Brands Hatch – Round 12

The penultimate round of the Championship saw a total of 44 drivers heading off to Brands Hatch for the first MGOC race at this challenging circuit since 1997. Although the circuit is but a shadow of its former glory with facilities that fall a long way behind most other UK circuits. ‘Brands’ remains a popular venue for drivers and spectators alike and on a pleasant dry Autumn weekend a good crowd were present to watch what was sure to be some very close racing.

Class B

The Class B MG Maestro drivers were first on the grid on the Saturday and the lap times were predictably close with the on-form Nick Golhar on pole position from current Class B leader Andy Campbell with Nick Evans and Jim Edwards senior on the second row. The Brands circuit is only 1.3 miles long and qualifying times are always close but this was a close run session with the first 14 cars covered by less than a second.

It was Campbell who made the best start with Evans slotting ahead of Golhar, who failed to make the most of his pole position and Jamie Perry who had moved up from 6th on the grid. The run up to Druids hairpin saw some contact between Kevin Bull and Mark Freeman both of whom were out of the race.

It was a very close race but the positions remained static until the 8th lap when Perry forced his way passed Evans into 3rd place. After 10 hard fought laps it was Campbell who took the chequered flag for his 5th win of the season by the length of a Maestro from Golhar with Perry holding off Evans for 3rd place. Darryl Davis just held off a determined John Lane in another entertaining battle for 6th place.

Class A

The weekend racing at Brands was peculiar in that the Class B cars practised and raced on the Saturday while Class A were out on the Sunday. With a foggy start to the morning the weather was uncertain but the sun soon burnt through to give a glorious start to the month of October. The front row was made up of Julie Clark in pole position with Adrian Olsson happy to be along side in his MGF with the second row being Nigel Woolcott in another Midget and Darryl Davis in his very pink MGF. Jim Baynam made up the top five and upheld the MGB honours.

With only about fifteen minutes between finishing practice and being called for the race the whole proceedings appeared to be quite rushed. There was a certain amount of adventure when arriving to line up on the grid as only at that point did you learn your position. As the lights changed it was the two MGFs that made the best start as Olsson powered into the lead followed by Davis. Both Clark and Woolcott gave chase, but while being able to stay with the two front runners, were unable to pass. On the second lap the newly built MGF of Michael Weidner came to grief on the entry to Paddock Hill Bend sailing through the gravel trap and ending up on its roof by the barriers. Luckily he was unhurt but the car now needs some work. Baynam and Woolcott battled hard and entertained the crowds just behind the leading trio, while further down the field Gerry Thorn carried out some grass cutting but kept the car together to finish inside the top ten.

It was Olsson who passed the chequered flag to take his first win in his F, followed by Davis, Clark, Woolcott, Baynam and Nick Golhar making it three Fs in the top six. The last round at Snetterton on the 14th October is set to be a great finale to the year.

It was an overcast cloudy but dry day at Snetterton with a keen wind across the circuit for the final round of the BARC/MG Owners’ Club Championship. Class A was going right up to wire with Darryl Davis and Julie Clark battling for supremacy while Andy Campbell having already taken the Class B Championship was now in contention for overall honours.

Class A

After a brisk practice session Darryl Davis in his lurid pink MGF was on pole with Nigel Woolcott MG Midget sharing the front row. Julie Clark and Christopher Pollard were on the second row with Lorraine Clark, Midget and Nick Golhar, MGF on the third.

A furious start saw Darryl pull away with Nigel Woolcott on the inside making a challenge for the lead with Julie Clark close behind. Before the first lap was over Nigel Woolcott was in to the pits with a suspected misfire.

By the second lap Darryl Davis was leading Nick Golhar also in an MGF while Julie Clark and Chris Pollard were battling for third place. Woolcot quickly rejoined the race again but now at the back of the field.

In lap three Darryl Davis was pulling away and already building up a substantial lead and by the sixth lap Davis had lapped Woolcott. However lap seven saw Woolcott fighting back, anxious to unlap himself, Darryl Davis keen to preserve his comfortable lead adopted a cautious approach to the challenge. By lap 8 it was Davis well ahead, Golhar’s MGF second, Julie Clark’s Midget in third with Mike Weidner’s MGF in fourth place. It was on this 8th lap that Darren Young had a dramatic off just the exit of Corum which damaged his BGT but Darren was unhurt. Darryl Davis was now well ahead and for the finish and it was an MGF procession of Davis, Golhar and Weidner for first, second and third with Julie Clark in fourth with Peter St.Barbe just behind her. Peter made fastest lap on the final lap. This comfortable win made Darryl Davis new Class A Champion for 2000.

Class B

After a close and hard fought practice session a grid of twenty cars were lined – up and ready to take part in the final Class B race of the season. Nick Evans was on pole with James Perry on the front row ahead of Kevin Bull a new name in Class B and Andy Campbell on the second row with Doug Cole and Darryl Davis on the third.

By the second lap Nick Evans was pulling away from Andy Campbell, meanwhile Nick Golhar made his way up through the field gaining two places.

On the third lap the order was Nick Evans leading Campbell with James Perry third while Davis, Roberts and Kevin Bull made up fourth, fifth and sixth. By the fourth lap Nick Evans had consolidated his lead and was pulling away from Andy Campbell.

The racing was close with Daniel Whittington spinning his Maestro at Russell on lap six but he made a good recovery and carried on racing, rejoining the field just in front of Steve Gray. Andy Campbell and Nick Evans continued their battle for the lead, with Andy trying every possible move to get by but Evans held off all his efforts. As they crossed the line it was Nick Evans first with Andy Campbell second, James Perry third and Nick Arden fourth. Campbell made fastest lap on lap nine in his battle for the lead.