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The last National of 2004 is the
halfway point in our season, and we have multiple winners already. We've
been to Teesside, Crewe, Plymouth and Chippenham to race on large
tracks, small tracks, smooth tracks and bumpy tracks. As it sits, Andy
Griffiths is on top of both championships, but it is still wide open for
the title, with three meetings to go and double points at Chesterfield!
Teeside 19T Stock
19T is the new class for 2004/5, and it rocks! Barely slower than
Modified, but much kinder to tyres and motors, we threw ourselves into
it with gusto at the Teeside track. This was a bumpy track, with totally
unyielding corner markers, and the layout was technical.
David Spashett was here, so there was some expectation that the race
would be for second place and it was.
David was the fastest in every round, joined by Andy Moore racing for
the first time in two years with a two year-old Trinity Switchblade.
Keith Robertson (Corally) was third fastest alongside 2003/4 Champion
Andy Griffiths, driving Associated. Ben Cosgrove (also sporting an old
Switchblade) was alongside Jim Spencer (Associated), Paul Ash
(Associated) shared row four with the returning Darren Houghton (Corally)
while the new CEFX car made its first A with Alan Leighton and Roger
Manwaring on row five.
First leg of the A was David from hooter to hooter; he made it look
easy! Second leg was a joy to watch as David tangled with Andy Moore at
the first corner, and they both fought from the back of the field for
David to beat Andy to the win by a few seconds. To cap an excellent day
for Team Helger (David, Chris Delves and Darren Simpson) they won the
team prize too.
Teeside Team winners Helger L to R Dave Spashett, Chris Delves, Darren
Simpson
Results
Crewe 19T Stock
Crewe found the world's grippiest carpet and laid out a good track on
it, with a quick half and a technical half. Clipping the corner markers
was to flirt with bodyshell damage, or bumper breakage if you had a CEFX!
At the top there was a lot of motor tuning going on as the speed was
needed for the quick half of the track to get a good time. Down in the
F2 class, there was more chassis tuning and track-learning going on to
try and get in amongst the big boys. Adam Walker-Catchpole, Liam Davies
and John Hughes all made it to the B Final. It was its usual bruising
affair, and Darren Houghton steered clear of the carnage to win it.
Our F2 heroes finished line astern in 6th, 7th and 8th. Adam improved on
his 8th-place grid start, and Liam made up 3 places to turn his
10th-place grid into a 7th place score for the Championship.
Up front, the A Final was graced by some unfamiliar names to 1/12th , as
Olly Jeffries and Russell Williams forsook their usual classes for a go
at the 'fast class'! Ben Cosgrove turned pole position into two leg
wins, closely pursued by Andy Fraser and Andy Griffiths.
Crewe Modified
Round 1 of the Modified Series kicked off on Sunday, and the top F3
drivers were all up in the D Final. It is difficult to resist telling
them that they beat Chris Hardisty, but it's gotta be said!
Congratulations to Peter Craig, Alex Canning and Mark Wignall, who
topped the D Final in that order.
The A Final saw the old order restored (if Andy Griffith wont mind me
calling his usual position old!) but the revelation of the meeting was
Olly Jeffries drive to third place. Having qualified fourth, he saw no
reason to stand on ceremony, and immediately mixed it with the
established order. Russell Williams didn't seem to mind the company
either, collecting points for fifth from a 10th-place grid start. Andy
Griffith won both legs to take the class win, followed by Ben Cosgrove.
Olly rounded off the top three.
Clive Coombes, Qualifying Officer, at Crewe. Looking puzzled, but
actually having everything under control as usual thanks Clive. Full
results and Championship positions can be found on Clive's site
www.coomes.org.uk
Other News
Bodyshells are going back to the future we now have two excellent,
current, open cockpit designs, the latest being the Parma Zytek that
debuted at Crewe
Andy Griffiths picks up his 2003/4 Championship Trophy at Teesside
2003/4 Team Winners Trinity presented with their prize at Teesside the
old guys can still hack it! Pete Winton (L) and Roger Manwaring
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