Alderslade proves to be king of the hill
When the Historic Racing Drivers
Club returned to Lydden Hill on Sunday for the annual Historics On The Hill meeting, there was much to celebrate. Particularly among the Jordan Racing Team, with two wins for Roy Alderslade and multiple podium places for
Mike and Andrew Jordan.
The squad’s success story started with the Jack Sears Trophy event. Of course, both father and son know the circuit well; Mike raced Eurocars at Lydden a few years ago, and Andrew served his apprenticeship in Junior Minicross en route to rallycross supercars, a World Rallycross podium and eventually the British Touring Car title.
During qualifying they took turns to slipstream each other down the short straights. “Well, at least we tried to,” said Jordan Jr with a grin. Nevertheless, they were pipped to pole position by Alderslade’s twin-cam Lotus Cortina, which was more than a match for the Jordans’ Austin A40s.
Alderslade led away from the start, chased by Jordan Jr, Jordan Sr and Ding Boston, who was driving the Oxford University Motorsport Foundation’s venerable Riley 1.5.
Jordan Jr was clearly out to enjoy himself as he threw the A40 sideways through the corners, but couldn’t pull away from his dad. Meanwhile, Alderslade raced on to victory from the Jordans as Boston finished a fine fourth ahead of the Colburn family – Richard, James and Ben nose to tail as they crossed the line.
It was a similar story in race two where the first four finished in the same order, but this time Andrew Sharp (Triumph 2000) and Joe Allenby-byrne (Ford Cortina GT) chased them home.
Alderslade was in contention to win both Allstars races too, but his Lotus
Cortina was pipped to pole by Ben Colburn’s nimble Lenham GT Sprite, which seized the lead from the start. Alderslade put his head down and reduced the deficit, but he began to lock his wheels under braking and eventually he ran wide at Chesson’s Drift, leaving Colburn home and dry. Boston finished third behind Alderslade and only just ahead of Neil Mcarthur’s Wolseley Hornet.
Tony Butt made a spectacular exit from the race when his Turner lost a rear wheel. The car slithered down the top straight amid a shower of sparks while the wheel and brake drum flew across the rallycross
track into the tyre wall – fortunately away from any spectators.
Colburn repeated his success over Alderslade in the second race. Andrew and Mike Jordan finished third and fourth, although they started from the back having missed the first race.
During qualifying for the Classic Alfa Challenge, Richard Merrell (Giulia GT Junior) claimed pole position with a time more than a second clear of his closest rival, Chris Snowdon, so it was no surprise when he kept the lead and began to pull away at the start.
Snowdon clung on grimly in second place until half-distance when his Alfetta GTV headed for the infield and retirement. Alex Jupe (Alfetta GTV) thus inherited second place and held it to the finish, just ahead of James Wright (Alfa 75) and Jonny Horsfield (Alfetta GTV).
Merrell once again made the best start in race two and thereafter led all the way. Horsfield held second place initially until Snowdon sliced past with a neat manoeuvre down the inside at the Devil’s Elbow. Wright completed the podium as Horsfield was fourth.