Seasoned onlookers were reminded of brilliant lost Leicester talent Roger Williamson\u2019s early prowess in Ford Anglias as Neil Wood beat the season\u2019s best Historic Saloon field twice in the afternoon at the wheel of his spectacularly kempt 105E. Neil\u2019s best race lap of 55.039s (88.30mph) was a tribute to his car preparation and commitment. Mark Watts\u2019s rumbling Mustang and Tom Bridger\u2019s BMW 1800 led the initial chase, as 500cc F3 racer Chris Wilson \u2013 running his Dodge Dart GT with the HSCC for the first time \u2013 and David Lloyd in his West Bromwich-built Jensen CV8 flexed Mopar muscle. The latter rarity is still powered by its original 6.3-litre Chrysler V8 engine incidentally.<\/p>\n
The eclectic non-championship field, which included Janspeed trained Devon garagiste Stephen Miles in his ex-Mick Cave Austin A40, which demonstrated a good turn of speed before making an oily exit from race 1 \u2013 incorporated several Road Sports machines of both Historic and \u201970s flavours. Top qualifier George Daws was unable to start the opener when his Oily Rag Racing Datsun 240Z\u2019s brake pads disintegrated in qualifying and the hastily recruited runner was not quite quick enough to deliver replacements in time for the start of race 1. Mike Eagles (MGB GTV8) started the race laps after the grid had departed, having only been alerted to the imminent race start as the cars left the Assembly Area. Both returned for the second race, in which they finished second and fourth respectively,<\/p>\n
Although Wood dominated the front of the pack he spent much of the race focusing on his mirror waiting for a determined George Daws to appear. George made up nine places on his first lap but took him until lap 7 to displacing Mark Watts despite setting one of the fastest laps had to settle for second, separating Wood, Watts and the lapped Bridger. Chris Wilson and a fully replenished Stephen Miles were sixth and seventh to the chequered flag. Contested in a great spirit of camaraderie, with genial Jim Nairn in charge of paddock provisions \u2013 \u201cthey were only racing for cake\u201d \u2013 the event marked the welcome return of Steve Martin\u2019s ex-Dave Karaskas TVR 3000M (with a reference to \u2018Triggers Broom\u2019 rooted in Christina Totty\u2019s car of yore, albeit reshelled on a new frame during Dave Karaskas\u2019s tenure) and Martin Whitlock\u2019s MGB in midfield.<\/p>\n
Steve retired from the opener with a misfire, traced to the Ford V6 engine\u2019s rev limiter by Neil Daws, George\u2019s father, and re-turned to full rortiness by some deft rewiring. Big talking points were the tussles which embroiled Celia Stevens (Lotus Elan Costin replica), Anthony Warnes (A40), Stephen Chapman (Fiat 600 Abarth, before its oil cooler split) and speed event convert Adele Hunt (Mini Cooper S MkIII). BWRDC member Adele enjoyed her first race with husband Ian and a team of mechanics supported by Christianne Ireland (Lotus F1 star Innes\u2019 daughter) and the WMRAC Foundation which provides a gateway into motor sport for 16-24 year-olds. Final words from Danny Stanzl: \u201cGood laugh today at Mallory Park!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"