UK Race Series

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 part 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.

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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  19^th 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

For further information on the UK and International race series, contact Joe Cox at joe.cox2@btinternet.com, Information about club membership or the UK Sprint and Hill Climb Challenge, contact  Allan Cameron at allanclancam@hotmail.com and for questions regarding this website contact the site Webmaster