Glasbey Guides Golf to Victory

IOWCC round 4 was held at Atherfield yesterday (25th September), why round 4 I hear you all ask? This was a rescheduled event due to the venue not being ready earlier in the year. An unsealed surface event which is usually ever changing throughout the day due to the initial wet grass right through to compacted soil.

As was suspected the first few runs were akin to what you may see on TV as dancing on ice. Wet grass made not only navigating tight turns difficult but indeed trying to come to a halt in the stop box was virtually impossible. Steve Glasbey was the first to tame the conditions and record a sub one minute run with a very respectable 58.18 driving a mk2 Golf Gti. Dave Dutch once again kept the field honest with a decent 57.90 in a classic Mini but it was Neil Glasbey who not only looked the fastest but was actually the quickest at the half way point with an amazing 55.15 in the Golf he shares with his brother.

Meanwhile the battle for the fastest lady was on, Rebecca French driving a 57.52 only to be bettered by Vicky Cox with a 57.30. Marion Saunders was trying her best to keep her little Mini up there but could not quite catch the leading lady finishing with a 58.48. Vicky went on to better her time and finish 9th overall with a very credible time of 55.52. Vicky put her new found speed down to the newly installed limited slip differential. Well done Vicky!

Back at the top competition was hotting up, Dan Morgan joining the fray half way through due to competing in a Triathlon in the morning. Dan was using a borrowed Diesel Mk3 Golf as earlier Martyn Cutler had killed the gearbox in the WWC Golf. Dans second run of 55.86 put the cat right amongst the pigeons and the battle was on. Andy Williams took to the challenge with a certain confidence about him and duly delivered with a 55.13. Neil Glasbey came back at the two of them coolly slotting back into the top spot by being the first into the 53 seconds driving the wheels off the little red Golf. Andy replied with a 53.70 only to be bettered by Neil with a 53.65. With a 1-2-3 of Neil, Andy and Dan the competition for the table was getting tighter and tighter. Nobody was looking over their shoulders though when Andrew Leppard stepped up having not read the script. Driving a 205gti on standard road tyres Andrew drove a quite exceptional 53:79 to take third place away from Dan.

And that was how it ended, the times had indeed tumbled as the grass was replaced by compacted soil and as the dust settled Neil came away with a very valuable 50 points. With just 2 rounds left in the USS events and competition getting hotter by the week it all points towards a grand finale.

Driver of the day goes to Neil Glasbey for guiding the red bullet to ultimate victory.

Top 5

Neil Glasbey 53.65
Andy Williams 53.70
Andrew Leppard 53.79
Dan Morgan 54.92
Martyn Cutler 54.97

Unsealed Surface Top 3 Positions:-

Dan Morgan 148
Neil Glasbey 147
Andy Williams 145

Morgan Stuns the Crowds ;)


Round 7 of the IOW car club could be found at the IOW college on Sunday, rescheduled from last week due to issues with venues this promised to be a cracking event as the college offers us a lot of space for course layouts. Just 28 competitors turning out, probably a casualty of the Bestival!

With fewer competitors you may think there is less competition but the exact opposite proved true with fierce competition in both class 3 and class 4.

Dave Dutch set the early pace recording a 1:15.07 in his Mini Pickup but Chris Greenen was keeping him honest driving a Mini saloon car and laying down a 1:15.90. The day was looking very much like a FWD mini would take overall honours as the RWD cars were struggling to get anywhere near those times…..

Up steps Mr Daniel Morgan of Island PC Services, driving his specially built ‘7’ type vehicle. With a first run mishap meaning he hacked up some of the course, having to drive further than necessary and still recording a 1:16.92 everybody had a right to feel threatened, a second run of 1:11.03 proved the apprehensive justified. A time from the skies that was going to prove impossible to beat was the feeling around the paddock, had an event ever been won so early in the day? And that is how it turned out, everybody else competing for the other honours, Dan went on to better his own time with an incredible 1:10.51 a whopping 2.25 seconds from Dave Dutch in second.

Class 1 was once again Jemma Westerns all to herself, we need more class 1 competitors. Where are you all hiding? Jemma recorded a 1:31.09 in a Ford KA to take all of the class points. Well done Jemma, hopefully we can find you some competition soon!

Class 3 next as there were no competitors from class 2, our usual stalwarts of Dean Long and Daryl Turner nowhere to be seen. This class as usual is the class of the Mini, 7 drivers competing for top honours. As is common these days the Dutch brothers were fast from the outset, John getting a 1:18.76 only to be bettered by his brother with a 1:15.07 to briefly put him top of the leader board. Steve Brett, frequently keeping this class honest was struggling today, his car causing issues throughout. Marion seemed to be getting more out of the little Blue Mini than her husband. Meanwhile with the Dutch brothers thinking they had the class all their own way Chris Greenen was plotting their downfall, putting a 1:15.90 on the board showed intent and then a 1:13.78 to put the cat amongst the pigeons. Dave Dutch responded with a 1:13.25 and at this point the Greenen Mini decided it wanted no more as the clutch gave way. A shame as it was turning into a really nice battle. Dave went on to better his own time with a 1:12.76 to take the class and second place overall. Chris was second in class and third overall.

Class 4 had the lion’s share of the drivers, over 17 in total. A vast variety of machinery from VX220’s to Citroen Saxo race cars. Dave Bizzill was eyeing the class top spot and when he posted a time of 1:17.77 early in the day the line had been drawn. Andrew and Dave Leppard in their 205Gti were struggling slightly with the times, usually battling the front runners their car just did not seem to suit this course. Matt Price driving his freshly prepared Citroen Saxo race car drove a brilliant 1:17.41 to top the class followed by a 1:16.62 to further cement his place at the summit. Toby Allen was struggling with the course also driving an Mx5, we all knew he would come good later though as he got to grips with both course and machinery. Posting a 1:14.96 on his fourth run proved most right. Matt responded and was seen dancing a jig as he returned to pip Toby by just 1/10th second. The jig was cut short however as Martyn Cutler in his VX220 placed a time of 1:14.97 just 2/10th off Matt with a run in hand. Martyn went on to better his time with a 1:14.49, Matt looked glum, he thought he had the class.

So Martyn Cutler took the class victory and fourth overall closely followed by Matt Price in second place and Toby Allen in third. Rebecca French ran away with fastest lady with a time of 1:19.04, her nearest rival was Vicky Cox with a 1:22.84 in a 205Gti.

Class 5 had two competitors, Dan Morgan and Andy Williams, Andy was driving his car engined special and as always started the proceedings. A time of 1:18.55 in the damp and greasy conditions might have given Andy hope that he could do well in this class of two! A 3rd run 1:16.07 and all was looking rosy…..Up steps Mr Morgan, a rare mistake costing him time on his first run but still managing a 1:16.92 boding not well for Andy. A second run and an incredible time of 1:11.03 and Andy knew it was time to get the bus home. Dan went on to better his time with an unassailable 1:10.51 and Andy with a 1:15.77 leaving Morgan with not only class honours but the top step of the podium. Well done Dan, an amazing weekend for you equalling the largest ever win.

So another weekend of motorsport drawn to a close, the 7th round done and dusted and as the dust settles we can see a clearer picture of the championship. Dave Goodwin still tops the table with 149 points but now only 2 points behind is Dan Morgan. Only 2 rounds left in the sealed surface championship and both of those fall on the weekend of 12/13 November for the annual Healey weekend. Should be an amazing finish to the championship as both battle to take the top step of the podium and walk away with the coveted winners trophy.

Driver of the day goes to Dan Morgan for winning an event 4 hours prior to its finish, will this ever be bettered?

Top 5 College

Dan Morgan 1:10.51
Dave Dutch 1:12.76
Chris Greenen 1:13.78
Martyn Cutler 1:14.49
Matt Price 1:14.95

Sealed surface Championship

Dave Goodwin 149
Dan Morgan 147
Dave Dutch 145

Overall Championship

Dan Morgan 247
Andy Williams 231
Neil Glasbey 227

Next event is on 25th September, an unsealed surface event at Atherfield. Please see www.iowcc.co.uk for more information on how to join or spectate.
As always thanks to the land owner for kind permission to use the land, the marshals and the competitors.

First class performance at RAF Odiham Chinook Sprint 2011

The Thomas's dominated their class

A very good day was had by all and despite a few excursions the IOW contingent, boasting 14 competitors at the event, returned relatively unscathed and having scooped 5 class trophies.

The course was far longer than the previous Dimanche sprint that IOWCC members entered earlier in the year and offered a far more challenging prospect. Even with a sighting run it was clear it was going to take some mastering.

Right from the off there were a set of short straights and tight turns and trying to find the right gear was going to be the key to the times falling. The course proceeded through a right hand turn which followed a long sweeping left, through a fast chicane and out of a right hander and onto a blind crest,  this turns right first before taking a sharp left that opens. Again perfecting this was going to be difficult. A hairpin turn was next leading onto a wide sweeping right hander, a sweeping left, a short burst of straight and then another tricky left-right-left with odd cambers and inclines. A couple of quick straights followed by a fairly straight forward chicane that you could really hustle the car through and then a sweeping left hander to finish.

The course was just over 1.9 miles in length.

Toby Allen and Richard Weaver were fast from the outset, with Martyn Cutler taking an ‘expected’ excursion into the grass on his first practice run. Returning from the first practice, everyone had big smiles on their faces.

 

Anna Weaver enjoying her 911

Richard Weaver in a Porsche 911 was upsetting Ferrari owners in his class as he was over a second ahead of them in practice, but lost out to them by the days end, although he took third in class. The Ferrari guys, Richard Prior and Andrew Holman at first thought it was Anna Weaver who was beating them as she was sharing the car with husband Richard. Sadly she opted not to provide extra amusement and string them along! They were cracking chaps and offered some much needed spice, to what would have otherwise been a dull class, due to the 3 way fight that ensued.

 

Will and Derek Thomas were as usual quick in their Porsche and took first and second in their class respectively. Will finished an amazing 18th overall which considering the majority of the first 15 finishers positions were occupied by the single seaters, meant that of the production and modified production vehicles, his finish was exceptionally good.

Russel Thomson on his way to 3rd in class

Russell Thomson was getting to grips with the Lotus Elise, which he had re-bushed before the event and lack of a geometry set up was providing him with a slightly twitchy driving experience. He nailed his final run of the day however and shaved 3 seconds off his best previous time. Martyn Cutler was keeping Russell honest in his similar machine, but lost out to Russ in the final run.

 

The Greenen’s having recently acquired a Honda Civic were causing a stir with Andy and Chris driving it hard. Chris came away with 2ndin class as a result of his efforts.

Father and son team Chris and Andy Greenen

Steve Stotesbury was his usual exuberant self thrashing his poor Fiesta to within an inch of his life and in true Steve fashion he was quick AND managed to upset the Clerk of the Course!

Matthew ‘Basra’ Price was pushing his recently completed Stock Hatch prepared Citroen Saxo faster than a tin can should ever go. He had a spinning moment on his 2nd timed run. His shakedown for the car in its first competitive outing since the build proved successful.

A fruitful day's testing for Matt Price

Matt said:

‘Such an excellent and successful shakedown for the Saxo and it delivered without fault, despite a soggy front shock absorber. Over the moon. Such a pleasure (as always) to attend such events with the iowcc community.

A big thank you to Brian for being a massive helping hand and to everyone for making my day very enjoyable.’

 

Toby Allen battled the Greenen duo and drove very well in his Mazda.

TobyAllen fought his fellow class competitors

He commented ‘ Me and Chris had been swapping 2nd and 3rd pos in class all morning, so with about 17 people in class were both eager to take trophies home.

Went out on my 4th run and felt I really Had nailed it, checked my times and I had taken just over 4 sec’s off I think, wicked! 

After my Final run I managed to take a further half second off putting me in the mid 1.47’s, Sadly not quite enough as a MK2 escort had cropped up knocking me off 3rd by about 1/3rd of a second.

Regardless of all that I had an epic time, it was a real pleasure with the great company from the island and It seems we all had an equally great time.’ 


Darren Taylor battled with Matt Price throughout the day

Darren Taylor was pushing his 306 to achieve some very respectable times, he also had an off and he thought he was lucky it stayed bottom side down. He pipped Matthew Price in their class with the pair finishing 0.6 seconds apart.


 

 

George Archer had a good run in his MK2 Escort and running as car number 3 he managed to remain cool despite the pressure of being one of the first cars to hit the course.

George Archer remained cool during his inaugural sprint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall Positions for IOWCC Members and fastest time recorded

18th – Will Thomas –  Porsche 911 – 01:36.6

24th – Derek Thomas – Porsche 911 – 01:39.9

30th – Richard Weaver – Porsche 911 – 01:41.4

41st – Russell Thomson  – Lotus Elise – 01:46.6

42nd – Chris Greenen – Honda Civic – 01:47.1

44th – Toby Allen – Mazda MX5 – 01:47.5

46th – Martyn Cutler – VX220 – 01:47.8

49th – Steven Wells – Locost – 01:48.5

55th – Andy Greenen – Honda Civic – 01:50.4

56th – Darren Taylor – Peugeot 306 – 01:50.6

59th – Matthew Price – Citroen Saxo – 01:51.2

71st – George Archer – Ford Escort Mk2 – 01:56.3

74th – Anna Weaver – Porsche 911 – 01:56.8

77th – Steve Stotesbury – Ford Fiesta – 01:57.6

Class Positions

 Class A02

4th George Archer

Class A03

7th Steve Stotesbury

Class A04

2nd Chris Greenen *

4th Toby Allen

6th Andy Greenen

Class A05

3rd Richard Weaver *

7th Anna Weaver

Class A08

3rd Russell Thomson *

4th Martyn Cutler

Class B10

5th Darren Taylor

6th Matthew Price

Class B11

1st Will Thomas *

2nd Derek Thomas *

Class C12

4th Steven Wells

* denotes trophy

Cheesy grins = a good day's racing!

Contributed by Martin Cutler and Edited by Richard Weaver

Thanks to ‘Fiddy’ for the Photography