Silverstone Race Report
28th August 2004
Testing on Friday blew head gasket within a couple of laps, but thanks to Maurice Hayden, for supplying a new gasket, and Ken Rodway, for help and advice, I had the car running again for Saturday qualifying. Fuel surge problems prevented me from posting a decent qualifying lap so I returned to the pits early to strip the car, and despite no obvious fault, after reassembly and running a heavy fuel load the car seemed to be OK. I prepared to race from 76th position, out of the 82 drivers that had bothered to turn up.
Heat 1 was won by Maurice Hayden, followed by Stewart Nind and Matt Lewis. I line up 32nd for heat 2, behind Bill Gregory, who is making a return to Stock Hatch racing with a new car.
Race start, I cut through the field, Mark Rodway is struggling through Copse despite starting near the sharp end, and I make more places through Luffield. I'm still making progress on lap 3 into Copse, and again down Club Straight, where I pass Anthony Le Tissier, but power drops, the car gets smokey, and although I continue for a few more laps it becomes clear things are terminal and I pull over. Race is won by Craig Shepherd, followed by David Lewis and Ian Laughton.
Watched an enjoyable final. Terry Roughton on pole, fell back to fourth, behind race winner Gareth Wright, Andy Burgess and Simon Hunt.