Track and Race Cars Magazine Monoposto Championship Snetterton 18 October 2009 1000,1400 and 1800

Qualification

It was no surprise to find Kat Impey’s Jedi taking pole for the final race of the season, she set the only over 100mph lap on this grid, with a time of 1:08.81. Nearly 2s behind was the slightly less colourful Jedi of Darren Freeman. Geoff Fern's JKS was next up, Geoff complaining of lack of power, speed through corners was no problem, but the Revett Straight was, Geoff complaining that an 1800 had overtaken him in a straight line. If he knew the source of Philip Nicholson’s engine he would be even more upset. Another Mk6 Jedi was next up, the car of Stuart Digby.

A familiar car, the sole 1400 Van Diemen of Peter Whitmore was next. Peter's car may be unique, but it is readily recognised by Monoposto regulars, not so the neat Leastone F5 of Paul Heavey. Having come from Ireland, as his Stena logoed van indicated, Paul was hoping for better fortune on the Sunday, but he only did the first half of the qualifying session setting a time a quarter of a second faster than Len Turner's smart Jedi. If the Leastone was neat and conventional, the remaining Mono1000 looked as if the stylist had studied the art work that characterised the Dan Dare section of the Eagle (a 1950s boy’s comic. Ed). The Empire, now driven by Dave Kimberley, was last seen at Anglesey, it occupied the last position on the grid.

Rival events had reduced the size of the 1800 field but 1800s still composed half of the grid. If the spread of times in the Mono 1000 grid was an exceptionally large 13.5s, the 1800s were covered by just 3s, with the majority of competitors within 1s of pole time, a 90mph average for a lap of the Snetterton circuit. This field was headed by the evergreen Jim Timms with 1:17.1 followed in close order by Bill Janson, Philip Nicholson, Geoff Pashley, Michael Dale, Chris Anstruther and Rupert Reader. Jock Sergison was 2s adrift of this compact group. Spectators at Esses knew that Bill Janson was trying hard from the number of times he arrived with his Jamun locked up.

The Race.

With nearly 2s in hand Kat Impey was a firm pre-race favourite, but to rephrase a familiar motor racing saying 'to finish first, you first have to start', something that the unfortunate Kat failed to do. A stalled front row starter must count themselves exceedingly lucky if they are missed by the whole field, Kat was not that lucky and the unsighted driver who rammed her Jedi was the unfortunate Bill Janson. The Palmer Audis in the preceding race had required three starts, depositing sticky Palmer Audi rubber onto the grid, and despite holding her Jedi at 13000rpm, it had ‘bogged down’. With two immobile cars and sundry pieces of car scattered over the grid a red flag was inevitable.

Repeatedly restarting the Palmer Audi race had delayed the day’s timetable. Thus, with the sun sinking towards the horizon, it was no surprise when the CoC decreed a ten minute race.

Its an ill wind, the start line collision had eliminated two cars but it did enable Paul Heavey to start. The Leastone had failed to take the first grid when a broken earth lead stopped the engine. The observant and ever resourceful Peter Bragg, spotted the problem and equipped with some Mole grips came to the rescue. Paul took the restart from the pit lane.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Geoff Fern made the most of the gap in front of him, and the immaculate black and orange JKS lead the first lap from Stuart Digby. Unfortunately for Geoff, Stuart's speed down the Revett straight gave him a distinct advantage, and by lap two Stuart was in front. It became obvious that Geoff’s only hope was to hang on in the hope of overtaking in the second half of the last lap. On the last lap Geoff gave it everything, and took fastest lap of the race, but Stuart stayed clear ahead with enough in hand to take a well deserved win.

Darren Freeman finished 36s later just ahead of Peter Whitmore who had caught him, they finished as a pair, separated by just 0.377s at the flag. As sole Mono1400 Peter naturally took the class win. Len Turner was next up, a scant 2s ahead of the squabbling 1800s, a group that had at times threatened to engulf him. After his delayed start Paul Heavey seemed to have an entertaining race. Starting from the pit lane he made short work of the tail enders, and then worked his way through the 1800 field. After disposing of the 1800s and Len Turner, he seemed to become more ambitious, he nearly lost the Leastone at the Bombhole and then did the job properly at Coram. Undamaged and with Mole grips still doing a grand job, he was beginning to have another go at the 1800 field when the chequered flag came out.
Dave Kimberley's Empire had just lost the race for the wooden spoon with Jock Sergisons's 1800 Swift when he retired it, before the end of the race.

The 1800 battle fully lived up to expectations, five cars being separated by just 4s at the finish. Philip Nicholson, in only his fourth race, established himself at the head of this field and stayed there, staving off Jim Timms by just less than 1s; this pair representing the extremes of Monoposto’s age and experience ranges. Philip survived a lurid moment at the Bombhole on the first lap when he attempted to put Len Turner's Jedi between his Swift and Jim's chasing Van Diemen, he ran wide in a cloud of dust, but kept his foot in and regained the track still ahead. Chris Anstruther worked his way into third place battling with the RF 82 and RF 83 mounted pair of Michael Dale and Geoff Pashley. After a short gap, occupied by the Leastone, came Rupert Reader. Rupert had fallen slowly away from the other 1800 and if my memory is correct was dragging something that sounded like an undertray by the end. Jock Sergison’s Swift was the last finisher.

Michael Dale set the fastest 1800 lap. a fraction ahead of the rest of the 1800 group who were all in the mid 1:17s.

Patrick Huston (text, pictures and captions, except Dan Dare)

Dan Dare and car. The Empire is futuristic but MUCH better looking!

Geoff Pashley made a welcome return with his RF83, once again Michael Dales gets into the picture.

Geoff's JKS looks the part, and had a more successful weekend.

A couple of garlands for Peter's Mono1400 Van Diemen.

All the way from Ireland, the pretty Leastone.

Reasons to be cheerful part four, it was Philip Nicholson's fourth race and his first win.

A trio of Swifts with Simon sneaking in for a really bad photograph.