Preamble

This race, supported by Witchampton Garage, was held in memory of Peter Shaw, a former HRS Champion, who sadly died recently. Following the unfortunate cancellation of the MG Live event, our member, Kevin Kivlochan, also Chairman of the HSCC Historic Road Sports Club, kindly stepped into the breach and offered a class for our cars, in this race, held on the GP circuit. That 6 of our cars (with 10 drivers) entered was quite gratifying since most members racing season had been set long ago before this date was added to our calendar.

It was pleasing to note that 4 of our entries were shared drives, possibly due to the increased track time, as this was a 40 minute race (with mandatory pit stop) and 30 minute qualifying. 3 of those entries included Father & Son pairings which was very good to see as historic racing can only continue to prosper if the younger drivers are encouraged to participate. FISCAR cars entered were:-

9 - AC Ace Bristol - Andy & Ted Shepherd

17 - LECo2 Sport - Alex Quattlebaum

22 - Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica - Martyn Corfield/Mike Grant-Peterkin

43 - MGA Coupe - Glenn & Rory Tollett

56 - MGA Coupe - Shaun & Josh Bromley

70 - Morgan +4 - Alan House

Kevin had entered his Shelby Cobra but problems in testing earlier on in the week led, very unfortunately, to withdrawal. In addition to the HRS/FISCAR cars, a handful of invited historic saloons had been entered, although they were not eligible for the Trophy. It’s a long circuit and needed the biggest grid possible!

Qaulifying

31 cars went out on track for qualifying, which was dominated by Morgan Plus 8s taking the first 3 positions on the grid. However, the Richard Plant Morgan, on pole with a 2.31.11 lap, was no less than 3.6 seconds quicker than the next one so this looked to be a Sunday afternoon stroll for this car. It was inevitable that in such company our older cars would be down the field but they nevertheless acquitted themselves well. Our top qualifier was the Corfield/Grant-Peterkin Frazer Nash, in 18th place with a best of 2.47.483. The Shepherd AC Ace, the Tollett MGA and Alex Quattlebaum’s LECo 2 qualified in a nice tight bunch, 24th, 25th & 26th separated by just over a second over this long lap, so well matched. They were followed by Richard Owen’s TR2 which is certainly our period but presumably outside FISCAR spec regs. The Bromley MGA qualified 29th and Alan House, 30th in a totally unrepresentative time of 3.33.305. He was a good bit quicker in the race. One of the HRS cars, a Lotus Elan, was disqualified for failing to comply with HRS technical regs, so that we had 30 cars with official qualifying times.

Race

29 cars eventually came to the line, as one of the Ford Falcons in the invitation Touring car class failed to start. The story of the race, briefly, was that inevitably, Will Plant disappeared down the road in the Morgan +8 for the first part of the race but the car was later hauled in after Richard Plant took over, by the Tim & Robin Pearce +8 which pipped it to the flag by just two tenths of a second. Over half a minute behind, the +8 of Philip St Clair Tisdall & Simon King, made it an all Morgan podium, despite the best efforts of Neil Merry in the Sunbeam Tiger who gave a very good account of himself, finishing just over 2 seconds down in 4th. They may both have been beaten by the Jim Dean & Julian Barter in the Lotus Elan had they not incurred a 30 second penalty for taking their pit stop prior to the pit window opening. The Simon Hadfield/Leo Voyazides Ford Falcon was the first of the Touring cars home although Leo was almost caught at the end by Marcus Jewell in the first of 3 Lotus Cortinas to finish.

Our own cars had mixed fortunes. Josh Bromley only completed 3 laps in his Dad’s MGA as he ‘lost’ the car in Copse at the beginning of Lap 4 and was unable to restart it. It led to his unfortunate retirement and a safety car period whilst the car was removed to safety.

In the other MGA, Rory Tollett started in the car and his Dad, Glenn reports that ‘After a great start from Rory I jumped in with the Shepherd Ace in my sights only to have number 4 piston end up where it shouldn’t have been!’ This retirement took place after the completion of 8 laps. It was a desperately disappointing outcome for the MGAs as the only marque with two cars they could have earned some good team points.

The aforementioned ‘Shepherd Ace’ also made a good start with Andy driving and initially looked to challenge the FNLMR of Martyn Corfield, but soon fell away from the quicker car. In fact, he was kept well in sight by the third of our runners, Rory Tollett in the MGA as described above, but with the retirement of the MGA and now with Ted at the wheel, the AC Ace was second of the FISCAR cars home in 21st position. (No photo of the Tollett MGA in the race currently available)

Following the demise of the Tollett MGA, Alex Quattlebaum was the third of our finishers. He was pleased to have started at all. He reports that ‘Just starting the race was a real adventure. The afternoon before the qualifying and race, we found that the bolt for the banjo fitting providing oil to the head had sheared. Where do we find on a Saturday afternoon a fitting from an engine built in 1940’s? Lots of help from other competitors but to no avail. I rang MG Guru George Edney and he had the parts 2 hours away. I was preparing to set off when I rang again and asked don't we have MG guys closer? Oh yes there is Stuart Dean 7 miles away!  Stuart  kindly loaned us the needed bits and made the race.’ (Note - Stuart Dean owns the lovely DJS Special which is currently hors de combat)

Alex’s race was uneventful, but ‘interesting and long’  but he was delighted to have finished, particularly given the length of the race and the fact that his two previous outings in the car had resulted in DNFs. He finished 22nd and also took the FISCAR’s Index of Performance award.

The last of our runners to complete the race was Alan House in the Morgan +4. Although he substantially improved on his qualifying lap time, his was generally a lonely race and was last of the classified race finishers in 25th.

However, it was again the Frazer Nash LMR of Martyn Corfield, this time sharing with Mike Grant-Peterkin who took top FISCAR honours finishing 15th which would undoubtedly have been several places higher had he not incurred a 30 second penalty for taking his pit stop a few seconds before the pit window had opened.

Results Summary for FISCAR cars:-

15th - 22 - Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica - Corfield/Grant- Peterkin - 14 laps - Time - 43.09.221* - Best Lap - 2.46.844

21st - 9 - AC Ace Bristol - Andy & Ted Shepherd - 14 laps - T - 43.48.647 - BL - 2.52.109

22nd - 17 - LECo 2 Sports - Alex Quattlebaum - 13 laps - T - 41.27.567 - BL - 2.54.725

25th - 70 - Morgan Plus 4 - Alan House - 13 laps - 43.40.55 - BL - 3.05.771

DNF - 43 - MGA Coupe - Rory & Glenn Tollett - 8 laps - 26.21.963 - BL - 2.53.741 - Engine failure (no 4 piston)

DNF - 56 - MGA Coupe - Josh & Shaun Bromley - 3 laps - BL - 3.05.775 - Spun off in Copse - engine wouldn’t restart

• Includes 30 second penalty for pit stop taken before pit window open

  
  
  

Gallery

(includes a few Non FISCAR cars)

Tailpiece

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