FENNYMORE HOLDS HIS NERVE AT THE WOLDS
Reynard racers Graham Fennymore and Benn Simms’ battle in Saturday’s Historic Formula Ford 2000 opener, decided by 0.030 seconds in a photo finish wherein Fennymore prevailed, highlighted the HSCC’s annual Wolds Trophy event.
Simms led initially but an audacious pass advantaged the defending champion. They reprised their duel in Sunday’s rain, which demanded organisational ingenuity to run, let alone complete, the programme. Ben Glasswell and Cadwell Park neighbour Lee Bankhurst ran them closest.
Welcome visitors Darlington & District MC’s Northern Saloon and Sports championship delivered a potpourri of cars, which qualified on Saturday but raced only on Sunday. Four-wheel-drivers Chris Huntley (Subaru) and Mike Williamson (Mitsubishi) rubbed their hands together as others struggled for grip, Huntley winning both bouts from Simon Griffiths (Caterham 420R). Williamson and Scott Hubel’s 205 T16 clone completed the podiums.
Elsewhere entries were thin over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend. Michael O’Brien was disappointed when Formula
Junior rival Clive Richards’engine blew in Friday testing, robbing him of a tough race. Simms stepped into the breach as best he could in Jim Blockley’s drum-braked Caravelle, leading the chase. Champion
Nic Carlton-Smith (Kieft) remained uncatchable in class.
The unrelated Samuel and Jordan Harrison won Saturday’s Historic and Classic FF1600 rounds, with Tom McArthur their closest challenger in Hadfeld Motorsport’s Titan Mk4 and Merlyn Mk20 respectively. Having bumped the Mountain’s barrier in the Titan, the
Oulton Park regular aced Sunday’s wet race from the back – after a grassy excursion onto the incline – then repelled Jordan’s shadowing Lola for a second success. Another Harrison, John, narrowly beat Alan Cook in Classic Clubmans but the contest decided not to run again.
Two into one didn’t go as Sunday’s 70s Road Sports leaders Jez Clark (Lotus Elan) and Paul Tooms (Europa) approached the Hall Bends side-by-side. Neither gave a millimetre and a touch sent Clark glancing into the tyre wall. He continued as Tooms raced to the chequer, clear of Charles Barter (Datsun 240Z), whose son Julian had won on Saturday. John Shaw doubled-up in Historic Road Sports in his Morgan, Jonathan Stringer (Lotus 7) and Mark Godfrey (Ginetta G4) sharing silvers.
Myles Castaldini (Davrian-Ford) and Steve Watton (Turner-Ford) who got first and second in Sunday’s Modsports/Touring Car pilot – overhauling Dan Cox in Antiguan veteran Jimmy Fuller’s rasping Alfa Romeo – finished third and seventh respectively in the 70s Road Sports amalgamation.