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

Round 1- North London SME - 18 January

Club web site

The opening round attracted 23 entries, including several newcomers to the Southern 32.    Thanks to Ian and Paul for organising an excellent days racing.

Qualifying was the normal format, drivers had a 3 minute run in each lane with the best one to count.  Paul Harwood produced 40.85 on his first run, that stood as the top qualifying time comfortably ahead of Dave Harvey in second on 39.53.  Michael Ovens arrived just before the end of the heats, and only had a single run, that was 36.84  with a Falocn powered car which put him top in Falcon Masters.  Cliff Bicknell and Richard Hills were newly returned to Clubman / Novice grade by a change in BSCRA rules, they qualified 1-2 in the class with 34.04 and 33.89 respectively.

With  10 Clubman / Novice grade drivers present - a large increase on last year - we had the potential for 3 finals. Newcomers Mario and Albert had to go home before the finals, so were awarded 9th and 10th which is where they qualified.
Terry Blackmore won the B final ahead of 2014 champion Bill Jenner. They were followed by Bob Mortimer and Sue Parker.
Everybody improved on their qualifying times in the Clubman A final, but the finishing order matched the qualifying order with Cliff Bicknell winning from Richard Hills, Mick Metcalfe and Stan Kirk..

The first of the overall finals to be run was the E. Terry Blackmore took his second win of the day, this time by half a lap from Bill Jenner with Ralph Parker finishing third ahead of Bob Mortimer.
The D final was a rerun of the Clubman A, except all 4 drivers went faster.  Cliff Bicknell again won from Richard Hills, this time they both topped 36 laps.   Mick Metcalfe and Stan Kirk produced the closest finish of the day with Mick taking 3rd by just one hundredth of a lap.
The C final  also turned out to be the Falcon Masters final.   Michael Ovens improved to 37 to win from his dad who was followed by Sandy Parker and Chris Frost.
The B final was very close with lots of changes in position, Will Stemman was the eventual winner on 38.75 ahead of Murray Tucker 38.58 and Ian Barker 38.56 while  Ian Fisher was  4th.
Paul Harwood led the A final all the way setting the fastest time of the day with 41.39.  Stan Alton to run into the back of a deslotted car on the one of the fastest straights, that sheared the guide post and gave him 4th  place.  Nick Thrower was second ahead of Dave Harvey’s (whose car wasn’t handling as well as in the heats.)

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Southern 32 - 2015

The series for you!

  Cliff, Richard, Mick and Stan in the Clubman A Final  

 Paul, Dave Stan and Nick in the  A Final  

 Terry, Sue, Bob and Bill in the Clubman B Final  

The Falcon Clubman and Falcon Masters winners.  Note how the different gear set up allows a lower motor angle in Cliff’s car (above)

Le Mans 32

The Le Mans 32 race was run with a 4 x 12 minutes format.   At quarter distance Harwood racing was comfortably clear of a closely packed bunch of group 12 powered cars.   The newly instituted Falcon powered sub class was supported by two teams, Church Farm took an early  lead from Norfolk & Chance.  At the half way mark, Harwood had increased its lead with the fastest time of the day while Luton and Won O Won were within a few yards of one another for second. Meanwhile Church Farm were consolidating their Falcon lead.    By 3/4 distance the Harwood  lead had reduced slightly, Luton were second while the Ovens family (Gumbo Slot) had moved up to third.  A fast final run meant Harwood racing strted the defence of their 2014 title with a win by 28 laps, Gombo overtook Luton for second, and a stripped gear meant Won O Won did 101 laps in the final segment to drop down the order.  Church Farm won Falcon by a comfortable margin.

Look forward to see you for round 2 at Netley in February

Chris

Paul Harwood’s winning super production car

Harwood Racing and their winning car

Church Farm’s Falcon sub-class winner