Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 7 : Silverstone 18th October 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster email : phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk

The season finale of the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship was at Silverstone, late in the season and replacing the cancelled Donington round in May. Sixteen cars entered for this AMOC organised meeting, with the overall championship decided, the interest centred on class battles, and a thirty minute race would settle all.

Champion elect, Dave Smithies was absent here, as was reigning champion Paul Campfield, but we had son Marc, Hugo Holland-Bosworth, Eric Woolley, Peter Grant, Robert Rawe and Tom Walker in 3000’s with Mike Thorne and Mark Pangborn in 100M’s. The Sprite classes had Drew Cameron and Pat Harris in their class E mounts. Neil Cameron, Stephen Fry, Xavier Sanz de Acedo and Ian Permain in class D and class C stalwarts Mark Lister and Brian Bedford. Surprisingly, John Harris was not here and would give his chance of class victory up to Ian Permain.

Practice went without major drama for most with Campfield finishing on pole from Holland-Bosworth who was a bit ‘miffed’ at having a cracked windscreen due to errant gravel during his pursuit. Woolley was a steady third before the first Sprite, that of Cameron D who split the big cars leaving Grant and Rawe in fifth and sixth. Sanz de Acedo was a splendid seventh from Thorne, Cameron N, also showing well, then Harris, Walker, Pangborn, Permain Lister, Bedford and Fry completing the field.

It was a bitterly cold wind that cut across the Northampton circuit as we waited for the start of our race and as the lights flashed green it was the blue car of Holland-Bosworth that got the jump. Campfield slotted into second and Woolley third. Cameron D. was there at the start but the bigger cars got the power down by the first corner, Campfield would run wide at Becketts on that opening lap but rejoined and was back up to second, taking Woolley as they swept through Bridge.

Holland-Bosworth had a good lead on that first lap with Campfield using all of the track, kerb, grass, and gravel on the inside of Bridge to catch up. Following cars found the gravel deposit a little tricky but Woolley led the rest in the order of Cameron D., Rawe, Grant, Thorne and Harris side by side, Sanz de Acedo, Walker, Cameron N., Bedford, Pangborn, Lister, Permain and Fry.

Campfield was pulling no punches in his efforts to get ahead of H-B, trying one side or the other to get past and into the Brooklands/Luffield complex he drew alongside only for his tyre to come into contact with H-B’s hub spinner which sliced through it like a Roman chariot sword! Out on the spot and into the pits to retire and signalling the possible end of young Campfield’s spirited Healey campaigns.

Meanwhile H-B continued unabated and would go on to finish the race almost 45 seconds ahead with the fastest lap to boot, an indication of how fast his pace was.

Woolley was ensconced in a lonely second place, initially challenged by Cameron D whose Sprite seemed to be understeering a little too much to keep pace with the 3000, he did fend off Grant who has improved immensely this season after his disastrous first year, his car performing like it should now.

Down the field Thorne and Rawe had a tremendous tussle all race with first one and then the other coming through ahead. The fight went to the flag and after 30 minutes it was Thorne who finished ahead. Pat Harris was a lonely seventh after initially fighting with this duo but having a minor loss of traction mid race, he came back at the end though.

There were a couple of good battles with Cameron N and Sanz de Acedo fighting for most of the race with Walker keeping a watching brief. Pangborn was another lonely player but Bedford, Lister and Permain had quite a tussle for much of the race until Permain dropped back. Bedford did enough to stay ahead of Lister who must take heart in the fact that he was back on terms with his nemesis and his finish here secured the class title. Bedford’s luck this season has failed him a lot and today was no exception with a half shaft, complete with wheel, deciding to part company with the diff. and extending his rear track by a metre!! It happened on the last lap and so he was fortunate to keep his place ahead of Lister.

Apart from Campfield we had only lost one other runner, that being Fry who succumbed to engine trouble 24 minutes into the race, another guy whose luck is limited.

Overall it had been a steady race, a couple of good battles keeping interest and another long race with very few casualties, something that was a concern

when the longer race format was mooted. The longer races have proved to be generally successful this year, with some races having race long battles to keep us entertained. Dave Smithies has taken the overall championship, Mark Pangborn takes Class A, Mark Lister takes Class C, Ian Permain did enough today to take Class D and Pat Harris wins Class E.

Another season ends with just the annual ‘bun fight’ awards evening to come, finishing the year in style. I look forward to being there next year and hope these reports have kept you entertained this season.

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.

Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 6 : Oulton Park 3rd October 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster email : phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk

With the summer at an abrupt end it was an Autumnal day which greeted the participants for the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship at Oulton Park for the annual meeting organised by AMOC. There was an impressive entry of 23 cars although circumstances would reduce this by the time of the race.

First to not show was Robin Lackford, the series sponsor, who had problems with his car after a recent Spa event. Harvey Woods had shown up for pre race testing on Friday with his new 100M, only to have the misfortune to stuff it rather badly. Finally David Grace failed to make it.

Still, 20 on the list would be good. Those here were the 3000’s of Dave Smithies, Marc Campfield, Eric Woolley, Robert Rawe, Tom Walker, Peter Grant and Mark Potter. 100M’s were in the hands of Mike Thorne and Mark Pangborn and the plethora of Sprites included Class sponsor John Harris, Neil Cameron, Dave Jenkins, Ian Permain, Stephen Fry, Xavier Sanz de Acedo, Pat Harris, Drew Cameron, Mark Lister, Jim Prior and Brian Bedford.

Qualifying was delayed by a rather expensive oil trail left on the circuit by one of the Ferrari Classic competitors and when the cars did take to the circuit conditions were a little tricky.

On the first lap Campfield slid out of Knickerbrook and could be heard trying to find a gear, it transpired he had lost third, and with lots of little bits of metal flying around inside his gearbox he called it a day and went home. He had managed to qualify fourth though. Worse was to befall poor Permain who didn’t even complete a lap, coming to rest at Knickerbrook, also with gearbox problems. Two down already.

Meanwhile Smithies appeared fast, with Woolley also in the groove, his car sounding superb on full chat up Clay Hill, extra performance allegedly down to a new distributor. Cameron in his still largely unsorted class E Sprite also looked quick. Further back Lister seemed to be back on form, happy to be ahead of his adversary Bedford. Fry was pleased to have seen the chequered flag at the end of the session but poor Jenkins was again victim of mechanical maladies. Suspected head gasket failure which turned out to be the dreaded ‘A’ series Achilles heal….. burnt block between cylinders 2 and 3.

Another out, and it wasn’t even mid morning yet! Prior was in though, he hadn’t made the session, but would start at the back.

The grid then was Smithies, a second and half ahead of Cameron D., and two seconds ahead of Woolley. With Campfield out, Rawe was next from Harris P., Grant going well, Harris J., Thorne, Sanz de Acedo, Lister, Pangborn, Potter, Bedford, Fry, Cameron N. and Walker. With Jenkins and Permain also out. Prior would complete the field. 17 left.

So, the usual fettling and hanging around until our race and just before the start guess what?.. yes! It rained! It wouldn’t be Oulton if it didn’t rain!

The cars came out for two installation laps because of the wet track, it had stopped raining but the track was slippery.

When the lights went green it was Cameron D. in his Sprite who got the drop on the others and Woolley too got ahead of Smithies. By Shell hairpin Woolley had the lead from Smithies with Cameron D in third. But at the second chicane Cameron D. was caught out by the surface and spun to the tail of the field. He would fight back up to seventh at the end though.

Thorne made the best advantage of this, coming through from row 5 to slot into fourth place. Woolley was flying in the lead with Smithies strong in second. Then came Thorne, Rawe, Grant, Potter, Pangborn, Harris J, Harris P, Sanz de Acedo, Cameron, Lister, Bedford, Walker, Cameron N., Fry, Prior.

Next lap and this time Smithies got caught out on the tricky surface spinning into the barrier at Old Hall. Nothing serious though and with a dented rear wing he rejoined in eleventh place. The interest for the rest of the race would be how far would he climb back. Well, quite a way actually, he was 6^th by lap five, 4^th two laps later and with a move on Thorne on lap 12 up to second place. He would have to go some though to catch Woolley and with the two of them trading fastest laps and the leader over half a minute up the road it was an improbable task.

All this excitement had got Thorne into a splendid second place and Grant had got past Rawe to hold a strong third. These two had great drives although each would drop a place with Smithies’ progress. Rawe held a lonely fifth ahead of Pangborn for the entire race.

Further back a great fight was forming with Bedford and Sanz de Acedo, the latter slowly hauling in Bedford to take ninth place at the end.

Another battle between Harris P, Walker, Cameron N, Lister, and Harris J. kept us entertained. Harris J. would make a move on Cameron N on the penultimate lap entering Lodge, he slid wide to let Cameron back but would try again with success on the final lap, he was pleased with that.

As the clock approached forty minutes Woolley was streets ahead to take the flag first, Smithies posted fastest lap on the last lap of the race and took second. Next was Thorne from Grant, Rawe and Pangborn completing the top six. Cameron D. had got back to seventh with his fastest lap also on the penultimate lap, the track quite dry at the end. Potter, Sanz de Acedo, Bedford, Harris P., Walker, Lister, Harris J, Cameron N and Prior completed the distance. Unfortunately we lost Fry who was the only retirement around lap 3. The elements and circumstances had contrived to try to spoil this race with non starters and rain but with the fight back of Smithies and Cameron D and the battles with the Sprites they had given it interest.

The Northern centre once again provided a splendid and very welcome barbeque on this cold day and thanks go to them all. The final round for the Championship is at Silverstone at the end of October. See you there.

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.

Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 5 : Brands Hatch 23 August 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster email : phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk

So… once the dust had settled, the cars all washed and polished and the fettling complete, the second race, Round 5 of the Lackford Engineering Championship, was all ready to go. Would the faster Sprites take the honours this time or would the Big Healeys again rule the day, and would the racing be as fraught as the first race..??

During the gap between races, Paul Campfield had found the cause of a misfire and Brian Bedford had changed his drive shaft, lunch was taken, a Grand Prix watched, arguments settled and with the beautiful late summer weather still here a general air of calmness descended on the Paddock .. for a while.

The grid for the second race had been decided on second best practice times from the morning and so we had Grace on pole, then Campfield snr, Lackford, who was going very well around here, Campfield jnr. Schildt A, Smithies, Harris P, Rawles, Grant, Harris J., Jones, Potter, Permain, Pangborn, Bedford, Lister, Walker, Schildt K, Prior and Jenkins.

With the warm up lap completed and a twenty minute race ahead the lights signalled the start and the front of the grid leapt forward. Into Druids Grace led, with Campfield jnr taking second. Campfield snr. Lackford, Schildt A and Smithies making up the top six. Harris P. and Rawles were side by side, Harris J, Grant, Potter, Jones, Bedford making some places, Pangborn, Permain, Walker, Lister, Schildt K, Prior and Jenkins made up the rest of the order.

Halfway around that first lap Campfield got ahead of Grace, Schildt A. made it to third with Lackford pushing on just behind, the rest of the pack all jostling for position. Rawles and Harris P were still side by side and would battle all race with one or the other ahead. Harris P would finally take the flag, one hundredth of a second in front of Bill.

Jones and Potter were also in battle which would last until lap eight when Jones retired, but not before they spent several laps in formation with Grant, these three providing great entertainment for the first third of the race. Other close combatants during the race were Walker and Bedford once again, the honours this time falling to Walker.

By lap 2 Schildt had made it to second, Smithies out braked Lackford into Druids for fourth. This move would go all the way round to Graham Hill bend at the bottom of the hill, with Campfield snr. trying to follow Smithies through. There was contact between Campfield and Lackford which damaged Lackford's suspension eventually forcing him to retire on lap 7. Campfield snr lost the place gained when he missed a gear at Druids next lap, a spin at Graham Hill put him further back to eventually finish fifth.

Up front as the race progressed Campfield jnr was starting to get lurid allowing his lead to be reduced, a huge slide gave Schildt the lead and with another at Druids he let Smithies through who had by now got ahead of Grace.

The order then, Schildt, Smithies, Campfield jnr and Grace, all within a second apart. Another huge Campfield slide saw Grace get ahead to take third. Smithies was starting to go for it, but when pushing for the lead had a spin at Paddock , Grace was suddenly second.

With just a few laps to go Grace was pushing and caught right up with Schildt. On the last lap, backmarkers came into play at the last corner, they went either side of them to flash over the line as one. Schildt just getting the call by .065 of a second, the closest finish ever and history being made as he is the first foreign driver to win an Austin Healey Club Championship race.

Smithies came back to third with Campfield jnr fourth ahead of his dad. Harris P was next from Rawles, Grant and Potter. Harris J won his class ahead of Permain. Then Pangborn, Walker, Bedford, Lister, Schildt K., Prior and Jenkins were the rest of the order.

This had been another exciting race with the battle at the front spectacular if a little worrying at times. The commentator remarking that it was like Formula Ford with bodywork! and we all know what those races can be like!

After the race and during the prize giving, young Jack Rawles, whose birthday it was, was presented with a cake and with everyone singing ‘Happy Birthday to you’ it must be a moment he will remember. In fact, the whole day will be remembered for a variety of reasons, not least the spectacular track action, the win by Schildt who has been with us since the Gott race at Silverstone, and the closest recorded finish to a Healey race ever. We will be back at Oulton at the beginning of October. See you all then.

Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 4 : Brands Hatch 23 August 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster email : phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk

After a fairly lengthy break the ‘circus’ returned to do battle in the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship, the venue, Brands Hatch, the scene of many tight races over the years and with two rounds scheduled it was to be a busy day for everyone.

We had 11 big Healeys in the hands of David Grace, Dave Smithies, Marc Campfield, Bill Rawles, Tom Walker and Mark Pangborn’s 100 all in Championship contention with support from Mark Potter, Peter Grant, Tom Jones and Swedes Kage and Anders Shildt, who had returned for this weekend, all in the invitation class.

The Sprites had Paul Campfield, Pat Harris, Robin Lackford, returnees John Harris and Dave Jenkins, Ian Permain, Mark Lister, Brian Bedford and Jim Prior, twenty cars in all, a good field on this popular circuit.

Practice got underway and the fastest times would decide the grid for the first race with the second fastest times resolving the other start order. Straight away Grace looked smooth and fast, likewise Campfield snr. but it was Lackford who impressed by staying with him for several laps!, Campfield jnr was circulating behind Smithies and Shildt was in amongst traffic not getting a decent time until the very last lap!

The outcome was Grace, Campfield snr., Schildt A, Lackford, Campfield jnr., Smithies in the first six and all just about a second apart. Then came Harris P. and Rawles, Harris J, Grant going strongly, Jones, Potter, Permain, Pangborn, Bedford, Lister, Walker, Schildt K, Prior, and Jenkins.

It was a really hot day, the best of the summer and maybe that had some bearing on the first race. Some said there was oil down, but nobody claimed to have lost any, whatever, the race resembled a scene from ‘Whacky Races’ as spirited driving tactics and trips into various gravel traps seemed to be the order of the day.

At the start Both Campfield snr and Shildt A. got ‘bogged down’ allowing Smithies and Campfield jnr. to fly into the lead, Campfield just edging it by Paddock. Into Druids a bit of a sort out saw Grace lose out and by the time they reached Clearways Campfield held the lead with Smithies in second, Schildt A up to third, Harris P a strong fourth, then Grace,

Campfield snr, Rawles, Lackford, Jones, Grant, Harris J, Potter, Permain, Pangborn, Bedford, Lister, Walker, Shildt K, Prior and Jenkins as they all battled for position.

Slowly Smithies and co started to haul in Campfield whose sideways style seemed to be slowing him. Pat Harris lost out to both Campfield and Lackford on that next lap and a charging Rawles would steal another place before the end, but he still finished a strong seventh. Lackford was pushing like crazy and a race long fight, and a near touch with Campfield snr, plus keeping it on the track, would see him in second and head off Campfield snr and Schildt A. at the flag, just losing out on the line to a recovering Grace at the end to take third.

Grace had taken Schildt temporarily into Paddock, but Schildt was soon back, until a spin and then a trip into the gravel would see him drop to fourth, oil, tyres, whatever! Grace too would slide wide at Druids to go seventh and so would begin another fight back to that second place.

Smithies was driving well although a near miss when disputing the lead into Paddock would see him on the limit and two wheels in the gravel and also a tad angry with young jnr. He went through to take the lead eventually though when Campfield jnr got ever more leery and took to the gravel a couple of times at Paddock and Cascades before finally ending up beached at Paddock with a lap to go!

Meanwhile further back, Harris J was fighting with the cars of Potter, Jones and Grant, Grant ending up ahead of these in tenth place and Bedford and Walker were once again fighting for position until the unfortunate Bedford had a drive shaft break.

Finally the flag came out after 20 minutes to end what had been an ‘entertaining’ race, almost all the leaders had been in the gravel, Smithies and Lackford the exception. Clearways looked like a speedway track! It was by 100^th second that Grace took 2^nd on the line. Schildt recovered to fourth with Campfield snr., on three cylinders at the end, coming fifth. Another smooth driver was Rawles in sixth from Harris P. Grant had a strong result ahead of Jones, Potter, Permain, Pangborn, Walker, Lister and Harris J. Schildt K, Prior and Jenkins completed the order with only two cars out and only one with a mechanical problem.

On to Round 5 which would be several hours later. We had plenty of time to repair, fettle, clean and remove gravel.

Round 3 : Snetterton 18th July 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster.

email : phil_scoop@hotmail.co.uk

Only a week after the Silverstone epic the domestic series was underway again for the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship. Round 3 was to be at Snetterton. A strong entry of twenty four cars, which included the Swedish contingent who had stayed over from the previous week, offered promise for an exciting race particularly in the bigger classes.

Anders Schildt, who had so nearly won the John Gott trophy, had his 3000 entered together with Anders Lotsengard in Syd Segal’s old car. The other 3000’s included Campfield jnr, Rawe, Woolley, Henderson, Walker, Smithies, Potter and Holland-Bosworth. The 100M’s of Pangborn and Swede Nils-Frederik Nybleus completed the big car line up. The Sprites included yet another Campfield jnr jnr. Adrian in his dads blue example. Lackford, Harris, Richards, Sanz de Acedo, Bedford, Lister, Prior, Permain, Cameron N’s Arkley, Woods’ Ashley and the long awaited Drew Cameron Class E car completed the entry.

Qualifying had gone pretty well for most with the Schildt car confounding everyone by being two seconds quicker than the rest. Campfield jnr was next but after an MSA decision later in the day would be excluded from the meeting. Smithies was third quickest from H-B, Woolley and Campfield jnr jnr who promptly destroyed his differential after five laps. Rawe was next and then Potter, Cameron D, and Henderson all within a whisker of each other with de Acedo, a flying Bedford, Lackford, Pangborn and Harris again, within a second apart. Lister, Woods, Lotsengard, Cameron N, Prior, Richards, Walker, Nyblaes and Permain with only four laps completed the field. Permain would not make the start.

Not a lot of time before ‘our’ race but 23 cars made the start. The talk during the interval had been how far ahead would the Swedish car be by the end of the race, and when the lights went green it was indeed Schildt who shot into the lead but having another of his demon starts was H-B, who shot into second by the first turn.

Into the chicane first time around came Schildt with H-B really pushing, these two several car lengths ahead of Smithies. Campfield jnr jnr in the Sprite came through but would retire immediately with that recurring transmission problem. Cameron D was next in his new mount and he would go well before retiring on lap five with er! transmission failure!!!, he secured class fastest lap first though. Lackford next, with hippy Potter well up, likewise Rawe, then Harris, Woolley, Henderson, Lotsengard, Sanz de Acedo, Bedford, Pangborn, Woods, Lister, Prior, Walker, Cameron N, Nyblaes, Richards.

By lap two the two leaders had pulled further ahead, with Smithies keeping a watching brief, Lackford was ahead of Cameron. Harris had split Rawe and Potter. Woolley was with Harris and on a charge.

A battle would form between Sanz de Acedo, Bedford, Henderson and Lotsengard before Bedford retired with terminal gearbox failure, Walker took up the challenge though and these four would finish under a second apart. During the race, oil would go down which caused first Rawe then Potter to spin at the chicane, leaving Harris to finish fifth unchallenged.

Schildt was having gearbox problems and finally H-B was through into the lead, only to dive into the pits almost immediately. It turned out his screen was covered in oil from following Schildt who was spewing gear oil. That was where the oil was coming from! Schildt would eventually retire with a seized gearbox.

This would promote the wily Smithies into the lead. Lackford was up to third with Woolley eventually climbing up to second. H-B would fly back into the fray to work his way back up to fourth at the end.

We lost Prior and Richards by mid distance but the midfield battle was in full swing, also Lotsengard and Pangborn and Woods and Lister were having fun. With just six laps left Cameron N’s reliability left him when a head gasket blew on the Arkley.

Smithies went serenely on to finish over a minute ahead of Woolley when the flag came out at the end of 40 minutes. Lackford was third from a recovering H-B and Harris. Potter finished just ahead of Rawe. Then Henderson won the fight from Sanz de Acedo who pulled a long gap to Walker and Lotsengard at the end. Pangborn, the fighting Woods and Lister with Nyblaes completed the order.

After the race we had a splendid buffet lunch provided by the Eastern centre and thanks go to ‘Head Chef’ Lin, ‘Pastry Chef’ Sheila and ‘flap jack queen’ Angie for their efforts.

Special guest Jack Sears had once again kindly come along to present the prizes. He was quite taken by Healey racing after Silverstone! And after all the festivities were over we dispersed to meet again at the end of August for a ‘double header’ at Brands (22/23 August).

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 2 : Cadwell Park 31st May 2009

Words and Pictures by : Phil (Scoop) Broster.

email : 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!

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’.

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 the full Austin Healey Championship results and series rules, regulations and scoring system click HERE