Hawthorn News - late June 2018
HAWTHORN NEWS LETTER – June 26th 2018
Our second race of the year took place at Brands Hatch on the 23rd of June, again we joined the XKs running in the Fairman Cup at the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) meeting. The whole meeting had relatively small grids due to the meeting clashing with a number of other meetings and also because a number of cars did not want to risk any damage or mechanical breakdowns just prior to the Le Mans Classic.
QUALIFYING
Qualifying was a great sight with a wonderful soundtrack which ended with Nigel Webb in the Mk1 taking first position of the Hawthorn cars, closely followed by Derek Pearce in his Mk2, who was in turn followed by Dave Bye in the MK1.
RACE
Dave Bye made a great start - managing to get the drop on Nigel & Derek until lap 5 when
Nigel managed to retake first position from Dave. Unfortunately, on lap 6 Dave retired the car due to rising water temperature. The race continued until lap 9 when Rob Newall lost a rear wheel and hub spinning him into the pit lane entrance and bringing out the safety car. When everything was cleared racing resumed with positions remaining static to the flag. Overall a very good and watchable race with some good, clean racing and plenty going on to grip the spectators. It was close between the Saloons & XKs throughout with Nigel Webb taking the saloon win from Derek Pearce with Michael O'Shea rounding off the top 3.
PRESENTATION
Nigel took the race win trophy as well as a lovely Safeguard car valet kit given by AMOC and the Hawthorn Bow Tie. Derek took the class win in the MK2 with Michael taking a second in class. Nigel also was given the driver of the day award.
Our next race, again with AMOC, is at Donington on Sunday the 29th of July. We are hoping for a very good grid now a number of cars have been repaired and engines are back in. We are looking forward to and hoping for the return of Simon Lewis & Guy Conew in the Mk 1, Alastair Dyson in the Mk2, Darren & Simon Seath in Mk1s, as well as Richard Butterfield in his Mark 1. John Young should also be out in Nigel’s MK1 and we are very hopeful of Glen Pearson & Rob Salisburys cars being repaired. I am hopeful of a grid of around 12 or more Hawthorn Cars, and what a glorious sight that should be. I have no up to date news regarding any corporate involvement but rest assured we do have something going on in the back ground and a good grid at Donington would help that tremendously.
The paddock atmosphere and comradery at Brands was very good, enjoyable and refreshing with the XKs joining us, Our small but effective free hospitality unit at the meeting went down well and was well supported and used by many. We provided Coffee, tea, chilled bottles of water from the fridge, biscuits, crisps, fruit apples & Banana's as well as seating and an area to sit down and relax and natter. It all went down very well. I am pleased to say we are being given some additional backing in order to help Sue & myself cover the cost of supplying this as well of one or two other needed items. 'Extream Jaguar Restoration' from Kent and 'West Riding Independent' (Jaguar) from Mirfield, Yorkshire are both giving £500 to help us in our first year of the new series. We thank them both very much for the support. AMOC are very pleased with the way we are developing and presenting ourselves and have already said they would like us to return next year and if we can get enough cars together they would give us a stand alone grid. But lets not run before we walk.
PHOTOGRAPHS
The gallery photos were all taken by Nick Edwards, the AMOC official photographer, and I thank him for allowing me to use some in this news letter. They include some action and some presentations to Nigel and Derek. He has many more on his web site nickonthebutton.com and email [email protected] If anybody would like copies please take a look on the site and contact Nick direct. Photos are also on his site from Oulton Park race as well. Nick Gage from the JEC was also at the meeting taking photos for the JEC mag & Web page so check these out on the JEC racing web page. Our next newsletter will be closer to the Donington race unless we have some more information to share before hand.
Thank you all for your support and all feedback and ideas most welcome.
Chris Robinson
07796 682096