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It was back to a double header sprint format at Cadwell Park for the latest round of the 2CVparts.com Championship. While Lien Davies added another win to his tally, it was a first for Brian Heerey since joining the Championship at Oulton Park.

Sandro Proietti took pole position quite comfortably over Davies, while Matthew Hollis and Nick Clarke shared the second row on a 19 car grid.

As the first of the weekends races got underway it continued to be any one from eight for the first four laps, with Matthew Hollis, Davies and Nick Clarke all sharing the lead, while Ash Carter led the second group as his quarry continued to escape.

Davies led from lap four and made a brief escape with Proietti, leaving Clarke, Mick Storey, Martin Riman, Hollis, Jim Henshaw and Heerey to fight over third.

The chasers soon caught Proietti again and Clarke was back second by the end of lap six.

Davies’ break started to increase as the fight behind continued to intensify, but Hollis’ hopes of another win were dashed. “I hit the bollards at the Gooseneck and it bent the front wing in,” he explained. His solution was to stop and latch the offending wing against the Armco by the paddock exit gate, pull the offending wing off and continue with one open front wheel.

Storey was the next of the chasers to make a move, taking second on lap seven, as Proietti slipped to fifth behind Clarke and Riman.

Davies found his lead starting to reduce as the top four paired off though and at the flag Storey was only 0.258s adrift of the defending champion, “it didn’t shoot off the line at the start as I had hoped, so it was really hard work. It was door handles with Sandro on one lap through Hall Bends,” he said.

Proietti had trailed Clarke for third as they started the last lap, but it was close. “I had never led before this race and I didn’t know it was the last lap either and Sandro got me at Hall Bends,” Clarke explained.

“My fan had broken in the assembly area and I had to take to grass once at Charlies to avoid hitting Martin Riman. I think I overtook everyone somewhere in that race,” Proietti replied after completing the podium.

Clarke retained fourth and Henshaw managed to escape from his batch to secure fifth, while Julie Walford snatched sixth on the last lap.

Heerey settled in seventh, “I decided to sit at the back of the group and behave,” he reckoned. Riman had been as high as fourth but took the flag eighth. “It was fantastic but I lost my brakes around halfway,” he said.

Nick Crispin hadn’t quite managed to stick with the initial break, but had enough in hand to keep Ash Carter at a safe distance for ninth, “it was all over the place and trying to kill me at the Gooseneck,” Carter added.

Mathew Hollis finally made it to the flag 11th, with Steve Walford escaping in 12th as James Dartiailh and Chris Yates took their 13th place duel to the line.

Chris Hall was next home, with John Widdowson, Nigel Hollis, Ron Mears and Richard Hollis all making it home too.

Storey had pole for race two in the car Clarke had taken to fourth, whilst alongside Ainslie Bousefield had taken over from Davies. Heerey and Henshaw shared the second row, with Luca Proietti and Steve Walford taking over from Julie, to complete the third.

Storey and Heerey were side by side from the start as they arrived at Charlies, with Bousefield in third. But as they charged down the Park Straight Storey was well down. “I had been punted off,” he explained.

The lead duo started to make a break as the rest of the field continued to change and change about. Henshaw was in third, from Walford, Proietti and Matthew Hollis. But Hollis made two places on lap three and began to threaten Henshaw for the final podium place.

Bousefield was continuing to shadow every move Heerey made without actually attacking for the lead. But it all went wrong for Henshaw. “I think I was celebrating too early, lost my straightline speed and they all came passed,” he explained.

Hollis, Walford and recovering Storey came by first, with Crispin and Proietti following a lap later, when third had suddenly become eighth.

Without warning the chequered flag suddenly appeared after 15 mins of racing and Heerey became a surprised maiden victor. “I felt under a lot of pressure and was permanently looking in my mirrors,” he explained.

“I was planning my race and the next thing I knew it was the chequered flag. There was no warning that the race was shortened and no last lap flag,” said an angry second placed Bousefield.

Storey’s magnificent fightback netted him third with a lap to go.” I didn’t like being punted off but enjoyed coming back through the field,” he admitted.

Hollis had been in third, but lost out to both Storey and Walford with a lap to go. “That was tough, I worked with Steve and actually got alongside Ainslie but there was no way through and then Luca got me at the Hairpin too on the last lap, “he said after coming home sixth.

Crispin was right behind Hollis as they took the flag, leaving Henshaw, Carter and Dartiailh to complete the top ten.

There was little to split Aubrey Brocklebank and Yates for 11th, while behind them Hall had plenty in hand over Nigel Hollis and Widdowson.

Katy Storey was 16th having been up in eighth earlier, while Mears and Marc Grasby completed the finishers.

The next round of the Championship is at Brands Hatch July 29/30th.

Full result PDF: http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2017/1719212cv.pdf

2CVPARTS.com Classic Championship – Croft, April 29/30th 2017

There were three different winners over the Croft weekend, with 2CV Racing legend Pete Sparrow taking the first, before Ash Carter celebrated his maiden success. The pair then joined up for the Enduro, but proved to be second best to Lien Davies and Ainslie Bousefield.

Sparrow was on pole for race one by a healthy 1.406s from defending Champion Davies, but there was little to separate Matthew Hollis and Jim Henshaw on the second row.

Sandro Proietti and Nick Crispin completed the top six qualifiers, with 18 cars ready for the early afternoon sprint.

As the lights went out Sparrow led into Clervaux, with Proietti edging out Davies for second. But the Champion quickly fought back, “Pete had a great start, but Sandro just had me for second. I soon got him back though and we stuck together and got away, “Davies explained.

With Proietti back in third from lap two, the chasing pack began to close, with Matthew Hollis, heading Crispin and Alec Graham.

“I was in the battle as we went into Tower but got forced out by Proietti and Crispin and had to take it too tightly, hitting the kerb. It bounced me back into Crispin and put the rear wing onto the tyre, then I spun at Tower a lap later and Mick Storey spun too to avoid me,” Hollis explained.

Proietti was still in third, but had Crispin in his wheeltracks, Graham closing and Jim Henshaw into the top six too.

It continued to be tight at the front as Sparrow and Davies shared a few exchanges. “I kept him on his toes, kept it clean and then thought second is better than nowhere,” said Davies after taking the flag 0.411s away from Sparrow and victory.

Proietti had continued to have the edge over Crispin for third until lap six, when they delayed each other, which handed the place to Graham, after initially splitting the duel a lap earlier. “I had a good start and made two places before Clervaux. I could see Sparrow and Davies getting away, but I was in the scrap for third down and had wanted to hang onto them. I had a few engine woes and definitely down on power on the straights,” said Graham.

Henshaw had also made it ahead of the Proietti and Crispin duel with a lap to go, “that was hard fought and I had some contact after not starting well, having taken fourth gear instead of second. I was on for fourth though until Sandro got me back on the last lap,” said Henshaw.

Crispin eventually came in sixth, with Carter seventh. “I had a good start but was well down when I had my run into the first corner cut off. So I just picked off what I could,” added Carter.

Julie Walford, Brian Heerey and Mick Storey completed the top ten.

Only 0.6 secs covered the top five after qualifying for race two, with Carter on pole from Ainslie Bousfield, Mick Storey, Luca Proietti and Henshaw, while Matthew Hollis completed the top six.

Bousfield grabbed the lead as the race got underway, heading a three car break from Carter and Proietti.

There was barely a coat of paint between the lead trio and Proietti made it into second on lap three. “Our battle allowed Crispin to close on us too though,” Carter explained.

Crispin had gained from Hollis’ misfortune, “the engine had been pinking, then the note changed and I pulled off, before limping through the rest of the race,” he said.

But on lap eight there was a sort out at the head of the field. “I got a run from third into Tower and passed Luca with two wheels on the grass, leading on the exit as Ainslie and Luca delayed each other,” Carter explained.

Crispin had also gained in the sort out and he piled the pressure on Carter for the remaining two laps. But it was a first win for Carter, from Crispin, Proietti and Bousefield, all covered by only 0.787s.

Storey had started the last lap in fourth, but lost out to Proietti, while Steve Walford, Sparrow, Glenn Oswin, Henshaw and Paul Rowland completed the top ten. “I had lost fourth gear part way through the race, so struggled to keep up,” said Henshaw.

Davies and Bousfield had pole for the two hour enduro, but there was some confusion at the start. As the grid exited the Hairpin and approached the line, Bousfield rightly took control of the pace as poleman while fellow front row man Chris Hall hung back.

Bousfield was then given a 10 second penalty for being out of position!

Different strategies from different pairings made the race even more confusing at times. Bousfield had led the opening lap, but made the compulsory three stops on the next consecutive laps. “We had worked out barring safety cars, that was the most effective way to change, so I got in from lap three for the rest of the race,” Davies explained.

So Sparrow led for the majority of the race, making his stops midrace to hand to Carter, while his co-driver then got into Hall’s car for the remainder of the race.

“We had to check an oil leak before I got in and then I climbed back to second and was following Matthew Hollis,” said Carter. “I had started last as I didn’t qualify as I had changed engines. I stayed out as long as possible hoping for a safety car, so then had to make three late stops,” said Hollis.

When Hollis made his second stop Davies took over the lead. “They kept putting P2 out to me as we had to consider the 10 second penalty. So I didn’t know we were leading or that we had won until I was first into parc ferme,” Davies explained.

Carter was second for the last four laps after Henshaw made his last stop, but he still held onto third, “I had changed the gearbox, but had no idea what was going on really. But I joined Graham and Nick Clarke in a great battle, although I mainly sat behind them and watched,” said Henshaw, celebrating his first solo podium finish.

Crispin just held onto fourth from Hollis, with Clarke/Storey sixth. Roy Eastwood, Paul Rowland/Graham, Oswin/Heerey and Chris Yates completed the top ten.

The next round of the Championship is in 2 weeks at Cadwell Park, May 13/14th

It’s a mixture of sprint racing and endurance for the 2CV Championship at Croft this weekend. After two 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, the first of the two 20 minute sprints takes place at 1.40pm, with the second at 1.45pm, followed by another qualifying session for Enduro at 5.40pm.

Defending Champion Lien Davies will be out to repeat his success at Oulton Park in the first race, but with a win under his belt at Oulton too, Matthew Hollis will be looking for more.

There are 18 cars taking part in the sprints, with that definite family feel about the weekend as usual with 2CV’s. Sandro and Luca Proietti proved their pace and were first on the road at Oulton, before a jump start penalty took the win away.

The father and daughter team of Mick and Katy Storey are in action again, along with husband and wife Steve and Julie Walford and father and sons Nigel, Richard and Matthew Hollis.

Having watched from sidelines at Oulton, 2CV legend Pete Sparrow will be out in race one and the Enduro, while fellow stalwart David O’Keeffe will be joining in for the Enduro too, which runs on Sunday for two hours from 3.45pm. Also returning is former champion Alec Graham, adding to an already competitive field.

It may not be the fastest race of the day, but it’s likely to be closest.

Reigning Champion Lien Davies was declared the winner of the first of the two opening round races, after leader on the road Sandro Proietti was given a jump start penalty. But in race two it was lights to flag for Matthew Hollis.

Qualifying for both races took part in the dry with Davies claiming pole by 0.030secs from debutant Brian Heerey. “Braking for Shell was very greasy, but the exit of Knickerbrook was even worse,” said Davies.

With Nick Crispin and Sandro Proietti close too, the top four qualifiers were covered by only 0.259secs. Chris Yates and Matthew Hollis completed the top six, “I came in early to help fix my Dad’s car, as we are drivers and mechanics,” Hollis explained.

Simon Crook was back in his old car, “I sold it to Ash Carter in September and bought it back in November as my car isn’t ready. But I had no brakes,” he explained after qualifying seventh.

“I hadn’t driven my car since last year’s 24 hour race, it felt good though,” said eighth best Martin Riman. James Dartiailh and Julie Walford rounded off the top ten.

In the second session Matthew Hollis was clear on pole by more than two seconds, but there was little separate Ainslie Bousefield and Luca Proietti in second and third.

Jim Henshaw improved massively from the first session for fourth with Mick Storey and Crispin completing the third row.

Heerey was seventh, with Yates, Steve Walford and Richard Hollis completing the rest of the top ten.

Although the rain had held off, it arrived just before lunch and was still raining as the grid lined up for race one. One notable absentee was Matthew Hollis, whose car refused to start in assembly area.

As the lights went out and 18 car field headed into Old Hall, Davies led from pole with Proietti tucking in second. But Heerey was in trouble, “it just switched off and I had to start it again,” he explained.

By the end of the opening lap the lead quintet had made a slight break, with Davies and Proietti heading Crispin, Julie Walford and Mick Storey.

Proietti had the lead a lap later, but both he, Storey and Ronald Mears had been handed 10 second jump start penalties. “I didn’t know about the penalties, so kept chasing and then went onto one cylinder briefly, overwhelmed with spray,” said. Davies.

Crispin took advantage and was second on lap four, before Davies’ car recovered, claimed the place and set off for the lead again.

“There was no way I jumped that start, “Proietti insisted, but it was enough to drop him to fifth in the final result and hand victory to Davies.

Crispin was third on the road before being promoted, “it was really difficult following and I judged my braking from where Lien braked. Then I got passed him and fell back more,” he explained.

Walford had looked settled in fourth until Yates closed in on the final laps. “It wasn’t my best start and I missed second gear,” he said.

Nick Clarke dropped back after contact with Heerey, who then retired with gearbox maladies. “I was on the grass at Island when the gearbox just went, “said Heerey. Yates was then suddenly up two places and made the last lap count as he snatched fourth, which after penalties became third.  “I got Julie on the inside of Shell, as I knew which line she would take,” he said.

“I could see Chris closing in and knew he would get me, still my best result though,” Walford replied.

Martin Riman completed the top six, “I got bogged down at the start so had to fight back,” he added. Ash Carter clinched sixth on the last lap, with Dartiailh, the recovering Clarke and Henshaw completing the top ten.

All three Hollis’ made it to the grid for race two and it was poleman Matthew that made the most of the start. Bousefield was initially second, until Storey managed to split them, leaving Bousefield under attack from a train of cars, led by Steve Walford. Luca Proietti and Crispin.

Storey was really on the attack for the lead, “I was going for glory into Cascades and then ran out of talent,” he explained after rejoining 11th.

With Bousefield back into second, the lead duo started to escape as the fight for third reshuffled and intensified between, Proietti, Crispin, Yates, Walford and Heerey.

It was just as close for tenth too, as Carter, Storey and Crook chased down Richard Hollis.

Bousefield briefly threatened to close on the lead, but it was Matthew Hollis’ victory. “I was trying to watch was going on behind and had a few slides as Ainslie closed,” he said.

“Mick Storey got me at Lodge and then went off, but I lost some ground looking where he might get back on,” Bousefield replied.

Proietti fell to the back of the third placed train for a while, which left Crispin and Walford side by side past the pits on lap four, before Walford went through at Old Hall to steal the final podium place.

Proietti fought back to regain fourth from Crispin with a lap to go, while Richard Hollis completed the top six after ousting Yates. “I got mugged on the Avenue,” Yates explained.

Heerey was still on the back of the group in eighth, “I got dropped for a while but managed to catch up again,” he said.

Mick Storey’s recovery netted him ninth, with Crook completing the top ten after demoting Carter on the last lap. “After not getting to the flag in race one, finishing was the aim and got the place when Ash went off at Cascades. I had a really good view of it,” Cook confirmed.

The next round of the Championship is at Croft on April 29/30.

Published by Peter Scherer for the 2CV Racing Club, March 18th, 2017.