2005 Stock hatch Championship

Snetterton Race 1

With 88 competitors at the first meeting and plenty of new cars, the season looks to be promising. With so many cars there where 3 qualifying sessions with the first being wet. The 2nd being slippery and the 3rd starting to dry.

The qualifying races where won by Bob Foreman in his Saxo followed by Gordon Macmillan in his 205. The other race was won by Simon Hunt in his new 106 with new boy Jeff Humphries in the ex Matt Lewis car.

The final had Pat Grove in his 106 Rallye on pole with Maurice Hayden 2nd, me 3rd and Alastair Boulton 4th. On the off we all held our positions but as we approached Russell's for the first time Pat and Maurice tangled allowing me through. Maurice got past Pat and within a lap he welded his Saxo to the back of my car. The only time he was not there was when he made his move at Russell's with the result of our cars colliding. Gareth Wright stormed through from 18th on the grid to catch us. He got past Maurice along the start/finish straight but Maurice out braked him to remain 2nd. Gareth then broke his drive shaft forcing him to retire allowing Maurice to catch me once more. I hung on to take the win with Maurice 2nd Steve Drewery in his swift cam 3rd and Pat was 4th.

Snetterton race 2

In the damp conditions John hemming took the first Qualifying race from Jeff Humphries. William Hornsey was 3rd in his 106 with Hilary Howlett making his return in a Saxo. The other race was dry and Bob Foreman taking his 2nd race win for the weekend but was pushed all the way to the flag by Chris Petto in his Swift. Simon Howard came in 3rd with Chris Cody having his car blessed before the race came in 4th.

The Final

My Lord (Richard Horsey) took pole with myself 2nd on the grid. Maurice Hayden lined up next to Steve Drewery with Gareth Wright just behind next to Noel Moffitt.

As the lights went green My lord took to the lead with myself defending off challenges from Steve and Maurice. As we went down the back straight I remained in 2nd. Going through Coram I started to catch Richard, as we went through Russell's he slowed in front of me. I just touched his back bumper but was through. Maurice battled with Steve for a lap or two then chased me down to sit on my rear. He tried on the last lap to get past through the Esses but run wide onto the dirt allowing Steve into 2nd. I took the win Steve was 2nd, Maurice took 3rd with Pete Morgan in his new Saxo 4th.

Brands Hatch race 3

The action in the 2 qualifying races was brilliant to watch, with Matt Fincham winning the 1st and Andrew Thorpe having a right battle with Damian Cottrell to win the 2nd.

The Final

I started 5th on the grid and lined up next door to Gordon Macmillan. We both got a good start with Gordon getting into 3rd at Druids with me just behind. Darren Wilson was in the lead but got into a tank slapper going through Graham Hill Bend. The pursuing pack all backed off and tried to miss him, but cars were flying to and fro I went straight through. Terry Roughton took to the grass and came on just in front. We crossed the line and as Terry braked for Druids I nipped inside and took over the lead. This was short lived as Terry slid past through Clearways forcing me to take avoiding action so we did not touch. John Hemming repeated the same move at Paddock Hill and I was now back to 3rd. I lost momentum and dropped back about 4 car lengths. Over the next 2 laps I got onto the rear of Johns Nova but just as I did the red flags had come out.

We restarted the race with Terry on pole but John shot straight past on the off and I followed him through. John pushed very hard straight away but was cooking his tyres on the exit of every corner. He went off going round Graham Hill Bend allowing to take the lead. Chris Petto in his Suzuki Swift also made a good start and had got past Terry and soon started to attack me. I defended every corner and even though he had many chances to take me out he was fair and did not hit me. We finished the race with Chris just 0.22 behind and Terry another 0.30 behind him. The 40kg success ballast has slowed the car. Donington in 3 weeks with another 20kg!!

Donington Race 4

In qualifying I completed5 laps then came in to put on a new set of buffed tyres. My lap timer and pit crew got my car on a 1.30.26 but the clubs timing gear did not. Started 12th in Saturdays final and 14th in Sundays.

Ian Oakes held off Pete Morgan to win one of the heats. Martin Boon won the other heat from Dangerous Darren Wilson.

Final

Old boy Roughton had to back off through the Craners so not to hit Simon Hunt. This sent him into a spin which after 360 degrees he continued without hitting any one!. The pursuing pack all tried to miss him but hit each other. This is where I come in. Ian Laughton got tapped which sent him into my car, luckily I continued but with my car squealing and what I thought was tyre smoke coming from my near side. I continued and stayed with the leaders coming across the line 7th. John Hemming got through the pursuing pack and soon caught my car. Being such a nice bloke I decided to let him through (well it would be better than the damage)  He flashed his lights I waved him past and he went slower! At that moment his car had a problem. doh I continued and past Gordon Macmillan's car that had just cut out then nipped past Pat Grove to take 4th.

The gearbox had snapped a tooth which punctured the casing. This let all the gearbox oil out over my brakes which was the smoke I had seen on the 1st lap!

Donington Race 5

Paul Tibbs beat Matt Fincham to take the first heat with Ian Oakes again beating Pete Morgan to take the other.

With the gearbox in not good shape and a blowing exhaust I lined up 14th.

Held on over the 1st lap still in position but got past John Hemming despite his weaving. Bob Foreman slowed with fuel pump problems. Got overtaken by Ian Oakes who went on to finish 6th. Caught Pat Grove but was unable to pass so finished 9th.

Had engine and gearbox problems so both are being refreshed for Brands Hatch.

Brands Hatch Race 6

With my and Dan Neil's head gaskets going in testing we searched the paddocks looking for spares. Kindly Maurice Hayden and Simon Hunt gave us spares but Dan's car had also lost his water pump so he was unable to race.

With a lot of cars suffering with fuel evaporation we all hoped that they would last until the end of the race. Maurice Hayden fought of Stuart Pearson's flying xr3i to win his first stockhatch race. Richard Horsey had problems with his gears which let Ian Laughton and myself through to take 3rd and 4th. Pete Morgan hit the back of my car coming down Paddock hill with such force to break the exhaust bracket and rear tow hitch. This meant the exhaust dragged on the ground and I had to complete the race under a black and orange flag. After being weighed I had to see the clerk of the course for crossing the chequed flag with the exhaust as it was and got a severe bollocking.

4th place with 60kg I was happy. Off to Pembrey - 20kg hooray.

Pembrey

Having blowing up my engine in testing, we finally heard from Les our mechanic that the spare car at Colchester was ready to pick up. Ian Oakes kindly leant me his road car and I set off for the 570 mile round trip. I arrived at 5.30am back to Pembrey and qualified at 9. The spare car got very hot after 4 laps so I came in to protect the engine. This meant I only qualified 5th for Saturdays race and 7th for Sundays.

On the start I held my place but got boxed in at the hairpin dropping a place to Jeff Humphries. I think he tangled I came past again. Chris Petto and Terry Roughton fought for 3rd and 4th but on lap 3 Chris went wide going onto the back straight and I was past. This also gave me a run on Terry as we crossed the start/finish line. I out braked Terry into the hairpin and was now 3rd. At the front Pete Morgan was leading from Maurice Hayden but had electrical problems so had to slip down the order finally finishing the race 7th. Maurice won an easy race with myself 2nd and Terry 3rd.

Pembrey race 2

For the 2nd final Terry Roughton was on pole with Pete Morgan 2nd and Steve Drewrey 3rd. On the start we all braked late with lots of tyre smoke into the Hairpin. Maurice was just behind the main pack as we went into the complex looking to overtake any mistake, but while the front battled I nipped through past Maurice as we past the cafe. Pete Morgan out braked him self onto the back straight so I gained another place. Next was Gareth Wright which I squeezed past around the hairpin. Gareth tapped me up the bum through Honda Curve as I braked a little early. Steve Drewery was in the lead I was now in 3rd and all over Terry Roughton. To be fair Terry defended very well and Maurice was trying to pass me every time I made a lunge at Terry. Pete Morgan soon caught us and a coming together at Honda saw Maurice fly off onto the grass. Maurice came back on but finished 14th. With Pete snapping at my heals I managed to finally pass Terry and then set fasted lap for a "A" class car. Steve won I was 2nd Terry was 3rd for the 5th time this season.

Lyden

Started 11th came through the field picking off Maurice Hayden and Terry Roughton to finish 2nd.

Lyden race 2

Started 7th, held my line to the first corner. Got hit and turned into the pack. Got hit again and spun off the track. Came back on last, finished 6th!

Silverstone

Well done to Darren Wilson for getting pole. A superb time just in front of Hilary Howlett. I managed 8th fastest in my very under steering car.

Matt Fincham held off Pete Morgan to win the first heat with Bob Foreman battled hard to win from martin Boon in the other.

main race

I got a great start and squeezed between Jeff Humphries and Chris Petto, next was Maurice Hayden who had only just got going. I cleared his car and started to go round copse when Maurice got hit and then in turn hit my rear wheel. This caused me to half spin and lose a place or two. I continued and picked off Darren Wilson and Chris Petto. Pete Morgan caught all of us and drove straight past. Matt Fincham also caught our pack and we all fought lap after lap to the line. Gareth Wright won from Pete Morgan. Jeff Humphries was 3rd and Hilary Howlett came in 4th, came in next.

Brands Hatch

Got a great start and passed Pete Morgan, Darren Wilson Terry Roughton off the line nipped passed Bob Foreman to sit behind Maurice Hayden. Coming out of Clearways I passed Steve Drewery only to see the red flags had come out!

I followed my earlier start with another and was up to 5th behind Maurice by the end of lap 2. Matt Rozier caught me and for 3 laps he tried to get passed but as we approached Druids I stayed on the right defending the corner, he followed me into the braking area. I braked Matt did not and he hit my back end. This sent me sliding onto the grass and I just missed the barrier. The car rejoined the track (with me still trying to get control) as Bob Foreman was passing. Our cars collided and I lost my front end. Poor old Bob suffered damage which slowed his car and he finished 8th. Matt continued and finished 5th! but had 2 endorsements on his license  for careless driving. The race was won by Chris Petto followed home by John (10 degrees neg )Hemming and 3rd was Simon Howard. I continued to the end still being used as target practice finishing 13th.

Cadwell Park

Thanks to the help from Steve Gordon we managed to sort out most of the handling problems with the 106. In qualifying I managed to get 1 clear lap which helped me to be on the 2nd row.

On the start both Terry Roughton and I got off into 1st and 2nd but due to a crash the race was red flagged and we had to do it all again. On the off I managed a perfect start going from 4th to 1st by the 1st corner. Maurice Hayden came through with me with Stuart Pearson 3rd. Dispite contance pressure from Maurice I held on to win

Cadwell park race 2

Got another good start overtaking Simon Howard but had no room to pass Stuart Pearson so I pushed him off the line and let him go as we went into the corner. Pete Morgan had gone round the other way and was in third place behind Gareth Wright and Maurice Hayden. I had nibbles at Stuart put was unable to pass. Pete pushed wide into Charlies with Stuart following him, I nipped through and was up to 3rd. I caught Gareth but was unable to find my way past.

Off to Mallory with myself just ahead in the points from Maurice Hayden 

Mallory Park

Went testing on the Wednesday before and found a good set up for the dry. This put me 4th on the grid with Maurice Hayden 15th!. Maurice had to race in the heat which he won by 100th on a second to Pat Grove. This moved him to 11th on the grid.

As we lined up ready to go out the heavens opened and Maurice was rubbing his hands. About 4 cars had changed to wets but I was still on a dry set up.

Then the lights went out on the start I got a stormer and went from 4th to 1st by the 1st corner. I held this for 7 laps until Gareth Wright got a better drive out of Gerrads and went past. Simon Hunt also got past so I was 3rd. This I thought was fine because all I needed was to finish in front of Maurice and the championship would be mine. I looked in my mirror only to see Maurice was behind me with Pete Morgan right behind him. As we approached the hair pin Maurice suddenly shot left and went towards the outside barriers. On the exit of the hairpin Pete had got through and caught me as we came back round to the hairpin. Pete got better drive out of the corner and I was now 4th. On lap 11 Maurice had again caught me and we started to battle, driving side by side around the Dunlop esses and hairpin. Dispite exchanging paint I remained 4th with the leader going away I knew if Maurice had got past he was running out of time to catch them. The last lap board came out to my relief. Maurice made another attempt to get past and this time he was through. Pete Morgan won the race, a great drive as he started 15th. Gareth was 2nd and Simon Hunt 3rd. The top ten in the championship are as below