North West Centre Sports / Saloon Championship 2009
Supported by "Performance and economy chip tuning"

Round 3, Cadwell Park, April 26th, 2009

In previous years it had sometimes been a struggle to reach double figures on the grid for the trip to Cadwell Park, but a massive 30 car line up not only guaranteed a capacity grid, but had reserves too.

It was bright and sunny for the mornings qualifying session, which with 30 cars out once was extremely busy. Two returning former champions topped the times, with Ian Hall’s Darrian T98 GTR securing pole by 0.365secs. “I didn’t think I was quickest. I have cured the old oil leaks but got a new one,” he said. Robert Pritchard’s Caterham Vauxhall was alongside, “I haven’t been in the car for months so it takes some getting used to again. I love this circuit though and have ridden bikes here quiet a lot,” he added.

The “evolution” Talbot Sunbeam Lotus of Joss Ronchetti headed the second row. “Everything is working now, but we have still got things to do,” he reckoned. Defending champion Paul Dobson was fractionally behind in his Mazda RX7. “I came in a bit early to save my tyres,” he said.

“I really struggled to get a clear lap,” said fifth best Robert Spencer in his Stuart Taylor Locosaki. But up in sixth was the first of Z Cars Mini’s in Paul Woolfitt’s hands. Heading the fourth row was a delighted Dennis Crompton. “We have got rid of the vibration at last, now it’s just me that needs sorting out,” said the BMW M3 driver.

Z Cars boss Chris Allanson was only slightly off Crompton’s best, but ninth quickest Robbie Birell was the biggest surprise in his Caterham. Still a novice and considerably quicker than many of the seasoned campaigners.

Having repaired BMW after his debut shunt at Oulton, Andy Robey rounded off the top ten. “We have still got a lot of issues with the car, but it much better than Oulton,” he said.

Kevin Cryer’s Caterham headed Darren Smith’s TVR Tuscan on row six. “I haven’t been here for years, but everything seemed OK,” said Cryer. “It’s my first time ever and the aim is to go home in one piece,” Smith added. Although Chris Maries was 13th best he only recorded one lap after his MK Indy broke another rose joint. Andrew Wilson was fairly happy with his Toyota Starlet and Paul Sampson had a troublefree session with his Suzuki SC100.

Simon Deaton’s Subaru was next but didn’t take up the start, while Duncan Aukland was back after missing the Oulton rounds in his Rover 3500SE. It was welcome back too for Colin Vickers in 18th place, with his home built Ford Capri now sporting a 5 litre BMW engine from an M5.

Jeremy Snowden’s Z Cars Mini was next, with Danny Keenan’s MK Indy alongside. But like team mate Maries, Keenan was sidelined after one lap when his diff broke.

Cam Forbes had only been to Cadwell once before, to watch a bike race 15 years ago. “It was scary,” he reckoned after qualifying his Westfield 21st. Graham Brindley had tried to lower his Escort a little to help the handling.”It’s difficult as I rally the car as well,” he said. Anthony Wilson’s Mini was next, but Phil Hall was another early casualty when his Banks Europa broke its gearbox.

Brian Allen’s XR2i, Dave Maries’ Westfield, Rob Gough’s Mini, John Spencer’s Peugeot 205 Gti, David Rawlins’ Vauxhall Vectra and Ade Vickers Capri all made it out too, but Gough blew his engine, Rawlins lost his exhaust system and Vickers blew a core plug.

GRID

Pritchard I.Hall+

Dobson Ronchetti

Woolfitt R.Spencer

Allanson Crompton

Robey Birell

Smith Cryer

Andrew Wilson C.Maries

Deaton Sampson

C.Vickers Aukland

Keenan Snowden

Brindley Forbes

P.Hall Anthony Wilson

D.Maries Allen

J.Spencer Gough

A.Vickers Rawlins

It was poleman Hall that that headed the charge to Coppice after the lights went out, with Pritchard and Dobson side by side for second. But Pritchard had the line into Charlies however. Ronchetti, Spencer, Maries, Allanson, Crompton, Robey and Woolfitt completed the top ten on the opening lap, the latter having been left at the start.

Having lost out to Maries through Barn, Allanson tried to retake into Coppice, but was forced to back off. Back at the front Pritchard was all over the back of the leading Darrian through Hall Bends, while Ronchetti began to pile the pressure on Dobson for third. Woolfitt and Cryer were also on the move, demoting Robey on consecutive laps, but passing places were at a premium with such a large field.

While Pritchard kept Hall honest at the head of the field, Dobson responded to Ronchetti and consolidated his place once more. But having shaken off Allanson, Maries had Spencer in his sights for his next target and snatched fifth into Coppice on lap four. Allanson also had his mirrors full of Crompton and Woolfitt, while behind them Cryer led a four car train for 10th.

Cresting the Mountain for the fifth time Hall struggled for gears and almost stopped. Pritchard was forced to take to the grass but managed to grab the lead as Hall recovered. Allanson lost seventh to Crompton too, while Cryer lost out to Smith, Keenan and Birell in one lap.

Hall’s problem had obviously been temporary, but Pritchard still had a slight advantage. But with four laps to go Hall charged back in front and managed to hold his marginal advantage for the remaining laps, taking victory by 0.209secs.

Dobson and Ronchetti held station behind, but closed considerably again at the end. “My tyres were going off as usual,” said Dobson. “It was bit lonely, but everything worked and we are all in piece”, replied Ronchetti.

Spencer regained a clear fifth and class C win after Maries had another rose joint failure on the eighth lap., while Crompton managed to fend off the constant attentions of Allanson to secure sixth. “It didn’t help at the start when my team mate stalled in front of me. But it was a good scrap with Dennis and just a shame the only time I passed him was after the flag,” said Allanson.

After Woolfitt fell away from the sixth place battle, he lost out to Keenan with three laps to go and then Smith on the last tour to complete the top ten. “I kept losing out in traffic,” admitted Woolfitt. “I just needed a target to chase, I kept slowing down when I was on my own,” said Keenan in his first ever car race.

Smith found the whole experience of his first Cadwell Park experience “exhilarating.” He can’t wait for a return trip too. Sampson pulled off at the top of the Mountain after his Suzuki expired and Cryer joined the retirements with a couple of laps to go. “I lost it at Barn and hit the armco,” he explained.

Birell held onto 11th with Robey 12th after he slipped onto the grass at the top of the Mountain. “It felt Ok then no grip and I spun,” he said. Aukland and Andrew Wilson both made it by Forbes on the 10th lap when the Westfield driver spun at the Gooseneck, while Snowden had a solitary race in 16th. Rawlins, Vickers, Brindley, Anthony Wilson, Dave Maries, Allen and John Spencer completed the 23 finishers.

RESULTS

1 Ian Hall (Darrian T98 GTR) 13 laps in 20m18.782s (83.71mph); 2 Robert Pritchard (Caterham Vauxhall) 20m18.991s; 3 Paul Dobson (Mazda RX7); 4 Joss Ronchetti (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus); 5 Robert Spencer (Stuart Taylor Locosaki); 6 Dennis Crompton (BMW M3 E30); 7 Chris Allanson (Z Cars Mini); 8 Danny Keenan (MK Indy); 9 Darren Smith (TVR Tuscan); 10 Paul Woolfitt (Z Cars Mini). Class A: 1 Hall; 2 Smith; 3 Jeremy Snowden (Z Cars Mini); 4 Colin Vickers (Ford Capri); 5 Graham Brindley (Ford Escort). Class B: Pritchard; 2 Andrew Wilson (Toyota Starlet); 3 Cam Forbes (Westfield SEiW); 4 Dave Maries (Westfield Sei); no other finishers. Class C: 1 R.Spencer; 2 Allanson; 3 Keenan; 4 Woolfitt; 5 Robbie Birell (Caterham Seven); 6 Anthony Wilson (Mini). Class D: Dobson; 2 Ronchetti; 3 Andy Robey (BMW M3); 4 Duncan Aukland (Rover 3500SE); 5 David Rawlins (Vauxhall Vectra). Class E: 1 Crompton; 2 Brian Allen (Ford Fiesta XR2i); no other starters. Class F: 1 John Spencer (Peugeot 205 Gti); no other starters. Fastest lap: Pritchard 1m31.667s (85.61mph).

Issued by Peter Scherer for BARC (NW) April 28th, 2009.