Racing still shines despite shunt and rain

The historic sports car club’s second race meeting of the season was its annual visit to Mallory Park. Some entertaining racing from most of the club’s championships was marred by a hefty accident that befell John Bladon’s ex-Sam Posey Surtees TS11 F5000.

A misunderstanding with backmarker Roger Stone (Lola T142) pitched the Surwes into the barriers approaching Gerards in the Derek Bell Trophy race. Thankfully Bladon was unharmed, but the car was badly damaged. In difficult conditions as rain hit the end of the programme, Steve Worrad made good use of the absence of Geoff Farmer’s Brabham BT18 to win the Classic Racing Car event in his BT28. However, the former

Porsche racer still had to drive hard to fend off the leading Formula Fords at the height of the rain. When Chris Lillington-Price (Merlyn Mk11A) fell foul of the conditions and spun, Chris Sharples took up the challenge on Worrad in his Palliser WDF1.

The strength of the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club XK Series was showed by a capacity grid of XK120s and XK150s. Rob Newall was the top man and won by a couple of seconds from fellow XK120 pilot Brian Arculus. Mike Wrigley (Chevron B29) and Simon Wayne (B19) took Derek Bell Trophy and RIB Thundersports wins against modest opposition, while Paul Smith scored a commanding Historic Formula Ford victory. PL