TAYLOR PROVES HE IS A MODERN CLASSIC
Alex Taylor steered his TVR Tuscan to an impressive win in the Modern Classics race on Saturday after withstanding a race-long challenge from Matt Holben’s similar car and the BMW M3 E36 of Dave Griffin.
Attention was fixed on the trio throughout an absorbing 40-minute contest as pole-position holder Taylor managed to maintain his advantage through to the finish, despite tyre wear concerns in the closing laps. Griffin and Holben’s battle for second went right to the wire, but the award of a late penalty for infringing pitstop rules ensured Holben would ultimately be consigned to third.
Taylor may have secured two wins from the weekend had he not spun his Mazda RX-7 into the Paddock gravel while leading the earlier Future Classics race.
Robert Hollyman was the grateful beneficiary, powering his Porsche 964 to victory ahead of Hugh Gurney’s BMW 325i E30 and the DTM-replica BMW M3 E30 of Robert Sadler and Luke Schlewitz.
One driver who was able to score an emotional double win was Danny Morris in the Special Saloons and Modsports doubleheader. Morris, driving the trusty Peugeot 309 GTi Thundersaloon that he and late brother Ricky Parker-Morris had competed in for many years together prior to Ricky’s passing last year, claimed a lights-to-flag victory in race one after closest challenger Clive Anderson was forced to retire his five-litre BMW E30 early due to his engine cutting out. Tony Davies (Vauxhall Firenza) inherited second while Joe Ward brought his ex-Gerry Marshall “Baby Bertha” Firenza home third.
Morris powered his way to the front in just four laps in race two, as Ward used the brute force of his V8 engine to keep Davies at bay in the battle for second.
Lowly grid positions failed to prevent Christian Pittard and Tim Davis from claiming a win apiece in two dramatic Magnificent Sevens encounters. After a success penalty forced him to start the opening race from 11th on the grid, Pittard charged back to steal victory from Ben Simonds – who was struggling with intermittent throttle issues – within sight of the flag.
Davis, who saw his hopes of a strong finish vanish in the first race when the rear wheel of his C400 spectacularly came adrift heading down towards Graham Hill bend, stormed back to win race two despite having started 20th. Pittard survived two grassy excursions to claim second ahead of John Cutmore’s Spire RB7.
No fewer than 33 cars took to the grid for the Group 1 Swinging Sixties event. Matthew Howell claimed the honours in his Mini after usurping the MG Midget of Ian Staines at Druids in the closing laps. Steve Hodges (Lotus 7 Series 2) took Group 2 honours after Jamie Keevill spun his Lotus Elan.