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.
. Race
12 Brands
Hatch
September
7th 30 minute "
Pit - Stop " race ------
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No introduction is
required for this World famous venue where the MG Car
Club hosted round 12 of this season's “Equipe”GTS
race series. This
popular venue on the shorter "Indy" circuit gave opportunities for
drivers to share one car, there being a mandatory pit stop at
between one and two third of the race duration where the car must remain
stationary for at least 30 seconds.
Alternatively, a driver change could be made during the stop and in
which case the car may rejoin the circuit as quickly as possible.
Again,"Equipe”GTS
fielded a full grid with reserves.
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Nick Crewdson
shared with John Pearson, Rob Croft shared with Steve Hall and Dave
Wood also shared the driving with Paul Freeman. Stephen Bolderson
made his racing debut sharing with his father Peter - all in MGBs. All
other drivers elected to drive single handed. -
------ Neil
Howe steered his TR4 to pole position in the very damp and dismal
late summer rain soaked track from Tom Smith and Jerry Stock's MGBs.
Neil Hardy excelled in the wet conditions and slotted his 1955
Austin Healey 100 into a very impressive 7th position on the grid
behind three more MGBs of Stephen Radcliffe, Graham Shrigley Jones and
Alasdair Bruce. ------ 
------ A
dry line had appeared over the lunch break to greet the“Equipe”GTS
competitors who raced nose to tail, packed onto the tight and
twisty circuit until disaster happened on lap two when series
debutant Andy Somerville spun his TR4 at Graham Hill bend only to
be collected by the MGB of Bob Ridgard. With the two cars stranded
in a dangerous position the race was stopped. At
the restart, it was soon evident that Malcolm Johnson was going to
take full advantage of the dryer track and was soon pressing for the
lead. Tom Smith was holding off Neil Howe and Stephen
Radcliffe who all took turns as leader of the pack as each elected to make
their stops on differing laps, with Malcolm Johnson eventually
taking advantage on lap nine which he held - just - to the chequered
flag taking a new “Equipe”GTS
lap record into the bargain. Tom
Smith and Neil Howe rounded up the top three with Simon Gurney in
his MGA Sebring and Tony Wilson Spratt's WSM Austin Healey Sprite
both worthy class winners. ---- 
-- Driver
of the race award was presented to Neil Hardy, finishing eighth
overall just behind the Triumph TR3 of Brian Arculus and John
Andon's TR4.
"Equipe"GTS
lap record
Malcolm
Johnson - TVR Grantura Mk3 - 57.95secs -
7th September 2008
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