TRACK: GRIMLEY
DATE: 26 MAY 2008
EVENT: NORTHERN & MIDLAND LEG2/TYREFIT QR3
NO OF CARS/DRIVERS: 8/9
W 193
Y 12, 91,999
B 256
R 6, 56, 93,156
|
Race/pos |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
H1 |
56 |
6 |
156 |
999 |
256 |
193 |
93 |
nof |
|
H2 |
156 |
6 |
56 |
91 |
999 |
93 |
256 |
12 |
|
FINAL |
156 |
56 |
6 |
999 |
256 |
91 |
12 |
nof |
Modstox made there first 2008 trip to grimley…and what a difference the weather made this time the rain started early and just kept coming.. The biggest downside being that our side of the pits became a pond during the day making life more of challenge than usual.
Good to see” Reggie vision” Reg Picken (191) self built car being the first new car for 2008 to make it on track. The day was meant to be a running in day with Gary at the helm .things got off to reasonable start in practice with Gary mixing it with the outlaw boys on a soaked track but suspension damage created handling probs for the rest of the day with the day ending even worse in the final read on...!! Gary’s regular car shared between southerner “from brizzle” David James and mechanic kev who both enjoyed the chance to get trackside. (get well soon Luke! ..to see your dad beating Gary!!)
The meet was the 2nd leg of the northern & midland title a point’s race format over 2 meets the first being at Sheffield last time out. The N&M points after leg 1 were
56-29, 93-25,156-18, 6-17,999-16, 99-11
Heat1 – early casualty was long distance traveller Steve Denbigh (12) with carb probs whilst Neil cooper (256) was also off the pace with suspension probs. Craig Mack(156) moved through swiftly to lead. Unfortunately Craig hooked up with backmarker/Sunday driver Gary picken (93) coming out of the 4th bend which saw them hooked up and Gary travelling backwards down the main straight and Craig delayed .this allowed Neil Mack (56) through to lead .race action then centred on Craig making up lost ground and battling with team mate Andrew Edwards (6) who did well to hold on to 2nd place.
Heat 2 - early leader was mark tenant(999) with kev picken(91) and Steve Denbigh battling for 2nd .a mistake by mark allowed kev to close up and Craig Mack also brushed them both aside to lead .kev then maintained 2nd for a couple of laps with a train of 6,56 and 999 behind. As the race ended Craig had a comfortable lead with Andrew (6) and Neil (56) with Andrew again coming out on top although Neil may have had one eye on the N&M points table.
The N&M points going into the final were
56-43,156-32,6-31,93-30,and 999-25 so there was quite a close battle for the runner up spot but a steady run by Neil should secure the 2008 title off Gary(93) the 2007 champ
Final – by final time the rain had stopped but the track now had a fair bit of standing water particular the banked inside of turn 4.early leader was again mark (999) with kev in 2nd and Steve 3rd.craig again muscled through for 2nd passing kev and giving lap down Gary a clout into the back straight wall in his urgency to get to the lead.
Craig took the lead by quarter distance with a battle behind between 56/999/6.
At three quarter distance kev (91) spun out on the 4th bend pond whilst upfront team-mates 156 and 56 were in close formation flying...only other drama was gary’s or should I say reggies engine blowing up style on the 4th bend coming to a smokey halt at the pitgate..Good to see Gary and reg smiling afterwards about it. that’s the joy of cheap modstox engines. Doesn’t send you tearfully to the bank manager when one blows!!
N&M points after leg 2
56-57,156-48, 6-43,999-35
Overall a steady not spectacular meeting in trying conditions but through it all Neil Mack (56) showed again he is consistently the class of the field with another major championship to his resume.
Car Project/Forestry Commission Grade award winners W – 193, Y –999, B-256, R-156
Next meeting Brampton Sunday June 8th 2008.Champion of Champions/Tyrefit QR4……
Many thanks for race report assistance by Reggie vision videos. In conjunction with the British Heart Foundation