Saturday joy for Rhys – heartache for Alvin at Anglsey away round

Entry & Practice

Saturday’s entry, for the championships only away round of the season, was an endorsement of the shift in the championships regulations with a horde of Caterhams, Minis and others joining the regular championship contenders who braved the 500 mile round trip, to make a magnificent 29 starters, only 1 away from the circuit maximum! And it wasn’t as if they were making up the numbers as Alvin set fastest time in Practice some 2 sec quicker than Rhys, but Mark Steward was the first guest in 3rd place in his Tiger Sport (a Lotus 7 looky likey), and Colin Chapman (son of Adrian) was 4th in his Fisher Fury Fireblade, which he was driving furiously as if his pants were on fire! (If we had an editor I suspect he’d say that’s enough puns). Mark Nicholson was next championship regular in 8th, Rhodri was 11th . Anthony Allitt was 14th, Jason Davies on Avon slicks for the first time was 15th. Paul Trowbridge was 19th . Stephen Humphries was 22nd Yolande 26th and Adrian 28th. (Only Andy Williams and Ken Rattenbury were missing, but had the good excuse of being at Ken’s daughter wedding.)

The race – 15 mins + 1 lap- The Coastal Circuit

Saturday was sunny, if breezy (in contrast to Friday testing which was spoiled by torrential rain and gale force winds), and this tended to show off the new circuit layout to best effect with the dramatic backdrop of the Menai Strait and Snowdonia. With an all-tarmac paddock, plenty of space, mains electric hook-up (courtesy of a wind power generator), hot water in the loos and some interesting track layouts, including real gradients, it looked like it was money well spent by the European Union and Welsh Assembly.

At the start of the race Colin grabbed an instant but shortlived lead from Rhys whilst Alvin got swamped by Mark, and a few others, emerging in 5^th place! Alvin soon carved his way through and then the race was set with Alvins Mondeo chasing down Rhys and the Leon. Having zeroed in Alvin began to saw at the back of Rhys car looking for a way past!

With Snowdon in the background Alvin chases Rhys on what must be Brtiains most picturesque circuit

However all Alvins’ efforts were in vain after trying to hard in the wrong place and spinning away from Rhys who was glad of the relief and stroked away to a 10 second win. Alvin tangled with Colin on the way back to the circuit which allowed Mark Steward into 3^rd with Colin in 4^th. Meanwhile back in the pack it was all action. Mark Nicholson looked set the tie up Class B until a clash with a Caterham in turn 2, the big banked hairpin called "The Banking", left him stranded over the kerb T-bonded with the Caterham across his nose. Eventually Mike got going after reversing off the kerb, but by then the rest of the class, now lead by Anthony Allitt, was long gone. Anthony was under pressure from Jason Davies, who was feeling his way on his new slicks, and Rhodri who was holding a watching brief. However he had to be on his toes as he had the hungry Mini of Jeremy Snowden snapping at his heels. Jeremy may have had the benefit of local knowledge, but he was taking no prisoners and Rhodri had to retake the position to close up on Jason. Anthony, Jason and Rhodri were nose to tail and Jason made several attempts at passing Anthony, running side by side with him through Church, having got a good drive off the Banking. Something had to give and unfortunately for Anthony it was he who got a little wide, did a half-spin and lost several places in one go! In a instant the Mini, Jason and Rhodri were all through. Jason kept the Mini in sight whilst fending off the advances of Rhodri to take an excellent and well fought 1^st in Class, 11^th overall. He also showed he was no fool by playing his joker and coming up trumps, doubling his points. Anthony meanwhile recovered but has his hand full with a pair of Caterhams including Class A winner Steve Humphries. Mark Nicholson fought his way back up to 16^th overall, whilst Paul Trowbridge, Yolande and Adrian Chapman had their own races to finish 21^st, 24^th and 26^th respectively. Certainly it was an all action race! Alvin later mused that "It was a bad day at the office" for him, Rhys commented "If he had have got through I’m sure he would have left me, but it’s quite tight here in places, so I’m glad I could keep him behind" Jason was basking in a job well done and Rhodri dropped by to pay him his own compliment.

Race 2 – 15 mins + 1 lap- The Coastal Circuit

At the start of race 2 it was different as Alvin got good drive off the line and was right tight with Rhys from the off, eventually getting by into the lead. But Alvin wasn’t quite able to pull a big gap to Rhys and Rhys was keeping Alvin under pressure without quite being able to mount a challenge, obviously hoping a chance would come later on. In Class B Jason had the bit between his teeth and powered into an early lead battling with a Caterham and leaving Anthony, Mark and Rhodri to fight amongst themselves. Anthony initially had a few Caterhams between him and Mark, who also had a few cars protection from Rhodri, but it was soon narrowed down to the 3 Honda running nose to tail with plenty of ducking and diving. Mark and Rhodri swapped and re-swapped places and it was all good uninhibited stuff! Jason meanwhile got the better of the Caterham, but then seemed to take a liking to the place occupied by the Mini of Jeremy Snowden, and was off scalp-hunting, all the while drawing away from the warring trio behind him.

Honda set-to. Close quarter racing

Entering the final stages Alvin and Rhys started to home in on the 3 car battle of the Hondas, now lead by Mark Nicholson, and just as Rhodri had got past Anthony at the top of the hill entering the heavy braking zone for Rocket corner, Anthonys' car momentarily locked up, running into Rhodris door, causing some major damage to his passenger door and sill, before bouncing across the circuit into the path of the oncoming Alvin. Contact was unavoidable, all 3 cars ending up with damage and although Anthony and Rhodri got going again to finish the race,  Alvin sadly went no further. The impact with Anthony’s car had pushed the front of the Mondeo about 30 degrees over to the right, and with steam issuing from the rad and the bodywork fouling the tyres Alvin could only pull on to the grass and out of the race.

In the midst of the melee` Rhys, slipped by on the outside via the grass and into the lead. Mark Nicholson was now 2^nd in Class B, Anthony got going as did Rhodri some way down, but Jason was 20 seconds down the road trying to monster the Mini for 6^th place overall, only 2/10ths separating them at the end.

RS with a hint of opposite lock- now where have we seen that before?  Jason presses on

Class A winner Steve Humphries was 12^th ahead of the limping Rhodri. Paul Trowbridge, Yolande and Adrian Chapman had their own races to finish 15^th , 17^th and 19^th respectively. Adrian unfortunately couldn’t get a handle on the circuit and was lapped but his unapologetic son Colin who finished in a solid 4^th place.

Afterwards in the paddock a naturally choked Alvin commented, "It was a racing accident, they were having their own race. It happens. I don’t expect we can use this car again until we’ve done some work on it , but hopefully we can get it straight again"

Rhys reflected "I could see something was going to happen, so I went onto the grass to avoid it. Alvin was going well but I managed to hold him"

Jeremey Snowden sought out Jason in the paddock and commented "There was no way I was going to let you past on the last lap!" Jason could afford to smile, having learnt where the limits of his new slicks were after finding himself a little too sideways at one stage "I thought oh no it’s going, but then it snapped back" but his score from the 2 races were 2 Class wins and 2 fastest laps, and a Driver of the Day Award to top it all off.