Preamble 

Season’s end and another trip to Castle Combe, the circuit that many regard as the most technically challenging on our calendar. It would be fair to say that our entry was again a bit lower than hoped for but it would not be entirely correct to say that this was as a result of the tighter application of our existing regs. Reviewing other historic series, it is clear that a downturn of entries across the board has been experienced and in that context, FISCAR entries have stood up well. We had a reasonable 24 entries for this race, but unfortunately withdrawals from Michael Scott (Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica), Benn Faulkner (Bristol 450), Gareth Evans (Sunbeam Alpine) and Morgan Cleasby (Lotus Elite), reduced the number on the day to 20. It was nonetheless, yet another lovely mix of cars and they certainly put on a great show as we will see.

Qualifying

It was probably no surprise that a pair of Lotus Elites occupied the front row. Andrew Mitchell, sharing with Mark Morgan, put his Elite on pole in a time of 1.26.140, the surprise was that it was so far ahead of Brian Arculus’s time of 1.28.233. Apart from the fact that Andrew has been going quicker this year anyway, Castle Combe is his home circuit and he has also received a fair amount of tuition from ARDS instructor, Richard Fores (with whom I later watched the race!). Another surprise was the fact that Jonny Shears placed the Flat Rad Morgan +4, 3rd on the grid in a time of 1.28.535, ahead of Tania Pilkington’s Maserati 300S. I couldn’t help thinking that both Brian and Tania would up their game for the race.

Conrad Bos was an excellent 5th on the grid with a time of 1.29.025 in his MGA, which he was sharing with Mark Ellis, whilst Neil Burnside had his Twin Cam version alongside in 1.29.266. Justin Beckett, still getting to grips with his C-type Jaguar was 7th on 1.29.898, and he was sharing an all sports racer row with Chris Mann on a 1.29.912 in his Alfa Romeo 6C Disco Volante. As you can see, there were some close times here which boded well for the race.

Nigel Winchester, sharing with Jamie Mason, was 9th in Nigel’s Lotus 7 on 1.30.485 and Mark Hoble was 10th in his Morgan +4 on a time of 1.30.727, his time no indication of how he would go in the race. Barry Dye was 11th in his Lotus Elite with a time of 1.32.356 sharing row 6 with Jeremy Woods in his Triumph Italia on a time of 1.32.592. Although, Peter Baker was entered to drive his DB2, it was his son, Guy, and a Mr May (apologies first name not known) who qualified the car 13th, with a time of 1.33.508. Peter had decided to concentrate on driving his splendid ex Gerry Marshall DB4 lightweight, an altogether quicker and trickier beast, in races 4 & 7. I thought Peter Bower’s time of 1.35.660 in his MGA Twin Cam was a good effort in a car that he is still finding his feet with, and it placed him ahead of a few cars, one or two of which had untypically slow times.

On row 8, David Parry had qualified his Lotus Elite in a time of 1.36.150. It is important to note that this car is not to the same spec as the Elites ahead of him on the grid. Andy Cox was alongside David, in his Triumph TR3 Falcon, a car that always brings a smile to my face, with a time of 1.37.566. Mark Campbell was next up in his ex Le Mans Aston Martin DB2 with a time of 1.38.370, and, rather surprisingly, making it an all Feltham 9th row was the DB2/4 of Tim Stamper on 1.39.247, normally much quicker but using practice to run in a new engine! Completing the grid, on row 10, was Steve Ward in his Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica on 1.41.202 and the returning Tolletts in their Austin Healey 100M, clearly still not right with a time of 1.45.769.     

Race

A lovely eclectic mix of 20 cars took to the track for FISCAR’s final race of the season. It was dry and clear although some of the grid was briefly obscured by rubber smoke as Poleman, Andrew Mitchell applied too much welly to his Lotus Elite and Brian Arculus briefly edged ahead. Andrew nevertheless had the inside line through Folly and held onto the lead, from Chris Mann, who is making a habit of superb starts, grabbing 2nd from his 8th place starting position in the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, whilst Brian slotted into 3rd.  As they headed up Avon Rise, Chris was almost alongside Andrew but as he was on the outside line, decided that discretion was the better part of valour and backed out as they entered Quarry. The rest of the field streamed into and out of Quarry without drama towards the Esses and out of sight of the startline although there were plenty of spectators around circuit to witness their progress. The pack headed through Old Paddock, Howard’s Way and into Gooches where it can be easy to miss your braking point with the low Autumn sun shining straight into your eyes. All safely negotiated and straight into Bobbies and Westway, the cars came back into view down Dean Straight and into Camp before crossing the line to complete the first lap. Andrew Mitchell had already built a small gap of 1.5 seconds to Chris Mann’s Alfa with Brian Arculus tucked in behind and challenging for second place. Mark Shears, as usual, in a place where I always think he shouldn’t be, was 4th and 1.5 seconds clear of Justin Beckett’s Jaguar C-type who had Conrad Bos all over the back of him in the MGA. Justin must be getting used to being buzzed by these products from Abingdon.  These two were 2 seconds clear of Nigel Winchester in the little Lotus 7, with Tania Pilkington down in 8th in the Maserati, having dropped 4 places but unlikely to stay there. The rest of the field streamed across the start finish line – a wonderful sight – and at this point Mark Hoble was down in 11th in his Morgan.

Andrew Mitchell extended his lead to almost 2.5 seconds at the end of lap 2 but Brian Arculus had passed Chris Mann to take 2nd place. Brian proceeded to eat into Andrew’s lead so that by the end of lap 3, the gap between the two Elites had been halved to 1.2 seconds. Chris Mann still had the fast starting Alfa Romeo in 3rd but was being harried by Jonny Shears in the Flat Rad Morgan. Justin Beckett was holding onto 5th and Conrad Bos was 6th in his MGA. A couple of seconds behind, Nigel Winchester’s Lotus 7 was 7th, clear of Tania Pilkington by over 2.5 seconds. Tania was sensibly taking her time to get up to speed in the Maserati on this unfamiliar track. Barry Dye was 9th in his Lotus Elite and the top 10 was completed by Tim Stamper in the Aston Martin DB2/4. All the positions behind remained unchanged with the exception of Glen Tollett in the Austin Healey who had moved up one place, but his lap times were way off where they should have been, albeit a good bit quicker than the qualifying time.  

On lap 4, Brian Arculus closed right up to the back of Andrew Mitchell’s Elite but then dived into the pits for his mandatory stop. There were no other changes of position other than that created by the Tollett Austin Healey which also headed for the pits. It was already beginning to sound a bit rough, but Glen handed over to Rory and the car returned to the track. Andrew Mitchell retained his lead and at the end of lap 5 was over 13 seconds clear of new second placed man, Chris Mann, the Disco Volante managing to stay ahead of the C – Type Jaguar of Justin Beckett who had squeezed by Jonny Shears in the Morgan.  Conrad Bos was also holding onto to this group so that all 4 cars were covered 1.5 seconds – a great dice. Jeremy Woods took the Italia into the pits for his stop.

Justin Beckett grabbed second place from Chris Mann on lap 6 but by this time Andrew Mitchell had his Lotus Elite down the road to the tune of almost 15 seconds and lapping quicker. Tania Pilkington had not made much forward progress at this stage and headed the Maserati to the pits for her stop. Andy Cox and David Parry in TR3 Falcon and Lotus Elite respectively also pitted on this lap.

Through laps 7 & 8, Andrew continued to extend his lead and it was now up to over 19 seconds to Justin’s C-Type and several lapped cars now lay between them. Conrad Bos was up to 3rd in his MGA, Jonny Shears 4th in the Flat Rad Morgan and Nigel Winchester 5th, as Chris Mann took the Disco Volante into the pits. Mark Hoble was now up to 7th in his Morgan, a second and a half ahead of Neil Burnside’s Twin Cam MGA. Barry Dye (lotus Elite) and Tim Stamper(Aston DB2/4) took to the pits and of the others, only Peter Bower (MGA Twin Cam) and the recovering Brian Arculus were on the lead lap, but, of course, at least half the field had yet to pit.   

 To be continued