JEC RACING 2008

OULTON PARK 9TH AUGUST 2008

TOYO TIRES XJS CHAMPIONSHIP
Welcome all you racing fans to round 8 that took place here at the very long and twisty 2.7 mile circuit of Oulton Park in Cheshire.

The weather was atrocious as a constant downpour made the track slippier than a politician at Question Time (and they don't get much slippier than that!). So traction, not speed was the aim of the day.

The XJS's were the first to race in the afternoon when it had finally stopped raining. With 16 cats on the grid Andrew Harrison was on pole with big Gary Hastings second and Chris Palmer third. All three were 4.0 litre cars! Top driver of the season Stewart Lyddall was ninth after his steering column sheered off in qualifying, although during lunch he found a welder and was able to race in the afternoon. Great stuff!

When the red lights went out Harrison led into the first bend, Hastings and Palmer followed.

Lyddall shot up from ninth to fourth within half a lap. By lap 2 Andrew had about a four or five second lead that he maintained until 2 laps from the end when Gary found the dry line and started to reel Andrew in, the finish was thrilling as Gary closed the gap and when they went across the chequered flag the gap was down to 0.5 of a second.

I was being informed after the race that this was the first time a 4.0 litre car and Class D had ever won an XJS race (somebody may prove this wrong, if not) well done to Andrew.

Lyddall came in third with a Class G win.

Paul Merrett did very well when he started in fourth place had a spin, fell to the back and then went on to claw his way back up to ninth within six laps.

Elsewhere there were a couple of great battles between Ray Hill and Lawrence Coppock who crossed the line with a 0.7 second gap, and Class D cars of Michael Scoins and Robert MacVicar with a 0.9 second gap at the finish.

Other Class winners were Chris Palmer (E) and Paul Reynolds (F).

Andrew Harrison, Gary Hastings - NG

Andrew Harrison - DE

Chris Palmer, Ray Hill - NG

Philip Comer, Paul Merrett - DE

Philip Comer, Paul Merrett - NG

Robert McVicar - NG

Roger Webster - DE

JAGUAR CLASSIC PARTS JAGUAR SALOON CHAMPIONSHIP
The Saloons were the very last race of the day at approx 6.15 pm and guess what? Yes, it poured down again. Twenty-three saloons were on the grid including Robert Drewery who in qualifying only got one lap before pulling into the pits with electrical gremlins. During lunch he found a miracle cure called WD40 and squirted it all over the engine bay and 'hey presto' it worked a treat.

Today also saw some sibling rivalry in the form of Tim Morrant and his older brother Richard who was racing Howard Kirkham's XJ40. Tim was fifth on the grid and Richard eighth.

At the front was Mike Cann in his XJ40 on pole, Nick Gwinnutt in a X-300 second and Steve 'sideways' Avery, in Chris Palmers X-300, third.

When the red lights went out it was fourth placed Richard Dorlin in a XJ6 who got off to a flier and just as he did at Mallory, by half a lap later had a massive lead. Master of the wet conditions, Richard went on to extend that lead and crossed the chequered flag nearly 20 seconds ahead to take Class B and race win. Fantastic driving in miserable conditions!

Class D winner Cann was second and Class E winner Gwinnutt was third.

Fourth place and Class A winner Ken Angell had a brilliant 4-way tussle including Phil Woods, 'sideways' Avery and Richard Morrant on his debut. They crossed the line with less than two seconds between all four.

As for the 'brotherly love' battle between the Morrants that didn't get tested today as Tim suffered an alternator problem, losing all electrics and he had to pull into the pits on lap 2. Unlucky Guy Connew, who had carb trouble at Angelsey, also had electrical failure and his race was over on the first lap.

Seventeen year old Patrick Doyle found the conditions very testing but still gave a good show to finish eighteenth and just behind Colin McKay's MK II.