.
XJS, SALOONS, PBJ. Final
race of 2009
The last
JEC race of the year was their second trip to Snetterton and was part of the
Formula Palmer Audi race meeting.
Numbers of XJS's increased to
a respectable 20, with 16 Saloons for the final outing (for most) of 2009.
Despite this improvement Saloons & XJS's were combined for both qualifying
and both races. Note! At least two Jaguar teams will be competing in the Birkett
6 hour relay race at Silverstone on the 24th October!
Thanks to Richard Crossley and
Mark Stabler for info provided!
XJS/SALOON QUALIFYING
The track was dry but conditions
were cold and cloudy (ideal for those few extra bhp's) Thirty six big cats
made it out onto the Norfolk circuit. Some old faces and a couple of new ones
Richard Coppock & John Gregory.
Richard Crossley had a spin at
Russells on the first lap, but was soon back on the track to complete the
session.
Not so fortunate Richard Coppock
locked up at the Bridge with Ian Drage behind with nowhere to go! The impact
finished Richards debut abruptly. Fortunately Paul Merrett came to Ian rescue
and provided a much needed spare wing to get Ian Drage back out for the race.
Mark Russell only managed 1 lap
but still managed to qualify 15th. Alex Harrison put the class E Kutuka car
on pole with teamate Stewert Lyddall having to settle for 2nd.
Top Saloon was Richard Dorlin
with David Bye a smidgen behind!
XJS/SALOON RACE 1 SATURDAY
Stewert Lyddall immediately dispensed
with Harrison junior, but had Chris Palmer breathing down his neck until lap
7 when Lawrence Coppock decided it was his turn to give Stewert some grief!
By lap 10 Lawrence was leading the race.
The staggered start (Saloons
setting off 10 seconds after the XJS's) caused problems for both the front
running saloons and the rear of the XJS grid. In normal circumstances the
backmarkers get several laps breathing space before the front runners decend
upon them!
James Ramm (99) had to retire after
6 laps due to a sticking throttle (sounds scary!)
Ray Hill XJS closely followed by Simon
Lewis XJ6
Howard Kirkham (driving Chris
Palmers X300) failed to finish after a collision with the Armco. This followed
contact with Chris Boon's XJR. Chris suffered little damage and finished 13th.
Howard Kirkham with Chris Boon shortly
before their impromptu meeting!
David Bye won the Saloon race
with Peter Dorlin 2nd & Andrew Harrison (XJS) sandwiched inbetween.
Patrick Doyle, Richard Butterfield
& Tim Morrant also failed to finish.
All of the pictures were kindly
provided by Mark Stabler!
THE SALOON part of RACE from
the driving seat Tim Morrant
Race
1: The cars lined up on the grid after our green flag lap but the
saloons had not received any official confirmation of how the start was going
to work. The grid had been separated out into XJS and Saloon but we did not
know for sure we were to start AFTER the XJS's.
Peter and Richard Dorlin were
frantically waving to a Marshall on the pit wall as we lined up but he knew
nothing of our start procedure. As the red lights went on and then off, we
all sat there hoping it was the right thing to do. I saw the starters on the
gantry pointing to the saloons still sitting there and they quickly raised
and dropped the Union flag and we set off! Not good!!!
Richard Dorlin contending with the XJS
back markers & the traffic signs
As it was I got a flyer and
went from 4th to 2nd in the first 50 yards to see Dave Bye fly past from 3rd
into 2nd right onto the bumper of Peter Dorlin. We all got round the first
bend okay and set off after the XJS's. The silly thing is that the delayed
start was only about 10 seconds and we caught the slower XJS guys at the 3rd
bend on the first lap which is no good for the leading saloons or the XJS's
who are trying to enjoy their own race and could probably do without having
to watch out for faster cars so soon into the race.
Derek Pearce makes his way past some
of the XJS's that he spent many years racing with
Anyway, for me , the next
couple of laps were spent battling with Richard Dorlin, who managed to get
past me on the back straight after a better exit from the right hander onto
it, but I hung onto the back of him and exiting the cicane I got the better
run out and squeezed between him and an XJS to the place back on the start
finish straight. Next time at the cicane though, Richard had a big lock up
and he ran into my off side rear and sent me into a 360 spin!! I recovered
and just managed to stay in front of Derek Pearce in his loveley MK2 only
to get out dragged again on the back straight. I tried to out brake Derek
under the bridge into the left / right but only succeded in out brakeing myself
and spun off!! The result was my near side front tyre off the rim so that
was that!! DOH! A good win for Dave Bye ahead of Peter Dorlin.
Paul Merrett just manages to keep Saloon
race winner David Bye behind him
CAPTION COMPETITION Ray Ingman appears
to be threatening Paul Merrett! What has he done to deserve this?
SATURDAY POWERED BY JAGUAR
(PBJ) RACE
Andy Gardiner's Vauxhall with a few
more BHP than GM intended courtesy of Jaguar
Kevin Doyles Monster XJ12
XJS/SALOON
RACE 2 SUNDAY
Having not raced on Saturday
Robert McVicar started from the back of the grid along with James Ramm.
James made a blinding start and
finished 7th (XJS) and 10th overall! Not surprisingly he was awarded driver
of the day!
Simon Seath had a strong race
finishing 2nd in the depleted class D whilst Ian Drage struggled, perhaps
due to damage from the qualifying incident?
At the front Lawrence Coppock
led from start to finish! Paul Merrett must have been pleased with his class
win & 3rd overall.
Peter Dorlin won the Saloons
with David Bye settling for 2nd and Derek Pearce 3rd in his MK11
NNeil Taylor takes a short cut (RACE
1)
THE SALOON part of RACE 2
from the driving seat Tim Morrant
Race 2:
The start was confirmed this time in collections so when the flag dropped
we were all ready for it. I started 16th as I had not finished race 1 but
I got an absolute flyer and was up to 7th at the first corner! I then managed
to pick off Phil Woods (class A) for 6th and a couple of laps later took advantage
of Chris Boon getting slightly blocked by an XJS on the start finish straight
and took 5th place in the saloons. I then pulled up to the back of Simon Lewis
and after a couple of laps getting closer made a move on the back straight
after a better exit and pulled along side him on the inside approaching the
bridge.
Simon didn't make things easy though and
kept me tight to the grass on the left leading up to the approaching corner,
flat out in top gear and neither one of us was going to brake first, but eventually
we ran out of straight track and had to jump on the brakes but being so tight
in to the left with a left hander ahead, I could make it round and had to
head for the escape road as my car lurched towards the grass but Simon made
it round. Skilfull driving from Simon, I tried but he didn't bottle it!! Curses!!
Richard Butterfield seen here in race
one, failed to finish the first but finished 19th in race 2
I rejoined behind Kirkham and Butterfield
and had great fun spending the remaining 5 laps fighting with those two and
any XJS's we came accross. I got past them both on the last lap, Mr Butterfield
on the start finish straight and Mr Kirkham on the back straight. That one
waas a bit hairy as I just managed to edge past him with about 400 yards to
go to the corner when two XJS's in front braked slightly earlier than I expected
and I had to dive to the left of them both into the corner which was made
that much more interesting by the fact that my brakes had all but gone off
by then!! I did manage to get round the corner though....this time..... and
finished a very satisfying 6th from 16th st the start.
Great racing form all the drivers I thought,
Saloons and XJS's alike.
I personally don't have a problem racing
with the XJS's but I do not agree with splitting the start which I think gives
a risk of an accident early on. I think that if we qualify together then we
should then start and race together against cars that are the same pace as
each other.
Thank you to all for an enjoyable race.
Tim Morrant No62 JEC Saloons
Many Thanks Tim for the in car report. Next season
JAGRACING is intending to provide
reports mainly from the drivers. Volunteers urgently required!
NEXT REPORT WILL BE THE BIRKETT 6 HOUR RELAY FROM SILVERSTONE!
