[dikko]

HFF Classic Race Simulators and Radio Caroline Championship Winners finals at Brand Hatch FF Fest.

Cam Jackson won the on-track battle at the Formula Ford Festival, but Pierre Livingston has won the war.
Livingston needed a second and third to secure his debut title, and that is exactly what he did, giving him the single-point advantage over Jackson that was all(?) he required. It may have been a very different story influenced by someone new in a Merlyn however. Had 4th place grid man and Northern FF Champ Tom McArthur embarrassingly not spun on the green flag lap in race two Pierre’s Championship might have been seriously threatened…

Race 1 Saturday
The number 76 Merlyn Mk20 took its familiar place on pole with one of Livingston’s trademark lightning qualifying laps, but Livingston himself was taking it steady and safe. Jackson took off very rapidly in Ross Drybrough’s March 709 and took Linton Stutely with him. Royale RP3 driver Stutely still had a mathematical chance of winning the championship if neither Livingston nor Jackson finished, so he was keen to stay with them, despite handling problems with his car.

The three title contenders were joined by National regular Tom McArthur in Mandie Hadfield’s Merlyn Mk20. McArthur had already started a rivalry with Jackson at Oulton in the Classic series and he was in combative mood, combining with the other leaders to briefly drop Livingston to fourth. Livingston fought back and Jackson had eked out a big lead when the safety car came out, following Tim Brise’s off in his Mk20, also run by Simon Hadfield this weekend. Tim’s visit to the kitty litter messed up any chance he had of threatening Ross Drybrough’s race to our Radio Caroline O50 Championship leadership…as long as Ross stayed on in the damp conditions…
The caution period to get Tim’s car out at Clearways did not do much to break up matters and the leading four split into two pairs: Livingston on Jackson and McArthur on Stutely. Livingston closed to within a tenth of Jackson but Stutely managed to extend the distance to McArthur to a safe 6.9s.
Ross Drybrough was a strong fifth in his Merlyn Mk20, putting in one of his best races of the year. Behind him it was tight racing as Caterham racer James Russell (Merlyn Mk20) and Robert Wainwright in an Elden Mk8 jockeyed for position, having overhauled Simon Toyne’s Lola T200. Russell was sixth, Wainwright seventh and Toyne eighth. Two rarer cars made up the top ten: Alan Slater’s Nike Mk4 and Chris Sharples’s Palliser.
Winner Cam Jackson, 2nd Pierre Livingston, Linton Stutely 3rd.
In the O50 class was Ross Drybrough in 1st Alan Slater 2nd and Chris Sharples in 3rd.
Race 2 Sunday.
Jackson was on pole for the title decider, followed by Livingston, Stutely and McArthur. The first upset was McArthur having to start from the pitlane, having stopped on the formation lap. A relieved Stutely got a ferocious start, immediately dropping Livingston to third. Drybrough was up with the leading group to begin with, followed by Toyne, another fast starter on the damp track.



As Jackson sailed away into the distance, Stutely had to deal with the attentions of Livingston, who was not going to risk pushing for the win especially as McArthur was playing catchup from the back of the field and Pierre was quite happy to needle the second-placed driver. He was only 0.625s behind when the chequered flag came out but had never quite been able to make a serious move.

Jackson was seven seconds ahead of both and that could have been far more, had he had an easier time manoeuvring through backmarkers.

The fate of the chasing group was far more in flux, not least due to McArthur charging from the back. He had got back up to sixth within a couple of laps and methodically passed Toyne, Wainwright and Drybrough for fourth by the end. Wainwright followed his example and attacked Drybrough, claiming fifth. Drybrough was sixth and Toyne was seventh - the last car on the lead lap. Our new man Russell had figured in the first half of the race but had to retire on lap 5 with a puncture.

Brise was eighth, in spite of another off in the opening laps. His mishap in Race 1 gifted the Radio Caroline Over 50 title to Drybrough, who only became eligible for it this year. Matthew Sturmer was ninth in a Macon and Slater was tenth.
Winner Cam Jackson 2nd Linton Stutely 3rd Pierre Livingston, Tom McArthur, Ross Drybrough, James Russell, Rob Wainwright, Simon Toyne.
The Radio Caroline O50 Class: Ross Drybrough 1st, in 2nd was Tim Brise, 3rd Matthew Sturmer, and close finishing saw 4th Paul Unsworth 5th, David Squire 6th & Alan Smidt in 7th. Great racing fellas.

Some consistent point-winning finishes in the year and Pauls 5th place points in this race was enough to beat the absent Kevin Stanzl to third in the Championship. Some great racing in this class proving it to be a success. Who’s for an Over 70’s ‘Golden Oldies Trophy next year as well!?
Thanks for race report mainly to Rachel additions by Dick…



Ross Drybrough Radio Caroline Trophy Winner. Tim Brise 2nd (or “Breeze according to BRSCC TV Commentator) and Paul Unsworth 3rd.
Our Classic Race Simulators and Radio Caroline Championship Winners were presented each with vouchers from Jim Hill with Charlie Wooding’s 2019 HFF Photo Album and an invite for each winner & 5 friends to a day of fun and tuition at Classic Race Simulator’s base at Farnborough.

Next year's Calendar is looking good.

New for 2021 is an extended two-day mid-summer meeting at Donington Park and a return to Mallory Park for a weekend event in September. As before, the HSCC will also be the organising club for the high-profile Silverstone Classic, which will run from Friday to Sunday, 30 July-1 August.


Other highlights include an early summer weekend at Cadwell Park for the Wolds Trophy and the annual Championship Finals meeting on the Silverstone National Circuit in October. The Brands Hatch Indy date now moves to a Friday to join the Grand Prix circuit weekend, making a three-day event using both versions of the famous Kent track. The season opens in mid-April with a weekend at Snetterton.



The provisional 2021 HSCC calendar is:

Sat/Sun 17/18 April: Snetterton 300

Sat/Sun 22/23 May: Silverstone Grand Prix

Sat/Sun 5/6 June: Cadwell Park

Sat/Sun 26/27 June: Donington Park

Friday 9 July: Brands Hatch Indy

Sat/Sun 10/11 July: Brands Hatch Grand Prix

Sat-Mon 28-30 August: Oulton Park International

Sat/Sun 18/19 September: Mallory Park

Sat/Sun 16/17 October: Silverstone National

A new set of changed regulations will be out soon.
With a new change of Series Chairman to Ted Pearson we look forward to 2021.
Regular tracks and meetings are to be on the calendar and maybe (subject to vaccinations and the release of Covid restrictions (we hope)) the chance of an away race at Dijon could be on the cards.
As well as our new people this year we look forward to a further 4 new drivers already wishing to join us in ’21.

Until then have a safe winter. DD.


Ted Pearson now takes over as Series Chair. I hope we continue having fun in our great little series over to him...