EVERILL AND SCRIVENS POWER TO DAVE ALLAN TROPHY VICTORY AT COMBE
After three years of trying, the mighty 6.2-litre Ginetta G55 of Chris Everill and Ben Scrivens finally earned the Dave Allan Trophy at the end of an afternoon of mixed fortunes at Castle Combe.
The bank holiday meeting had promised much, with local championships nearing their conclusions and guest appearances from the Historic Racing Drivers Club, but a horrific crash involving historic racer Charles Knill-Jones put a dark cloud over the meeting.
In the battle for Formula Ford honours, Luke Cooper stuck to
Felix Fisher’s gearbox before inexplicably failing to turn at Old Paddock, where he was collected by Tom Hawkins. Cooper continued in last place, nursing damaged suspension, but an inspired drive helped him to climb through the order until he caught the podium battle.
Crossing the line with one lap to go, second, third and fourth were mere tenths apart, then three-abreast up Avon Rise where Cooper was boldly late on the brakes to emerge, and then stay, in second place.
Chris Snowdon and James Colburn conjured up a thrilling Alfa encounter. Colburn thwarted Snowdon’s early attacks before succumbing to a late move at Quarry, then driving beyond the Giulia’s normal limits to keep the gap at just three tenths at the flag.
Another Colburn – Ben – was also in top form in the restarted Jack Sears Trophy race. Alex Thistlethwayte (Mustang) and Pete Chambers (Cortina) settled into a familiar routine out front but, while these two kept each other busy, Colburn (Mini) kept both in his sights before executing an exceptional pitstop to emerge handsomely in the lead.
Saving the best until last, the Ginetta of Everill/Scrivens Ginetta was pitched against the Porsche of fatherand-son pairing of Kevin Bird and Charles Hyde-Andrews-Bird in the Dave Allan Trophy. Bird Sr held-off Everill’s repeated early challenges with a perfectly placed car but it was the work by the Ginetta crew in the pitlane that made the difference and meant the positions were reversed at the halfway stage.
Back on track, Scrivens and HydeAndrews-Bird traded personal bests as the clock counted down. The Porsche was, at times, within inches of a move but the Ginetta gave its all to hold on and win.