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The MG Car Club
hosted our final races of
the year, rounds thirteen and fourteen of the busy Equipe"GTS
2008 season which took us back to the ever popular British race circuit of
Snetterton.
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With the recently
approved planning application for a Grand Prix length extension of the circuit of this
ever popular venue, Equipe"GTS
competitors took
their last chance to drive the 1.95 mile Snetterton circuit in its
current layout, next year we will all look forward to the new
circuit changes.
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Fine
autumn weather greeted the racers on Saturday morning for qualifying
and the forecast for wet weather held off all day, yet overnight rain
devastated the Sunday's race programme.
Malcolm
Johnson's TVR Grantura took pole position, first of five Granturas
on the near full grid of 29 cars with Tom Smith holding onto MG
honours sharing the front row of the grid in his MGB from Rod Begbie
- TVR and Neil Howe - TR4. Brian Arculus excelled in his earlier
model Triumph TR3a.
In the smaller classes, Simon Gurney's MGA
Sebring Deluxe lined up next to Keith Hampson's ex - two times Le
Mans 24 hour Sunbeam Alpine, with Chris Gordon's Triumph Spitfire
heading the smallest class from Clive Cocks WSM Austin Healey Sprite
and the superb Dave Wood Lancia Fulvia.
.
.
The
race was without doubt one of the best ever.
Malcolm
Johnson made a poor start and Rod Begbie initially took headed the
pack from Tom Smith and Neil Howe, with John Andon's similar TR4 among
the front runners on the opening laps. Eventually, Tom Smith
took over the lead yet Malcolm Johnson soon set about making some
progress, taking the lead himself by one half distance. Smith
was having none of it and pushed hard, taking the lead back with
only a few laps to go.
The
TVR took advantage as the MGB tyres warmed, Malcolm Johnson taking
back the head of the field with two laps remaining which he held to
the chequer, Tom Smith a mere 0.3 seconds in arrears. Rod Begbie
held the final podium place from John Andon who inherited fourth
place as Neil Howe's Triumph TR4 unfortunately slowed with a broken half-shaft.
David
Beresford headed the following pack of six MGBs from Stephen
Radcliffe nursing a broken gearbox, Alasdiar Bruce, David Gardner,
John Yea and Graham Bates.
The
determined Clive Cocks took class B honours from Dave Wood on the
last lap as the Lancia slowed, Dave having grossly under estimated the
superbly crisp sounding V4 engine's thirst for fuel. Simon Gurney
lost a class win to Keith Hampson,
three seconds in arrears at the finish.
-
-
As
feared, torrential overnight rain scuppered any chances of another Equipe"GTS
spectacular, as
Sunday's racing was cancelled.
The
2009 season already eagerly awaited.
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"Equipe"GTS
lap record
Ian Bankhurst -
TVR Grantura - 1.24.7 - 6th April 2008
