HSCC/HRS Brands Hatch (2020)

HSCC/HRS Brands Hatch GP

12th July, 2020

Preamble

Following the lock down caused by Covid-19, our invite to the HSCC/HRS grid became FISCAR’s season opener. It was, of course, pretty early on in the opening up of this season’s motor racing, so just 6 of our members entered, no doubt drawn to this relatively rare opportunity to race on the full GP circuit. There were one or two other 1950s cars on the grid, but the field was mainly made up of the later 1960s HRS cars. It was pleasing to see that the HSCC had such a good grid for what was to be the final race of their opening weekend.

Qualifying

I’ll confine myself mainly to ‘our’ cars and can report that new member, David Alexander, qualified a fine 11th in a time of 1.54.791, with Brian Arculus qualifying 13th in his Lotus Elite in a time of 1.55.250, just 7 thousandths down on the Elan S3 of Adrian Gilbert, who split the two Elites. Paul De Havilland was next up on a 1.59.162, putting his Jaguar XK150S, 17th on the grid. Another new member, Dan Smith, placed his Peerless GT, 23rd in a time of 2.02.598 and Alan House, 28th on a 2.11.809 in his Morgan. Harry Naerger qualified last on the grid with a 2.20.824, again not entirely surprising in the oldest car in the race by some margin, his 1500cc Jowett Jupiter. He was fully 2.1 seconds behind the car ahead of him, the Austin Healey Sprite of David Jenkins but in actuality Harry was to have a great race; more of that anon.

Other cars of interest, but not members were Geoff Ottley’s Jaguar XK120 which qualified 19th. Richard Owen’s Triumph TR2 sat 24th on the grid although not FISCAR compliant was another 1950s shape on this respectable grid of 31 cars. A later car, the De Tomaso Mangusta was of interest for it’s rarity, although it’s big V8 engine only managed to power it to one place ahead of Dan’s Peerless which may explain it’s non appearance for the race. Up front our host, Kevin Kivlochan, on the front row in his AC Cobra, clearly had his hands full of the Lotus Elan Series 1 of John Davison who was on pole with a 1.44.824. These two were over 5 seconds clear of the rest of the grid so we could expect a two horse race galloping (sorry!) away from the rest of the field!

Race

I was not in attendance at this race but was a able to watch proceedings on TSL Timings track trace. It was a trifle strange but a fascinating exercise to watch the car numbers working their way around the track. All 6 drivers have come back to me with bits of feedback and coupled with the timing sheets from TSL, I am able to piece together a report. However, this was only a 20 minute race, without the complication of a mandatory pit stop so it will be brief (for me!).

The race, was the last of the weekend’s proceedings, due to start at 5.35pm but eventually got going at 5.53, just 18 minutes late. This was a pretty good effort considering that the restricted number of marshals, in accordance with MS UK instructions, were required to deal with the usual offs and stoppages during the day, so well done to them and the HSCC. It meant that the race was able to run its full course.

From the start John Davison on pole and Kevin Kivlochan started to head off into the distance but within a very short time had to back off due to a safety car period. All our members got off to what appeared a clean start but within a lap I noted that Andrew Gilbert’s Elan (53) was not moving on the trace; hence the safety car! Both he and Neil Merry in his Sunbeam Tiger retired immediately, neither having completed the first lap, and the race got quickly underway again. By the end of lap 3 the Elan and Cobra were already 5 seconds clear of the pack and our brace of Elites in the hands of David Alexander and Brian Arculus were shaping up for battle in 10th and 11th respectively. Paul De Havilland had the XK150S up to 15th, Dan Smith 21st in the Peerless GT, Alan House 25th in his Morgan and Harry Naerger was last but delighted to have the Jupiter in a battle with the Austin Healey Sprite of David Jenkins, a dice which lasted the whole race.

As the Elan and Cobra stretched away from the pack, the Elan having an enormous 15 second lead over the 3rd place car by the end of lap 5, some of our members were embroiled in battle. Brian Arculus was still closely tailing David Alexander, the Elites a splendid sight together but unfortunately, after a few laps an engine misfire set in and Brian fell back. He had, however, put in a marginally faster lap than David so this dice had looked to be going the distance. Paul De Havilland, who had driven his XK150S to the event, had the car up to 14th but was unable to hang on to the Austin Healey Sprite of Edward Eaton and for a while was on his own although he was joined on track briefly by Geoff Ottley who was now a lap down, having pitted his XK120, and re-emerged from the pitlane as Paul was approaching. Dan Smith, who had qualified better than expected, was 19th but in the thick of things, the Peerless battling it out with younger cars, whilst Alan House in the Morgan was in 22nd, pretty much on his own but enjoying the wonderful old GP circuit with its turns and undulations out in the countryside! Harry Naerger was having a ball in the Jowett Jupiter having managed to get passed the Austin Healey Sprite of David Jenkins through Druids on lap 4 and fighting to hold his position.

Richard Disbrow’s Turner Mk2 pitted from 21st during laps 5/6 which elevated Alan House in the Morgan who had been circulating a couple of places behind. Richard did return to the track and was placed 24th at the flag. Alan finished 22nd and said that ‘For me a bit of a Sunday afternoon stroll, but I had fun catching up the safety car tail! Roll on Cadwell Park, another great driving circuit.’ Behind Alan, Harry Naeger, in the Jowett was able to stay ahead of David Jenkins until lap 7, when Harry had a slowish lap - ‘I was delighted to overtake the Sprite on lap 2 (timing sheets indicate Lap 4! -Ed) I think on the inside at Druids. Unfortunately he was much quicker than me on the straights and he took me back after a couple of laps when I slowed to let the front runners through! Couldn’t subsequently get quite close enough to get past again but it was great to be out with the car. ‘ Harry finished just 1.5 sec behind the Austin Healey Sprite.

Ahead of Harry and Alan, Dan Smith had been hanging onto the back of a group of cars - ‘In terms of the race I managed to qualify better than expected and then ended up spending the whole race battling with two Lotus Elan’s and a TR2. Unfortunately, the tyres and huge weight of the Peerless made it less competitive than I would have liked but all the same it was a fantastic weekend. The track was amazing and as it was my first time there. I will definitely be back... even if it is 6 hours away!!’ Dan finished 20th.

Moving forward up the finishing list, Paul De Havilland had a good run to 16th in the XK150S. Brian Arculus on the other hand, as already noted, was frustrated by a misfire having dropped back from David Alexander found his hands full of the Morgan +4 of Jonathan Rushton and was so nearly caught on the line but held on by 28 thousandths of a second, to take 11th place, some 7 seconds behind David.

Gallery

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