The Historic Times - Historic Racing South Africa

Page 19
Nashua Mobile Historic Sports & GT Midvaal
August 8 th 2009.
Photo by Tanzi
Despite the best efforts of the
HSGT Committee, Midvaal
continues to be a problem circuit
for entries for Sports & GT.
The fact that the race was held
on a long weekend (as it was
in 2008!), did not help either.
Even the Historic Saloon entry
was depleted from the mega
turnout at Kyalami. The Northe
r n
R e -
g i o n s
Committee really does have to
pay more attention in this regard
for 2010. The fact that, at
the last Zwartkops meeting, the
regional classes were placed
after the club races on an already
overcrowded programme
does not endear the
competitors to the series.
Hopefully in 2010 where there
already moves afoot to overhaul
the regional series, the
competitors will be treated with
more respect.
There is no doubt that there
are more ―gentleman racers‖ in
Sports & GT is a bit of a worldwide
phenomenon and the
chance of a long weekend is
quickly taken. Also despite
much work done by the HSGT
committee to attract the sports
racing replicas, these competitors
make no appearances
a p a r t f r o m s e l e c t e d
―showcase‖ events.
Nevertheless an entry of 13
cars for Midvaal was a fair turnout
although the day saw the
demise of a number of competitors
with mechanical problems.
Qualifying saw Tony Martin
knocked off his usual pole by
Chris Clarke‘s BDA Morgan as
Tony battled with brake problems
and seriously worn tyres.
Clive Densham did not qualify
and was placed in third at the
back of Class C after but after
an accident earlier in the day
had to start from the pit lane.
This was to have consequences
for him that no one
expected. Evert Botha suffered
terminal engine problems and
withdrew his Porsche. Championship
leader, Stefan
Puschavez took fourth and
fastest in Class D ahead of
Alex Divov and his championship
rival, Mike Altona. Roger
Pearce comfortably qualified
fastest in Class E with Rohann
Theron fastest in F and Deon
Hattingh in Class G.
Race 1 saw Clive Densham
start from the pit lane and he
moved through the field on the
pace lap to take up his third
place but unknown to him he
had been moved to the back of
the grid and was subsequently
disqualified. Clive was not
amused! Tony Martin went to
the front but after an ―off ―at the
end of the back straight, Chris
Clarke moved to the front. He
also went off a few laps layer
and Tony cruised to another
victory. Stefan Puschavez
blitzed the rest of Class D to
take third. In Class E Roger
Pearce was pulling away from
Howard Nel but suffered a severely
slipping clutch and overheating
and had to concede to
the Marcos. After Rohann
Theron failed to start with
clutch failure, Gary Blake in his
beautifully turned out Triumph
GT6 cruised to a Class F victory
while newcomer Jackie
van Breda took Class G in her
Porsche.
Race 2 saw the Martin/Clarke
dice resume but the Morgan
had swallowed a bonnet full of
dust in the Race 1 off and after
feeling a misfire Chris decided
to pull into the pits rather than
risk the motor. Stefan
Puschavez hounded the Martin
Cobra and got into the lead for
a few laps before Tony passed
him for the win. Alex Divov
took a good third place and
second in Class D ahead of
Mike Altona. The Pearce/Nel
battle in Class E lasted for a
few laps until Pearce was unable
to keep the car moving
forward as the previous clutch
problem reappeared. Gary
Blake again took Class F and
Jackie van Breda, Class G. As
the race was held on the
Women‘s Day weekend,
Jackie was also awarded the
special ―Woman Driver of the
Day‖ prize.
The championship is now a
battle to the finish between
Puschavez and Altona with just
eight points separating them
and one round to go at Zwartkops
on September 19 th . It will
be a good one, don‘t miss it!
Race results:
Class B Tony Martin Backdraft
Cobra
Class C Chris Clarke Morgan
Class D Stefan Puschavez
Porsche 911
Class E Howard Nel Marcos
GT
Class F Gary Blake Triumph
GT6
Continued OVERLEAF