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Here's a report for Oulton Park. Pretty fast and entertaining racing. Anyone wanting to join us with a pre-72 FF see our website. Next up is Cadwell Park - guaranteed to tighten the front-runners without doubt.
Report by our HFF journo Rachel Harris-Gardiner.
ALL OUT ACTION AT OULTON
The Oulton Park Gold Cup provided a weekend of drama and a dash of intrigue, with newcomers at both ends of the grid and a new winner.
Pierre Livngston won both races from pole, showing a furious turn of speed that left the rest of the field standing. The Classic Team Merlyn driver was around a second and a half quicker than defending champion Cam Jackson in Ross Drybrough’s March 709. This pace carried through to the first race, where Livingston was only ever seriously challenged by Linton Stutely’s Royale RP3.
Stutely got a great start and snuck past Jackson and National Formula Ford regular Tom McArthur, who was driving Mandie Hadfield’s Merlyn Mk20 for his first Historic race. Jackson and McArthur were locked in a tense stand-off over third place and this allowed Stutely to keep up with Livingston. He led for one lap in the middle section of the race, but Livingston was able to power away.
McArthur, who is something of an expert around Oulton, did get the better of Jackson at one point and it looked as if the double champion might be looking at his first off-podium finish for a long time. However, a mistake by McArthur sent him clattering against the kerbs and he was lucky to carry on in fourth. By this time, Horatio Fitz-Simon was at his heels and he had to drive hard to escape the Anglo-American’s Merlyn Mk20. This car was acquired from Andrew Tart and Fitz-Simon will be using it for the remainder of the season.
Fitz-Simon had been scrapping with Matt Wrigley in another Merlyn, but Wrigley had a spin and ended up on the grass and in retirement.
Next came Tim Brise, Radio Caroline Over 50 class winner, in his Merlyn. Danny Stanzl followed, driving his father’s Merlyn Mk20 instead of his usual Elden. This was a strong effort from the back of the grid, as Stanzl had crashed the Merlyn on his first qualifying lap and not managed to set a time, as well as incurring Kevin Stanzl’s fury. Stanzl Senior was in his Crossle 16F and finished tenth, behind Ross Drybrough in his Merlyn Mk20.
Glenn Eagling completed the top ten in a distinctive olive-green and yellow Lotus 61.
Further back, 16-year-old Tom Pearson finished his debut race in 14th place. He is the son of Historic regular Ted Pearson and will be driving his Merlyn Mk11A/17 for the rest of the season while his father recuperates from major surgery. Pearson recovered well from a spin and held his position.
Livingston’s pace was remarked upon after the first race but it really turned heads in the second. The Bath University student won by a whopping 14.8 seconds, a margin rarely encountered in Formula Ford racing. Both races commenced with a rolling start, which put many off, and Livingston took advantage of his position at the front to set the pace, leaving the rest of the grid napping. Even if he had been judged to have jumped the start, his race pace was around 1.7s per lap quicker than Jackson and over a second ahead of Fitz-Simon, who earned the second fastest lap.
While Livingston cruised away into the distance, Jackson and McArthur recommenced their earlier rivalry. This time, it became physical and rather ugly very quickly. McArthur was later reprimanded for his behaviour and apologised, explaining that bump drafting is much more accepted in National and he was unaware it was not allowed in Historics.
Jackson held his own throughout, only being passed once by McArthur and retaking his place quickly. In the end, he was more in danger from Stutely. The Enigma team boss had started second, but was passed by Jackson and McArthur in the opening corners. He played a waiting game, keeping in touch with his warring rivals and waiting for an opportunity to charge through. He had to hold on until the last lap before he launched an attack, when he successfully took the lead and instigated a thrilling three-way photo finish. Jackson crossed the line a tenth in front of Stutely, with McArthur fourth.
Fitz-Simon was fifth, despite a penalty for exceeding track limits. He had had his own skirmish with Danny Stanzl before dropping him and pulling away, although he was unable to catch the next group.
Robert Wainwright was some way behind in an Elden Mk8, just before eighth-placed Brise, who won another Over 50s trophy. Leading Over 50s driver Rob Smith was not present.
Brise had been part of a combative three-car group with Drybrough, who was ninth, and Wainwright. Simon Jackson, who had come through from the back after a first-race non-finish in his Crossle, was eleventh, behind Wrigley who whose car was seriously lacking power and revs.
The drama did not stop when the chequered flag fell. The scrutineers demanded the top four cars (plus a few extras) undergo an advanced check, including cylinder heads. No action was taken against any driver or team.
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