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Snetterton 24th September
XK Challenge - Round 8
And so to Snetterton for the final round of the 2000 XK
Challenge and what a contrast to last year. 22 XK's entered on
a warm, sunny weekend. Our biggest entry to date, and 3 more potential
entrants enrolled on the day should realise my dream of at least
one 30-car grid in 2001. Additionally, Richard Hackett who currently
races his MK1, has caught the XK bug and hopes to join us in 2001.
With 3 drivers in with a chance for overall Championship honours
& each of the 3 classes up for grabs, some exciting racing
was promised. HSCC gave us the honour of a photograph of the McWhirter
120 on the Programme front (not sure about the eyes though Darren).
Despite attempts at driver (&
Racing Co-ordinator) nobbling, and a blatant trick by Rob Newall
in feigning a disability at dinner the night before, nearly everyone
turned up for scrutineering at the ungodly hour of 8 o' clock.
The exception being Robert Wardale's 150 which digested its engine
at Saturday practice. Roope (Core Plug) & Chisholm (suspect
head gasket) were also a worry. Two fist timers were welcomed
to the Challenge: Simon Roope (140 FHC) & Ian Mills (150 FHC).
Guv'nor, Charles Fripp pulled rank on Ian and raced the car in
our race and Ian was thrown in the deep end in the Historic Road
Championship in which he acquitted himself very well in some pretty
powerful company. Owner of the Waddingham 120, Peter Flood, took
time off from racing his Riley to join us in his beautiful Fixed
Head 120 to urge his boy on.
Practice
Darren McWhirter annexed pole from Rob Newall (Class B 120 FHC)
and Campbell McLaren's 150 Fixed Head. Stuart Daughters (running
in new engine), Brian Arculus, Tim Waddingham & Steve Youle
were next, all covered by a single second. Chris Jaques, going
for the Championship led Class A from Geoff Ottley and a fast
improving Kevin Zwolinski. Nigel Webb (last outing in the XK150),
John Chisholm, Neil Watson & Nick Wilkins also all practiced
in the 1Min 44s. Sad to report that John' s super 120 suffered
head gasket failure and his car travelled home courtesy of the
AA. Webb & Jaques managed quick spins and Flood a wild 360.
Race
At our request the XK Challenge was race 1 under warm sunshine.
The Graham Bull XK150, with a known engine problem, did 3 practice
laps to qualify 11th and promptly expired big time on lap 2. At
the start, McWhirter took off into the wide blue yonder pursued
by Newall who slipped back to the Arculus, Waddingham battle,
caught up, fell back then recovered to finish 9 seconds in arrears.
Arculus & Waddingham who both had tremendous starts to 3rd
& 4th. They traded places until lap 6 when Tim clawed up to
Rob Newall then took to the grass at Riches and then spun mightily
at the chicane
. Ken
Bell has the photographic evidence! Brian could not capitalise
as his gearbox was failing fast and he struggled to the finish.
Tim recovered to 4th behind stormin' Campbell McLaren, who had
taken advantage of Tim's 'moments'. Steve Youle had a fine run
to 2nd in Class B with a down on power engine. This car has been
moved down a Class simply by removing the Watts Linkage to conform.
The Daughters' lightweight 120 spun on the 2nd lap & plummeted
from 4th to 18th, started clawing back but was black-flagged with
a blown gearbox seal dripping on to the exhaust. Stuart has been
so unlucky this year and need the one signature for a full licence.
Colin Johnson 's race ended at the end of a towrope on lap 5 with
a split top hose. A replacement was duly supplied for the long
haul home. Charles Fripp had too much straight-line grunt for
Geoff Ottley who nevertheless took Class A from Chris Jaques (only
3rd gear) who clinched the Championship for the second year running.
Kevin Zwolinski (XK140) took fastest lap - Class A. Neil Watson,
having cured a persistent misfire from the Castle Combe round
led Chris Keen & Nigel Webb in a tremendous dice. Both have
other cars being prepared for 2001.Nick Wilkins (Fastest lap 1:43:45)
led Peters Murray & Flood & Simon Roope.
A great weekend &
climax to the season. Thanks to Graham Whyte & the HSCC Team
for hosting the XK's this year. Thanks to Ken Bell for his invaluable
help throughout the year. Above all, thanks to all the drivers,
their partners and teams for gloriously entertaining racing, delightful
company and a great social scene. With at least 6 new entrants
next year this XK Challenge is going from strength to strength.
Come & join us!
Terry Dye
Jaguar Enthusiasts Club
Racing Co-ordinator
XK Challenge - Round 7
For this, the penultimate round of the 2000 XK Challenge, what
better than a meal for 20+ on the Friday evening to maintain the
social dimension of the XK Challenge? The support from Graham
Searle & Ken Bell from the JEC Committee was most welcome
to the competitors. It is some measure of the success of this
Series that I was disappointed to a grid of only (!) 18 entered
for the race, which beats every race last year.
Practice.
On a hot, sunny day, practice was at the most civilised time of
1200, which assisted Tim Waddingham who took an hour to stumble
across the fields back to his lodgings the previous night after
he lost his torch. As normal, Rob Newall's Class B XK120 FHC was
queuing up early for practice and slipped in 11 practice laps
to annexe pole position by .2 sec. from Darren McWhirter who made
the long trip from Elgin. Rob's time (1:26.71) was 4 seconds under
the class record he set last year. Another long distance entrant,
Campbell McLaren came from Troon to pick up 3rd by .6 sec. from
Waddingham despite having to almost physically drag the ill handling
XK150 FHC around. Chris Jaques, in the famous Lightweight LT2
led Class A from Geoff Ottley's much-campaigned XK120. Some of
these XKs, having shown excellent reliability in the past, decided
to play up. Graham Bull, who has campaigned his car this year
as a shakedown season, had a knocking big end, Colin Youle had
strange noises from the bottom end (the car that is). Neil Watson's
120 FHC was not getting enough fuel and, unusually for him, he
pottered round to complete the requisite number of laps. All this
was to no avail and he non-started the race even after bringing
his ace engineer, John, all the way from Prescott Hillclimb to
assist.
Race
Newall led McWhirter in a tremendous battle until lap 5 when Darren
passed and pulled away. Rob fell back to within 2 seconds of Waddingham,
who made an excellent start to lead McWhirter initially until
power told. The Waddingham/McLaren (still poorly handing) battle
for 3rd continued apace with the former getting on the grass at
Avon Rise but then out-braking at the Esses to regain the position.
Brian Arculus' car, being driven for the first time following
a rebuild, held a steady 5th getting quicker as the race progressed.
On lap 9 he got his fastest run out of Folly but the approach
speed to Quarry surprised him and he spun, letting Stuart Daughters'
ex Frank Gardner 120 through. Wife Pat managed to get the lot
on video to entertain visitors over the winter. In Class A, Ottley
got the jump on Jaques and held him until lap 3. John Chisholm
(3rd in Class) & Chris Keen had relatively quiet races but
with some particularly spirited cornering, especially at Camp.
Two magnificent dices: Nigel Webb (XK150) & Kevin Zwolinski
(XK140) were having great fun. Kevin reckons it's the widest XK150
he has ever seen! After a couple of two wheels on the grass moments
he passed Nigel on lap 9. Peter Murray & Robert Wardale (XK150s)
also had a fine battle, much appreciated by spectators. After
a quick spin Peter managed to pass Robert's ill-handling car on
lap 6. Lap Records for Class A - Chris Jaques - 1:31.59, Class
B - Rob Newall - 1:26.74 & Class C - Darren McWhirter - 1:25.74
The final race is at Snetterton on 24th September and the Championship
is going down to the wire. Class A is a battle between Chris Jaques
(74 pts) & Geoff Ottley (61 pts). In Class B Rob Newall is
runaway winner on 68.5 points. Class C could be taken by Darren
McWhirter (57 pts) or Tim Waddingham (49 pts). Overall Winner?
- The battle is between Jaques, Newall, Ottley & McWhirter.
Watch this space.
Jaguar Enthusiasts Club
Racing Co-ordinator
