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Rounds 11 & 12 Frolics in the Breeze 40 of the hardiest Monoposto Championship contenders converged on a very windy, and at times wet, Anglesey. The weather was a shame because the circuit is in a beautiful setting which was somewhat lost when everyone was simply trying to avoid being blown away. It was a miracle that there wasn’t an awning massacre, but most people were careful to keep their kit tied well down. Saturday Mono 1800/1600/1400/1000 It looked liked first qualifying was going to be dry, but then the heavens opened just as everyone was arriving in the assembly area, prompting frantic action to change tyres and settings. It was baptism by water for new Monoman Matt Walters who had left the wets for his smart Vauxhall Junior on the trailer, but he was in better shape than Prajesh Shah’s similar car which wouldn’t run at all. Jason Timms topped the timesheets in the Speads, but was only just clear of a hard-charging Marc Fortune. They were a second clear of Adrian Wright in the GEM AW3, with an eye on his title prospects he had the AW2 on standby in case of problems. Mono 1800 was headed by the familiar number 85 Mygale, but it was piloted on this occasion by Jeremy Timms. Olly Thorpe was next up, one place behind Jeremy on the grid, with a resurgent Michael Dale in third. Nigel Davers had Mono 1600 well in hand, ahead of Jim Timms in the family Lola with Dave Parkinson experiencing a misfire which was to dog him all weekend. Following his second Zetec blow up of the year at Brands, Jim had obviously decided to break the emergency glass and get out the Lola – which served him very well over the weekend. In Mono 1400 Geoff Fern was finding the TFR 11 a bit of handful in the wet but was one grid place up on Gary Hill, who was sharing the OMS with son Chris. Positions apart, it was an impressive performance by the whole grid in very wet conditions driving with great skill to avoid any session-stopping incidents. It was drying as the field came out for Saturday’s race, complete with Prajesh Shah, who had qualified behind a lunchtime course car. Everyone went for slicks, and even using a 2 x 2 grid the entry only just fitted onto the start straight. In this regard it was fortunate that the 2 litre field wasn’t as big because the track licence called for a 1 x1 grid for the larger capacity cars. Jason Timms lead the charge off the line, pursued by Marc Fortune and Adrian Wright. Jeremy Timms had the Mono 1800 lead, with Olly Thorpe a bit swamped by cars in other classes at the start. Nigel Davers had the Mono 1600’s in hand, and Dave Parkinson had a good start to get ahead of the Timms Lola. Gary Hill got away ahead of Geoff Fern and clearly found the conditions to his liking, as he took the class win and finished third overall. As the race got into its stride Jason Timms, Fortune and Wright circulated in very close company, with Christian Parker moving up well in the Seward F1010 towards an eventual fourth overall. He finished ahead of Stephen Bookes JKS, running for only the second time this year Another welcome returnee Phil Nicholson was also going well, getting up to an impressive third behind Jeremy Timms and Olly Thorpe in the competitive Mono 1800 class. But suddenly it was all change, Marc Fortune came off the pace and was passed by Wright, and Dave Parkinson’s misfire demon returned, letting Jim Timms into second behind Nigel Davers in Mono 1600. Marc Fortune pulled off, with another diffuser on the ground, and the race ran out with Jason T taking an excellent win from Adrian Wright, with Gary Hill distant third overall. Len Turner took a well deserved Aztec Driver of the Day award, having gained some nine places as he rose through the field with a very solid drive. Down at the unhappy end of the results neither of the two Vauxhall Juniors made it to the finish. Prajesh Shah had a drive line failure and Matt Walters stopped with an obscure fuel problem – although he clearly enjoyed his day.
By the time the 2 litre cars came out to qualify there was no doubt it was wet, and Peter Venn made the most of the conditions to plant the Yale Anson on the pole, from Malcolm Scott’s Dallara. Championship leader Tristan Cliffe looked a mite uncomfortable out there in his Omicron Dallara and could “only” manage third, ahead of the Mono Classic’s of Jim Blockley and Francis Phillips. Adrian Holey was out for a run in Magic Motorsports Horticap supported Dallara, ahead of Tony Cotton who was sharing his Dallara with Ray Rowan. Peter Venn was praying for rain for the race, as he was sure he could beat the Dallara’s in the wet, but it was not to be. Worse was to come because the yellow Anson stalled as the lights went out, and was lucky not be hit by someone. A herculean marshal vaulted the barriers and push started the high compression car single handed – no mean feat – and Peter set off with a vengeance to salvage what he could. Meanwhile Tristan Cliffe was obviously feeling better and led from a fast-starting Jim Blockley and Malcolm Scott. Behind Francis Phillips lead Adrian Holey, and then Classic class rivals Chris Anstruther and Kevin Otway. Like Cliffe, Anstruther hadn’t gone well in the wet qualifier, but they both certainly made up for it over the rest of the weekend. Jim Blockley had an (unknown) incident and dropped back, leaving Scott in second chasing a receding Cliffe, as Anstruther took Phillips. Simultaneously Malcolm Scott slowed, his car sounding rough, and soon pulled off with a run bearing. Jim Blockley closed back onto Holey’s Dallara and retook second overall, but as the race ran out he too had a major engine problem and struggled round loosing places finally shutting the car down as he crossed the finish line – bent valves and close of play for his weekend. Amid this drama Chris Anstruther got past Adrian Holey into second overall and his first win in Mono Classic, and Kevin Otway fell right to the back with unknown problems, after running strongly early on. Peter Venn had plugged away valiantly and got a fourth place in class out of, enough to tie up a well deserved Class Championship. Tristan Cliffe took the race win by more than 30 seconds, but since the Mono 2000 entry was less than six cars he only scored half points and no-one was quite sure whether he’d done enough to clinch the Mono 2000 title as well. Lou Watts was pleased to take the Magic Motorsport Driver of the Day award having spent much of the race enjoying the company of Terry Clark and Kevin Otway. Sunday Sunday dawned bright and …er…windy. Qualifying was dry and at the sharp end again saw Jason Timms ahead of Marc Fortune (now minus the rear diffuser) and Adrian Wright. Chris Hill had taken over the family OMS and got in ahead of Geoff Fern in the Mono 1400s. Jeremy Timms was again ahead of Olly Thorpe, and Phil Nicholson maintained his Saturday form to take third spot from Amnon Needham, running his Van Diemen FF2000. Nigel Davers lead Dave Parkinson, who was hoping that he had nailed the misfire, and Prajesh Shah did well to get the repaired Vauxhall up to 15th overall. The race was wet-to-damp and at the start Jeremy Timms blasted the Mygale into an overall lead that he was never to loose - a mighty drive. There was immediate drama behind him because Stephen Brookes stalled at the start and was hit by Dave Parkinson, who continued as did Stephen once the car fired up. But neither was to finish; David tangled with Marcus Sheard and retired with a bent rear upright, and Stephen pulled off as the rear diffuser disintegrated. Behind Jeremy Timms Saturday’s three pace setting Mono 1000’s experienced differing fortunes. The man with the name – Marc Fortune – faired the worst, getting black/orange flagged because of a perceived engine problem, which was very disappointing given his Championship points situation. Jason Timms just couldn’t keep the Speads pointing in a straight line, spinning no less than four times. Adrian Wright kept his head and took a strong second overall behind Jeremy T, securing the class Championship title. Dan Levy recovered from a disappointment on Saturday to take an excellent third in Mono 1000, and also got an informal award for the most consistently sideways exits from Paddock. Geoff Fern took the Mono 1400 class after Chris Hill discovered how slippery a wet track is at the first corner in his first drive in these conditions. Olly Thorpe headed a very pleased Amnon Needham for second and third in Mono 1800, and after a trying weekend Prajesh Shah came through to an excellent fourth in the very competitive class, as well as winning the Aztec Driver of the Day award. Nigel Davers completed a good weekend double win in Mono 1600, although he hasn’t yet secured the Championship title, and Jim Timms collected another second, this time from Eddie Guest. Jim also notably took fastest lap in the tricky conditions. Mono 2000/Mono Classic Overnight AW Tracksport had shipped in Malcom Scotts other car from Lincolnshire, so he was going to run again, although the Van Diemen wasn’t as quick as the Dallara and he could only get it to fourth in class. The qualifying session was dry and although Ray Rowan initially held pole in Tony Cotton’s Dallara, Tristan Cliffe was mucking about today and secured the position with a time that would have put him in the top three of the F3 Cup grid. A chagrined Peter Venn left it late but also bested Ray, who was followed by Chris Anstruther – and it was dawning on Chris how competitive he was. Mid session Adrian Holey pitted, the Dallara had terminal engine problems. It stayed dry for the race and Tristan Cliffe continued with his determined approach, storming into a lead he wasn’t to loose with an excellent drive; the Dallara bouncing off its rev limiter on the exit from Paddock as Tristan didn’t let up at all. Ray Rowan pursued him diligently in the green Dallara but couldn’t get on terms. Tristan’s victory was enough for him to place a very deserving hand on the Championship Class Trophy; but the main story of the race was Chris Anstruther’s pursuit of Peter Venn, eventually taking him on the last lap, after a really excellent dice from both drivers, which also earned Chris a “discretionary” Magic Motorsport Driver of the Day Award. Malcolm Scott’s persistence and the team’s efforts did at least gain a third in class. So the Monoposto Championship heads for its last two rounds, on the challenging Snetterton 300 track, but before that many drivers will be taking the air at the non-Championship races round Silverstone’s new Arena GP circuit. This could be the largest ever single seater race in the UK…can’t wait! Simon Davey Disclaimer: The above represents only the unofficial view of the writer and not of the Monoposto Racing Club in any way whatsover. Subheadlines and captions are not originated from the named author. We are unable to reproduce results due to copyright reasons. If any pictures are copyright and the owner wishes them removed please email us.
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Pics by Andrew Cliffe/Norwich Photo
Christian Parker, Seward F1010
Matt Walters, FVJ
Local (ish) man Stephen Brookes, Speads
Kevin Otway, FVL
MMalcolm Scott driving supersub VD RF00
Mark Smith Dallara 395
Chris Anstruther, Bowman BC3 |
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