Hagley & District Motor Club hosted the first round of the 2016 Challenge Series. The event was superbly organised as usual by Pete Clews, assisted in great measure by Sue. Weather on Friday evening was foul – heavy rain. Saturday was dry but COLD. Sunday was dry, sunny and less cold.
A great weekend with lots going on both on the track and in the paddock. We hope to have words and results soon but in the meantime:
Quick Clicks:
The Hill:
click on the map for a closer look
The Words:
GLORIOUS LOTON by Pete Clews
I don’t think anyone was looking forward to Loton Park, Round 1 of the Challenge Series. We were promised rain, snow, cold and late Sunday sunshine. We got them all and Phil Bridge even postponed scrutineering to Saturday. The rain came on Friday as people were arriving and stayed until early on Saturday when it turned to sleet/snow which left a scattered covering and it was cold; however by 7am the sun appeared and lasted sporadically for the rest of the day. The track soon dried and grip was pretty good as we were some of the last to practice.
There were plenty of red flags as this was the first meeting of the season and some of the four wheeler drivers seemed to have forgotten the route to the top! Not so the 16 three wheelers and practice passed without incident. The competitive runs saw Bill and Maggie Tuer fastest (64.91) with Hamish snapping at their heels. Chas Reynolds and Steve Ash (68.23) were in third place and Iain Stewart passengered by a large steel block did very well (68.65). The F-Types were very close with Pete Clews and Becky Washington 2 tenths ahead of Danny Hogson and Bronte Pearson who were locking brakes at every corner. Tony and Lily Quinn had a persistent misfire which stayed away long enough for a fastest TM time of 77.71 but returned later and resulted in Tony taking Cathy’s F2 for the Sunday runs. Steve Lister pushed his Super Aero to 79.92 his best for the weekend. Rob Pike/Petra Rarko had made the meeting after feverish work during the week to make the JAP go and achieved a best of 87.61. The only 5 Speeder, now moved into Category 2 TM Class, was Austin Smith/Julia Perry (71.05) who celebrated with everyone at Julia’s 40th Birthday party at the end of the day.
Sunday earned its name beginning with a cloudless sky. Ace photographer Dennis Rushton arrived early followed by John and Jackie Scruton in their 5 Speeder effervescent as ever and ready for the day’s sport. The result for John was a best of 75.08 while Austin’s TM car took him 70.25 just missing his target of an under 70 second climb. Steve Lister/Ian Hughes (80.17) were going very well but could not match Tony Quinn (78.83) in the F2 -an outstanding run to take the TM honours. With dad as passenger Cathy Quinn pushed the F Type to her best of 81.42.
Tony Pearson spent most of the day ‘sprocketting’ but with very little change to his times (84.34). Rob Pike/Petra Rarko tried very hard to get their Super Aero to go faster but 98.83 was its best. ‘Orange’ was causing Ruth Ross to scratch her head and Steve Lister much work as it refused to run long enough to get to the hill. After a change of condenser it did manage the climb in 87.52.
Racing Class was very closely fought with Bill Tuer (64.59) leading Hamish Bibby (64.80) after the first run but a mistake by Bill at Triangle and a best time by Hamish had the class with 64.35. Chas Reynolds (68.63) was flying with his twin plug heads but only just pipped Iain Stewart (68.84) both ahead of Greg Bibby/Paula Heaney (69.01). Tom Cowley/Lily Quinn (70.99) in Tony Quinn’s 1300cc MX2 led the F-Types with a close battle between Pete Clews (73.82) and Danny Hodgson falling to Danny with a superb run of (73.39).
A good weekend’s sport at Loton; well worth it for the Morganeers who came to watch.
The Photos:
Great photos from Dennis Rushton and some snaps from Steve Uprichard
The Results:
click on results for a closer look
