Race 11 & 12: Cadwell Park

Qualifying

Qualifying was very wet with a stream running across the start/finish straight. Cars were squirming trying to apply power over Mountain and the right/left combinations through Hall Bends needed pinpoint accuracy to get a good time. At the start of qualifying James Ramm stopped to tightened wheel nuts before posting an excellent 2.00.006 lap, a full 2.5 seconds ahead of Colin Philpott, both XJS mounted. Guy Connews XJ6 was 3rd in Class C. Tim Morrant led Dave Bye & Tom Butterfield in Class B. Class A, for standard cars was led by Adam Powderham. Power was a disadvantage in these conditions with the result that the modified cars of Kevin & Patrick Doyle & Cliff Ryan were further back of the grid than normal. Nick Wade reversed into the scenery avoiding a spinning Simon Blunt. The car was repaired before the race.

Race 2

A complete change with sunny, warm conditions replacing the cold weather yesterday, although its was a little cloudier by the late afternoon when the Jaguars were to perform. This helped Tim Morrants, who was able to source & fit a new front wing to the Daimler S1.

The Ryan XJS was slow starting on the form up lap was unable to take his grid position. As the pack stormed up the hill into the long Coppice left hander, Doyle’s V12s (Coupe & XJS) tried to make a sandwich of Bye coupe, which had made a slow start. At the front Ramm took the lead, which he was able to hold, despite a hard charging Philpotts attentions. Initially the Class B of Butterfield held 2nd but he need a good result to guarantee the championship so did not put up too much of a battle and was passed by Philpott & the Doyles to take 4th & the Championship, a worthy winner. The battles throughout the field were frantic. Doyle spun his position away in front of the crowd at Hall Bends but recovered to 3rd. A huge gaggle of cars formed up behind Askhams X300. The Bye XJ6 coupe, with no brakes, pulled off 2 great passing manoeuvres, once at Coppice and then a bold move on Ryans XJRS going into Hall Bends.

At the end, there was unfortunately (& unacceptable) too many cars with panel damage.