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27th-28th August 2011 - Oulton Park
Oulton Park Gold Cup Meeting August 27th-28th 2011
Classic Racing Cars supported by the Cubicle Centre
The HSCC were only able to find room in their crowded programme for a single Classic Racing car event, but fourteen one litre F3s appeared, sadly Nigel Miller had been obliged to scratch. Saturday morning testing was wet and extremely slippery and rain was falling by the time qualifying arrived. Nigel Bancroft was spectacular as usual in Tony Mantle’s Chevron B17 finishing up over four seconds quicker than Ian Gray’s twin cam Brabham. Next up were another four F3s, Tizzard’s Chevron going extremely well ahead of Messer in the Vesey, and the familiar Brabham BT21s of Wilkinson and Holland; sadly Wilkinson’s engine suffered a massive failure on his fourth lap which ruled him out for the rest of the meeting.
Next F3 was Steve Seaman in another Brabham ahead of Jim Chapman in his Lotus 59; Peter Thompson and Tim Kary were evenly matched in eighth and ninth, Tim’s recently broken leg proving to be no handicap. Leif Bosson was well clear of Peter Froude’s Tecno which hadn’t wanted to run in the morning; Peter Williams and John Counsell’s misfiring March headed Andrew Thorpe to round off the one litre cars.
Much to Nigel Bancroft’s disappointment the race was run in bright and dry conditions allowing Ian Gray to make full use of his Brabham’s twin cam power, Gray finally winning by some twenty two seconds. Bancroft did not give up however and held on to second overall ahead of Mike Scott’s BDA powered Brabham BT30. Stuart Tizzard had made his usual good start as had Chris Holland who led Keith Messer into Old Hall, and somewhere on that first lap Jim Chapman’s Lotus also came past to do battle with Tizzard. Messer passed Holland into Old Hall at the start of lap three and set off after Chapman who had his hands full trying to pass Tizzard’s Chevron; gradually Tizzard drew away leaving Chapman to the attentions of Messer who managed to get the Vesey alongside on a couple of occasions. This battle went down to the wire as Messer made a dive down the inside of the Lotus going into Lodge on the final lap, and came out of Deer Leap almost alongside as they crossed the line, two hundredths of a second in Chapman’s favour. Behind this frenetic action Chris Holland was having another lonely race coming home ahead of Peter Thompson; Leif Bosson had a good run, disposing of Steve Seaman, and passing Kary when he spun exiting Lodge, coming home seventh F3 and the last unlapped runner. The Marches of John Counsell (now on four cylinders) and Andrew Thorpe were next up ahead of Peter Froude’s Tecno and Peter Williams’ Brabham.
Nigel Bancroft’s F3 win means that he has taken this year’s unofficial Peter Hanson Trophy which was based on the race results from Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park. Equal second were Chris Holland and Keith Messer with Tim Kary, Leif Bosson and Peter Froude rounding of the top six. Full standings will appear in the next newsletter.
Photos courtesy of Rob Faloon
