Silverstone International -
John Gott Memorial Trophy Race - 10th, 11th & 12th July
MG Live!
-
In liaison with the MG Car Club, Healey Driver International have organised a commemorative 1
hour race at Silverstone on the International circuit as p art
of the MG Car Club's International weekend. Qualifying will be on
Friday 10th July with the race on Saturday 11th July. The race is open
to any Austin Healey 100, 100S, 3000 or Silverstone prepared to FIA
specification. We are expecting a field of circa 30 cars with the
top UK drivers competing against teams from France, Sweden and
Holland. To any Big Healey enthusiast - driver or spectator - this will
be a treat to behold to have so many famous cars taking part in this
celebratory race.
Healey Drivers
- click on the link to the MG Car Club website
(Entry
form and Regs) for a set of the Standing Regulations and to complete
the entry form on-line and pay by credit card. You should also get in touch immediately
with Joe Cox on
joe.cox2@btinternet.com
if he has not already been in contact with you.
Spectators
should put this date in your diary and remember to check
this website nearer the time or go onto the MG Live! website to book
your tickets for the event. Click on the following link to go
direct to
MG Live! The Austin Healey Club
will also have a prestigious stand on the in-field to welcome all AH
Club members or those thinking about joining.
**Stop Press**
THE JEREMY WELCH BIG
HEALEY NOVICE SPONSORSHIP
Jeremy Welch of Denis Welch MotorSport has generously agreed to
sponsor
the entrance fee to the first race for any novice driver coming out
in a Big Healey in the Championship in 2009 up to a maximum of
£250.

The
cars must comply with the standing AHC Regulations for this year and
drivers must meet all MSA requirements to race but they must be
novices to Big Healey circuit racing.
"I
really want to encourage new drivers to this championship in its
revised format" said Jeremy (pictured right at Thruxton). "it is a
big step to start one's racing career in a Big Healey but it is a
very competitive classic sports car that is welcome across the
racing calendar. The Race Championship is a very good proving ground
and is an inexpensive way to get started. I hope my offer will tip
the balance for those drivers on the brink of motorsport but
hesitating about the commitment to a championship".
"This
generous offer applies throughout the year and at all the meetings
in the Championship calendar. Eligible drivers may enter in our
Invitation Class in the first instance but will need to commit to
full registration if they wish to do more than one race" said Joe
Cox, Austin Healey Club Competition Secretary. "For full
details as to how this offer applies, drivers should contact me in
the first instance to establish their eligibility and I will help
them to get on board"
Jeremy has registered for the championship after an absence of some
years while he concentrated on European Historic endurance and long
distance events. " I am pleased to see that the Austin Healey
Championship is one of the first to take the significant step into
longer 40 minute races. They offer such good value and in times of
economic strictures this is what we want. The days of the 15 minute
sprint race are numbered even at club level, in my opinion" he said.
"I am
pleased to have Jeremy on board again" said Joe. "He is a
significant and accomplished World Class Big Healey driver at the
top of his game. This gesture to new drivers is typical of the
spirit of our championship and I am grateful to Jeremy for taking
this initiative"
Round 2 : Cadwell Park 31st May 2009
Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster.
‘e’ mail :
phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk
With the meeting at
Donington having been cancelled there had been a gap until round 2
of the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Championship which was at the
lovely Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire.
Beautiful weather, 18 cars entered and a circuit which offers both high
speed and slow twisty sections promised that a good race was on the
cards.
The
usual combatants were on hand, both Campfields, Smithies with his new
mount getting sorted, Grace and Clarkson with their ‘big uns’. Bill
Rawles was making an appearance, Walker was back out and Pangborn
completed the ‘Big’ car line up. As well as Campfield snr the Sprites
had series sponsor Lackford, Harris P and Harris J (mended after
Mallory), Permain, Bedford, Lister, Cameron N., Richards, Prior and Fry.
Qualifying went O.K. for most although Harris J was caught on cold tyres
in the first corner having a quick 360 rotation without harm. Campfield
jnr was as spectacular as ever, looking quick, but it was the smooth
Smithies who was quicker. Jnr quite concerned afterwards at the pace of
his opponent. Fry had the misfortune to slide into Walker in the slow
hairpin, damaging his car considerably and needing a lot of tape for the
race. Campfield snr was third from a rapid Rawles, then Grace,
Lackford, Harris P., Clarkson, Permain, Harris J., Pangborn, Bedford,
Walker, Lister, Cameron, Richards, Prior and Fry were the order.
Campfield
snr. had a worrying time when he started his car in the Paddock prior to
qualifying as it burst into flames, an electrical short circuit being
the cause. He had a rush to make qualifying.
Then
after the track action came the problems…Harris J was first, no
compression pointed to a head gasket failure which turned out to be much
worse. The dreaded burnt block between 2 and 3 cylinders ended his
day. Bedford had a fuel tank breather problem which he sorted by
rerouting the breather pipe. Harris P. had his starter motor off, and
Rawles was searching in his distributor for the cause of a misfire.
Finally, Lister was feeling decidedly unwell and doubtful to make the
start, he was also left wondering where 5 seconds a lap both here and at
Mallory have gone in the close season. His new engine should be
quicker, so maybe it’s his tyres he thought.
Meanwhile, come 14.30 everyone except poor Harris J. was ready to go.
A forty minute race this time which meant something like 20 plus laps in
prospect as the cars made their way to the grid.
At the
start though drama!, the front row of Campfield jnr and Smithies
faltered, Campo snr almost took the lead but Smithies got it together in
time around Charlies and onto the fast straight. Meanwhile, Campfield
jnr made no further progress with a failed gearbox and the unfortunate
Harris P. was immediately given a 10 second penalty for starting out of
position. As they came into the wooded section for the first time
Smithies held the lead with Campfield snr right behind him. Rawles was
a splendid third with Lackford right on his tail. Then came
Grace, a bit of a gap to Clarkson and Harris P., another to start well.
Permain all alone, Pangborn, Walker, Bedford, Cameron, Lister, Richards
Fry and Prior completed the order.
Smithies would hold off Campfield for many laps, the blue Sprite
crawling all over the rear of the 3000. The big car was getting late on
the brakes as the race progressed, eventually he came up to lap Bedford,
Smithies may have been unsighted or distracted, anyway, the result was a
major lock up and slide towards the little Sprite. Bedford moved over
but the gap was there on the inside and Campfield wasted no time in
nipping into the lead.
Grace
was getting on with it and was clear of both Rawles and Lackford after a
couple of laps. He held third for a while and then due to a confusing
black flag from race control pulled in to check out the problem. Being
told it wasn’t for him he sped back into the fray, a long way back but
spirited driving had him back in third at the end, it might have been
higher though! This black flag incident confused many people as I
learnt in the Paddock later, several drivers not reading the number well
and thinking it concerned them. It was in fact for Fry whose damaged
wing was flapping in the breeze. He stopped but not before having a
good fight with Richards et al!
Lackford got ahead of Rawles and he held third spot for a while until an
electrical gremlin once again robbed him of a strong finish.
For a
long time Walker, Bedford and Cameron ran in formation, eventually
Cameron got ahead of Bedford before clearing Walker to finish in a
credible seventh place. Bedford meanwhile,
produced the drama of the day as around half distance his car came
around with flames licking underneath it. He managed to get to the pits
before a major conflagration and the flames were swiftly dealt with, the
car only mildly damaged from the outside, although under the bonnet was
a mess.
Lister
had gamely carried on for a few laps but his queasiness got the better
of him and he pulled up. Pangborn got the hairpin wrong and tried to
take out ‘yours truly’ but I was too fleet of foot for that.
After
forty minutes the flag came out with Campfield over eleven seconds ahead
of a steady Smithies. Grace had come back to a strong third and Rawles
was fourth. Clarkson was next and then Harris, who despite his penalty
still finished sixth. Cameron was next, Walker with another steady
drive, autocrossing Pangborn, and then Richards. Permain had a problem
and Prior had spun harmlessly into the barrier by half distance. This
long race proved a success, it had its moments but generally it met with
the approval of all. We next meet at Snetterton in July, with the ‘Big’
cars at Silverstone first, watch this space!
To see the full results and points scored
during the season, click
here or click
on the 'Results' tab in the grid at the top of the page. To see all the
pictures from the events, click
here or click on the
Gallery tab above.
Round 1 : Mallory Park 19th April 2009
Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster.
‘e’ mail :
phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk
A new season
and a new era for Austin Healey racing was heralded at Mallory Park with
the
first round of a seven race championship, changed from the previous nine
race format, but with much longer races promised. The series has a new
main line sponsor in the form of Lackford Engineering and with several
new faces this first race attracted twenty three entries.
A lot of work had been carried out in the close season by competition
secretary Joe Cox to negotiate what is a new venture for club racing in
the UK with a move from the ten lapper or fifteen minute races that have
been the norm for decades and that effort deserves success.
Twenty three entries turned up for the first race, a promising start,
and as well as the regular combatants we welcomed Jeremy Welch (3000)
and Ian Permain (Sprite) after a couple of seasons absence. From the
Healey Hill climbing community we have on board Tom Walker (3000) and
another Cameron, this time elder son Neil, in his lovely little Arkley
‘noddy car’ Sprite. Richard Knight was here in the beautiful 100S
campaigned for so long by the late Peter Korner.
Most peoples mounts were as last year, some probably not touched since
then!! But a notable exception was Dave Smithies who has built up a car
started by John Chatham many years ago but never completed, finished in
BRG as a tribute to DD300. Dave’s drive train from his previous chariot
has been fitted but it hadn’t turned a wheel before this weekend.
Qualifying took place with
little
drama and it was Campfield jnr. in the 3000 who took pole from ‘Dad’ in
the Championship winning Sprite, who unfortunately would not make the
race due to a defunct clutch which left him stranded on the circuit
after five laps in practice.
An unfortunate incident saw Jenkins in the barriers during practice
having had a ‘coming together’ with Clarkson on the exit to the fast
Gerrards bend.
So, twenty one starters took to the grid for this half hour thrash and
as the lights turned green it was H-B with another ‘rocket launch’ who
took to the front with Campfield trying hard to get back around the
outside of Gerrards, into the hairpin. H-B defended the inside and held
the lead onto the front straight. Grace was a strong third then
Clarkson, Welch, Harris P., Lackford, Thorne, Smithies diving inside
Rawe, Woolley, Woods, Bedford, Permain, Harris J., Knight, Pangborn,
Walker, Cameron, Lister, Richards completed the order with everyone
safely through on that first lap.
Second lap, Campfield took the lead at the hairpin but H-B was back in
front on the third. Smithies car was sounding sick, but still making
ground on Thorne. He would climb as high as seventh before loosing a
fan belt, he stopped to replace it but was out officially by lap 18
although he did reappear to try and clear his misfire problem towards
the end of the race. Meanwhile, Lackford got ahead of Harris P and Rawe
was holding off Woolley.
There was a great Sprite fight forming with Bedford, Harris J and
Permain which would last until lap 27 when Permain would pull off with a
misfire shortly followed by Harris with no drive.
Another fight to last nearly all race was with Rawe and Woolley.
Woolley got ahead for a couple of laps but after getting back ahead
after a titanic battle Rawe suffered chronic ‘brain fade’ into Gerrards
on lap 30. He headed straight for Hinckley only stopping when he hit
the Armco at an alarming rate. He was unhurt although the same couldn’t
be said for his car. Robert said later he was so thrilled at getting
back in front he forgot everything else!
Meanwhile up front H-B hung on for a couple more laps before Campfield
got through in the fast Esses, from there H-B fell into the clutches of
Grace who was sliding his car in a strong third place closely followed
by Clarkson.
Walker and Cameron enjoyed their first race in close company for a while
until Cameron succumbed to a head gasket failure on lap eleven. Walker
would make it to the finish fighting with the Sprites and Pangborn’s
100M. We lost an unhappy Woods about now too. Lackford and Harris P.
in their Sprites pushed each other hard all race, finishing in the top
six, likewise Thorne and Knight in the 100’s had a race long battle.
Grace was really turning it on now and pulled up to H-B in the fast
Gerrards, slingshotting down the back strait to take second place with
about five laps to go, and then almost immediately, pulled off with a
bad vibration. A sad end to a good drive. The vibration turned out to
be no tread left on a tyre!!
With
Grace gone Clarkson moved up on to H-B and for the last few laps they
fought hard for second place, finishing inches apart at the end.
With all these fights keeping us entertained, this longer race format
was proving a winner and although we lost a few runners the racing had
been close and constant throughout the field. Just on thirty minutes
Campfield took the flag with H-B and Clarkson just down the road. Welch
was a lonely fourth, Lackford and Harris P. next, then Woolley all
alone, Thorne and Knight again close, going into Devils Elbow alongside
each other, Thorne claiming the place. Bedford, Walker and Pangborn
with Richards and Lister completed the order. Lister was far from happy
with a misfire and a generally non-performing engine.
All that was left was the presentation of prizes and the generous
donation of race entry fee returned to Tom Walker by Jeremy Welch.
We next go to Cadwell, another circuit that should see close competition
between the Sprites and the ‘big uns’.
To see the full results and points scored
during the season, click
here or click
on the 'Results' tab in the grid at the top of the page. To see all the
pictures from the events, click
here or click on the
Gallery tab above.
Starting out in
Motorsport
For any
driver new to motorsport who is considering circuit racing with their
Austin Healey, there is now a simple guide available from the BARC
website called "Starting out
in Motorsport". Click
here to access this guide. As you will see, it aims to provide
the basic information needed to get you underway. In addition to
reading this, you should also get in contact with Joe Cox on
joe.cox2@btinternet.com
to understand the requirements of our particular championship.
Good luck and look forward to seeing you out on the track.
Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship
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