Triumph for Swinging Sixties race - April 23/24

Record entry race sees Triumph TRs take first three places

25/04/2005 - The opening race of the Classic Sports Car Clubs Swinging Sixties Series proved a triumph in more ways than one at Snetterton at the weekend.

Firstly, the full grid was the biggest entry yet for the series and secondly, Triumph TRs took the first three places, Joe Henderson taking a commanding win from Richard Bull/Joe Ward and Alan Charlton. Jin Baynam and Chris Conoley took fourth in their TVR Tuscan. Alan Harper was next home in his Elan to win the 2-litre class. John Muirheads Lotus 7 had held a strong second place until running out of fuel with just a few laps remaining.

Thornton Mustards bad luck continued. Sitting on pole, his E-Types transmission failed at the start and Mark Wrights E-Type which set off in the lead wasnt to last either, retiring on its fifth lap with engine or gearbox problems. The third E-Type, that of Wilkinson and Bussel didnt even make the grid after qualifying second. Chris Petch had the misfortune to put his TR5 into the Riches barriers on lap 1 fortunately without any personal damage.

The CSCC Invitation Sports Cars versus Saloons race, which ended the meeting, went to Clive Anderson in the Prism Motorsports BMW E30 while Bernie Chodosh celebrated his newly built and unpainted Corvettes debut with a fine third place.

A very popular feature of the meeting was the inclusion of four races for pre-1972 Classic Bikes organised by the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club. Gary Thwaites dominated, winning all three scratch races on his 750 Ryan BSA, chased home each time by Barry Rodwells RPS Triumph.

The fourth race, a handicap, went to Roy Robertsons Egli Vincent with Rodwell second yet again. Chairman of the CRMC, Gordon Russell had a busy day, racing his Drixton Aermacchi in the four bike events and his Lancia Monte Carlo in the Swinging Sixties race.

The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club enjoyed double headers for four Championships with James Shea (XJ6) winning in the Soilmec Saloon Challenge, James Dodd (D-Type) in the Millers Oils race and Derek Pearce taking victory on both XJS races. In the Vredestein/JEC XK Championship Nigel Webbs XK120 had it all its own way in Race 1 but in Race 2, Darren McWhirter, having overcome problems the day before and started from the back of the grid, stormed through the field to catch Webb. Unfortunately, after a brief dice with McWhirter, Webb was forced to retire.

In the 750 MC Sports/GT Challenge races, the Cobras of Cheng Lim and Clinton Dorrell took a win apiece whle the MGBs of Tom Smith and Oliver Bryant were separated by just six tenths of a second at the finish of the Virgin Radio Equipe GTS race.

Morgan champion, Keith Ahlers suffered a half-shaft failure in qualifying for the Power Torque MMC Challenge, his absence form the grid leaving a relatively easy win in the race to his friend and rival, Rick Lloyd's Plus 8.

Rounding out a very full weekends racing and bridging the gap between cars and bikes, the John Cooper Memorial race for 500cc Formula 3 cars went to Robert Culver from Mike Fowler and James Culver who were separated by about one tenth of a second at the line, all three appropriately in Coopers.