Monoposto Championship Anglesey 22 May 2010 1800/1600/1400/1000

Anglesey was at its very best for the Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2010 Mono Championship. The weather was absolutely beautiful, which probably helped quite a few competitors enjoy their weekend’s racing despite a few cases of very bad luck…

Qualifying

The bike engined cars were back with the 1800s and 1600s at Anglesey, producing a strong 24 car grid, although just about everyone complained about traffic. Also back was Chris Woodhouse in the Speads, as the Dallara still wasn’t quite ready, and he took pole by a couple of seconds from Gary Hill’s lovely OMS, out again after his oil had overheated at Brands. Despite the lovely warm weather at Anglesey he didn’t see any repeat of the problem having installed an oil cooler. In third it was good to see Peter Whitmore had finally solved his drive coupling problem – the fix greatly assisted by Van Diemen experts Medina Motorsport who had John Loebell right alongside Peter in the paddock. Adrian Wright was less lucky, going well until he had to stop with an oil leak on his newly rebuilt engine, which was eventually to spoil his weekend. Geoff Fern also went well, but incurred the displeasure of the Clerk of the Course and as a result had to start from the back with a 10 second delay.

John Loebell announced his intentions taking the Mono 1800 pole from a determined Peter Bragg and a resurgent Jim Timms. Rupert Reader went well – right up to the point he managed to clout a front rocker arm on something. Jock Sergison had problems with a loose front wheel, which caused a lot of running around in the pit lane until a suitable tightening tool was found, and he was sent on his way. In the Mono 1600s Tony Davies took the pole from Nigel Davers, who is getting quicker all the time; and David Parkinson, who managed to tangle with Sara Hughes, both cars taking some damage and bringing out the red flags. It's symptomatic of the spirit of these two, and Mono as a whole, that both were keen to explain it as a racing accident. There is no rancour in the 1600 class!

Race

The AVIT team, ably assisted by tig-man Jeremy Timms, got David Parkinson’s car fixed just before the race, but didn’t have time to realign the suspension angles. Sara had less problems with her damage, although a bent front wing and steering arm were bad enough. Mike Wilkinson decided his Milton Keynes College Renault didn’t need a wing, so took it off.

Everyone was a bit nonplussed when there was no gridding process prior to a green flag lap, but they got themselves sorted out when they came round to the “live” grid – which was just as well because the red lights only stayed on for about half a second before the field was sent on its way; except for Geoff Fern who was waiting at the back for a ten-second delayed start signal which never came. He was eventually waved away by the marshalls.

Chris Woodhouse went straight into the lead, but Gary Hill held on for several laps, both of these drivers circulating around 2 seconds a lap quicker than anyone else. Meanwhile John Loebell had fumbled his start, and Peter Bragg led initially from Jim Timms who was passed by Loebell, with Bragg in his sights. This ended in tears however when John clipped Peter into a spin in the Gooseneck, getting the class lead but leaving the Bragg Mygale minus a rear upright and elevating Phil Nicholson to third, just ahead of Class Championship leader Michael Dale. Elsewhere in the class Rupert Reader again looked really strong, but he span and then span again.

Meanwhile Dave Parkinson was driving a stormer and had already passed Tony Davies, before pulling away into a solid Mono 1600 lead. Tony promptly had his alternator fall off, taking the engine cooling drive belt with it and ending his weekend in a smoky haze. This let Nigel Davers into second, and John Loebell’s stablemate, Ken Parkinson into third.. Adrian Wright’s engine oil leak did for him on lap eight and then, unbelievably, Dave Parkinson threw away a brilliant drive with a spin cause by a glimpse of a yellow car in his mirror. Sure it was a closing Tony Davies he put on a spurt and lost it…the follower was Douglas McLay in his yellow Mono 1800. For the second time in a weekend, when asked for a comment Dave said "that's racing".

Nigel Davers took over the Mono 1600 class lead, but his front left tyre was graining badly and Ken Parkinson reeled him in to take an excellent win. It was the experienced Parkinson’s first outing for around five years in his FF1600 Van Diemen RF92. Third in Mono 1600 was Richard Evans, delighted with his first ever podium result.

Sara Hughes spent much of the race dicing with Henry Fryer, and Geoff Fern did well to work his way through from the back to eighth overall. Mono returnee Brian Jones was the final retiree, with a clutch problem but he has at least been able to solve the persistent misfire from last season. But at the front there was no doubt about the winner, Chris Woodhouse ran away with a 25 second lead from Gary Hill.

Simon Davey

The assembly area

All opinions are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Monoposto Racing Club.

John Loebell's RF02

Ken (no relation) Parkinson's RF92

TFR headquarters; the RedBull Motorhome of Mono. Geoff Fern's JKS TFR10 and Nigel Davers's RF89

Tony Davies (VD FR94)