Our first meeting at the new Hampton Downs track is now history. Obviously a new set of lap records has been added to the list.
Everyone agreed it is a great track. The racing was spectacular with a few instances of over-exuberant driving, resulting in a stern warning to all MRDC competitors to settle down, from the Assistant Clerk of the Course. The Mini Sevens had three different winners which is probably the first time this has ocurred all season. Elliott Heron qualified fastest with an impressive 1:22.938 - the only Seven to get below 1:33.000. Parky pipped Elliott on the line in race one after having T-boned Brian McMahon after he spun avoiding an incident mid-way through the race. Parky also took fastest lap and his first win for the season. Tim Pipes took third. Leigh Bucksey had battery problems but still managed to complete the race with a very slow last lap to gain valuable points. Race two saw Elliott take the win with Leigh's recharged car securing second and lap record of 1:23:088. Tim was third again. An incident at the dipper pushed Brian back down the field - that's two last places for the IDAS team, a rare ocurrence. Evan and Andrew had a coming together at turn three resulting in a yellow flag for the remainder of the race. Race three showed much improved driving manners [after the warning from ACotC], but an out-of-control Steve Kerr fell off at the tricky turn one to red flag the race. The re-start under the safety car - a really bad decision - made the race a lottery with the Supers splitting the field before turn two. Then came the Miglias doing pretty much the same thing. After that it was just a procession with the IDAS cars sandwiching Elliott, the run up to the chequer seeing a really close finish with Brian taking the win still showing his battle scars from race one, [a badly dented passenger's door], with Elliott and Leigh close behind for second and third respectively. Parky hung onto the back for a close fourth. Leigh snatched fastest lap for the extra point. Tim Pipes managed to lock-up going into the dipper punting Parky up the bum, but damaging his oil filter housing, catching fire briefly, dumping oil off the racing line and parking it up the hill bringing a yellow flag out for the rest of the race. Poor Parky - only one panel left undamaged after the weekend plus the two bumpers looking very second-hand.
Bill Robson, Steve Lovett and Trent Dixon dominated the miglias, with Bill taking first place in race one and three. Steve finished first in race two with Bill second taking fastest lap - and lap record with 1:19.752. Great racing Bill. Steve didn't start race three, Trent was off the pace after finishing third in the previous two races, leaving an unpredictable Steve Kerr to take second with Trent third. Bill took the chequer and a dominating lead in the Miglia series points race.
What can you say about the Supers? With Warren Heron running a fragile spare engine for the meeting having blown his good engine at Manfeild the previous meeting, he was always going to be just off the pace. Rick van Swet made a welcome return to racing after stripping teeth off his primary gear during testing on Friday and had to make hurried repairs overnight to make it back for qualifying. He pipped Kevin Townsend for first place in race one by 0.1 of a second, but Kevin was flying on the last lap as he took fastest lap and lap record with a 1:16.600 - well done Kevin! Warren came home third [and last!] but only 2 seconds behind. Kevin and Rick swapped places for races two and three. Ian Silver won all three Open class races, set fastest lap in all three and now holds the lap record at 1:21.697. Oh, yes, and he was the only competitor in his class.
Mark van Swet's Miglia was troubled all weekend with his mysterious intermittent power loss and he and Rick are hoping to have the problem finally diagnosed for the next round.
Pukekohe will be very interesting...
