Geoff prepares to qualify.

Bob makes final adjustments...

Guest driver David Stevenson looked very impressive in the white Cooper. Although unfamiliar with the car, he was quickly extracting the most from his mount. Team mate Paul fared less well, with serious clutch and gearbox problems. A fine effort over lunch by his mechanic raised the mood, and would be rewarded by a strong race. Gordon Russell put in a good showing in the Mackson, though concerned when the engine apparently seized. Free again by the time he returned to the pits, he decided to run on in the race. Several cars suffered misfires and similar power losses, including both Roys and Martin Sheppard (who also had binding brakes). Most unlucky was Graham Murdock, who suspected a third straight magneto failure.

Graham Murdoch (FMS) leads Cliff Ringrose (750 Trophy) and Roy Hunt (Martin) through Luffield in practice.

Come race time, temperatures had soared, and all signs were for a great race. Unfortunately, Geoff Gartside’s clutch called foul, and he was unable to reach the Assembly Area. After a shambles of a start at the same race in 2004, Bob arranged with the club to follow the experimental start procedure that has been successful so far. For the first time, things did not go quite to plan. The general view was that the front row slowed the field too much on the back straight, and the cars were still held on the grid for too long. Although everyone managed to get away, several cars were cooking their clutches and beginning to oil as they sat on the grid.

Practice had suggested that James Culver and David Brand (Reliant Special) should have the legs of the rest of the field, and as the cars returned to the complex they had eked out a second’s advantage from fast-starting John Turner, who had jumped from sixth on the grid. Behind him, there was a huge battle into Brooklands of some ten cars with Neil Hodges running ninth overall (3^rd in class) and chased by Rodney Delves and Nigel Challis – another to have made a great start from thirteenth place. Another small gap announced an even bigger group containing slow-away David Stephenson and Bob Culver (clutch drag), Shirley, both Roys, Mark Palmer and Gordon Russell. Graham’s magneto problems continued – having started from the pits he was already thirty seconds behind the field and would doggedly plug away to the end, several seconds off the pace.Second time around, James and David were locked in an immense battle. Side-by-side into Brooklands, the Reliant appeared to have a slight edge in braking and would lead the lap. John Turner had stabilised the gap from these two, and was clearly confident of joining them. But on the entry to Luffield his magneto expired and he pulled to the infield to retire. Neil, Nigel and Rodney were still in a tight battle with a batch of Trophy cars. Slightly further back, Roy Hunt finally had the Martin running cleanly, and was slicing through a similarly busy third group. Bob Culver (clutch now settling down) was looking for a way past David Stevenson. Paul Hewes was also recovering from his poor grid position, and was starting a fight through this third group.

Rodney Delves in the Kieft

Paul Hewes leads Gordon Russell.

Lap 5, and the leaders were beginning to lap the tailenders, having already dispensed with Graham’s crippled FMS. Roy Hunt had passed Rodney and was looking for a way past Nigel for 7^th, which he duly achieved early on lap 6.Rodney was half a second off the back of the group in 10^th. Further back, Martin Sheppard began to suffer more carburation problems and would die seventh time around. Roy Wright had been similarly troubled with the Dastle now overfuelling badly, and he retired on the sixth time out of Becketts after a close battle with Shirley.

Players to the left, gentlemen to the right! James and David battle for the lead while Mike Whitby and Paul Grele are happy to fight for last place. Both contests would be settled by a few tenths of a second.

In fact, Shirley was in the thick of it. Gordon Russell eased the Mackson past on Lap 6, promptly distracting her with a spray methanol. Distracted, she very nearly impaled her car on the sharp tail of the Mackson, and Mark Palmer was able to get closer, finding a way past on lap 9. Although her engine was oiling noticeably, it was another very good drive and augers well for Goodwood. James and David were still at it hammer & tongs. James lost a couple of seconds lapping cars on the eighth lap, but fought back quickly. The orange Hague of Paul Mason had established a safe lead for third place, while Roy Hunt had completed a superb drive into fourth place ahead of the Warwick and Roger Windley’s Time 3B. Nigel was still in close company and battling with Peter Birch’s JGS and Richard Reeve’s Lotus Mk 6, while Rodney was slightly off the back in 10^th. Ten seconds back, Nic Grele (Jeffrey) led the battle between Bob Culver and Cliff Ringrose. David Stevenson had emerged at the head of the third group, but was too far away from Bob and now rather caught on his own. David Whetton (Warren) followed, then a further eight seconds back Paul Hewes was coming under pressure from Gordon Russell. Another five seconds brought Shirley, Mark, Nicola Harness (Rapide) and John Marshall (Lotus Mk 6). Neil was still touring in 23^rd place, adrift of Don Rawson. Graham was still carrying the ‘lanterne rouge’. In fact, he was convinced he wasn’t last, as he passed Neil, but was disappointed to find out later that he had simply unlapped himself!

On lap 10, James found a way past David for the lead, surprisingly taking him under braking for Brooklands. With time running out, David was keen to return the favour, and if possible the battle intensified further. This was to lead to the one unfortunate incident of the race, as the two cars raced out of Woodcote to see the signal for the final lap. James had now realised the Reliant’s strength under braking and covered the inside at the two major braking areas. He led through the complex and out of Luffield to receive the… final lap signal again. James did continue to lead this twelfth lap, again covering the inside into Brooklands, and appeared to have the race in the bag. David had other ideas and brilliantly drove all the way around the outside of Luffield to steal victory by a car’s length. James was quite reasonably a little upset at the cock-up on the flagging front (not least because race timings indicate that the first signal was in fact correct) and although both drivers set their fastest lap on that final tour, James could argue that he was slightly distracted. But that’s racing, and when the result was confirmed James took it with good grace.

Another person who might have preferred the race to end on time was Roy Hunt. On the final tour he was still fighting Roger Windley at the Becketts hairpin, only to spin down to ninth place, and handing second in class to Nigel Challis. Roy Hunt, Paul Hewes, Gordon Russell, and of course James all put in superb drives, but given that this was only Nigel’s second 500 race, he shades it for drive of the day. A most enjoyable day's racing with entertainment thoughout the field, thanks to some sunshine and our friends in the 750 Trophy.

Shirley in her Cooper Mk IV

James Culver and David Brand still fighting through Luffield.

Three Mk VIIIs of Neil Hodges, Bob Culver and Geoff Gartside take Luffield during qualifying.