Archived Race Reports 2019

Oulton Park 31/8/2019

All eyes were trained on the sky as the nineteen runners in the final Cockshoot Cup race of the season took to the circuit for qualifying. Luckily the rain held off and some fast times were set. Pole position was grabbed by guest driver Danny Winstanley in an MG ZS with Ray Collier lining up alongside him on the front row. Peter Bramble was back in his MGB and headed the second row with fastest Class B runner Mark Bellamy alongside in his MG ZR170. Quickest Class A driver and in an amazing sixth place was Ian Wright circulating at lap record pace. Brian Butler headed Class F in seventh place. Down in eighth place was new champion Paul Clackett who had to pit early in the session with an electrical problem. All the drivers qualified safely and would be ready to start the mid-afternoon race.

After a monsoon like storm, the track had dried out for the race. When the red lights went out, Pete Bramble made a stunning start and gave the photographers a brilliant shot of an MGB leading the more modern cars down The Avenue. Sadly, Pete couldn’t hang on to the lead and was soon passed by Danny Winstanley, Paul Clackett and Ray Collier. These three changed places several times but then Paul began to fall away leaving Danny and Ray up front. Meanwhile, Class F runner Chris Greenbank failed to leave the line at the start and Class B pole-sitter Mark Bellamy made contact with the armco barrier and retired. This left a tense scrap for Class B with the class championship depending on the positions. Mike Peters in his MG Midget pulled away to take victory in the class, but Jimmy Johnson, Colin Stubbs, Karl Green and Aaron Jackson were contesting second in class. The race changed completely on lap seven. The engine in Karl Green’s MG ZS cried enough as he entered Old Hall Corner. Although he pulled off quickly there was oil on the circuit which the two leaders were unable to avoid both ending their races in the tyre wall. Jimmy Johnson also ran over the slick and had a big spin in his MG ZR170 but was able to continue. At the flag, Paul Clackett crossed the line as race winner with Pete Bramble second and Ashley Woodward in his MG ZS third. Behind Mike Peters, Aaron Jackson was second in Class B in his MG Midget with Colin Stubbs third securing the class championship. Ian Wright clinched Class A with Brian Butler taking Class F. Maddy Maguire finished safely to secure the “Williams Ollerton” Trophy for best performance by a lady.

Paul Clackett, Mike Peters and Ian Wright won the Vicky Peters Trophies.

With dropped scores taken into account, the Class A champion is Ian Wright from Paul Wignall and Phil Yates. Class B champion is Colin Stubbs with Jimmy Johnson second and Ian Whitt third. Paul Clackett is overall champion with Keith Egar and Mike Ashcroft taking second and third in Class C. Only two drivers competed in Class F with Brian Butler beating Chris Greenbank.

 

 

Anglesey 17/8/19 and 18/8/19

After monsoon rain on Friday, Saturday was dry for qualifying. Fifteen drivers headed out on to the Coastal Circuit for a fifteen minute session. Ray Collier, the defending champion, made his first appearance of the season and traded fastest laps with Paul Clackett in his MG ZS. Ray finished quickest, but there was drama for Paul who was given a penalty and would have to start the first race at the back of the grid with a ten second delay. Keith Egar driving his MG Midget took up the other front row position with Mike Ashcroft’s MG ZR190 on the second row with Ian Whitt’s MG Midget alongside, heading Class B. Quickest Class A runner was Ian Wright with Brian Butler heading up Class F. Paul Wignall and Simon Lowery had mechanical problems which would be resolved ready for the first race.

Both races were scheduled for Sunday with the first starting before lunch in dry but windy conditions. Keith Egar made a stunning start to lead the race, but Ray Collier soon swept past into a lead which he would turn into a victory. All eyes were on Paul Clackett who overtook all the other drivers to finish second only 14 seconds behind Ray. There was lots of dicing behind these two. Keith Egar slipped back as he was passed by Mike Ashcroft and Mike Peters. Mike won Class B holding off the charge from Ian Whitt in his MG Midget. Simon Lowery was next followed by James Johnson who took the final podium position in Class B. In Class F, Brian Butler just held off Chris Greenbank with only a few tenths between them after 20 minutes racing. Paul Wignall won Class A from Ian Wright who had to recover from an early race incident.

All fifteen cars finished race one and lined up after lunch in the finishing order of race one. Once again several of the Midgets made quick starts to lead the race, but again Ray Collier swept into the lead. Paul Clackett challenged initially, but a power delivery issue caused him to fall back but still crossing the line in second place. Simon Lowery in another of the MG ZS cars was learning the circuit and got quicker every lap passing the Midgets to take third in the race and Class C. Mike Ashcroft came in fourth from a delighted Mike Peters who again won Class B. Ian Whitt retired towards the end of the race so James Johnson took second in Class with Colin Stubbs salvaging third in his MF ZR170 after a difficult weekend. Brian Butler again held off Chris Greenbank who had fading brakes to win Class F. Both Paul Wignall and Ian Wright retired from the race leaving Phil Yates’s Midget as the only Class A finisher.

Trophies were awarded for aggregate results. Ray Collier won the Malimson Rose Bowl, Mike Peters took the Genesis Trophy, Phil Yates secured the Entune Trophy and Brian Butler grabbed the MGF Trophy.

 

Donington Park 20/7/19 and 21/7/19

Twenty two Cockshoot Cup drivers signed on at Donington Park with two additional drivers in the MGF race joining in to make a grid of 24 cars. Quailfying took place on a dry track with Paul Clackett driving his MG ZS 160 swapping fastest times with Phil Standish in the MG TF LE500. Paul had the fastest time by 0.7 when the flag ended the session. Row two contained Keith Egar’s MG Midget, third in Class C, and quickest Class B runner Ian Whitt in his MG Midget. Next up was David Coulthard’s MGF Cup Car with second in Class B, James Johnson alongside. Brian Butler was the quickest Class F driver with Paul Wignall in his ZR160 an amazing eighth on the grid leading Class A. Ashley Woodward only managed a single lap meaning that he would start from the back in both races.

All eyes were on the sky as the drivers were called for their Saturday race. The light rain became heavy and wet tyres were attached to most of the cars although a lot were still on “dry” suspension settings. After two green flag laps the red lights went out and the pack screamed down towards Redgate. The weather conditions really suited the front wheel drive cars and although Phil Standish led briefly, it was Paul Clackett who took the lead and achieved race victory. Phil Standish drove well to maintain second place to the flag. Simon Lowery (who had never raced on a wet track) sliced through the field to secure the final podium place and third in Class C. Just behind Simon came Ashley Woodward from the back of the grid followed by Jonathan Harker in his MG TF LE 500. The star of Class B was Karl Green driving his MGZS with a four cylinder engine who finished sixth. Second in Class B was James Johnson, his best ever result, and third was Colin Stubbs managing to keep the lead in the championship. Paul Wignall won Class A and Brian Butler was victor in Class F. The only race retirement was newcomer Steve Lockhart who could not see out of his steamed up windscreen.

Sunday dawned dry and the cars raced in perfect conditions. Ian Wright who had not been able to run on Saturday returned with his spare engine in the car and secured a win in Class A. At the front, Paul Clackett was beaten away from the line by the fast starting Midgets, but soon powered his way to the front to take a second win and with it, the championship lead. Once again Phil Standish followed closely in Paul’s wheel tracks, but a failed gear linkage put him out of the race on lap twelve. Keith Egar and Simon Lowery battled for the other podium places with Keith’s Midget securing second from Simon near the end of the race. Ian Whitt, much more at home on the dry track, dominated Class B with the similar MG Midget of Mike Peters in second holding off Colin Stubb’s MG ZR170. Colin’s third place was enough to secure him the Class B points lead. Brian Butler won Class F with David Coulthard clinching the MGF race award. A new Class A lap record was set by Paul Wignall with Ian Wright also below the old mark. Brian Butler  lowered the Class F record which he already held.

 

Croft 18/3/19 and 19/3/19

Heavy and persistent drizzle greeted the Cockshoot Cup drivers at Croft Circuit. Fourteen cars rolled out for a wet qualifying session on a track which was too wet for slicks, but not enough for wets. Paul Clackett in his Class C ZS was quickest from the start and took pole position. The surprise of the session was Paul Wignall who dove his Class A ZR160 to the other front row grid spot. Phil Standish had a fuse blow in his MGTF LE500 but still qualified. Class B pole went to Colin Stubbs in his ZR170 and Brian Butler headed Class F after rebuilding his car after a suspension breakage at Brands Hatch.

The track was drying before race time, but moments before the start the rain returned and wet tyres were quickly fitted. Paul Clackett took the lead from his pole spot and began to pull away from the field. Phil Standish was quickly up to second from tenth on the grid. Colin Stubbs slotted into third place and the Class B lead passing Keith Egar’s Midget. The greasy track was causing problems with several spins and moments. Peter Bramble’s MGB left the track and couldn’t restart. The officials decided that the yellow MGB was in a dangerous place and deployed the safety car for one lap. The whole field closed up for the dash to the finish. Paul made a slight error at Tower which allowed Phil to dart into the race lead, but Paul recovered and on the final lap grabbed back first place from Phil to take the race win. Colin finished third winning Class B while Karl Green with a trailing bumper finished second in Class B. Keith Egar finished fifth and third in Class C. Brian Butler won Class F from Chris Greenbank driving his new car built up to replace the one badly damaged at Silverstone. Paul Wignall finished in eighth winning Class A.

By Sunday, conditions had changed completely with a dry track and sunny skies. Paul Clackett took the lead again when the lights went out, but his race was soon over with a mechanical problem. Peter Bramble also retired early. Phil Standish took the lead and triumphantly crossed the line to take a win in the orange TF LE500. Keith Egar finished second in the K series powered Midget and second in Class C, with Mike Ashcroft taking third in class. Ian Whitt in his Midget enjoyed the dry conditions finishing third in the race and clinching Class B from Colin Stubbs and James Johnson. Brian Butler won Class F, taking a superb fourth place and setting a new lap record. Paul Wignall won Class A from Ian Wright whose Midget was in hot pursuit all through the race setting a new class lap record.

Colin Stubbs left Croft as Class B and championship leader with Keith Egar heading Class C just a point behind.

 

 

Silverstone 30/3/2019

Twenty one drivers arrived at Silverstone on a glorious sunny spring day. Grid places changed throughout the session, but when the flag fell it was championship returnee Paul Clackett who grabbed pole position driving the ex Jason Simm ZS. Only 0.142 seconds behind was Phil Standish in the orange MG TF LE500. The second row was occupied by Michael Ashcroft driving his ZR190 and Simon Lowery behind the wheel of his ZS. Next up was Ian Whitt’s Midget fastest of the Class B cars. Brian Butler and Chris Greenbank were on the same grid row in Class F and Ian Wright’s Midget just pipped new driver Paul Wignall in his ZR160. Jonathan Harker’s TF LE500 had electrical problems and would have to start from the back of the grid.

When the red lights went out in perfect race conditions, Phil Standish got the best start to take the lead, but Paul Clackett was soon ahead into a lead which he would hold to the end of the race. There was an early safety car for an unfortunate collision between Ash Woodward and Chris Greenbank. Ian Whitt was also an early retirement into the pits. When racing resumed, Phil set off after Paul, but then retired with a mechanical problem on lap four. Keith Egar driving his K series engined Midget was the man on the move passing Pete Bramble’s MGB, Michael Ashcrofts’s ZR, and Simon Lowery’s ZS to finish in second place in the race and be “driver of the race”. Simon fought back but suspension damage caused him to pull off. This resulted in a third place for Michael Ashcroft. Adam Jackson passed Pete Bramble in his ZR to win Class B from Mark Bellamy and Ian Winstanely in similar cars. Colin Stubbs had an off track moment and slipped back to fourth in class. Brian Butler won Class F as the only finisher shaving a small amount off his lap record. In Class A the two drivers had a great scrap with Paul Wignall finishing half a second ahead of Ian Wright.