AUTUMN FROLICS AT LYDDEN HILL
The BRSCC South Eastern Centre ventured to Lydden Hill on October 3rd and 4th for a 12-race programme held over the venue's one mile layout. Early drizzle on the Saturday gave way to blustery, overcast conditions, with Sunday altogether brighter.
The opening 20-minute race for the BRSCC LMA Euro Saloon & Sports Car Championship was claimed by Lincoln's Kevin Wendt ahead of High Wycombe's Nick Hayes in his Seat Cupra. Robin Deaney, nursing a sick Ford Sierra XR4i, was lapped 11 times by the leading pair!
The bumper entry for the Competition Car Insurance Ford Fiesta championship meant that Class A and B runners had their own race. It took Halifax's Brian Roper until half way through the allotted 20 minutes to hunt down erstwhile leader David Nye in his Si, but sneaked ahead as the pair were lapping backmarkers. Roper won again on Sunday ahead of Canterbury’s Pete Daniels.
A healthy turnout of FJHRA/HSCC Millers Oils UK Championship runners saw Towcester's Jon Milicevic emerge victorious in his Cooper T59 after 20 minutes. Monaco's Marcus Mussa was second in his Brabham BT2. A repeat performance followed in Sunday’s outing for the Formula Juniors.
Class C Fiesta action followed in Race 4, which saw Godstone's David Abbott take an early lead in the 20-minute event, ahead of pole position man Mark Tilbury. The Whitstable driver made the short trip worthwhile by restoring the natural order, leaving Abbott to fend off a five-car train for the remaining podium steps. Ipswich’s David Ellesley finished well clear of the squabbling pack in Sunday‘s qualifier.
Following their visit to Brands Hatch earlier in the year, we were delighted to welcome back the 500 Owners Association. Market Harborough man Nigel Ashman took a dominant victory in his Cooper MK6 ahead of Gordon Russell's newer MK8. Ashman doubled his tally in Sunday’s meeting finale. I doubt the little cars had 20-minute races in their heyday!
Closing Saturday’s proceedings were the Sophos Irish Global Lights. Peter Drennan from Balrath looked set for victory, but pulled out with half-a-dozen laps left to run in the 15-minute race, handing top spot to Dubliner Eugene Henry.
The pocket rocket sports cars were the first race on Sunday, with a large Irish tricolour waving the cars off. This time Drennan led from start to finish, Harpenden’s Mark Braden claiming second. Naas’s Eugene Henry took the third race.
With the weekend clashing with Touring Cars over the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch, marshals were at a premium, so we were delighted that an appeal to team helpers to help man posts bore fruit, in particular our Irish visitors. Many thanks to them and to SEMSEC Lydden regulars who helped boost numbers.
The full meeting results can be found at Click Here
The next BRSCC South Eastern Centre meeting sees us join forces with HQ for the Formula Ford Festival on October 17 and 18.
Colin Mann
