Octagon January, 2016

Callaghan (MGB, Group S, 57.95), Roy
Davis (Triumph GT6, Group T, 47.06), Geoff
Cohen (Malmark Elfin, Group V, 52.04),
Chris Johns (Ford Escort, Group U, 47.10),
Paul Shergold (Ford Cortina Mk11, Group
N up to 2000, 53.33), whilst in the Group N
over 2000 cc Glen Wesener (Torana GTR
XU1, 48.47) took the class from Noel Wicks
(Torana GTR XU1, 50.07). Geoff Cohen
lowered the Group V class record which
he set in April this year from 52.07 to 52.04
seconds.
SPORTS CAR CLASSES
Brad Stratton won the Marque Sports class
in his Mazda MX5 (48.41), from Ray Pearse
(Mazda MX5, 52.19), Peter Andrews (MGF,
52.59), Kristy McAndrews (Mazda MX5,
52.85), Andrew Lake (MGF, 55.16), Chris
McCarthy (Mazda MX5, 56.22), Paul Mercer
(Mitsubishi FTO, 57.76) and Jonathan
Manning (Mitsubishi FTO, 60.99. The
weather conditions on the weekend were so
uncomfortable that Peter Andrews ran with
the air conditioning on and still recorded a
53 run – it was a very warm day.
Clubmans up to 2000 saw Brian Pettit now
with the repaired gearbox installed (the
one with ratios more suited to the hill) in his
Westfield SE to take the class with a best
run of 44.66 seconds from Paul Masterson
(Maxim, 46.66), Ainsley Fitzgerald (Arrow
clubman, 47.64) and Daryll Searle (Farrell
Clubman Sports 1300, 63.50 seconds).
Sports Cars classes went to Chris Johns
(Suzuki Cappuccino turbo, 48.24) in the
under 2 litre category with Steve Riley
(MGB V8 S/c, 47.99) taking the larger
engine capacity class from Jeffrey Graham
(Mazda MX5) with a best run of 48.75
seconds.
FORMULA CLASSES
Nathan Quelch took the Superkarts class
in his Honda Arrow (47.50) with Gary
O’Mullane next in his Kinsella with a best
run of 48.82 seconds. The Formula Vee
1200 class went to Jim Heymer (Hornet
F/V, 52.16). This meeting Jim accelerated
from the hairpin to the finish without lifting
off which is what he had never done over
previous meetings. He reported that he
“made the time but did not survive the
journey” as he spun after the finish line
and backed the Hornet into the earth bank.
This unplanned manoeuvre broke the gear
selector rod as well as somewhat bending
the exhaust pipe so the Hornet was retired
for the year. Warwick Gifford established a
class record for Formula Vee 1600 with a
best run of 60.48 seconds in his Jabaru Vee
whilst the Formula Ford class went to Rick
Miles (Kookaburra FF91, 46.14) chased by
Gary Goulding (47.25) having his first run at
Mt Cotton in the ex Hayden Cooper Vector
TTF94.
Formula Libre up to 1300 went to Neil Lewis
(DBF, 40.09) from David Homer (Group A
GAE 001, 42.15), Jim Milliner (OMS 2000M,
44.47), Chris Lake (Suzuki Escargot
Mk111c, 45.33), David Quelch (Honda Black
Arrow, 46.48) with Simon Lake (Suzuki
Escargot Mk 111c) recording a best run of
46.79 seconds. From round 5 David Homer
had installed a new engine which reportedly
felt good however it needed to make a new
chain tensioner overnight to run on Sunday.
On his first run on Sunday the engine lost
oil pressure with some engine noises which
could be a damaged bearing.
Jim Milliner OMS 2000M dropped oil
pressure on his first run again with some
engine noises. The Suzuki engine was
selected from the wreckers about 2 years
ago and was certainly not a “million dollar”
engine. Jim reported his Suzuki engine
recorded about 130 bhp when compared
with more developed engines giving about
230 bhp so his sub 40 second time set
during the July meeting is impressive. This
he reports was achieved through steady
improvements in the suspension set up of
the OMS 2000 car.
Dean Tighe (Dallara Judd) held the lead
in the 1301 cc and over class on Saturday
evening with a 38.31 second run from
Warwick Hutchinson (Van Diemen RPV02
turbo, 39.06) then Dean Amos (Gould
GR37, 40.26), Michael von Rappard
(Dallara F392, 40.26) and Vikki Paxton
(Dallara F301) recording a 45.82 timed run.
54
The Octagon - November 2015