It has been a few weeks since the final rounds of the Mac-Tools V8 Trophy, so I thought it time to report on the "Motorfest" meeting.
The final “Motofest” meeting was a blast for all, the weather was perfect all weekend and a huge amount of work achieved our goal of 15 cars on the grid, a 50% increase on average season numbers and thus setting the scene for the climax of the championship.
Qualifying was awesome, in 1st practice John steward had already beaten last season’s Olli Playle AVON tyres lap record with a 35.545, and at an149.79 mph average, just off of the magic 150 mph. He then duly came in parked up in his pit bay and had a nap!!!
John then went out and got pole with a 36.132, beating Hunter Abbott and Lee O’Keefe to second and third. With just 0.6 of a second covering the top 7 on the grid ir proved just how good the pace has improved this season, disproving what some said that the spring window capping would make the cars unsafe and slower.
Race 1 on Saturday afternoon was a belter. Off the start Colin moved up to 4th behind the much improved #99 car of Lee O’Keefe, and on the first 5 laps they recorded exact lap times then on lap 6 Colin muscled his way past both Lee and John to pursue his team mate Hunter Abbott in the #26 Blaupunkt car. The race had by now split into two distinct arear, first 4 all within 2 seconds of each other and Keth White, Tony Hurdle, Shane Brereton and the also very improved Carl Boardley were fighting with just 2 seconds covering them, the top 8 all running by lap 10 in the same order but within 0.3 seconds of each other and all in the 36’s, they were all pushing hard.
Carl Boardley leads Shane Brereton and Keith White through turn 4
Image Copyright© 2007 W Maruszewska
Lap 13 saw Colin pressure Hunter and the #78 Royal Air Force car moved into the lead. At the same time Lee was fighting with John and after 2 laps Lee made it stick and headed off after the front two. 4 laps later Lee had closed the gap and passed Hunter on the inside of turn 4 on lap 20. Further behind, the second group of 4, were battling with Tony all over Keith, and by lap 23 Tony made it stick and 5th place was his. Lap 24 saw Carl pass Shane and as Carl started to hit his groove their battle helped them catch Kieth and whilst lapping the ailing #31 car both Carl and Shane passed Kieth.
Into the final stages of the race and John seemed to have the better car, passing Hunter for third spot on the podium with Lee once again second and Colin almost sure of the Title with his 5th win of the season.
Race two on Sunday was no less hectic. Colin held 1st from the start but hitting turn 4 for the second time Lee O’Keefe in the #99 FSNBF car scythed under Colin to take the 1st spot and Hunter followed suit leaving Colin in 3rd. Lee pulled out a lead ahead of Hunter and the race settled into a series of fast laps from the top 5 who were all running in the low 36’s. Lap 13 had Lee, Hunter, Colin and John all within 4 seconds of each other and Tony, Shane and Carl once again doing battle within a second of each other until, a loose trailing arm sent Carl backwards into the turn 4 wall and out of the race. The yellow flag bunched everyone up again for the restart on lap 22.
Lee judged it perfectly to maintain his lead with Colin climbing all over his team mate Hunter. This battle ensued until lap 30 where after trying for two laps and being side by side for over a lap Colin made the pass stick and headed off after Lee but as Lee was the fastest car on track it was going to be hard. Colin pushed hard and brought the gap down in the final two laps by a second but Lee had it covered to give him, and Revolution Racing their first win. Colin however won the championship which also allowed him into the final "King of the Rock" race.
The "King of the Rock" race was once again made up from the winning drivers in the 10 different classes over the two days.
Colin hit the front from the start and seemed to have it covered until a yellow came out and closed them up. This allowed the second place car to pass Colin which left our Mr White with a happy second. The cars used were the FUN CUP VW BETTLES and Colin enjoyed the race saying they were great fun to drive.
Congratulations go to Colin for the most wins and being the SCSA Mac Tools V8 Trophy Champion 2007, Hunter for a well deserved second place and a Third for Lee O’Keefe in the Championship and to Lee once again, for his and Revolution Racings first win.
Lastly all our thanks go out to everyone who competed in 2007.
That is all for another season, one in which we had 15 cars on the grid which has placed us in a very strong position to go into 2008. Interest in joining the grid for the coming year is unparalleled and a series sponsor is waiting in the wings, depending on where we race next year and how many dates we have. Thank you all for your continued support and we hope to see you all again next year.
Next date in the diary is the 2007 SCSA Mac Tools V8 Trophy awards evening which has been branded “THE ASCAR’S”, taking place on the night of the 26th October at the Holiday Inn, A43, Kettering / Corby where much merriment will abound.
Duane
12th October 2007
Image: Chigley throws the checkered flag on the last race of the 2007 season
Copyright© 2007 www.timtime.co.uk
