JEC RACING 2008

SNETTERTON PARK 29th March 2008

JEC Racing - XK Challenge

The first round of 2008 saw the XKs on the programme of the Masters Top Hat series, with 17 cars entering a 45 min race, potential drama added by a mid-race pit stop.

We have seen father and son combinations before, but this was a first for a mother and son pairing, with Claire and Andy Keith-Lucas sharing an XK150.

There was also an international flavour, with Gary Bartlett from the USA sharing an XK120 roadster with Stefan Ziegler from Switzerland.

Fastest qualifier and early leader was Graeme Dodd from Grahame Bull, who had a frightening experience in qualifying when a wheel collapsed at high speed, with Rob Newall in third. Newall later spun back down the field and then retired with a misfiring engine.

Quite a few cars were given a drive through penalty for exceeding the speed limit at their pit stop, and this influenced final positions, including Robin Batt sharing with Steve Skipworth, who had not been penalised, but stopped to check, just in case!

Race winners were Graham Love and Phil Keen in their beautifully prepared dark green XK150 FHC, with John Burton earning his first ever podium in second, and Ian Mills, making a return to the XK series, in third. After 45 mins of racing, just a few seconds separated the first two after an exciting second half battle for the lead.