Gang Warily 2007
The 2007 season got of to a cracking start
at Rother Valley. The next meeting sees the action taken to
Gang Warily near Southampton. There was some great racing
and amazing weather.
Bob Beech tells the story.
It is amazing what a difference 24 hours can make. As I sit
here typing this report I can look out over the garden and
see the sun shining and the leaves on the trees fluttering
in the gentle breeze. Yet, only yesterday at Fawley, we
were faced with gale force winds and driving rain after a
night during which mini whirlwinds had played havoc with
the gazeboes in the paddock and the tents in the camping
area. Many of the tent dwellers gave up trying to save
their tents and finished the night in their cars or packing
in with anyone generous enough to take them into their
caravan or camper.
Saturday had been fine. A bit windy but the racing was
good. Sunday was a bit more windy but with a lot of rain.
Monday dawned a bit like Sunday but even windier and with
the forecast that it was unlikely to get better until later
in the day. I was in on the discussions as to whether to go
ahead with the racing or not and I have only praise for all
the officials. Many of the marshals had been soaked the day
before, some had had problems with their tents overnight
and/or had not got fully dry but they were all still
prepared to go out there and do their job, if wanted. But
the decision was made on safety grounds to abandon the
meeting. I didn't hear any complaints from the drivers.
Anyway, while the meeting was abandoned on the Monday, it
was agreed that enough had been done on the Saturday and
Sunday to decide the meeting and the results will be
carried forward to the season's Championship. With the
appalling weather though and the computers not being fired
up in Race Control, it was agreed that the prize giving
would take place at the next race meeting. So on to the
racing.
...He made it just in time for the lights...
Daniel Turnbull (1) won all his
Formula One races from, consistently, Team Gill (2) in
second place. Third place for three of the four races was
Mike King (3). They finished the meeting in that order.
However, there is the sub formula of 1X. Team Vortex (10),
the entry of Keith Smallwood and Ewan Black produced the
new Predator F1X craft and this showed a really good turn
of speed, so much so that it finished in third place
overall in race 2. Nevertheless, John Rees (18) was the
winner of the F1X section although he must have been
worried at the start of Race 1 when his lift engine would
not restart. He made it just in time for the lights.
No Scott Tilley or Bryan White
so Formula Two was left to Team Beez (32) which won three
of the four races. The exception was Race 2 when time was
lost after a very high three hundred and sixty degree spin
near the start and finish. Nevertheless, the craft was
restarted and still finished second. Such was the speed
that in Race 3 everyone had been lapped by the end of lap
6. Tony Goldney (50) appeared with his four stroke engined
craft and finished second in the first race and he won the
second. However, he was pulled off the start grid for Race
3 and was never seen again. He did actually register on the
scoring computer for this race but only because recovery
took him over the finish line on the trailer before lap
scoring had ceased. Tony and Storm (36) were having a
really good battle in the first race but Storm took a wide
line on the lake and hit the bank letting Tony through.
Storm though was the more consistent and finished in second
place for the weekend. Team Drew (81) had three third place
finishes to get the third place slot for the meeting.
...To get it clear at this point you have to drag it a long way...
17 drivers out in Formula 503. Although Mark Talbot (70) won the meeting, he did not have it all his own way. At last there is someone to match him for speed, Steve Walsh (78) who finished second and first in his first two races. But on lap 4 of Race 3, Steve came to a stop in the first chicane and that was the last of his racing. Another to break down after a few good races was Team Rustler (46). With no points from the last race Rob had to settle for sixth place for the weekend. Jonathan Spedding (37) won the last race to take second overall. Team Drew (81) was consistent again and, as in Formula Two, finished in third place. Jonathan Tall (112) didn't score any points in the first race but should have been given some for physical effort. He was seen dragging his craft off the course, in the Hardley chicane, when it broke down. To get it clear at this point you have to drag it a long way and there are no muscle marshals to help you. Well done Jonathan.Three of the four races in Formula 35 were won by Rachael Gifford (201). I am not sure why she lost out to Team Vortex (211) in race 3 but if Rebecca Taylor's excellent photo on our web site is anything to go by, Rachael lost her lift engine on the lake. Keith Lovell (217) joined in on Sunday and finished third for the weekend.
In the Opens, Team Gill (2) won the first three races and although no points were obtained in Race 4, nevertheless there were enough to win overall. Mark Talbot (70) picked up second place in front of Team Beez (32) in third. Perhaps the most spectacular crash of the weekend was achieved by Kevin Eastwood driving Jamie Lewendon's F2. While travelling at speed just after the start/finish line the wind caught the craft and lifted it up in the air, throwing Kevin out and then coming down on top of him. At some time the craft was also hit by Jonathan Spedding (37). Kevin was up quickly, trying to lift the craft off himself, but marshals were on hand immediately to try and get him to lie down and be checked out by the medics. Luckily not seriously hurt, well that's if you don't count numerous bruises and a suspected broken finger.
Laura Broad (133) won the Juniors but had to work hard to do so. Race 1 was a real stunner won by Cullompton College (25) with Tom Hopkins driving. This was quite a surprise as it was only his fourth race but nevertheless, he well deserved the win. Tom took the lead in Race 2 but dropped out on lap 2. The overflow pipe for his TZR engine had not been fitted properly and water dripped out and shorted out one plug. Dried out he rejoined the race and just did enough laps to qualify for points. Jessica Lucas (145) won this race driving Ricky Goosey's craft. Jessica had the marshals, and likely Rickey as well, worried with calls coming over the radio about smoke coming out of the craft and the concern that something was on fire. Looked worse than it was though as all it turned out to be was the foam knee mat having slipped back onto the exhausts and melted. Joshua Daly (194) was very consistent to take third place although he lost points in Race 1 by only being able to enter on Lap 3 due to the repairs not being completed from Chris's accident in Formula Three.
There were 7 Novices. Kevin Tucker (117) won three of the races. Having raced before he has now qualified out of Novices and was looking forward to entering the senior races on the Monday, but of course that didn't happen. Stephanie Clarke (63), with a smooth driving style, came second in the Formula Two section. Just one more race and she will have completed her 15 Novice races. Stuart Stanley (96) entered for the first time and finished in third in Formula Two. Things might have been even better but for having been left on the start line for race 4. Contaminated fuel was to blame. Tristan Rhodes (118) has been treating us to some good racing while in Novices but he had mixed fortunes at this meeting. In Race 1 his pull cord broke on the grid. He was trailered back to the paddock where he was greeted by Jamie Lewendon with a recoil starter in his hand. A quick switch and Tristan was out again to do enough laps to gain points. Although he won Race 2 he was never happy as the engine was not pulling full power. Overnight the engine was stripped and bits of aluminium were removed from where they shouldn't have been but the engine expired completely on Sunday morning. Pity really as Tristan had just completed his Novice races and could have gone out with the Seniors.
In the Formula Three Novices there were 3 new drivers, all of whom only gained points on the Sunday. Phillip Tattershall (172) won both races. I didn't see him plough in during his first race but I understand it was quite spectacular. Perhaps these are the pictures that Rebecca has captured and posted on our web site. Martin Higgins (148) tried to race on Saturday but could not get the engine to run properly. However, with much tinkering and advice from several people he got it going well on the Sunday to finish his first two races. Nice to see you out there Martin as you have done a lot for others, including myself, in the time you have been in the club. Ashleigh Wells (170) was a little concerned that his craft was under powered and that he might be a moving obstacle. He shouldn't have worried. He drove very smoothly and took some good lines. Anyway, it is often the case that someone starting out with a low powered craft learns the proper lines very quickly and this stands them in good stead when they get a more powerful craft. Indeed, I understand that Ashleigh is looking forward to getting a more powerful engine so we shall see.
Well, that's the race report finished. However, I must thank everyone for all their support over the weekend. The lapscorers, marshals, recovery, Barry on commentary, Race Director, Chief Marshal, Keith and Anita Oakley, all those who helped put up the site, and everyone for the neat and tidy way you left the site despite the soft ground. You all played your part in keeping the meeting running and also looking after the seemingly endless stream of Fawley Parish Councillors. The reason for all the Councillors was that the recent local elections has seen a shift of power and the new majority group want us off the site. Their first move was to stop us this year, at just four days notice, but they were made to realise that this would be morally wrong. However, they have another meeting on June 25th to decide on future years and them coming to our meeting was to see at close quarters what we do. So we have to wait and see and all I can hope is that we will be able to see you all again next year at Gang Warily.
Bob Beech.
[All photos by kind permission of Roger Rawson of rlrdigital.co.uk]