Track & Race Cars Magazine Mono Championship
Snetterton 4 April - Mono 1000,1400,1600,1800

What a terrific, enjoyable start to the season! Good weather, clean racing, no accident damage, and a fascinating contest in prospect for the rest of the year. The field completed well over 1000 car-laps in practice and races without any major incidents, and at one point lap records were falling on almost every lap.

There was only one slightly strange organisational glitch when a noise marshall decided that the limit was 105, not 108 dBs, and would not be budged, even by the entreaties of the Secretary of the Meeting with a signed Order from the Clerk of the Course. Although this was a wholly unnecessary hassle for several competitors, it fortunately didn’t stop anyone getting on-track.

Practice

A very busy, at time frantic session in which everyone kept their heads. All the quick bike engined cars had trouble finding their way through the traffic and everyone else had their eyes on the mirrors. Chris Woodhouse started to stamp his authority on the weekend in M1000. Jim Timms started the meeting well, but went a bit backwards later and Peter Bragg had problems, but moved forwards later!

Mono 1800
1 Jim Timms Class Pole: Had some trouble finding where the Fire Extinguisher was fitted, so he could show the pin to the scrutineer! Very concerned about speed differentials.
2 Douglas Mclay Looked very smooth – “it went alright”
3 Stephen Williams Clutch blew comprehensively in testing, repaired overnight with help and parts kindly supplies by Peter Bragg
Peter Beasley Failed Scrutineering – out of date seat belts. Bought some from Universal Racing Services, expertly fitted by his wife, started at back
Yunus Amiere Rear light failed, but scrutineer allowed the car on track. First of a series of problems all of which were overcome
Pete Bragg No time recorded – exhaust gave trouble
Bill Janson Got edged off early on, considerably annoyed
Jock Sergison Clutch wouldn’t clear
Michael Dale Found it a bit busy out there

Mono 1600
1 Tony Cotton Class Pole – “it went OK”
2 David Parkinson Rear wheel bearing loose, no brakes
3 James Chapman Managed a couple of good laps in the heavy traffic
Sarah Hughes Looking for more time – had been faster in testing
Chris Dittman Non started – engine expired in testing
Henry Fryer First ever race – did well to keep cool in a very busy session
Tony Davies Serious hydraulic failure inside the clutch in testing, requiring a major strip down. Crew tackled this with energy - missed Saturday race, but ran on Sunday

Mono 1400
1 Stephen Brooks Went alright
2 Peter Whitmore Traffic could pose problems

Mono 1000
1 Chris Woodhouse Traffic was a problem
2 Chris Vinall Went OK, but his head rest fell off
3 Stuart Digby - no comments
Geoff Fern In ex Ben Anderson rentacar – “I drove like a novice”
Len Turner Fine apart from people spinning everywhere
Adrian Wright Problem with engine, only doing the Saturday race

Race

Clean start for the huge field. Chris Woodhouse into an immediate lead of the 1000, from Chris Vinal and Stuart Digby. Stephen Brooks leads 1400s. Doug McLay storms into M1800 and Tony Cotton smooths his way into the M1600 lead.

Lapping starts as early as the third lap. Chris Vinall goes missing, a fuse has come loose and he’s out. Peter Collier peels off into the pits and retirement. Stuart Digby drops back and Dax Ward, Adrian Wright and Geoff Fern move into contention for second. Chris Woodhouse takes the first of two very impressive wins. Very close for 3/4 at the finish, Ward taking 2nd with Wright and Fern split by two hundredths of second. Brian Jones just finishes with a bad misfire above 6500 which is to plague him all weekend.

In M1400 Stephen Brooks consolidates his lead over Peter Whitmore through the race.

Peter Bragg works his way from the back past some 20 cars into the M1800 lead. Douglas McLay puts in smooth drive to second with Stephen Williams rewarded with a determined third place, after his overnight transmission rebuild.

Tony Cotton takes his first ever win in M1600, fending off David Parkinson, who claims Tony out-classes him in a straight line, and a pleased Jonathon Baggott takes third. From his excellent class pole position Jim Timms struggles in the race with gearing which seems to be too tall. Sara Hughes is disappointed not to improve on her qualifying time, having had the engine tinkered with, but takes a good fourth. Henry Fryer successfully finishes his first ever race in a beautifully presented Van Diemen Formula Junior– quite a baptism of fire.

Aztec Motorsport Driver of the Day: Geoff Fern

Simon Davey Pics from Norwich Photo - click for the full portfolio

Chris Vinall applies a dab of oppo in Russell....

..as does Yunus Amiere...

..whilst Peter Bragg (followed by Michael Dale) always turns the wheel right when going left.

Darren Freeman kicks up the dirt

The supreme Chris Woodhouse

Geoff Fern in the Famille Anderson Jedi followed by returnee Adrian Wright's Gem