WESSEX SPRINT 2011
6 AUGUST 2011

After losing the usual Colerne airfield venue the Wessex Sprint, co-promoted by the MGCC South West Centre and the Pegasus Motor Club, was staged at Castle Combe on Saturday 6 August over almost a full lap of 1.85 miles of the racing circuit.  MG numbers were a little down because several Luffield regulars opted for a hillclimb round of the Luffield Cars MGCC Speed Championship at Castle Park near Lostwithiel.  The BPMC WESSEX TROPHY for Best Time of Day overall went to Kevin Lealan in a Pilbeam MP 62 with a Course Record of 68.68sec.  Terry Drinkwater MGA Coupe won The MGCC Wessex Trophy for Fastest MGCC member driving an MG with a time of 90.57sec, and  Alan Atkins was awarded The Nuffield Trophy for Best MGCC member by Class Index with a best time of 95.75sec in his MGA Coupe.

All but one of the MGs were entered in Class A Road going series production car classes.  In the A1 sub-division up to 1400cc, Robert Griffiths MG Midget with a best time of 114.09sec, and Jeremy Hawke MG J2 (the only pre-war car entered) on 135.28sec, were up against six moderns including the class winning Mini of ASWMC competitor Ross Whittock on 96.44sec..

In Class A2 over 1400cc to 1800cc MG’s made up most of the entries; and included a good proportion of South West members.  Richard and Alan Atkins shared the latter’s MGA Coupe, Richard recorded 100.37 sec on his second run.  Timothy Read drove his  MGA Roadster to a best time of 105.86sec while both of Clive Williams’ runs in his MGA Roadster were within 1/100thsec with a best at 106. 52sec.  Brian Goodban’s MGB Roadster set a time of 101.39sec and Craig Heath and Paul Constance in MGB GT’s were well matched at 108.71sec and 108.69sec.

Class A3 for cars over 1800cc up to 2600cc included Terry Drinkwater and Martyn Phillis MGA Coupe who finished with a time of 96.59sec, against a class winning time of 89.18sec from BPMC driver Pete Goodman in a Renault Clio 200.  John and Jonathan Biggs in the MGB V8 Kayne Special with 104.88sec and 105.17sec made up half the Sports Libre class against a Darrian T9 (best 78.54sec).  Full results are on the SW Centre website

Words and pictures: John Bird