Round 3- Coulsdon   15 March

Copyright © Southern 32, Photos copyright C.Frost 2015 All rights reserved

Southern 32 - 2015

The series for you!

Our third round of the year was at Coulsdon.  Thanks to Mike Read for organising an excellent day’s racing, and to Ian and Vince for running the team event.

The meeting gave us some very close racing, although I think we lost a few drivers due to mother’s day taking priority.   

The 3 minute qualifying heats saw Ian Barker in top spot topping 30 laps with his super production car.

There were no home members in Clubman, the top two qualifiers were the Oakland’s pair of Mick Metcalfe and Steve Rhodes on their first visit to the track.  Top qualifier Mick won the final and extended his championship lead.    Bill Jenner and Cliff Bicknell both turned in their best runs so far to take second and third ahead of Steve.  Terry Blackmore qualified 5th which unfortunately meant he missed out on a final.

In the D final Cliff Bicknell again improved on his best run, to take the win ahead of Bill Jenner and Terry Balckmore.

Michael Ovens won the D final with his Falcon after a very close race with Trev Crout.  The Oaklands pair of Mick and Steve took 3rd and 4th.

Les May won the B final by over a lap from Ian Fisher with their supers.  John Ovens and Chris Frost had been in the same heats and were closely matched for top Falcon Master time.  John was just ahead in qualifying, but in the final it was Chris who won Falcon Masters.

Ian Barker and Dave Harvey looked to have the speed and track experience for top results, but somehow the A final didn’t quite work out like that.   Will Stemman is clearly a quick learner when he comes to a new track.   It was Will who took his first individual Southern 32 win ahead of Ian and Dave, with Paul Harwood in 4th.

Will Stemman and his winning super production car - note the lack of pin tubes, this car uses body clips

 Mick Metcalfe’s Clubmans winner

 Chris Frost’s Falcon Masters winner

Le Mans 32

VIP (Vince and Ian) took an early lead with their own VIP chassis, and looked very quick throughout winning by over 30 laps.  While most teams started with big tyres and run through non stop, VIP started with with less clearance and had a planned tyre change at half distance.   Harwood racing and Coulsdon were closely matched throughout.  Harwood finaly taking second by just 2 laps.  However, as the first team home with no more than one premier grade driver they got maximum points to give them a clear championship lead. Coulsdon were running one of Les May’s chassis which had a pinion in can gear set up.    GT came home 4th, the highlight of their run was Dave turning fastest segment of the race with 160. They were followed by Eces.   Gumboslot ran one quick segment, suffered some delays and ended up just taking 6th from a more consistent run from Oaklands.  Church Farm were the only Falcon powered runners, and increased their lead in the championship for Falcon powered cars.

Thanks again to all at Coulsdon.  
The next round is at Rockingham on 19th April.

Chris