.
XJS, SALOONS, PBJ. First
race of 2009
XJS Numbers unfortunately continue
to fall and Saloons have taken a dip too! Snetterton XJS race in 2007 was
27, 23 in 2008, and 14 in 2009! The credit crunch obviously has not helped,
however despite the low numbers it was an action packed race as usual!
Qualifying PBJ
Rumour has it that Kevin Doyle
has been rallying the troops in order to boost the flagging PBJ grids. This
seems to be working, as the PBJ entries have doubled from the 3 seen at some
races last season. 11 Jaguars in total entered the the race, 5 taking advantage
of the "Sports cars V Saloons" discounted entry of £95 for
a second race.
The Doyles car listed as a V12
6 litre looks suspiciously like Patricks 4.2 XJ6 to me. This would go some
way to explain qualifying 17th and not first!
Chris Palmer was the quickest
Jag in qualifying with a 5th on the grid. Lets hope numbers in PBJ continue
to grow!
Patrick Doyle (PBJ)
Ian Drage (PBJ)
Rick Jones Westfield goes for a spin
(SVS)
Graham Paddick Kougar Jaguar (PBJ)
XJS RACE
Paul Merrett was the surprise of the
day Qualifying second on the grid and leading the race for the first 3 laps!
There was some very close racing in
the middle of the pack, sometimes too close!
The white dots are the last Philip Comer
will see of his headlamp lens following a coming together with Roger Webster.
Roger told me before the race that he was most keen not to bend the car after
a massive winter rebuild!
Ray Hill, not sure if he's coming in
or out of the pits! (Pic thanks to Mark Stabler)
Chris Palmer briefly led the restarted
race following the Merrett/Lyddall incident. Somehow Stewert lyddall managed
to not only stay in ther race, but pass Chris for the first win of the season.
.
Paul Merrett's car somehow came off
much worse in the collision with Stewert Lyddall. Paul was already considering
his options for puting a car back on the grid at Anglesey (including straightening
the blue one!!!!)
SALOON RACE
Saloon numbers have also taken
a hit this year, with only 14 making the start. Normal service was maintained
at the front however with David Bye just keeping Peter Dorlin at bay from
start to chequered flag!
Gail Hill has defected from the
XJS's to the Saloons, driving Howard Kirkhams old car. Howard is not that
easy to get rid of however and just pipped gail to the post in Chris Palmers
X300!
Mathew Jeffery and Patrick Doyle
have got it all to do this year, both are on a learning curve but full of
enthusiasm! Good to see some young new drivers joining the series.
The Saloon drivers prepare themselves
for the first 2009 battle!
Some things never change! Dave Bye and
Peter Dorlin lead the first lap of t he first 2009 race.
Chris Boon & Robert Drewery
Matt Jeffery & Patrick Doyle at
Riches (first lap)
Gail Hill in the ex Howard Kirkham car,
just in front of Robert Drewery
.
Robert MacVicar loses it on the exit
of Sears corner
David Bye leads Peter Dorlin & Howard
Kirkham
GOSSIP
Terry Nicholls will be joining the XJS
grid later in the season (possibly Mallory Park). He will be driving the ex
Dave Robbie car with a new colour scheme!
Simon Newbury has bought Mike Scoins old
car and is likely to be out in the odd race, possibly Future Classics and
or TTRS. The question is, will he let me drive it?
John Lock has bought Derek Pearce's black
6L XJS and is rumoured to be considering Future Classics races with Sam Clarke
as the second driver? Whether the car will appear in the XJS championship
is not clear!
Martin Ashfield is likely to be out in
the ex Robin/Zoe North yellow XJS later this year.
Various rumours about Paul Reynolds building
a modified class car. Strangely, the people I spoke to were not sure if Paul
was still drivers rep, or indeed if there is a drivers rep! Even stranger,
the JEC website still says that Dave Robbie is the XJS drivers rep, and Thornton
Mustard the PBJ rep!
Steve Davis seems to be keeping a rather
low profile this year, no news on the 6000cc website!
The grid at Anglesey is likely to be somewhat
sparse considering the low numbers at Snetterton, plus many of those that
I spoke to are still worried that they will fall of the edge of the planet
if they venture that far!
MORE GOSSIP URGENTLY
REQUIRED!
