Event Information

Race Results

DATE	DESCRIPTION	RACE RESULTS
August 29th/31st, 2009	HGPCA Race for Pre ’66 GP Cars

Race Report

The Gold Cup race meeting at Oulton Park on the Bank Holiday weekend of August was not on the initial list of dates planned for 2009. Members were asked to indicate their interest and, should sufficient numbers apply, it could be added. Applications came thick and fast and very early on, it was clear that we should be supporting this Historic Sports Car Club’s annual event. Indeed such was the enthusiasm for a race at Oulton that at one stage we had reserves and a number on the ‘waiting’ list. Classic Team Lotus came up trumps, entering John Bowers Lotus 25 for Andy Middlehurst to drive and a second Lotus 25 for non-member Nick Fennell to drive; sadly the former car’s engine problems surfaced again immediately before the event and was not able to be there but Nick’s car was a delight and it performed well.

With 20 minutes practice on Saturday afternoon, a 20 minute race on Sunday afternoon and a similar one on Monday afternoon, it was rather a long drawn out event for HGPCA members, however good fortune was on our side because the practice and race times allocated to us by the HSCC were some of the best sunny moments on an otherwise rather damp weekend! The HSCC have to cope with fitting qualifying and racing around a Sunday morning when no track activity is allowed.

The published entry list showed 34 names but, for various reasons, only 29 cars took part in official practice. On the second lap of practice John Harper posted fastest time with Enrico Spaggiari second (this being his first visit to the circuit) and Andrew Smith third in his 2 litre Cooper. A couple of laps later, John was still fastest with Nigel Bancroft second, Enrico third and Ian Ashley’s LDS up to fourth. Lap six and Nigel, putting his excellent knowledge of the circuit to good use, posted fastest lap, a position he was to maintain until practice ended. John held second position with Enrico third and Ian’s LDS fourth. Alan and Jason Minshaw both practiced the family Brabham; Alan decided it was not the car for him leaving Jason to start the race from fifth place on the grid. Andrew was fastest in class 9 with Sid Hoole leading class 11. Sid had suffered a broken steering arm going into Old Hall on his second lap; a moment he would not wish to repeat as the car snaked across the grass towards the Armco barriers. 10 minutes after our session ended, the heavens opened flooding the track, the paddock, everywhere. Hard luck on the Juniors who spent most of their qualifying behind the safety car.

On Sunday at the 3pm time scheduled for our first race it was overcast and threatening rain but, like the previous day’s practice session, we raced in the dry and the rain only stated after the chequered flag fell. Oulton Park allows a 2 x 2 start, unlike the staggered 1 x 1 at some other circuits and it was a fine sight on the start line as the fifteen rows of cars lined up for the off. At the end of lap one, Nigel Bancroft led in the Cooper with Jason Minshaw’s Brabham second and John Harper, after a slow start third. By the third lap, John was leading with Jason in the second Brabham behind and Nigel’s Cooper third. Further down the field an excellent race developed between the Lotus of Erik Staes and John Bussey’s Cooper and, further back, the Cooper Bristols of Bob Gilbert and Brian Horwood. Brian Male, with his early Cooper was having a race with James Willis in the Pierce MG until the latter’s engine blew up leaving a sump-full of oil on the track. At the front the two Brabhams had established a clear lead but behind them Nigel Bancroft and Enrico Spagiarri were racing each other until, on the last lap, Nigel spun leaving Enrico to take third place. Ian Ashley, in fifth place was the first class 10 car to finish with Andrew Smith’s Cooper T43 first in class 9 finishing in seventh place. The Fairley family Cooper pitted with a misfire only to find their rear wheel securing nuts all loose – new nuts were ordered for Monday’s race. Once again it poured with rain as the race ended!

Monday’s race was the finishing order of Sunday, so a red and a blue Brabham filled the front row with the Coopers of Enrico and Nigel on the second row. As the signal to start was given, both Brabhams made a slow-ish start but Nigel, from the outside of second row, made a storming start and was immediately alongside Jason Minshaw’s Brabham. Either because of contact with or crowded by the Cooper on his left, Jason moved right, collected John Harper’s Brabham and both cars ended in the pit wall – a very sad way to start a race. The safety car was deployed and it was well into the second half of the 20 minutes before racing proper restarted. Nigel Bancroft led, Enrico second, Alan Bailie was third with Ian Ashley close behind. Nigel had a moment which dropped him back to fifth place while Alan also had a moment, this time with the yellow flag, which dropped him to third place. In sixth place was a delighted Nick Fennell in the green Lotus 25 – a delight to see and hear.

Despite Monday’s start line accident, it had been a very good weekend for the HGPCA – good close racing on a demanding track. Bob Gilbert was awarded the ‘front-engine’ driver of the day after two excellent races in his Cooper Bristol. Despite being a non-member, Nick Fennell was awarded the ‘rear-engine’ driver of the day for, not only was this Nick’s first race in the Lotus, it was also his first race at Oulton. A special congratulations must be given to Enrico for winning Monday’s race, also on his first visit to this beautiful circuit.

Hospitality at the Red Truck included a BBQ on Saturday night provided by Bob and Wendy Beever but, because they were already committed to a ‘sealed knot’ event in York, they had kindly recruited next door neighbour, Sally, and their daughter, Adele, to cater for lunch on Sunday and Monday. An excellent lunch appeared on both days and an inspired ‘bread and butter pudding’ was created on the spot from the bread rolls left over from the BBQ. Many thanks. Look forward to seeing you all again next season.