Race Report
First Four Rounds of the
BARC/MGOC Championship
by Lorraine Clark
Round 1 – Silverstone – 17 March 2001
Silverstone is traditionally the venue for the opening round of the
BARC/MGOC championship. With spring around the corner no one could have
expected the atrocious conditions which welcomed competitors (and a few
hardy spectators) for dawn had brought a heavy snowfall onto the
Northamptonshire circuit. Proceedings were delayed some hours, abandonment
of the meeting did look likely for a time. As the snow and slush melted
there was some consultation between race officials and competitors.
Due to the delay in starting because of the weather, the
qualifying/practice session was reduced to 3 laps only. As the session
went untimed, the actual grid was decided by race officials. Front row was
given to Peter St Barbe, a long standing front runner. I usually perform well
at Silverstone and so was put up front along side Jim Baynam, an MGOC veteran of 20
years.
The appalling conditions suited the heavier MGB and MGBGT’s, with many
of the lighter Midgets struggling for grip. Positions were swapping
throughout the entire race and the first four crossed the line within one
second of each other, with my Midget being the first to finish, ending in
6th place.
RESULT
1. Jim BAYNAM, MGB GT, 15.47.946 (62.43mph)
2. Dave REES, MGB, +0.246
3. Roy CLARKSON, MGB, +0.583
4. Jonathan KIMBER, MGB, +0.974
5. Harry SINCLAIR, MGB, GT +6.531
6. Lorraine CLARK, MG Midget, +9.066
Round 2 – Mallory Park – 8 April 2001
The practice session produced an almost exclusively MG Midget top six,
the only exception being Jim Baynam in an MGB. The shorter tighter circuit
here at Mallory Park being more suited to the MG Midget.
As all the cars came around the circuit to take up their grid positions
Peter St Barbe's MG Midget, on pole position did not sound too healthy! As
the countdown proceeded and the lights went green, the sound of 20+ MG's
filled the natural amphitheatre of Mallory Park. St Barbe failed to get of
the line with any pace allowing me through from the second
row. Jim Baynam also passed St. Barbe with a brave move up on the inside.
Paul Naish too made good start and followed me closely towards
the first corner 'Gerards'. So excitement on the first lap, but the next
11 laps were to be just as exciting. I was out in front, with
Paul Naish and Jim Baynam in hot pursuit, and as they scrapped over second
place I just kept cool with my foot firmly on the gas pedal
to take my first and fully deserved win.
RESULT
1. Lorraine CLARK, MG Midget, 12:08.551 (80.04 59.715)
2. Jim BAYMAN, MGB, +0.782
3. Paul NAISH, MG Midget, +0.992
4. Gary SMITH, MG Midget, +1.965
5. Ian MCCORMACK, AHS, +2.659
6. Kelly MERCER, MG Midget +13.662
Round 3 – Brands Hatch – 22 April 2001
Practice saw Gary Smith put himself on pole. Gary had not expected pole
but his lap time had improved because his brakes had failed, so he was
unable to slow up much at the corners, the result - he found just that
little bit extra to deny me the pole.
The start of the race saw reversed fortunes for the front runners Peter
St. Barbe got a flyer going into the lead at 'Paddock' whilst Gary Smith
lost control at Paddock causing mayhem in his wake, and I
missed a gear. The race soon settled down and the front runners St Barbe,
Baynam and I pulled away from the rest of the pack. There were one or
two dust clouds on 'Paddock Hill' as cars ran wide. Both Jim Baynam and I
tried to close down on Peter St Barbe, but were unable to
close that second and a half gap.
RESULT
1. Peter St BARBE, MG Midget, 12:36.978 (70.06mph)
2. Jim BAYNAM, MGB, +1.571
3. Lorraine CLARK, MG Midget, +1.697
4. Paul NAISH, MG Midget, +7.832
5. Dave REES, MGB GT, +8.810
6. Ian McCORMACK, AHS, +13.896
Round 4 – Lydden Hill – 13 May 2001
I set the fastest time of 67.74 mph. Gary Smith who had claimed pole
last time out at Brands Hatch had to settle for second place on the grid
with the narrowest of margins (0.145) separating the two MG Midgets. In
third place, Peter St. Barbe. The top five cars were all within one second
of each other.
It is just a short dash to the first corner, a slight left into a dip
before sweeping right through 'Pilgrims' and onto 'Chessons Drift'. The 18
MG's are still pretty well bunched up. I was fighting over first place with
the two Midgets of St. Barbe and Smith. I took the lead
in the early laps, pulling away slightly from Peter St Barbe and Gary
Smith, who both use all their racecraft to outdrive each other! Briefly
Peter St. Barbe took the lead but after completing just six laps he pulled
off the circuit and into the pit lane with some kind of a problem. After
being on pole and losing it on the first corner at Brand Hatch last time
out, Gary Smith was hungry for his first ever win! Both he and I had a
real hard race, but it was Gary that took the chequered flag to
secure that long awaited first win.
RESULT
1. Gary SMITH, MG Midget, 13:34.881 (66.26 mph)
2. Lorraine CLARK, MG Midget, +0.370
3. Jim BAYNAM, MGB, +7.181
4. Dave REES, MGB GT, +9.074
5. David AMPHLETT, MGB, +9.862
6. Kelly MERCER, MG Midget, +11.629
Current Championship Positions
Jim Baynam, 72 points
Lorraine Clark, 64 points
Dave Rees, 53 points
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