Octagon November, 2016

SPORTS CARS
Sports Cars Closed up to 2000 went to
Patrick Martin (Nissan NX, 54.99) from
Joel Fischer (Nissan NX, 59.12) and Aaron
McAdie (Nissan NX, 61.11 seconds).
Clubman Sports cars up to 2000 cc went
to Brian Pettit (Westfield SE, 44.78) from
Ainsley Fitzgerald (Arrow Clubman, 46.47),
Greg Fairbrother (Westfield SeiW, 50.13,
who was not using those Will Charlton
tyres this round), then Jon Young recording
a 51.48 time in his road going Caterham
Super 7 clubman.
Marque Sports cars up to 1600 cc went to
Chris Johns in the newly acquired Triumph
Spitfire and finding the Spitfire will need
some attention to develop it into a reliable
competition car and finished the weekend
with a best run of 53.24 seconds. Zaid S
Latif took the 1601 to 2000 cc class in his
Lotus Exige with a 49.48 from Berenice
Stratton (Mazda MX5, 52.81) and Greg King
(Toyota MR2, 55.14) whilst Dave Roberts
won the over 2 litre class in his to Datsun
260Z (48.93 seconds) from Cameron
Hurman (Mazda RX-7 turbo, 49.91).
Therese Wade won the Sports Cars Open
up to 2000 cc in the Suzuki JFR Capuccino
turbo with a sub 50 second firstly on her
second run at 49.98 on Saturday then on
her third run on Sunday a personal best with
the time of 49.05 seconds.
FORMULA CARS
Jim Heymer won the Formula Vee class in
his Hornet Formula Vee with a 50.99 time
then his new manager/coach advised him
on the correct lines which then resulted in
a time some 3 seconds slower. Maybe Jim
was acknowledging the flag marshals on
that run.
Gary O’Mullane took the Superkarts class
in his Kinsella with a best run of 46.72
seconds.
Formula Libre up to 1300 cc class went
to Neil Lewis recording a 39.86 in the Fly
001 from Jim Milliner (OMS 2000M, 40.28)
and Mitchell Allwood (Energy Firecat,
45.10 seconds). Neil recorded a sub 40
second run in the car of his own design
62
The Octagon - November 2016
and construction to be the second driver to
record a sub 40 second time in two different
cars. He had previously driven the John
Davies DBF to a 39.97 time in the July 2014
meeting. Jim Milliner set a 40.70 time on
Saturday; however, his Sunday runs did not
commence well as he ran the left rear wheel
over the ripple strip at the hairpin which
broke a rose joint to the lower control arm.
Fortunately this was easily repaired ready
for his next run. Jim was able to save the
Suzuki engine block after some problems at
the final round in 2015. The rebuild required
a new crankshaft and bearings.
Dean Tighe set a new class record in the
1301 cc and over class in his Dallara Judd
and thus a new outright club record of 36.79
seconds on his eighth run which betters his
record of 36.99 set in June this year. At both
the September and October rounds Dean
was able to produce a 37 second run on his
first runs of both meetings. Another driver to
record a sub 40 second run straight off the
trailer was Michael von Rappard (Dallara
Hayabusa) who drove a 39 second time on
his first run to record a best run of 38.97
on Saturday. Sunday morning, Michael ran
his best time of 38.57 seconds first up with
following climbs in the 38 to 39 second
brackets.
TOP SIX
Times set for this round were Dean Tighe
(37.77), Michael von Rappard (38.67), Jim
Milliner (39.67) which maintains his lead
for the Top Six Series this year, Neil Lewis
(39.74), Brian Pettit (45.78), and David
Malone (46.11)
FTD: Dean Tighe; Best MG: Shaun Rankin
Final round will be on the 3 and 4 December
weekend in December with the Presentation
of Awards for the series on Friday 9
December at MGCCQ clubrooms.
Late news has the CAMS Club Challenge
Australia set for the Saturday 12 November.
The first Club Challenge Australia event
will be hosted by MG, the first venue is at
Mt Cotton hillclimb, and the first such Club
Challenge presented by CAMS in Australia.
Ed: This event has been postponed to 2017.