Walter Hayes Open Race Silverstone 1 November 2009

Monoposto Drivers Dominate

Rumours abounded about the entries at the Walter Hayes Open Race. Some, for example that Kat might appear in next year's car, or that a BRSCC F3 leading light would appear in a Mono car he has been building, proved utterly unfounded. Others, such as Geoff Fern's son Lee would appear in his Dallara, were shown on the entry list but not in practice. However, the biggest "rumour" was that Chris Woodhouse would appear in his Lola T90/50 F3000 car (ex Phil Andrews?). That happened.

After a delay (45 minutes sitting getting soggy in assembly - lovely) due to torrential rain, practice began. The expected domination by Chris Woodhouse failed to materialise as he was on cut slicks rather than proper wets and the car sounded terrible - DFV's usually do at around 4000 revs - to qualify 10th. An FF2000 (Andy Huxtable) got pole followed by Dave Porter, who joined us at the Mallory Morgan meeting, in his F3 Dallara. Occassional Mono runners Myles Castaldini (RF94) and James Chapman (RF03) were next with Kevin Mason in 8th. Henry Fryer had some sort of problem after 3 laps but was still faster than Geoff Fern who left before the race itself started. In many ways this was an appropriately downbeat end for the ever-cheerful and optimistic Warminster driver to a season which has had more than a few disappointments.

Lou Watts joined the grid at the back for the race along with the pretty ex-Charles Barter hillclimb Delta FF2000 T80 of Derek Smith. The race started behind a pace car and Chris looked relaxed in the run up to the line. Not too surprising as by the time he reached the complex on lap 1 he had pulled out a huge lead over Dave Porter and Kevin Mason. He proceeded to lap the entire field on the way to victory, and lap all but the next 3 cars (out of 13 finishers) twice. His first lapping was at the end of lap 3.That's dominant.

David and Kevin started to have a close race, both in F399/00/01 (they all look the same to me) F3-spec Dallaras. Kevin was particularly spectacular around Luffield on lap 2 as he passed Dave, and on lap 5 they came past side by side. After that, Dave took the lead and Kevin dropped back to a safe 3rd. Lou Watts was the next Mono man in 6th in his customarily immaculate FVL. He led a battling group of 5 cars who provided the most consistently close dicing of the race, but as the others weren't Mono regulars they don't get a mention. Final Mono finisher was Henry Fryer, in probably the least powerful car in the race, and very close to the pace of the scrapping FF2000s. Not only was Henry's pace good, but he was very aware of the cars lapping him and I have no hesitation in suggesting he's the most improved driver in Mono in 2009.

Although this wasn't formally a Mono race, the club was the source of many of the entries, and the qualities shown in the driving represented Mono well. Incidentally, Brabham BT28 driver Leif Bosson - who must be Swedish with a name like that - was entered as from Stroud. Obviously a wind up, as an FIA ruling dictates Stroud residents may only race in Mono.

Tony Cotton

PS The Walter Hayes Final was won by American Connor De Phillipi in a 2008 Ray from Ireland's Robert Barrable (Van Diemen DP04*) and Felix Fisher (Simon Davey-style Swift SC92F). They had 36 starters in the final, 34 finishers and nobody was lapped. De Phillipi is 16 which means he was born just as I stopped hillclimbing in 1993. I feel old.

PPS *We are indebted to Andy Yeomans for explaining that DP stood for Don Panoz, the American nicotine-patch multi-millionaire who bought Van Diemen and other racing car manufacturers and applied his business acumen.