms with either. First pic shows them coming into the Russell Chicane for the first time with the pattern already set. McLoughlin won by 3.8 secs from Fowler who was a further 19 secs ahead of the big Jaguar. Behind them there was a great early Rover SD1 battle, led here by Alan Roper (54) with Tim Scott Andrews (4) and Anthony Scott Andrews (44). Next up is William Jenkins in the BMW CSL (22), and pic 4 shows Neil Bray in his Ford Fiesta (76) who was to finish 10th. Pic 5 is of Ben Dewen's BMW 323i which retired after 9 laps. Whilst we see plenty of E30s, the original 3 Series, the E21, is now a rarity both on track and the public roads, so it was good to see two of them in this race. After about 3 laps, Mark Lucock had moved up to join the SD1 battle with his Triumph Dolomite Sprint (14) - here he has got alongside Anthony Scott Andrews who on the exit, had a slight moment when the rear end stepped out and whilst he sorted this out, Lucock completed the pass.

[Al Weyman]

Nice report John, thanks. I wonder if Tony SA's Rover is a new car to him or the 'Red Shed' repainted? There is some nice footage of Tony and Tim have a race long ding doing battle last year a must for SDI fans, I will post a link shortly.

[Al Weyman]

Here you go, its in 4 parts and well worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI8xGS54JEc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycmp9OAc_Os

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mAASRFKp0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pWQ1H2--Ro

[Peter Mallett]

Tony's car is recently re sprayed.

Edit: It's the ex Peter Holton car.