2010 Race Reports - Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 6 : Oulton Park 21^st August 2010

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

With a summer break since Brands it was nice for the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship contenders to regroup at the picturesque Oulton Park circuit. Sixteen entries were to compete in this AMOC organised meeting with the addition of four Jaguar XK’s running alongside. The weather would stay fine for us and we were to race before lunch which meant early qualifying.

Championship leader Dave Smithies headed the ‘Big’ Healey brigade, with Eric Woolley, David Grace, Peter Grant, Tom Walker and Chris Clarkson as class B regulars. They were supported in the invitation class by Jeremy Welch, Anthony Worthington and Malcolm Vaughan. We had Harvey Woods and Mark Pangborn in 100M’s and then Sprite regulars Pat Harris, Brian Bedford, Neil Cameron (Arkley), Jim Prior and finally John Richards out for a run.

With our qualifying starting the proceedings the early morning quietness was soon interrupted by the unmistakable sound of Healey 3000’s on full chat. The red car of Welch was first through and he was soon on the pace, difficult to judge though was the speed of Smithies who was some distance down the road. These two looked quick but so did Grace who spun a few times, ‘finding the limit’, and performing opposite lock slides through the fast Knickerbrook corner.

The unfortunate John Richards engine was making a strange noise for a couple of laps until it let go at Cascades in a monumental way! Bits of con rod, distributor etc scattered along the track, together with a considerable amount of oil!! Tom Walker was struggling with a misfire, but it was noticeable that Clarkson was not!! His season long malady had been cured!

When the flag came out the fastest car was Smithies, with the only time under 2 minutes on the full international circuit, a first for him. Welch was next, but over one and a half seconds adrift and just ahead of Grace. Clarkson was fourth with Harris up amongst the 3000’s, Woolley, Worthington, Grant and Cameron followed. Pangborn, sandwiched between two Jaguars came next, Bedford, Prior, a couple more Jags, then Woods, running in his engine, Walker, Vaughan and Richards completed the order.

Post qualifying paddock ramblings spotted Clarkson’s crew changing brake pads, Grant sorting a condenser, likewise Cameron snr. working with Walker on the same problem. Bedford spent time changing his diff seal but everyone was interested in checking out the various disgorged parts of Richard’s engine. His day was done.

Our race was brought forward by half an hour and so it was just before midday that the grid formed and as the lights changed it was Smithies who shot into the lead as the rest followed in a huge cloud of cement dust put down to cover oil spewed out by a Ferrari in an earlier qualifying session. As they sped out into the country it was Grace who had slotted into second ahead of Welch, Harris was motoring and ahead of Woolley, just, with Clarkson, Grant, Worthington, Cameron, Pangborn and Bedford, Walker, Woods, Prior and Vaughan completing the running.

Into Lodge at the end of the first lap Welch out-braked Grace to take second. These two would provide the interest of the race, with Smithies pulling away the battle for second was intriguing. With the gap changing by the lap, Grace dived back up the inside a couple of laps later to once again get second, then Welch went a bit wide at the same corner, got into the gravel but with the use of the throttle managed to get back out, no mean feat!! This battle would go on until lap ten but would come to an end when Grace was finally caught out by the oil at Old Hall corner, swapped ends and clouted the barrier pretty hard, leaving Welch on his own and forty seconds ahead of Clarkson.

Clarkson had got ahead of the battling Woolley and Harris who were once again fighting hard for much of the race ‘a la’ Cadwell, finally finishing just under a half second apart at the end. Grant was going steadily, apart from missing a chicane at one point, he was somewhat alone ahead of Worthington, having a rare outing in his Healey although he too ran wide at Lodge at one point. Neil Cameron was motoring on with his usual verve. There was a great battle between Pangborn and Bedford with Bedford pulling clear before the end.

Woods was lapping seven seconds faster than in qualifying, taking his engine to the next level and having a play with Prior for several laps. Walker dived into the pits early on and with the swift work of his crew (Cameron snr.) was soon back into the thick of it, sliding about and lapping 12 seconds faster than he had in qualifying. He had a loose low tension wire which was secured with ‘Jaws’ Cameron’s teeth. He lost some enamel doing it! Now that’s dedication!!

As the time wound down and with fifteen laps completed the flag came out. Smithies, with an even faster time in the bag, 1m.58s, (a new class record), was well ahead of Welch, who was even further ahead of Clarkson. Woolley and Harris were as one, Grant, Worthington, Cameron, a couple of Jags, Bedford ahead of Pangborn (whose birthday it was), Woods, Prior, Walker and Vaughan.

That was it, all over before lunch, how civilised, and with splendid timing the usual hospitality of the Northern Centre and their wonderful efforts with the ‘Barbie’, much appreciated guys.

Another mini break before the long haul to Snetterton for another ‘double header’ at the end of September.

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 and in-car video's from the events, click here or click on the Gallery tab above.

Round 5 : Brands Hatch - 26th June 2010

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

A hot day in June saw the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club championship contenders descend on Brands Hatch to compete in the AMOC organised meeting. Depleted numbers saw 12 entries ready to battle it out around the fast ‘Indy’ circuit in a 30 minute race.

The entry included regulars Dave Smithies, David Grace, Chris Clarkson and Peter Grant in their 3000’s. Mark Pangborn was in his 100M, then in the Sprite classes we had, alone in class E, Pat Harris, who was celebrating a birthday, supported by Brian Bedford, Neil Cameron, Bob Cranham and returnee Xavier Sanz de Acedo. We also had a ‘one off appearance’ from Bill Rawles and Mark Potter, just to liven the proceedings.

Qualifying saw the green cars of Smithies and Grace battling it out and matching times until Smithies posted a time just three hundredths of a second clear, the two thrashed around climbing kerbs for the best part of the session, Smithies time claiming pole. Pat Harris was going well and put in a time just under a second slower on his final lap with Clarkson just behind. Bill Rawles was mixing it and despite a couple of ‘late brakers’ into Graham Hill bend, finished up in fifth.

Grant wasn’t that far behind followed by Sanz de Acedo and Cameron N. With Bedford, Cranham, Pangborn and Potter completing the grid.

In the paddock afterwards Clarkson was complaining of ‘that mysterious misfire’ that has troubled him all season, and that his new differential was a bit tight, not ‘run in’ yet. Remember that failed at the Silverstone Syd Segal race!

Others were fettling with brakes and the like whilst ‘hippy’ Potter was wondering why his car was handling like he was driving on butter until he mentioned that his ‘vintage’ tyres (8 years old) EIGHT!! hadn’t been changed for a while!!... A while, strewth! I got grey hair younger than that!! Anyway, Peter Grant obliged with a set of spares, now all you had to do was fit them eh Mark!!

Lots of water, ice creams and after watching the Grand Prix qualifying eventually everyone was ready for the race and they all trundled around to take their places on the grid.

The lights signalled the start and up into Druids stormed the pack, Grace had got the jump on Smithies but was being harassed, Grant made a terrific start and was challenging for third, alongside Harris who was attempting to take second with a brave move around the outside. Behind these were a side by side Rawles and Clarkson, Sanz de Acedo, Potter, Bedford, Cameron, Cranham and Pangborn.

Second lap and Grace had pulled a bit of a gap, with Grant passing Harris for third. Into Druids next time and Smithies was trying to pass Grace on the outside, Grace hung on tight to the inside as they stormed down the hill. Grant was passed by the flying Harris! Behind them came Clarkson and Rawles. Meanwhile further back Potter was mixing it with Sanz de Acedo, finding his car much better, he was at least six seconds a lap faster than in qualifying. Another pair fighting it out were Pangborn and Cranham, this battle would go on for most of the race before the unfortunate Cranham succumbed to a holed radiator, possibly caused by a thrown stone, he got that close to the 100M.

Before that we had lost Clarkson, that misfire proving too much, but not until he had been passed by Rawles, who took Grant on the same lap to be up to fourth. Chris was still pragmatic after the race! Don’t think many of us would still be smiling!

Meanwhile, up front and into Paddock Smithies took a late brake dive from a long way back which seemed to surprise Grace, whatever happened the result was Smithies took the lead. Grace would fight back to hold on to Smithies and re pass at one point, but he seemed a little twitchy especially through Paddock, and Smithies repeated the move a couple of laps later. This corner did eventually catch Grace out and a quick spin spoilt any chance of Grace retaking the lead. He drove with panache to climb back to third at the end, but was unable to haul in the Sprite of Harris who found himself in a splendid second place.

The Potter/Sanz de Acedo fight was resolved in favour of the green Sprite who eventually finished a rather lonely 15 seconds up the road, leaving Potter to fall into the clutches of Cameron who would battle till the end of the race, the Sprites getting faster as the tyres got hot, while it was the reverse for the big 3000.

Pangborn was a little lonely also and a quick spin coming out of Druids didn’t help his mood, he would retire soon afterwards thoroughly ‘fed up’ with driving around on his own. There was one more twist in this tale as Rawles, who had charged up to third suddenly faltered and ground to a halt on the exit to Druids, he was out of fuel! Hey ho! One lap to go, tough Billy!

The flag came out with Smithies taking his third win in a row, Harris second with Grace third 5 seconds further back. Grant was promoted to fourth with Sanz de Acedo fifth. Potter and Cameron were battling to the end for sixth with Bedford coming home eighth.

A race with small numbers but the usual battles throughout the field, together with incidents and place changing had kept the interest going for the duration and Smithies now in a strong position for the Championship.

Pat Harris had a wonderful birthday with his best ever result and he was presented with a card signed by one and all just to add to his day!

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 3 : Mallory Park - 9th May 2010

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

For the third round of the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship we rolled into Mallory Park as part of the first AMOC meeting of 2010. We were to be combined with the Jaguar XK series to ensure a fuller grid but with 15 of our own entrants and 21 in total we were heading towards maximum numbers. However, the combined grid should provide interest in the races this year.

We were missing the title sponsor, Robin Lackford, and his adversary, Drew Cameron after their contretemps at Cadwell, although Drew had entered for the 50’s Team Challenge at this meeting.

We did have ‘Big’ Healeys in the hands of David Smithies, David Grace, Peter Grant, Tom Walker, Chris Clarkson and Richard Knight, with the 100’s of Mike Thorne, Mark Pangborn and the visiting Nils-Fredrik Nyblaeus and the Sprites of Paul Campfield, Pat Harris, Brian Bedford, Jim Prior, Neil Cameron’s Arkley, and returnee Bob Cranham. Depleted numbers there maybe, but the potential for competition, possibly very good.

Qualifying underway, and remember that electrical issue that Campfield had at Cadwell, well, the car started and ran well enough for enough laps to gain pole, but he wasn’t happy in the paddock, it was still giving intermittent trouble. Grace hustled round to make second place, Smithies, half a second behind, then Clarkson who was still coping with his recurring misfire, was fourth.

Pat Harris was flying but the man of the session was Neil Cameron who was sixth, and I tell you, that car was QUICK through the Esses. Knight, next from Grant and then a couple of XK120’s, before we got Thorne, Bedford, Cranham, Pangborn and Walker. More Jags and Nils Nyblaeus together with Prior made up the grid.

Strolling through the paddock during the interval before the race I found Clarkson who told me he still had that misfire from Cadwell troubling him, his crew were also dealing with an overdrive problem. Smithies too had a similar problem but a replacement solenoid sorted that out. Campfield was ruing the electrical gremlin and was convinced it would cause him to end the day early. It was good to see Christian Andrew wandering around and talking Healeys.

Eventually the time came to race and the field made its way around to the grid to wait for the lights. At the start the Sprite of Campfield faltered and the Healeys of Grace and Smithies swamped it as they tore into the first corner and onto the long Stebbe straight. Into the Esses first time around Smithies was in the lead, closely followed by Grace, Harris and Clarkson. Out of the Hairpin Grace had the lead with Smithies being harried by Harris, Clarkson trying to pass him, Cameron N. going well, Grant, Campfield, Knight, Bedford, Thorne, Cranham, Walker, Pangborn with Prior and Nyblaeus playing with three of the XK’s.

By lap two Smithies was back in the lead and would pull clear of Grace over the first few laps until Grace held it and then started to close in again, slowly but steadily. Clarkson got ahead of Harris, and Cameron was ensconced in fifth. The rest of the field was already starting to spread out although Grant, Knight and Thorne were close. Campfield was ahead of this group but not for long, soon being taken by Knight and after falling into the clutches of Thorne he would pull to a halt on lap 5, his premonition he would finish early came true. Also gone was Prior, on lap 4.

What was happening though was a fight developing between ‘topless’ Bedford and Cranham. Cranham’s yellow Sprite would close on Bedford and these two would swap places several times, providing the action of the race. It was going great until poor Cranham fell off at three quarter distance leaving Bedford to come under pressure from Walker whom he held off to the end by four hundredths of a second.

The Jaguars were creating interest throughout the race, Pangborn in particular getting mixed up with them. Meanwhile, at the front the closing Grace was providing great excitement as the last few minutes of the race remained. The chance that he could challenge for the lead really looked a possibility.

That chance came on the last lap into the long sweeping Gerards as Grace was right on Smithies tail. From where I stood it appeared that Grace went into the turn a little late, there was a flash of flame from his exhaust, unrelated apparently, but the next thing was a pirouetting Healey into the gravel, challenge over, but what a finish that would have been. Smithies would not have given up easily, as old Murray used to say “!t’s one thing closing on someone, its another thing passing”.

So onto the chequered flag with Smithies winning, everyone else was promoted a place, so Clarkson came second ahead of Harris, Cameron, Grant, Knight and Thorne who were all a lap adrift. Two laps down was Pangborn in an XK sandwich, Bedford and the challenging Walker, Three more XK’s then Nyblaeus completing his first U.K. race of the season.

We had seen a good race, mixed fortunes for some but a couple of good battles…and the XK Jaguars had added value, and will do for the remaining AMOC rounds this season. Next one Silverstone.

2010 Race Reports - Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 2 : Cadwell Park - 3rd April 2010

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

So, with a distinct lack of numbers and the carnage of the first race we only had 8 make the start for the second round of the Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship. The smallest grid in recent years but with the close match in performance, certainly with the front runners, plenty of action was promised.

The good news was that Clarkson was hopeful that his crew had cured the misfire that had dogged him all day. The bad news was that poor Neil Cameron had cried ‘enough’ to the motion sickness that had plagued him. The indifferent news was that Campfield decided to turn his hand to photography, having failed as an auto electrician. With Bedford searching the paddock in vain for a borrowed diff. and both Lackford and Cameron sidelined we did indeed only have eight starters.

As the grid formed for the race in the order Grace, Smithies, Clarkson, Woolley, Harris, Grant, Pangborn and Woods, and with the lights signalling the start, it was Smithies this time who got the jump leading Grace into the first corner. Woolley was third from Clarkson and Harris. As they appeared in the wooded section both Clarkson and Harris had got ahead of Woolley and Harris was making a nuisance of himself in Clarkson’s mirror.

Harris would dice with Clarkson for much of the race before falling into the clutches of Woolley, and after Woolley got ahead he proceeded to act like a terrier on his tail as well, once again finishing the race just under half a second behind the blue 3000 and again providing the bulk of the entertainment.

Meanwhile, up front, Smithies was pulling ahead of Grace until about lap four when Grace started to turn the tables. By lap six Grace had got ahead and once again proceeded to dominate, finishing once more, around six seconds in front at the end.

Clarkson was having a much happier time, his misfire gone and now lapping at least three seconds a lap faster than the earlier race had allowed, finishing in third place. Woolley and Harris finished as one again fourth and fifth, with Grant heading home Pangborn and Woods, all of whom had a pretty lonely time of it.

With the race over we all packed up and hoped for better fortune at Mallory for the next round.

2010 Race Reports - Lackford Engineering Austin Healey Club Championship

Round 1 : Cadwell Park - 3rd April 2010

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

2010, and another season is upon us. The Championship this year is over nine rounds, the first two a ‘double header’ at the picturesque Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire. It is again headline sponsored by Robin Lackford’s Lackford Engineering Company and although we have depleted numbers this year, running with AMOC for most of the rounds, interest will be heightened by races in conjunction with the Jaguar XK series. This meeting was a BARC affair and we had a field of fourteen runners entered including five big Healeys.

Unfortunately class sponsor John Harris had broken down en route and Richard Knight didn’t make it either so we were down to 13 entries. These were, In 3000’s, reigning champion Dave Smithies, David Grace, Chris Clarkson, Eric Woolley, Peter Grant and in 100M, Mark Pangborn. In Sprites were Robin Lackford, Drew Cameron, Pat Harris, Paul Campfield, Brian 'Bootlid' Bedford, Neil Cameron in his Arkley and Harvey Woods had swapped his 100 for a Sprite.

Practice proved to be 13 unlucky for Campfield who stopped after posting 5^th fastest time with an elusive electrical fault which failed to be solved after several hours of swapping and searching!! hey ho!! Such is life!

Grace threw down the gauntlet by posting a time over one and a half seconds faster than Smithies, who blamed lack of grip from aged tyres. Cameron was the fastest Sprite just ahead of Lackford. Clarkson was sixth with a chronic misfire which would be there during the race despite efforts to rectify it. Woolley was ahead of Pat Harris..just..then Grant, Pangborn, Cameron N., Bedford and Woods completed the order.

Periodic visits to Campfield saw various bits of car electrics being discarded, Clarkson's crew were swapping condensers, Lackford’s car had a sticky front shock absorber and the unfortunate Neil Cameron was feeling distinctly ‘queezy’ after experiencing the twist and turns of this circuit. But the news of the year was …’ Bedford was going topless’.. Yes! In an effort to save weight off came his roof, it would save 4 seconds in the race, so maybe it was a choice move.

Anyway, the field made its way round to the grid, Campfield saw sense and gave up any idea of competing. It was to be a twenty minute race, about 12 laps, and when the lights signalled the start Grace took off like a rocket to lead into the first corner. The two Sprites of Cameron D. and Lackford got ahead of Smithies but as the Big Healey stretched its legs Smithies was up to second on the long Park Straight. Lackford was into third at The Mountain with Cameron, right up tight in Lackford’s boot. Harris was ahead of Clarkson and Woolley, Clarkson’s car sounding as sick as before.

Grant, Cameron N., Pangborn, Bedford and Woods completed the order.

Grace was really motoring and was pulling out a couple of lengths a lap, he would eventually finish almost six seconds ahead of the next man, which was Smithies, seemingly unable to find the pace to get on terms despite setting fastest lap on lap 4. Grace bettered that though on lap 7.

Harris was still heading Clarkson and Woolley, Clarkson however, would pull off after two laps, finding the misfire just too much to handle. Bedford too was gone with what turned out to be a broken differential. Woolley would dice with Harris before closing steadily and finally getting by to finish just three hundredths of a second ahead of the Sprite at the end.

Lackford and Cameron were swapping places but by half distance the red car of Lackford seemed to have done enough holding Cameron for third. But on lap 7 it all turned to tears as coming into Park corner after the long straight, Cameron tried an out braking manoeuvre. In Drew’s own words ‘the car wasn’t in a straight line and snatched to the right’, in so doing it got onto the grass and from there it picked up speed and was heading to the scene of the accident. The first Robin knew was an impact in the door area and both cars were out on the spot. The damage to both was considerable with bent front suspension, chassis damage, wheels etc and it may be some time before we see either return to the series. Not really needed with the current lack of numbers I’m afraid.

With this interest gone we now watched the dice between Woolley and Harris, and counted down the laps before Grace took the chequered flag from Smithies, a promoted Woolley, Harris P., Grant, Cameron N., who was decidedly unwell at the end poor chap, Pangborn and Woods.

Maybe not a race with numbers, but certainly one with a lot of interest and a reasonable start, for some anyway, to the new season. A few hours break now before round two later in the day.

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