Won O Won - 2nd July Won O Won web site

12 slot racers made their way to Rainham on Sunday 2 July for the first races held on Dave Harvey’s magnificent new track at his home.  With Dave as well of course we had 13 racing and Mike Read just to handle Race Control for the Individuals racing.

After the heats were all through, Will Stemman was top from Dave Stevenson and Dave Harvey.  We took a quick lunch break for food prepared by Viv for those who hadn’t brought their own.

Resuming the Clubman’s B final just had Cliff Bicknell and Dick Stevenson and they finished in that order, Cliff clocking 33.18 laps.  Onwards to the Clubman’s A final, Simon Francis had a scrappy start but fought back gradually catching the leaders with about 30 seconds to go and just pipping Alan Ferguson by 34.50 to 34.39.  Bill Jenner had led most of the way but slipped to 3rd with 33.40 and Andy Bishop 4th on 32.83.

Southern 32 - 2017

The series for you!

Copyright © Southern 32,  2016    Photos copyright I.Fisher  All rights reserved

Super Production and Falcon Masters

Dick Stevenson took the unchallenged 13th place overall.  Then the overall C Final was a chance for Bill to do a bit better.  He did, but was second to Simon Francis again.  Both on 34 laps, 9th and 10th overall.  Cliff Bicknell and John Ovens 11th and 12th both on 33 laps.

Ian Fisher had a steady but not particularly fast run to 5th overall in the B final, holding off Les May by about ½ lap, 35 and 34 laps respectively.  Alan Ferguson took the next place and top Falcon Master, from Andy Bishop, both on 33 laps.

The A final was easily the fastest, Will Stemman repeating his qualifying form and winning with 42 laps.  Dave Harvey just held off Dave Stevenson by just 1/100th lap, 41.50 to 41.49.  Ian Barker took 4th with 37 laps.

The A final

Le Mans 32

With a couple of racers needing to leave early and Alan Ferguson deciding to stay and just marshal (Thanks Alan you made things a lot easier!) we had 5 teams for the LM32 race.  Five 12 minute segments to be run.

Harwood Racing: Will Stemman / Dave Harvey (subbing for Paul H)

ECEs: John Ovens / Ian Fisher

Norfolk & Chance: Bill Jenner / Andy Bishop

D & D: Dick Stevenson / Dave Stevenson

VIP: Ian Barker / Les May

The Harwood team set off immediately breaking away from the others in the first section, whilst VIP were on sit-out.  Harwoods won the first section, but their score was affected by a stoppage for a new gear after a big crash.

In the second run VIP set the pace and took a trouble free segment win.  The D&D car slowed dramatically and worn out motor brushes were diagnosed.  After a long stop they resumed in segment 3.

On into to segment 3 and the Harwoods team were again fast but had to stop first for quick bodyshell tweaks and later to fettle after another wall shot.  VIP now led fairly comfortably but this was to change as segment 4 progressed.  Harwoods had a trouble free run of 165 laps, matched by the revived D&D car, these the fastest runs of the day.  VIP lost 13 laps to Harwoods and were worried that their motor was slowing.

In the last segment, Dave Harvey (Harwoods) needed to catch another 10 laps back from Les May (VIP).  He came close but a few incidents prevented it and the slowing VIP car ran out the winner by just 0.16 laps after 48 minutes running.  Not least of Dave’s trouble was a shunt later in the segment that left the handling very unpredictable and a look at the broken chassis afterwards showed he’d done very well to be running at the finish at all!  

ECEs came in 3rd, followed by Norfolk & Chance 4th and the only Falcon team, with D&D 5th after their long stop for brushes.

Thanks go to Dave and Viv for hosting an enjoyable day’s racing for us.  Also to Mike Read for Race Control of the Individual S32 races.

Ian Fisher

 The Harwood car as it ended the race  

 The winning VIP car