Oulton Park 300906

[geofff]

Hi All,

Here follows a quick commentary of the final Round of the BARC Westfield sportscars Championship IAW Avon Tyres at Oulton Park. The last race of the year saw a good grid of eighteen and that was with myself and Jon Morton missing due to racing incidents at Snetterton and Mallory. The Championship was looking good for Nick Flowers being chased by his son Matthew then Jonathon Young. The points scoring formulae meant Matthew could not catch Nick but Jonathan had a mathematical chance. All he had to do was win, set the fastest lap and hope Nick came tenth or worse! Not too difficult a task then It must be said that Nick has been competing in the series for five years finishing fifth, fourth, third, second and now……………

Details of the track layout & circuit facilities can be found here

The championship standings can be seen  

here

If you have internet access try here

for all your race and qualifying times. Except for the odd race we’ve done this season with the 750MC where you’ll need to look here

Expand 'Racing' and click on 'Results and Times' then look to the right hand column and you’ll see “West” hidden away. Click “West” and a pdf file will appear.

If you have a set of Avon’s and a zetec engined WF why not compare your times to some of the race boys in the BARC championship above. See if you can teach us a thing or two!

The test day on the Friday before hand was wet and those who attended commented that it wasn't much help. Tom Robinson & Peter Daglish decided to learn as they went along. I think others were doing the same but I didn't speak to everyone.

Troy Robinson of NMS has had a few trials and tribulations this year (I was one of them at Snetterton  ) and was hoping to keep his car in one piece for a change. Tom Robinson was sporting cleaned up rear bodywork and Peter Chattin's car was looking very clean & tidy. The cars were setting a good example of the marque and the racing was going to be brilliant!

The track was damp but drying for qualifying. As ever the run between Druids and Lodge was slow to clear because of the nearby trees. This was to cause problems........Simon Pryke was the first one to suffer exiting at Lodge and suffering damage to nose cone and radiator. Then Matt Flowers had a car wrecker at Druids which brought out the red flags. Luckily Matt was fine and was soon to be seen walking in the pits rubbing a sore neck with a rueful smile. Unfortunately qualifying would not be restarted so 6/7 laps was the best everyone was going to get. This left a few people in strange places on the grid. Exciting! Brian Small was the most notable. He had been following Matt round and had banged in a very respectable 98.8 second lap to qualify second. His best this season I reckon. A real 50th birthday present to himself! Would he be able to podium to really round out his weekend? Jonathan Young had grabbed pole with a stunning lap 1.5 seconds faster than Brian. He was stating his intentions for the day. Matt Flowers would have taken third on the grid but the car would need rebuilding first so Nick Flowers in fourth would have one less to worry about. Well every cloud has a silver lining! Thomas Robinson did a great job of learning the track in seven laps and qualified fifth followed by Lorna Chattin. Now after Lorna’s first race at Mallory I thought sixth was a hell of an improvement. Much to the Oulton commentators surprise Peter Chattin climbed out of the car which explained the sudden improvement! Didier Prongue and Troy Robinson rounded out the top eight.

After a lot of duck tape Simon’s car would be ready for the race so there would be seventeen starters. Now Simon could have put on a brand new nose cone but being a sensible chap decided to run with the duck taped version. Well he was starting from the back and hopefully doing a bit of overtaking so why risk another nose……..

My admiration goes to Richard Hardy-Bishop and family for making it over from the Channel Islands again. Puts my lack luster efforts at rebuilding my car after Snetterton to shame

The normal good natured bantering in the pits was helped along with some pork pies and other nibbles at the NMS transporter. Footage (from my car) of my crash at Snetterton into the rear of Troy and also Didier’s launch over the top of Brian Small at Cadwell was on display. Both myself and Didier were explaining the unfortunate sequence of events (which were totally out of our control) which led to the impacts. You’d think film of the event would make quite clear our innocence!

Anyway to the race……..Brian Small managed to get in front of Jonathan Young into Cascades for the first time followed by Tom Robinson and Nick Flowers. Everyone was either looking into or positioning themselves for the exit out of Island bend. On the exit Brian still led Jonathan but Tom Robinson was pushing Nick Flowers as they entered Knickerbrook. A lot of tyre smoke through Knickerbrook but everyone emerges in one piece. Tom gets the drive out of Knickerbrook and takes third. I think Nick is playing it easy. We’ll see.

Tom must be really pushing it as they come round for Cascades the second time round he’s overtaken Brian and Jonathan. Tom goes defensive at Island and Knickerbrook trying to hold of Jonathan Young. Brian Small’s qualifying pace is showing itself to be a one off. Nick get’s past him and then Didier nips past at Knickerbrook. Seamus Harding is doing well in sixth ahead of Peter Chattin (AKA Lorna still over the commentary).

The third lap sees Nick Flowers’ strategy become clear. The lead seven have broken away from the pack and they’re really starting to fight. Nick lets Didier and Brain through with no hinderance. He’s playing it safe and taking the Championship rather than push for the win with a chance of coming off. Clever.

Fourth time round and Jonathan throws it up the inside of Tom Robinson into Cascades. They touch but both keep going. Troy Robinson (more problems for the commentators ) has jpined the lead group and gets past Peter Chattin. Nick lets both Peter and Troy through and sits of the back of them. Just watching

Troy and Peter continue to switch positions. Tom somehow keeps Jonathan Young behind him. But Jonathan is putting him under tremendous pressure. Finally on lap 6 Jonathan gets past at Lodge. Didier has a wild moment at Cascades and runs wide onto the grass. He stays to the inside and defends the approaching Island against Brian Small. Nick still watching in Seventh. The chasing pack are being led by Seamus with Peter Daglish a second away followed in close formation by Martin Gartside, Simon Pryke (cutting through from the back has made up six places) then Andrew Spencer. The third discernable group is made up of Richard HB, Jonathan Hawkins, Paul Taberner and Mark Curtis. All the groups are fighting each other so finding it hard to close up on the next bunch. Great for the spectators though! John Chappell is weaving down the straights trying to work out why his car is handling so badly. He pulls into the pits to find a slow puncture.

Lap seven (doesn’t seem a lot for all the action!) Tom Robinson is deep into Knickerbrook and locks up. Only just staying on the tarmac. Nick is still watching……..Peter Daglish has caught and got alongside Seamus Harding. Seamus gets a bit wide through Knickerbrook and uses the escape road. Peter is past.

Lap eight and Jonathan has got himself a little bit of breathing space. Time for that fastest lap he needs for the Championship chance! Well he spinning the wheel like a madman but little does he know he’s already done it with a 97.4 on the previous lap. Didier puts pressure on Tom Robinson through Knickerbrook then gets alongside up Clay Hill. He’s got him by the time they get to Druids.

Lap nine and Tom Robinson has gone missing. He’s run wide at Lodge and got stuck. It turns out his tyres were finished and his sideways action wasn’t an attempt to keep people behind him but his best to stay on the track! Martin Gartside is chasing down Seamus after his little excursion on the previous lap. Nick Flowers decides its time to pick off Brian Small now the front pack is thinning down a bit. He’s up into fifth and just tracking the front four nicely. Seamus has a big moment at Island Bend. After the smoke has cleared, literally, Martin emerges in front.

Lap ten sees Jonathan stretching away. Didier isn’t giving up and runs wide exiting Cascades again. Peter Chattin lines Didier up into Island but Didier defends well. Troy and Nick are both playing a waiting game. Brian Small is falling into the hard charging hands of Peter Daglish. Martin is consolidating his lead over Seamus and the rest of the field start to string out as the end of the race closes in. Lap eleven sees the field start to spread out. Either they’ve all run out of puff or they’re getting ready for one last push.

The final lap sees Peter Chattin pull out with a loose oil filler cap. Looks like he’s chewing a whole nest of wasps when he gets out. Maybe he should go and put the Oulton commentary team straight  Didier continues to push Jonathan but it’s no use. Jonathan crosses the line in first with his fastest lap. On the day he’s done all he can. Troy runs home third. Another podium finish for him and the car’s still in one piece for the Birkin in two weeks at Silverstone. He’s happy. Nick Flowers comes in fourth. A very cooooooooool drive with no mistakes. The 2006 Championship is his!!!!!!

Peter Daglish has taken fifth from Brian Small sixth. I think his Dad must be ‘Spanner Man’ of the year given the number of changes he keeps making to the car at the request of his driver son. Hey but it seems to work!  Martin Gartside slides in to seventh ahead of Seamus bringing up the top eight.

Brilliant, brilliant race and a great Championship to be part off. I’m off to the garage to prepare for the return of my straightened chassis from the Factory. See you all next year is all I can say.

Any errors or omissions are entirely mine and I aplogize in advance. Thank you to those who have added corrections and comments.

For any who are interested in taking part next year why not contact Jon Morton  (driver rep) or the Factory or come along to the formula meeting later in the year. I’ll post details of the meet when I get them.

Good luck

Geoff

Red 22

[TPR123]

Great write Geoff. Have fun next year shame I can't join in.

All the best.

Tom