North West Centre Sports / Saloon Championship 2007
Supported by Ace Vehicle Deliveries / Hillside of Heywood

Rounds eight & nine, Oulton Park, August 4th, 2007

A huge entry including reserves greeted the championships return to Oulton Park for a double header. Also returning was Mike Blomfield, driving his Sierra for the first time in 10 months, following a neck operation. He was unbeatable with two dominant victories.

Blomfield secured pole by well over two seconds. “I hadn’t tested since I last raced, but it was fine,” he said. Sharing the front row was Paul Dobson’s battle scarred Mazda RX7, well clear of Croft sparring partner Mark Primett. “It was slippery at the back end and the front too,” reckoned the Banks Europa driver.

Simon Allaway’s V8 Esprit was fourth best, “that was good but with the front tyres rubbing it made for interesting handling,” he said. Pete Edwards Mini headed the next row, “I have got brand new brakes and they still don’t slow me down enough. Fosters and Lodge are very interesting,” he reckoned. Kevin Cryer had few problems however with his Caterham, “I didn’t get a clear lap and I have still got cooling problems,” he said.

Chris Allanson continues to make progress with his Z Cars Mini, “it was fantastically busy out there, really good working through the cars. It reminded me of grass tracking,” he reckoned. Duncan Aukland found it rather busy too in his Rover. “A bit chaotic in traffic yes, so I got a clear run and then came in,” he said.

Richard Winter’s Banks Europa 62GTR and Chris Maries in Peter Wann’s Westfield completed the top ten. “It was uneventful really, busy but nice to have so many cars. I need new rear tyres too,” said Winter. “It was fine, the car just needs more power, but it’s good and responsive,” said Maries.

Patrick Scharfegger’s Caterham and Darren Smith’s TVR Tuscan shared row six. “I’ve got different tyres on now and it makes all the difference,” said Smith. Michael Ellis’ Clio headed the next row from James Aukland, whose Capri was out for the last time this season. “I was cautious in the traffic at Fosters, and that’s something new for me,” said Aukland.

Rob Gough was back with his Z Cars Mini after missing the last few rounds. “We changed the ride height but it handled worse, so we are changing it back,” he said. He had Ralph Underwood’s TR7 V8 alongside, “I lost the bottom house, but think everything’s OK,” he reckoned.

Nick Pakes continued to struggle with his misfiring Banks Europa, but admitted that a lack of speed kept him under control. Alan Collinson was alongside, but his Rover expired after cutting out.

Row 10 was Kevin Begley’s Caterham and Charles Newton Mondeo, with Phil Hall’s Banks Europa and Bob Claxton’s Renault 21 Turbo next. “I feel I am just lucky to be here,” said Hall after a dreadful run o luck. Graham Wynn’s Z Cars Mini was on slicks for the first time, Richard Billingham’s Mini was running in a new engine and completing the grid were Brian Allen’s Fiesta and the Mini’s of Paul Hardman, Steve Willetts, Colin Flynn and Geoff Davies. Colin Robinson’s Escort failed to make it out after gearbox problems as did Paul Sampson’s Suzuki.

GRID

                  DOBSON                 BLOMFIELD+

ALLAWAY             PRIMETT

                  CRYER                   EDWARDS

D.AUKLAND         ALLANSON

                 MARIES                  WINTER

SMITH                   SCHARFEGGER

                 J.AUKLAND            ELLIS

UNDERWOOD     GOUGH

                COLLINSON            PAKES

NEWTON               BEGLEY

                CLAXTON                HALL

BILLINGHAM       WYNN

                HARDMAN              ALLEN

FLYNN                    WILLETTS

                                                 DAVIES      

RACE ONE

With Flynn non starting, it was a 28 car grid for the first race.

Blomfield made a good getaway, heading Allaway, Allanson, Dobson, Primett, Edwards and Aukland D through Old Hall. Dobson was straight into third down the Avenue and by the end of the lap, both Primett and Winter had made it past the fast starting Allanson too.

Edwards was out in the gravel at Druids. I was charging after Chris and he braked earlier than I expected. So it was go off or hit him,” he explained. Aukland had also lost out to Cryer, while Scharfegger and Gough completed the top ten.

Blomfield was long gone by the end of lap two, Dobson also eased himself clear of Allaway, who had Primett posing a possible threat. “When I took Simon at Druids I didn’t expect to hold it on the straight, but I did,” said Dobson. Cryer and Winter started to dice for sixth, which delayed their chances of catching Allanson. While Aukland started to become established in eighth, Smith started to reel in Maries for ninth.

With the lead pair long gone, Primett continued to shadow Allaway. Cryer and Winter continued to have an entertaining duel for sixth, which left Aukland waiting in the wings if either came unstuck.

Blomfield took the flag by over a minute in a fairly easy win, “I set off well on new tyres, but it was a bit dodgy with the speed differential,” he said. Dobson had looked comfortable on his way to second, but that was to change. “I had an oil leak after a slight off at Druids with four laps to go, so had to back off,” he explained. The result was Allaway grabbing a late second into Old Hall. “That was great, the temperature gauge was soaring and I was knackered, willing the race to end. Then I saw the Mazda and wanted another lap or two,” replied Allaway.

Primett was never quite close enough to challenge for higher than fourth, “Simon started to speed up and I had no real place to pass him. Where I was quicker there were always flags out,” he said.

Smith continued to charge up the leaderboard and secured fifth into Old Hall with three laps remaining. “I just took it by the scruff of the neck and got on with it,” he said. Winter also saw off Allanson in the closing laps for sixth, “it was a bit of a laugh with Kevin, but I think my gearbox is on its last legs,” he said. “They started queuing up when my tyres went off, so I just had to back off to protect my class win,” said Allanson.

Cryer had problems but made it home in eighth, “I couldn’t get gears towards the end,” he explained.

Aukland D and Scharfegger completed the top ten, after their battle had claimed Maries as a victim. “I had a touch with Duncan, spun and the Caterham hit me and bent the front wishbones,” said Maries.  “Chris had tried the inside at Fosters and failed, I expected the same next lap, but he went for the outside and I didn’t see him. I felt a tap in the door and then saw a white head spinning,” said Aukland.

Gough and a non spinning James Aukland were next home, with Begley and Billingham fairly spread behind. Pakes had been in front of them, “I was chasing the Mini when it braked early at Lodge and I spun,” said Pakes. Hall was delighted to see a rare chequered flag, while Claxton, Wynn, Davies, Hardman and Allen all made it to the finish.

The most spectacular retirement went to Willetts, whose Mini rolled out at the Water Tower.

RESULTS

1 Mike Blomfield (Ford Sierra) 20 laps in 21m34.202s (96.229mph);
2 Simon Allaway (Lotus Esprit V8) 22m35.726s;
3 Paul Dobson (Mazda RX7);
4 Mark Primett (Banks Europa);
5 Darren Smith (TVR Tuscan);
6  Richard Winter (Banks Europa 62GTR);
7 Chris Allanson (Z Cars Mini);
8 Kevin Cryer (Caterham Seven);
9 Duncan Aukland (Rover 3500SE);
10 Patrick Scharfegger (Caterham Roadsport);
11 Rob Gough (Z Cars Mini);
12 James Aukland (Ford Capri);
13 Kevin Begley (Caterham Seven);
14 Richard Billingham (Mini Clubman);
15 Nick Pakes (Banks Europa);
16 Phil Hall (Banks Europa);
17 Bob Claxton (Renault 21 Turbo);
18 Graham Wynn (Z Cars Mini);
19 Geoff Davies (Mini Clubman);
20 Paul Hardman (Mini);
21 Brian Allen (Ford Fiesta XR2i).

Class A: 1 Blomfield; 2 Allaway; 3 Smith; 4 Winter; 5 J.Aukland.
Class B: 1 Cryer; 2 Billingham; 3 Wynn; 4 Davies.
Class C: 1 Allanson; 2 Scharfegger; 3 Gough; 4 Begley.
Class D: 1 Dobson; 2 D.Aukland; 3 Claxton; no other finishers.
Class E: 1 Primett; 2 Pakes; 3 Allen. no other finishers..
Class F: 1 Hall; 2 Hardman; no other starters.
Fastest lap: Blomfield 1m02.102s (96.229mph).

RACE 2

Although Cryer, Underwood, Ellis and Willetts were absent from race two, Flynn and Sampson were back to make it a 25 car grid, starting in the finishing order of the first race.

For a few yards Allaway had the legs of Blomfield at the start of race two, but by Old Hall it was settled in the Sierra’s favour. Winter, Primett, Allanson and Dobson formed up behind for the charge down the Avenue, but by the end of the opening lap Dobson was already third, with Winter and Primett exchanging too.

Dobson tried for second at Fosters on the second lap, but made contact with Allaway and spun him. “It was ambitious I admit and although it didn’t really work I got the place eventually,” said Dobson. “I had a good start but when I went for second Mike shot past me. Paul’s tap sent me into a series of doughnuts and after that the handling went off,” Allaway replied.

Primett gained from the contact to move into second, while Winter and Allanson held station behind the recovering Dobson. Smith was also making ground on Allanson and had left Aukland D to head a four train with Scharfegger, Maries and Gough.

By the fourth lap Dobson was closing up on Primett again, but it was another five laps before he claimed the place back at Old Hall. Maries had also closed on sixth placed Smith for a while, but after he took Allanson at Old Hall on 11, the gap began to grow.

While Blomfield cruised to win number two, Primett kept Dobson on his toes right to the flag before settling for third. “It was definitely Croft re-united, very tight under braking but nowhere I could go,” said Primett.

Smith completed a good days racing taking Winter on lap 14 to secure fourth, “I got a good start and then the oil pressure light came on, so I didn’t want to push too hard,” said Winter.

Allanson was sixth, “same problem as before the tyres went off as I tried to push harder,” he said. Maries was next home, “I got Duncan on the onside at Fosters and then backed him off, same battle as the first race,” he said.

Scharfegger also got the better of Aukland D on the last lap for eighth, leaving James A to follow his brother home to round off the top ten. Billingham lost ground in the closing laps from a possible 11^th, as Hall, Gough and Pakes demoted him. “My car was great and behaved for once,” said Hall. “I lost power and places until Phil gave me something to chase,” replied Pakes.

Newton, Claxton, Wynn, Davies and Allen were the other survivors, while Allaway went out when his engine cut and Hardman, Sampson, Flynn and Edwards failed to finish too.

RESULTS

1 Blomfield 20 laps in 21m38.060s (95.215mph);
2 Dobson 22m41.360s;
3 Primett;
4 Smith;
5 Winter;
6 Allanson;
7 Chris Maries (Westfield SEi);
8 Scharfegger;
9 D.Aukland;
10 J.Aukland; 11 Begley; 12 Gough; 14 Hall; 14 Pakes; 15 Billingham;
16 Charles Newton (Ford Mondeo); 17 Claxton; 18 Wynn; 19 Davies; 20 Allen.

Class A: 1 Blomfield; 2 Smith; 3 Winter; 4 J.Aukland; 5 Newton.
Class B: 1 Maries; 2 Billingham; 3 Wynn; 4 Davies.
Class C: 1 Allanson; 2 Scharfegger; 3 Begley; 4 Gough.
Class D: 1 Dobson; 2 D.Aukland; 3 Claxton; no other finishers.
Class E: 1 Primett; 2 Pakes; 3 Allen; no other starters. Class F: 1 Hall; no other finishers.