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Startline OnLine

Track and Race Cars Magazine Monoposto Championship Snetterton 17 October 2009 1000,1400 and 1800

Kat and Jim lead the way

Entry/Qualifying

The entry had a few interesting, and very welcome, features. Terry Foxon joined in with his JKS07, Adrian Wright made one of his periodic returns, Paul Heavey brought his Leastone F5 over from Ireland, having joined us last at Spa 2008, and Caterham / Force hillclimber Dave Kimberley foresook the banks of Worcestershire to bring back the Empire.

Qualifying finished off Brian Jones and Adrian Wright. Dave Kimberley found himself behind the 1000s and in the 1800's - a fairly intimidating place for a circuit racing newcomer in a new car.

Race

There was drama on the grid as Paul Heavey dropped the clutch and a CV joint gave way. Fortunately everybody avoided the stranded Leastone.

Kat came through to the chicane with a huge lead. The video stills below tell much of the story, so I will just fill in a few gaps. Initially, Geoff Fern was in a close fight with Stuart Digby but Stuart opened up a gap and they finsihed in that order. Terry Foxon retired his JKS after a couple of laps with a bit of rear suspension problem, cause unknown. Dave Kimberley retired the Empire a couple of laps further on. Darren Freeman and Peter Whitmore (1400 winner) followed up.

The excitement in this race was in the 1800 class. Whilst winner Jim Timms had a fairly lonely run to the win, there were constant order changes behind. The pack were generally coverd by less than a couple of seconds and the effect was thrills for the crowd. Part of the thrills came from Phil Nicholson who had a lurid and seemingly never ending spin in Coram, which dropped him down and then he fought his way up. On the way, his nose came into intimate contact with the inside of Bill Janson's left rear, leaving it with a rather fetching whitewall tyre effect, reminding one anorak in the paddock of a 1950's 500 with whitewalls all round. The end result was Phil in second with Chris Anstruther, soon, we hear, to possibly be moving on from the 1800's, in third. Bill Janson, Michael Dale, Geoff Pashley and Rupert Reader were also in the group and if there was a podium for "close 4th to 7th" they would all richly deserve it. As a request, if the racers expect any sort of report from me in future, please could they make the race a bit boring? All this excitement and swapping places is really difficult to follow, even if in true Monoposto style they're thoroughly enjoying themselves!