MGCC Brands Hatch Spring Race Meeting

The MGCC Spring Race Meeting made it’s annual visit to Brands Hatch last weekend (27-28/04/2019) bringing along with it huge grids and cars covering every decade from the 1930’s onwards but no sign of the spring like weather that bathed Brands Hatch only a week earlier.

The Maidstone MG Trophy kicked of the weekends proceedings having both their races on Saturday. 2018 Champion Graham Ross in his MG ZR 190 took the chequered flag in their first outing of the day fighting his way to the lead after starting 7th on the grid in Class A. Ross Makar lead the race for the first 9 laps, retiring after a mechanical failure. In Class B Richard Marsh took the class win in the MG ZR 170. Sam Kirkpatrick look like taking the Class B win only to suffer clutch failure, retiring on lap 10. A loose water pipe spoiled Paul Luti’s day. Doug Cole took top honours in the second race of the day in Class A soaking up the pressure from Maker and Bray throughout the race taking the win by a nose. Victory in Class B for Sam Kirkpatrick made up for the earlier disappointment and Paul Luti taking 2nd in Class.

Graham Ross 2018 Champion

The Equipe GTS with nearly 100 cars split into two groups (A & B) competing across six races over the weekend, Mark Ashworth in his TVR Grantura took both the Group A wins. In Group B Simon Ashworth drove the same TVR to victory in the first Group B race of the weekend, the second win went to the Grantura of Rob Cull who started from the 15th row.

MGCC Lackford Engineering Midget & Sprite Challenge 2018 Champion Stephen Collier in the MG Midget started where he left off by taking both the weekends Midget & Sprite Challenge wins. During the first Collier looked to be on for a comfortable win. That was until the safety car was called into action when Robert Morris spun his Sprite mid race. This brought Stephen Watkins in an identical MG Midget into the chase for the flag who from there followed Collier home to finish 2nd. The race finished under a safety car because of spins at Clearways involving Nick Rose and Robin Lackford. In the second Collier again beat Watkins across the line, the race being made tricky after oil was dropped around the circuit.

Double winner Stephen Collier

MGCC BCV8 Championship The rain started to fall before the start. Race one pole sitter Russell McCarthy, after a poor get away was latter hit by Jonnie Wheeler who lost control of his MGB GT V8 under braking into Paddock Hill putting both cars into the gravel and McCarthy on his side. This brought out the red flag. The race shorten to 10 minuets Neil Fowler went on to take top podium spot with Ian Prior half a second behind. James Wheeler, after suffering engine failure in the first race went on to win the second race of the day. Leading from pole went on to win convincingly with a 3 second gap at the line over Neil Fowler.

Equipe Pre 63’s The spoils were shared by father and son team Bill & Jack Rawles in their beautifully turned out Austin Healey 3000. Bill Rawles won their first outing holding off the challenge from Mark Holme in his Austin Healey 3000 and in the second Pre 63 race son Jack stealing the race lead from Holme on lap 14.

The Healey of Bill & jack Rawles

Triple M Racing Challenge Harry Painter took both the days wins in his MG PA while Oliver Sharp in a MG N Type and Mike Painter in a MG Kayne Special finished 2nd & 3rd in both.

Philip Goddard and Keith Ahlers where winners in the Aero Racing Morgan Challenge and in the MGCC MG Cup with MGCC Drayton Manor Park MG Metro Cup Mike Williams took both the weekends wins. Mark Charteris went away from the day with two victories under his belt in the HSCC Classic Clubmas. In the Production Saloon Series the pairing of Jonathan Bevan and Rod Birley in a Honda Integra Type R DC5 took the win and lastly the Southern Super Saloons, Rod Birley was victorious in the first race piloting the Ford Escort while in the second of the weekend the win went to Alex Sidwell in a Holden VE/F.