Aintree Sprint Series 2004

Spring Championship Sprint

24th April 2004

Event Report

(Report courtesy of Steve Wilkinson)

Copyright Steve Wilkinson & Liverpool Motor Club

 

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Red Hot Welsh Rarebit!

 

As the massive 120 car entry assembled in almost perfect weather conditions prospects for Liverpool Motor Club's Spring Sprint looked good. The organisers had planned for two practice and four timed runs. However this was all down to the competitors and in practice two incidents at Beecher's put the clock back. Instead of a timed run prior to lunch we stopped for 45 minutes and restarted at 13:30.

 

Liverpool Motor Club (LMC) member George Povey was a solitary figure in the 1400 Road Modified class but the none the less had an enjoyable day lowering his times. In the two-litre class another LMC member, Dave Coveney, took top slot in his Elise as James Kerr chased home in futile pursuit - lets face it a 205 GTi is going to struggle to beat an Elise! Bob Jones took third for LMC in his very yellow Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport. In the over two-litre class LMC member Roy Johnson overpowered the opposition in his Nissan Skyline but at a cost! The engine sprung a leak and could only manage the one timed run! Second spot went to the seemingly rocket assisted Ford Sapphire Cosworth of Mark Wallwork who nailed some impressive starts in his Dagenham Dustbin!

 

With the event also counting to the Westfield Speed series it wasn't a surprise to see this marque dominate the three road Going Kit Car classes. In the 1700 division it was Blackpool's Kevin Bamber in his offensively Day-Glo red Westie who took top spot. LMC members Dale and Sarah Cordingley came home in second and third in their Rover K powered Caterham in what in horse racing parlance was a blanket finish as all three were covered by just 1.04 seconds! The 2000 division was predominately Westfield-Vauxhalls and it was Ashley Mason's silver version that took the class and almost reset his own class record. Roger Fish, in one of only two none-Westfield’s, took second place with the Carcraft Cyclone. Terry Everall just held off Mike Simpson for third in two more Westies. The final division for over two-litres went to James 'The Hooligan' Turner in the Turner Family SEight. Buzz Bilsberry took second in his example as James' dad Ray snatched third from Martin Rose (aka Spartan'Cos). 

 

In the Mod prod classes Nigel Hepburn's immaculate Mini was the sole runner in the 1400 class. In the two-litre class Stuart Tranter, another LMC member, took the win in his garishly painted Rover 216. Whilst in the over two-litre class it was none other than James Hunt who took the win with his smoky BMW 2002 Touring. The final Modified class was for Kit Cars and it also provided the fastest time of the day! Mark Smith, who is contesting the British Sprint Championship this year, hammered home his advantage with three top class runs culminating in a 46 second dead third run. Derek Hodder gave chase in his Westie but was a meagre 0.55 second behind. Third went to Julie Black who shares the orange Hoddermobile. 

 

The first of the racing classes was next, that for Sports Libres, and unfortunately Howard Parkinson ended up as the sole entry. However he made in-roads into his times through-out the day in his very pretty Lola T596. The 1100 Racing Car class saw Phil Burton nail a good time on his first run and then hold on to the lead. Craig Powers led the LMC response but was pipped by another LMC member for second. Eve Whitehead, who was sharing Craig's Megapin as the new RBS is still under construction in the Reverend Barry's garage, put in a near perfect run to slip past her host! Andrew Dobson not only finished fourth in class but also grabbed the Novice Award. Finally Jeannette Hunton, sharing Andrew D's OMS, grabbed the Handicap Trophy for Best LMC Member. There was a single two-litre racing car entered and Sue Griffiths duly utilised the day as a test for the September National round.

 

The three way Classic Car class went on both Scratch and handicap to Paul Masters in the MG Midget he shares with Ray. In the Reliant Scimitar and Sabre Owners Club Class Craig Hughes brought his other Scimitar SS1 - the turbocharged one - and duly took the top spot. Peter Brown led the assault of the SE5s some four seconds adrift. Unfortunately the solitary Austin Healey failed to make a timed run. This then led us onto the biggest class - or should that be two classes? The evo magazine sponsored Caterham Academy cars were at Aintree with a vengeance. 26 cars contested Group 1 whilst in Group 2 there were 24 starters. The Championship is one designed for Novice drivers and with the machinery being used controlled and very closely scrutineered it is the best drivers who come to the fore. Group 1 saw Paul Jepson, Adrian Wagstaff and Henry Fletcher all overhaul initial leader Patrick Scharfegger in a very close encounter to finish in the 1-2-3. Group 2 was also very close but Jeremy Ellis put in his big effort on his first run to clinch the win as Guy Harrington and Keith Chanter came home second and third.

 

As Charles Bateman crossed the line at the conclusion of the third runs the organisation went into overdrive. Not only were the results being churned out but the course tidied up so that the golfers could return the following day. Once again a successful days sprinting had been enjoyed by one and all. Big thanks to the marshals and organisers for without them there would be no sprinting at Aintree!

 

Liverpool Motor Club Spring Sprint    Aintree    24/04/04

 

Results:

FTD: Mark Smith (2.0 Westfield-Vauxhall/SBD SEiW) 46.00s

Class Winners: George Povey (1.3 Rover Mini Cooper) 58.52s; David Coveney (1.8 Lotus Elise) 52.43s; Roy Johnson (2.8t Nissan Skyline GT-R) 49.50s; Kevin Bamber (1.6 Westfield SE) 50.44s; Ashley Mason (2.0 Westfield SEi) 48.48s; James Turner (4.6 Westfield SEight) 53.72s; Nigel Hepburn (1.4 Mini) 55.67s; Stuart Tranter (1.6 Rover 216 GTi) 52.85s; James Hunt (2.2 BMW 2002 Touring) 54.26s; Smith 46.00s; Howard Parkinson (2.0 Lola-Ford T596) 48.07s; Eve Whitehead (1.1 Megapin-Kawasaki ZZR 91/04) 47.52s; Graham Curwen (1.6 Van Diemen-Ford RF91) 49.87s; Sue Griffiths (2.0 Chevron-Millington B47-79-08) 47.73s; Paul Masters (1.3 MG Midget) 59.63s -3.21 H'cap; Craig Hughes (1.9t Reliant Scimitar SS1) 52.24s; Paul Jepson (1.6 Caterham 7 Academy) 54.11s - Group 1; Jeremy Ellis (1.6 Caterham 7 Academy) 53.84s - Group 2.