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May 06, 2012 at 1:41 PM

Brands Hatch for round 4 of the Lackford Engineering Midget and Sprite Challenge was held on Sunday 6^th May.  After a night or rest the combatants were ready to go again.  We had lost the two unfortunate Midget entries after the first lap incident the day before and Jim Prior had stayed at home but we still had 23 potential starters to battle it out.

The weather wasn’t being kind to us in this wettest of English summers and it was cold and raining when we all gathered at the circuit.

The grid was decided from the session the day before and once again Paul Sibley was on pole with Paul Campfield’s blue Sprite alongside.  Tom Neat and David Weston’s Midgets were next before the Sprites of Pat Harris and James Bilsland made up row three.  Gil Duffy, James Dunkley, Ed Reeve, Martin Morris next, with Brian Bedford alone on row 6, the empty space was for absentee Les Grimshaw.  John Collinson, Phil Atwood, Tom Walker, Ian Whitt, Robin Lackford and Nigel Pratt came next, then Sam Healey, Nigel Lackford, David Jenkins with an empty space alongside him, vacated by Richard Bridge.  Richard Homer, no Jim Prior, so Peter Collinson and Jason Meredith completed the grid.

The rain was relentless all day and by the time our race was due the track was pretty wet.  James Dunkley, who had only recently purchased his car found that the wet wheels he had been provided with didn’t actually fit the car!! He had no choice than to scratch his entry which was disappointing to say the least.

But, we still had 22 cars taking the start and as the lights signalled the start the front row took off as one to lead into Paddock.  Weston, Bisland, Harris and Duffy all swamped Neat who got away badly.  Walker made a great start from row 8 to be in eighth place into Paddock followed by Reeve, Morris, with Attwood and Bedford alongside each other.  Pratt, Collingwood J., Lackford R. and the rest filed through with Collingwood bringing up the rear.  He wouldn’t stay last for long though and the interest was how soon and how far he would make it up the field.

Sibley was once again way ahead as Campfield held second initially before coming under pressure from Weston and Neat, both of these would pass him as the race progressed but the Sprite driver didn’t give up easily.

But what was of interest was the expected progress of Peter Collinson, with the rain abating and the track drying his climb through the field was superb and he was soon up and passing Campfield.  He made it up to Neat who was now in second place and these two had a superb fight.  Collinson took second spot with a few laps remaining with a move at Paddock but Neat fought back to regain the place at the flag.

Walker was having a great battle with Harris but an unfortunate spin saw him drop back.  Another superb dice was the one further down the field between Pratt and Attwood and these two would fight to the end.  Whitt had been going well, but got caught out at Paddock and ditched well into the gravel, his race over.  

As the clock ticked away Sibley reeled off the laps to take the flag, half a lap ahead of Neat who just pipped Collinson.  Weston was forth ahead of Campfield, Morris and Duffy.  Harris, Reeve and Bilsland finished ahead of the battling Pratt and Attwood.  Bedford finished ahead of Walker and Healey.  Lackford N., Collinson J., Meredith, Jenkins and Homer completed the field.  We had lost Lackford R. on lap 6.

Slightly spread out the race had once again provided action throughout the field, the drive by Peter Collingwood up to second only to finish third, Campfields spirited defence, Morris and Duffy, Walkers pace and battle against Harris and other great little fights had provided great excitement. Next stop Silverstone!!!

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