Aintree Sprint Reports
Liverpool Motor Club, Aintree Autumn Sprint Report
3rd September 2011
by Steve Wilkinson
With just 90 competitors turning up on the day there were going to be a lot of opportunities to get out on track. After two practice runs in pretty foul conditions the event got underway with the first of four timed runs and, with the rain easing, the fastest runs looked likely to be recorded at the end of the day!
Leading off the timed runs was the single Standard Roadgoing class. David Drucker in his VW Polo led throughout with Chris Palmer (Suzuki Cappuccino) and Tim Gill (Fiat Panda 4×4) holding second and third. Into Roadgoing and the 1400 Saloons saw Martin Rowe once again being the pone to beat in his Peugeot 106 Rallye. John Marsden again kept close order in the Mini whilst Rhys Palmer got ever closer in third ahead of George Povey. In the two litre Roadgoing Saloon class Colin Smith in the Clio initially led but was pipped for the lead on the fourth runs by Tim Burrill in the 205 GTi. Third went to the similar 205 of John Allen whilst Russell Thorpe in Doris was fourth. Next to the line were the over two litre Sportscars and John Biddulph in the Porsche took a comfortable win from Jeff Allan (TVR T350C) and Kraig Mycock (Audi Coupe).
The two Roadgoing Kit Car classes were next and in the Up to 1700 class Brad Gould led throughout despite a third run spin. Martin Walker (Westfield) just held off a spirited challenge from Phil Gough in his Caterham. In the combined 2B/2D Allister Pimlott kept his Robin Hood ahead of the supremely powerful AC Cobra Superblower of Malcolm Thorne.
There was another merged class to herald the arrival of the Mod Prods. The car with the smallest capacity took the honours with Martin Depper in his indecently quick Mini proving to be too quick for the two litre runners. Second place went to Bruce McKie whose 205 finished clear of the rest. The over 2 litre class saw just two runners in the one car. Alan Whalley led initially due in no small part to eventual winner David Kenningley taking a grassy detour on his first run. The up to 2 litre Sportscars had just the one runner so Rob Newnes in the MX5 took a solo win. In the Over 1700 Kit Car class Robbie Birrell led throughout as Nigel Fox finished a couple of seconds adrift in this all Caterham class. In the final Mod Prod class, that for the motorcycle powered Kit Cars Mike Clarke in the Westfield just held off the challenge from the MK Indy of Mike Anderson.
Once again there was just the single Sports Libre class which Jim Belt took in his impressive Juno complete with V6 Jaguar engine. Stuart Deeley in his Banks Europa was second finishing ahead of Keith Hardy’s Radical and the Fiesta XR2-Duratec of Graham Blackwell.
Into the Racing Car class and in the Up to 1100 split, Craig Powers snatched victory from Gary Thomas on the fourth run with Eve and Barry Whitehead finishing third and fourth in their shared RBS 7B. There were just two Formula Fords to battle over the win and the more modern Van Diemen of Graham Curwen took first as Phil Perks wrung the neck of his elderly Royale in hot pursuit. The combined 1600 and 2000 classes were next. On the first runs John Graham (Dallara) led Simon Keen (Dallara), Emma Williams (Ralt), Paul Tinsley (Swift) and the rest. The second run saw Simon Keen annex the lead with Graham and Co all posting slower times. The third runs didn’t see the order change but the fourth saw a significant change of fortunes. Simon Keen extended his lead whilst Paul Tinsley closed in on Emma Williams. The final runner was John Graham and he initially bogged the start. However having been pulled back and realigned he got his second start spot-on. By Bechers he was fractionally ahead and as he sped over the line not only had he taken the class but also set the Fastest Time of the Day. There were two cars and three drivers to contest the over two litre class. Mike Musson was making his debut in the recently acquired Pilbeam MP97 whilst Brian Woffenden & Peter Howgate were having an end of season outing in their Ralt RT37. On his first run Mike Musson had problems getting off the line – it was the first time he had driven the car on a race track! However despite a tardy start he flew round the track and posted what would be the class winning time – it was also the fastest time of the day until John Graham put in that stunning fourth timed run. On his second run disaster struck as he lost the backend at Bechers and spun across the grass and collided with the barriers. Fortunately it was a slow speed impact but it did damage the rear wing significantly and he was out of contention. The Sheffield pairing trailed home some four seconds adrift with Woffenden beating Howgate.
The Classics were next and once more Phil Prince was not only the fastest over the course but also won the class on handicap. George Cole in the ancient Terrapin was second on adjusted times whilst second fastest on scratch, Mike de St Paer (Frogeye Sprite), took third overall.
The final group of classes were for the Lotus 7 Club Speed Championship contenders – all driving Caterhams by the way. In Class 1 Robert Jacobs took the win from Alan Johnson and Paul Brown. In Class 2 Robert Spencer held off the challenges from Graham Howard and Paul Collins to take the laurels. In Class 3 young Tom Price, despite carrying the yellow trowel for his grassy exploits last time out at Harewood, took the win with his father Richard Price second and David Nelson third. The final Class 4 saw Shaun Elwell take the trophy from Chris Howard-Harris and Lynn Gilbert.
The final sprint of the year proved another resounding success despite the shortage of entries. Two practice and four timed runs to count (plus an extra non-counting run) meant a busy day for the startline crew but again they excelled. A big ‘thank you’ to all the marshals who helped during the year and we are already planning our 2012 events when the club will be celebrating its 110th anniversary.
Liverpool Motor Club, Aintree June Sprint Report
26th June 2011
(The Jack Neil Memorial Sprint)
by Steve Wilkinson
Just over 120 competitors arrived at the Aintree Club Circuit for the Jack Neal Memorial Sprint under grey skies. The overnight rain had left the track damp in places and with soaking wet grass the run-offs looked treacherous. Throughout the day we had just a slight bit of drizzle which only arrived during the fourth set of timed runs so in the circumstances it was a virtually dry meeting – something that ahead of time was in doubt.
After two practice runs the event proper got underway at 11:43. Leading the way were the two Standard classes. In the Up to 1400 split David ‘TVR’ Drucker led the way in his recently acquired VW Polo with Chris Palmer (Suzuki Cappuccino) second and Tim Gill in the FIAT Panda 4×4 third. In the 2000 split the Hart family reigned supreme. Peter Hart led home father Tony in the family Clio Williams with LMC’s Douglas Gorge third completing the Clio clean sweep.
Into Roadgoing and the 1400 Saloons saw Martin Rowe in the Peugeot 106 Rallye holding off a spirited challenge from John Marsden who was reportedly waving his newly acquired bus pass at the Startline Crew as he tried to get pensioner’s rates! George Povey came home in third after putting Rhys Palmer down into fourth! The two litre Roadgoing Saloons saw Colin Smith in the Clio hold off a challenge from Keith Minshull’s Peugeot 306 Rallye whilst David Whitmore was third in yet another Clio. In the Up to 2000cc Roadgoing Sportscar class Brain Cartwright in the MX5 was the class act as he cruised home ahead of Dave Exton in the £700 MR2 and a wayward Robert Holt in a rather neat ‘Gold leaf’ liveried Elise.
The two Roadgoing Kit Car classes both proved to be a bit one-sided. In the Up to 1700 class Brad Gould was well clear of the rest in his early Westfield whilst Brian Walker just held off Phil Gough in the battle for second some two seconds adrift. In the Over 1700 class Mark Wallwork, despite sending showers of fuel onto the track on runs one & two, not only took an easy class win but also set a new class record. Alister Pimlott won the battle of the Robin Hoods & also beat Steve Salmon’s glorious sounding Stratos replica.
Into Mod Prods and in the Up to 2000 tin-tops, a merged class, Stuart Tranter led from Run 1 whilst co-driver Colin Price took second place despite the car having already done 124,000 miles. In the Over 2 litre class Ricky Moore got very close to the record as he won at a canter from Tim Hanlon in the first of the Imprezas. In the Up to 2 litre Sports cars David Ormerod Jnr was on the pace getting close to the record as he took first ahead of his father whilst in the Over 2 Litre class John Biddulph was closer still to his own record in the Porsche as the Simon Allaby/David Hardcastle Triumph TR7 growled its way round in second & third. In the Over 1700 Kit Car class it was a Hosson-Bouler 1-2 as Mark Purdham led home Alastair Jackson, the latter grabbing the Novice Driver of the Day award. In the last of the Mod Prod classes, that for the motorcycle derived engined Kit Cars, Robert Bailey was on brilliant form and was inside his old record on each of his four timed runs. Mike Clarke won the battle of the Megabusas with Harry Moody third.
There was just the one Sports Libre class and Paul Norris in his immaculately prepared Talbot Sunbeam Ford Cosworth was the fastest from the get-go. Stuart Nelson pushed hard in second but not having sprinted at Aintree since 2007 he was a tad rusty. Third went to Paul Horrox in the Honda powered Lotus Exige whilst the very pretty Tiga SC79 of Derek Martlew claimed fourth ahead of the Mallock Clubmans car of Keith Robinson.
Into the Racing Car class and in the Up to 1100 split Gary Thomas was in a class of his own as he came close to his own record in the battle for not only the class but FTD which he also grabbed. Second went to the very pretty Seward F1010 which Christian Parker drove to good effect despite only having race rubber on hand. Barry Whitehead took third in RBS 7B despite breaking a rear wishbone – this sidelined him and also meant daughter Eve never got a run. Russell Edwardson was fourth in the Yamapin whilst co-driver for the season Alan wood took fifth. Peter Brogden, who switched to his Jedi after the March blew a cylinder head gasket during the week, won the battle of the 600s as he finished ahead of Brandon Smith in the very neat MJM Stealth.
The Formula Ford battle was next and it was Graham Curwen who took the narrowest of leads from David Sturdy. On the second runs Curwen increased his lead only for Sturdy on run 3 to snatch it back. With slight drizzle falling on the fourth runs it was game over. Meanwhile Phil Perks fought back from a poor first run in his Royale which included an ‘agricultural moment’ and he moved into third place second time round as Peter Ibbotson could only chip a few tenths off his previous time in the Sparton.
With just one car and two drivers in the 2 litre class of Racing Cars it was a Dallara benefit. John Graham led throughout whilst co-driver John Moxham chipped away at his times. Graham was initially also the leader of the FTD Trophy but when he made a complete hash of his second run and bogged down at the start his chance slipped away. Never-the-less his pace was evident and I suspect an FTD trophy is sure to come sooner rather than later.
The Classics were next and Phil Prince again was not only the fastest over the course but also won the class on handicap. Malcolm Evans, who made a late switch to the trusty Anglia, was second with Mike de St Paer third in the frogeyed Sprite. There was now a change of pace but not of the competitive level as the Austin 7s of the Bert Hadley Memorial Championship took to the track. John Mansfield’s Austin 7 Special was the class act being the only runner inside the 70 second barrier whilst Gordon Tasker held off the challenge from Alan Fairless & Geoff Harrison. Just three Scimitars made up the Reliant Sabre & Scimitar Owners Club contenders and Trevor Shortt in the elderly GT ran out a comfortable winner from the two more modern GTEs of John Louch and Paul Andrews.
The Morgans were next to the line and the battle on scratch went to Simon Baines whose son Jonathan tied for second place with Tim Harrison. On the Handicap it was Paul Bryan who took the honours with his Zetec powered 4/4 which was a great achievement on his first visit to Aintree from darkest Essex! Another Zetec powered 4/4 was second driven by Simon Moore whilst Simon Baines pace in the Lightweight Roadster saw him finish third.
There were only six runners in the Luffield MG Car Club class due in no small measure to a clash with MG Live at Silverstone. On track it was a 1-2 for the Walkers as Andy took the win in a new record time with their MGB Roadster V8. Paul Drake took third in his Sebringised MGB GT ahead of the TF 160s of Tim Kirkham and Bill Sharp.
The final class for the Austin Healey Club Healey Sport runners had just four runners and it was no surprise that local ace Alan Wilson took the win in his immaculate ally bodied 3000 Mk 2. Son Chris was second in his “plastic” Mk 2 Sprite whilst John Tewson and Richard Pugh brought their Sprites home in third and fourth.
The 471 competition starts were executed in just 3 hours and 45 minutes, yet another testimonial to the thorough professionalism of the LMC team. At the prize presentation in the Golf Centre there were huge smiles all round as yet another successful sprint on the Aintree club circuit was completed. The competitors really do appreciate the effort put in by LMC and the club members involved should be proud of their achievements.
Liverpool Motor Club Aintree Spring Sprint
30th April 2011
by Steve Wilkinson
Just over 140 competitors arrived at the Aintree Club Circuit for the first sprint of the year at the historic venue. The weather was near perfect, though rather windy. After the two practice runs the meeting proper would get underway.
The Standard Roadgoing 2 litre class was reduced to just two runners and Doug Gorge took the win over John Early both in Renault Clios. In Class 1A Martin Rowe took the win in his Peugeot with the evergreen John Marsden second in his Mini. In Class 1B Russell Herring led initially with his Clio Cup 172 only for the other Russell (Thorpe) to slip through for the win. In Class 1C Bob Jones, who had been amalgamated from the equivalent Standard Class, ended up the only runner so duly took the trophy. Robert Holt then took a solo win in Class 1D with his Elise whilst initially there had been no entries for 1D on the day Tony and Peter Hart pitched up with a glorious Renault Alpine GTA and Tony just beat Peter to the win.
In Class 2A (Roadgoing Kit Cars up to 1700) Brad Gould maintained his lead throughout whilst Andrew Hargreaves in the Hayabusa powered Westie held off a challenge from Chris Hardman in the Vauxhall powered version. In Class 2B Howard Gaskin ended up just over 2 seconds clear of the rest who were led home by Stephen Everall. The final Roadgoing class for Specialist Production Cars had just one entry, but what an entry! Malcolm Thorne was making his Aintree debut with his wonderful AC Cobra Superblower ““ 5 litres of Supercharged V8! Malcolm duly hammered the Class Record and had a thoroughly entertaining day.
Into the Mod Prod classes and in Class 3B the unlikely Citroen Visa of Michael Dentten took the win holding off the challenge from David Reade in the Golf. In Class 3C John Biddulph led initially in the Porsche 964RS and looked likely to win until Aintree debutante Ricky Moore in the Time Attack Mitsubishi slipped through for the win. Biddulph remained second with David Kennerley bringing his Impreza home third. In Class 3D it was an Ormerod 1-2 with David Junior maintaining his lead throughout over father David; the “˜stealth’ Mazda MX5 of Damian Lynch and Rob Newnes completed the class order. Into Class 3G and with 11 runners it was always going to be a close call. Matt Hillam in the SBD-Westfield just kept ahead of Kurt Ramsden despite a third run spin. However Ramsden was relegated to second place after two runs only to fight back to secure the runners up slot ahead of Paul Aspden who was co-driving Derek Hodder’s Honda supercharged Westie. Hodder took fourth with Terry Everall fifth and Chris Hullat sixth. There was just one runner in Class 3H after Steven Brown’s Hyabusa powered Westfield was sidelined with engine maladies. Mark Anson didn’t hang about and got to within a quarter of a second of the class record.
There were six entries in the Sports Libre class, all with engines over the magic 1700cc mark. Jim Belt in the wonderfully crisp V6 Jaguar Powered Juno took the win and took exactly half a second off Simon Bainbridge’s class record with the Audi TT Replica. All three of Belt’s runs were inside Bainbridge’s best time! Second spot went to Derek Martlew in the lovely Tiga SC79, an ex-Sports 2000 racer. Paul Horrox was third in the re-engined Exige whilst Martlew’s co-driver, Frazer Graham, was fourth.
Into the Racing Car classes next and in 5A for the up to 1100s Craig Powers was the victor finishing ahead of co-driver for the day Eve Whitehead who had moved over to the OMS after a problem with RBS7B’s fuel pump was discovered. Speaking of which Barry Whitehead managed a temporary fix and he duly took third place, ahead of Russell Edwardson & Alan Wood who were sharing the former’s Yamapin. Class 5 B for the Formula Ford 1600′s were next and initially Phil Perks in the elderly Royale RP24 led from the Van Diemens of Graham Curwen & David Sturdy. After the second runs, Sturdy was leading from Curwen up to second yet on the third runs Perks fought back to take second. The final Racing Car class was for over 1600cc cars and there was another dominant winner. John Graham, he of the Lotus 2-11 & Elan, had bought a Dallara and he duly started to come to terms with the switch to an open wheeler on this his very first competitive event with the car. Graham would lead throughout whilst Dennis Doyle, despite a practice excursion at Village, maintained the runner’s up slot. Peter Brogden in the pretty ex-Musami Kuwashima F3 March was third with John Moxham, co-driving Graham’s ex-Platt Dallara, was fourth as he came to terms with the switch from a Mod Prod Saloon to a single seater!
In Class 6 (Classic & Racing Cars pre 1973) Malcolm Evans in the CTG Clubmans car was the fastest on Scratch times. However class positions are decided on Target Times and Phil Prince in the Elan, a car he has had for more years than either he or I would care to remember, duly ran out the winner. John Hanlon, guesting in Sean Bramhall’s lovely Healey 100/6, was second with Evans in the CTG third.
Just three Reliants made it to the line and Nick Hall in the Super Sabre 1 Turbo was too nimble for Paul Andrews & Brain Couch Snr in their Scimitar GTEs.
The final “˜classic’ class was for the wonderful Paul Matty Sportscars lotus Championship. On scratch John Palmer in a modified Lotus 61 was fastest but the Championship is run on handicap and first place would go to Pete Bottrill in the pretty series 3 Elan. Second was the similar Elan of Richard Swindall with Sarah Thorne in the Elise third. Paul Matty’s gloriously turned out Lotus 35 was second fastest overall but could only manage seventh on handicap.
This left just the two Caterham Academy Groups who were divided into two classes ““ one per group. In Group A Elliot Norris led throughout setting his best time on Run 2. Charlie Bowmont was initially second but fell down to third when Robert Chappell slipped through. Mark Lewis made a bit of a mess of his Academy car when he flew off at Bechers but the driver was OK only the bank balance would be damaged! In Group B it was Andrew Welch who was in top form leading throughout. Brad Smith got close, to within 0.03 second, whilst Michael Steeden was only 0.14 further back!
All in all a great day of sprinting in near perfect conditions. For a full set of results just check out the appropriate place on the website – and if you want to get involved then here are the dates for the rest of the season:-
Liverpool Motor Club’s 2012 Aintree Events
28th April - Aintree Spring Sprint
26th May - Aintree Track Day 1
30th June - Aintree Sprint (The Jack Neal Memorial Sprint)
1st September - Aintree Autumn Sprint
29th September - Aintree Track Day 2
