Morgan Racer

The Morgan Sports Car Club’s annual meeting was at Mallory Park once again on Sunday 10 August.

Not the best month for some, with holidays getting in the way, and not a tempting circuit for others, as it has seen more than its share of badly damaged Morgans over the years. A quick short track (2nd only on average speed in the UK to Thruxton) with few corners and little run-off in places, and the tightest hairpin at a circuit that we will find (hopefully). But a good track for spectators – with close-up viewing at the hairpin and not long to wait before they come round again.

As usual there were two Morgan races, but this year only the first, The Peter Morgan Memorial Trophy, would count towards the Challenge series. The second race, the Arthur Neal Trophy, had a clutch of Caterhams on the front of the grid making up the numbers.

With gales blowing through the night and a heavy downpour as well, the fast moving clouds suggested that the weather could change from being cloudy, but dry, at any moment. In the event we were lucky as the showers stayed away, although they came within half a mile or so.

The Peter Morgan Memorial Trophy

Qualifying was uneventful, if crowded. Even though there were only 20 cars on track, as it is only 1.3 miles long there was the inevitable bunching up and some significant speed differentials.

Rick Lloyd was on pole with a 51.863, with Phil Hollins alongside on the front row. Then just two of what Keith Ahlers calls ‘the headbangers of Class B’ on Row 2 – Tony Lees and Chris Acklam (Andy Green having gone sailing at Oulton Park and Peter ‘Hooray’ Henry still exploring the countryside at Cadwell – neither to return immediately). Rows 3 and 4 contained the Class C6 contenders, Andrew Thompson, Glyn Davies and Simon Orebi Gann, with Tony Rivers alongside and then Kelvin Laidaw on Row 5. Alongside Kelvin was a pleased Steve McDonald who qualified a row ahead of the Class C8 (and Championship) leader Chris Springall. Then, with less than a second separating them, came Tim Clark, Peter Sargeant, Andrew Potter and Leigh Sebba. Next was Roger Whiteside and James Edgerton both with mechanical problems. And finally Kathy Sherry ahead of the two newcomers Peter Twinam and Andy Faulds.

The race start was relatively uneventful with Rick Lloyd powering out to a lead which he wasn’t to relinquish. Tony Lees from Row 2 outdragged Phil Hollins to the first corner and crucially held the inside line. Chris Acklam drew alongside Phil, but was on the outside, so fell back on the corner allowing a fast-starting Glyn Davies, in the ex-Russell Paterson Roadster, to challenge on the inside of Gerrards and pull alongside on the exit. But the bigger brakes of the Class B car meant Chris was 4th into the hairpin with Davies on his tail.

On lap 2 Phil Hollins swept past Tony Lees on the main straight and proceeded to chase Rick to the flag. Chris Acklam eventually caught up with Tony after a few laps (and a worrying slide at the Devil’s Elbow) and harried him to the end – but despite a few passing attempts and a lunge down the inside at the hairpin couldn’t get past the wide yellow car and finished 4th. Tony ending 3rd overall, and first in class.

Andrew Thompson lost places to Glyn Davies and Tony Rivers at the start but passed Tony on Lap 2 and Glyn on Lap 4 after some exciting attempts.  Andrew then pulled away to come in 5th and win Class C6 with fastest lap, with Glyn 6th and 2nd in class.  Simon Orebi Gann, who had slipped behind Tony Rivers at the start, squeezed past on the inside into Gerrards and finished 7th and 3rd in Class.

The crowded entry to the hairpin proved to be troublesome for James Edgerton on lap 2 who, after moving quickly through the field on the first lap,  was clipped and then spun, hitting the barriers and ending up on the grass facing the oncoming traffic right at the edge of the track in the braking area. Despite the dangerous position, yellow flags were considered sufficient and the car remained there for the rest of the race – it was some testament to the driving standards that there  was no further damage to the car.

In Class C8, Steve McDonald made a good start but lost position to Chris Springall on lap 2, with Kelvin also moving ahead.  Chris finished 1st in Class, though Steve gained fastest lap in the subsequent chase.  The other C8 contestants, Leigh Sebba and Tim Clark, had a great tussle, also mixing it with Peter Sargeant and some “interesting” dicing for position – from which Leigh eventually came out ahead.

Sadly Roger Whiteside’s overheating troubles returned despite a fix in the paddock after qualifying and he retired after lap 3. Peter Twinam was unfortunate to spin on the exit of the hairpin – as he was on his own at the time, a heavy right foot was the likely cause – and he came to rest on the grass by the barrier. Andy Faulds as the lone entrant in Class D completed his second ever race without incident and received the Class Winner cup.

The large number of spectators also enjoyed watching Andrew Potter make his way from 14th on the grid to 9th, spending the middle part of the race joined at the hip with Kelvin Laidlaw – and with both of them catching Chris Springall to include him in their fight.  Andrew passed Kelvin on lap 13 and finally got past Chris Springall on the last lap of the race.  He was awarded Driver of the Race.

On-board video of the race can be seen here

The Arthur Neal Trophy

The main focus of this race was Rick Lloyd’s bruising battle with the Caterhams. Watching at the hairpin we could see a graphic illustration of what the term ‘banging doorhandles’ might mean if the Morgan had them, as the second-placed Caterham pushed (literally) Rick’s Morgan wide on the exit and used all sorts of manoeuvres before barging past on the final lap. Rick finished 3rd with the fastest lap as a small consolation.

Behind him and the Caterhams, Phill Hollins was toying rather cruelly with Tony Lees – allowing him to close up on the corners, even get alongside, before using his extra power to move ahead again on the straights.

Glyn Davies and Andrew Thompson resumed their battle, but it ended when Andrew decided to brake even later than normal for the hairpin – which left him sliding on the grass into a gentle kiss with the barrier.

Brett Syndercombe made steady progress through the race overtaking five of those who started in front of him to finish 10th. Tony Rivers and Andrew Potter battled away finishing closely and Leigh Sebba crossed the line just ahead of Kelvin Ladlaw and Steve McDonald.

© Chris Acklam 2008