Snetterton Race Report

27th March 2005

New season for Stock Hatch, first race this year not at Mallory, but Snetterton. 88 Stock Hatches, of 130+ registered for the season turned out, so 3 qualifying sessions required. As usual, Stock Hatch are first out to qualify, and with poor weather, qualifying session A are "clearing the track". I'm out in B, which is no better, and probably worse, what with all the mud dragged onto the track by those experimenting with alternative lines in session A and B. Gordon MacMillan demonstrating the state of the track with his 360 spin in Esses. Session C gets the best of a bad lot, and with the top 14 qualifying times coming from C, the combined qualifying times are 'sessioned' for the afternoons races. That puts Pat Grove on pole, Darren Blumson and Maurice Hayden making up the top 3.

The number of entrants meant there were 2 heats, Heat 1 won by Bob Foreman after a big scrap with Gordon MacMillan. Paul Wilson was third.

I was 9th on the grid for heat 2, beside Simon Howard, looking at Simon Holloway and Paul Sheehan ahead. I made some progess off the line, but was pushed wide and tucked in behind Simon Howard down Revett Straight. Into Russell bend Sheehan attacks but runs wide and I maintain position. Howard and Martin Ward run wide in Sear Corner on lap 2, but I am forced to pass inside, the three of us running side by side down Revett. I brake early, but approach the Esses in a odd way, and the result is a spin, that means I sit watching nine cars pass by before I rejoin. I pass a white XR2 (sorry, I can't tell who it is) then on lap 3 get by Tom Molyneux in his XR2i. I'm straight into waved yellows for Keith Smith, whose Golf has gone grasstracking in The Esses, I pass. Into Russell again and it's slippy. I go across the grass, but neither profit, or defend a position, so can press on. Martin ward limps off to the pits in the Saxo. It takes three more laps before I catch battling William Hornsey, Simon Holloway and Darren Wilson. I outbrake Wilson into Sear to take 8th, which means I miss the cut for the final, but I'll settle for that after the spin. I take class fastest lap with 1:39.06. Simon Hunt wins from Jeff Humphries and David Lewis.

The final was a cracker, with Darren Blumson denying Maurice Hayden the win. The top B car in third, a great result for Steve Drewery's Swift. Pat Grove held on for 4th, with a Rover 214!, driven by Martin Boon, 5th.

 

28th March 2005

Heat 1 for me, Martin Ward pole, beside John Hemming. I'm 11th, beside John Townshend, behind Paul Sheehan. I make some places at the start, then into Russell cars run wide and I pass Ward. Lap 2 and Holloway passes Hilary Howlett in Esses. I have a jump but Howlett defends hard (fair) on exit. Holloway is wide in Corum, Howlett passes. I pass as Holloway runs wide out of Russell. Lap 3 and Sheehan and Holloway battle hard in my rear view, lap 4 and I miss gear our of Russell, have to defend hard into Riches against Holloway. In lap 6 Holloway passes after Revett, but I quickly repass as he takes too much speed into Essses. Red flags out and it's all over. I'm 5th. John Hemming gets an attractive trophy, Jeff Humphries and William Hornsey nearly do.

Heat 2 win for Bob Foreman then Chris Petto, Simon Howard.

I make 2nd reserve for final. First reserve Andrew Thorpe gets on the grid, but I am released from the pit lane after the field has passed. I pass Gareth Wright who is limping, but the recovers, and passes back, as does Ian Oakes after his spin. I pass Nick Carter, and Steve Groom, William Hornsey, Roger Neep and Richard Horsey fall off or break down. My result 27th. Not the way to start the season, but damage limitation after qualifying 46th. At the sharp end Darren Blumson makes it the double, ahead of Steve Drewery and Maurice Hayden.

Thanks to Pete Morgan for sorting out the fuel feed issue, and Peter Alden for the ballast and the season's preparation.

Great to see you all again, and special thanks to James, Isobel, Val and Jimmy for cheering me on. Special apologies to Jon, Jo and Jack who got stuck outside without their tickets.

If you want a website like this, for your racing or business, let me know, or contact isobel@aldenracing.co.uk

 

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