NEWS
VSCC Welsh Speed Weekend Results & Photo Gallery Now Live
Tuesday 01 July 2014
Results and Photos from the VSCC Welsh Speed Weekend, which took place at Pembrey over the weekend of 28/29 June are now available to view online.
The Club’s fifth visit to the ‘Home of Welsh Motorsport’ for the annual Welsh Speed Weekend proved another fantastic instalment in the Club’s calendar of events in this special 80th Anniversary year. Incorporating the Sprint and Team Relay Race for Pre-war Sports-Cars on Saturday and the Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting on Sunday, this year’s edition adhered to tradition of the weekend in recent years – a truly ‘Club’ event as much about the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere of the paddock as the exciting action on track.
One ‘tradition’ welcomingly absent this year – rain. A brief shower on Saturday morning during Sprint practice runs certainly kept drivers on their toes with the greasy surface catching a few out around the technical circuit. However, by lunchtime the clouds had parted and we were finally enjoyed a rain-free Sprint competition. And what a difference it made as we were treated to a record-breaking afternoon in the summer sunshine, with Class Records – set during the wet events of previous years – shattered throughout the entry.
There was a second consecutive Class win for Simon Blakeney-Edwards in his Frazer Nash Super Sports, whilst John Guyatt maintained his dominance in the large capacity Standard & Modified Sports-Car Classes in his ever competitive Talbot-Lago. Amongst the Specials, David Pryke cemented his place as Sports-Car maestro in his Riley 12/4 Sprite Special and another nip-and-tuck battle between Dudley Sterry and Jo Blakeney-Edwards saw the HRS man come out on top by the smallest of margins ahead of the ‘Chain Gang’ stalwart.
The Racing Car Classes proved no less exciting with Mike Painter heading son Harry as they shared the MG Kayne Special in Class 13, whilst Andrew Turner was the pick of the Post-war machinery in the Cooper Mk 9 F3 (500).
As expected, the day’s winner was to be found in the combined 14/15/16 Classes. Going into the final runs, competition was fiercely close with a host of drivers poised to lay claim to FTD. One after another, Class/Vintage Records were broken but it fell to frequent table-topper Robert Cobden to take the spoils in the Riley Falcon – the only driver to dip under 57 seconds – ahead of an impressive Tim Greenhill in the Wolseley Hornet Special and the Frazer Nash duo of Julian Grimwade and Eddie Gibbs, a little over a second separating the quartet. Amongst the Vintage cars, Sue Darbyshire ended Charlie Martin’s winning streak as her three-wheeler Morgan Super Aero got the better of the youngster in the four-wheeled RIP Special for the first time this season.
Following the conclusion of the Sprint, the ever-popular Team Relay Race followed to kick-off the weekend’s racing proceedings. The sun continued to shine – much to the delight of the army of judges and team helpers who had suffered through the rain of recent times – as eight teams of three Pre-war Sports-Cars battled over the 90 minute endurance event.
An action-packed first lap saw the top team teams suffer significant losses with both the Frazer Nash Shelsley of Jo Blakeney-Edwards (broken throttle-linkage) and David Pryke’s Riley (overheating issues) forced to retire from the race. This left the two team’s surviving members to shoulder the burden for the remainder, both now aware of the impending 3-lap penalties coming their way for the incomplete stints. But a strong performance from Club President Tim Kneller and Richard Iliffe in their Riley machines was enough to see scratch team ‘All the President’s Men’ safely home for victory, whilst Simon Blakeney-Edwards (Frazer Nash) and Dudley Sterry (HRS) continued their successful days with a third place finish.
Perhaps the real tale of the tape was the Handicap element of the event, with credit laps playing a crucial role in levelling the playing field for the eclectic mix of machinery on display. As ever, Fred Boothby’s MG brigade acquitted themselves admirably, securing second (‘Pip, Squeak & Wilfred’) and third (‘The Old Men of the C’s’). But it was the misleadingly named ‘Team Tortoise’ who were triumphant, as the Riley trio of Nick Lees, Michael New and Colin Wolstenholme led home the pack with a total of 67 laps covered. A buoyant crowd gathered at the ODM Tent in the paddock for the Awards Presentation with garlands and champagne presented to worthy winners – including Team Managers – by VSCC Marshal Jessica Fetherstonhaugh.
And so to Sunday’s Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting; rain overnight ensured competitors were kept honest as they took to a damp track for morning practice sessions. But again, the sun quickly arrived and the track was soon dry, certainly by the start of the afternoon’s racing programme.
Julian Grimwade continued his fine form with the Frazer Nash Norris Special this season with a dominant showing in the opening salvo of an Allcomers Pre-war Short Scratch Race, to be followed with an impressive second place in the second instalment later in the day.
Racers of the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championships provided a most welcome and varied attraction to the day’s Pre-war proceedings, with two scintillating rounds of their 2014 Championship. Despite countless changes of lead in both races, the same top three emerged, with Keith White’s silhouette BMW Z4 a double-winner on the day.
The day’s first Trophy Race, the Hawthorn Brighton Trophy for Special Pre-war Sports-Cars had been hit hard by the weekend’s mechanical issues with just three cars taking to the start-line. And yet the race proved a highlight of the day, with the three Riley machines separated by less than second for the entirety. Richard Iliffe led the way in the Riley Kestrel 12/4 Special, fending off several brave manoeuvres at Hatchett’s Hairpin from Kneller in the TT Sprite and the 12/4 of Greg Lerigo hot on their heels in third.
The winner of the day’s title race, the Hawthorn Memorial & Spanish Trophies for Pre-1961 Racing Cars, was a foregone conclusion and, despite a slow start, Philip Walker’s rapid Lotus 16 – the lone Post-war entry – galloped to a commanding win. The Pre-war battle proved far more interesting with early frontrunners, Eddie Gibbs in the Frazer Nash and Robert Cobden’s Riley Falcon both falling to mechanical gremlins. This left an inspired Tim Greenhill to storm to a deserved Hawthorn Spanish victory in the Wolseley Hornet, his first Trophy victory in the VSCC, ahead of third placed Robert Carr, the Vintage Class winner ahead of the forever-squabbling Morgan Three Wheelers of Duncan Wood and Sue Darbyshire. Greenhill would cap a perfect weekend with victory in the day’s closing Allcomers Scratch.
A depleted Hawthorn International Trophy Race for 1950s Sports Cars offered Walker his second victory of the day, dominating from start to finish in his Lotus 15.
The Bill Phillips Trophy for Standard and Modified Pre-war Sports-Cars proved another close-run affair. Having harried Simon Blakeney-Edwards’s Frazer Nash Super Sports for the opening laps, reigning champion Andrew Mitchell finally passed on lap 4 in the quick HRG to take a lead he was not to relinquish, despite the close attention of his rival.
To mark the Riley Register’s own 60th Anniversary this year, we were delighted to host a very special Handicap Race for Racing and Sports-Cars of the Coventry-based marque, which attracted the weekend’s largest grid. Simon Kelleway took the spoils in his 12/4 Sprite example, who passed the collective thanks to fellow Riley pilot, David Pryke – unable to take part himself after Saturday’s mechanical woes – for his efforts in rallying the troops for this milestone event, one that may well become a staple of the VSCC Racing calendar in future years. A triumphant weekend for Riley was capped with a clean sweep of Handicap victories on the day, with wins also for Nick Lees and Ken McAvoy.
Roy Hunt’s Martin was victorious in the F3 500cc contest, ahead of John Turner in the Cooper Mk 9, making a welcome return to racing following an accident at Silverstone earlier in the year.
It proved an undoubtedly fantastic weekend in Wales, with all those in attendance adamant that it remains one of the most enjoyable of the year with its blend of challenging motorsport and friendly atmosphere. Our thanks go to all those who made it possible, including Competitors, Officials and the Marshals, who made us all feel so very welcome. We look forward to going back!
Visit the event pages via the links below to download full results and to view photos from the weekend. More photos will be uploaded to the galleries as they are received.
Click here to visit the Pembrey Sprint event page (Provisional)
Click here to visit the Pembrey Race Meeting event page
One ‘tradition’ welcomingly absent this year – rain. A brief shower on Saturday morning during Sprint practice runs certainly kept drivers on their toes with the greasy surface catching a few out around the technical circuit. However, by lunchtime the clouds had parted and we were finally enjoyed a rain-free Sprint competition. And what a difference it made as we were treated to a record-breaking afternoon in the summer sunshine, with Class Records – set during the wet events of previous years – shattered throughout the entry.
There was a second consecutive Class win for Simon Blakeney-Edwards in his Frazer Nash Super Sports, whilst John Guyatt maintained his dominance in the large capacity Standard & Modified Sports-Car Classes in his ever competitive Talbot-Lago. Amongst the Specials, David Pryke cemented his place as Sports-Car maestro in his Riley 12/4 Sprite Special and another nip-and-tuck battle between Dudley Sterry and Jo Blakeney-Edwards saw the HRS man come out on top by the smallest of margins ahead of the ‘Chain Gang’ stalwart.
The Racing Car Classes proved no less exciting with Mike Painter heading son Harry as they shared the MG Kayne Special in Class 13, whilst Andrew Turner was the pick of the Post-war machinery in the Cooper Mk 9 F3 (500).
As expected, the day’s winner was to be found in the combined 14/15/16 Classes. Going into the final runs, competition was fiercely close with a host of drivers poised to lay claim to FTD. One after another, Class/Vintage Records were broken but it fell to frequent table-topper Robert Cobden to take the spoils in the Riley Falcon – the only driver to dip under 57 seconds – ahead of an impressive Tim Greenhill in the Wolseley Hornet Special and the Frazer Nash duo of Julian Grimwade and Eddie Gibbs, a little over a second separating the quartet. Amongst the Vintage cars, Sue Darbyshire ended Charlie Martin’s winning streak as her three-wheeler Morgan Super Aero got the better of the youngster in the four-wheeled RIP Special for the first time this season.
Following the conclusion of the Sprint, the ever-popular Team Relay Race followed to kick-off the weekend’s racing proceedings. The sun continued to shine – much to the delight of the army of judges and team helpers who had suffered through the rain of recent times – as eight teams of three Pre-war Sports-Cars battled over the 90 minute endurance event.
An action-packed first lap saw the top team teams suffer significant losses with both the Frazer Nash Shelsley of Jo Blakeney-Edwards (broken throttle-linkage) and David Pryke’s Riley (overheating issues) forced to retire from the race. This left the two team’s surviving members to shoulder the burden for the remainder, both now aware of the impending 3-lap penalties coming their way for the incomplete stints. But a strong performance from Club President Tim Kneller and Richard Iliffe in their Riley machines was enough to see scratch team ‘All the President’s Men’ safely home for victory, whilst Simon Blakeney-Edwards (Frazer Nash) and Dudley Sterry (HRS) continued their successful days with a third place finish.
Perhaps the real tale of the tape was the Handicap element of the event, with credit laps playing a crucial role in levelling the playing field for the eclectic mix of machinery on display. As ever, Fred Boothby’s MG brigade acquitted themselves admirably, securing second (‘Pip, Squeak & Wilfred’) and third (‘The Old Men of the C’s’). But it was the misleadingly named ‘Team Tortoise’ who were triumphant, as the Riley trio of Nick Lees, Michael New and Colin Wolstenholme led home the pack with a total of 67 laps covered. A buoyant crowd gathered at the ODM Tent in the paddock for the Awards Presentation with garlands and champagne presented to worthy winners – including Team Managers – by VSCC Marshal Jessica Fetherstonhaugh.
And so to Sunday’s Hawthorn Memorial Trophies Race Meeting; rain overnight ensured competitors were kept honest as they took to a damp track for morning practice sessions. But again, the sun quickly arrived and the track was soon dry, certainly by the start of the afternoon’s racing programme.
Julian Grimwade continued his fine form with the Frazer Nash Norris Special this season with a dominant showing in the opening salvo of an Allcomers Pre-war Short Scratch Race, to be followed with an impressive second place in the second instalment later in the day.
Racers of the Welsh Sports & Saloon Car Championships provided a most welcome and varied attraction to the day’s Pre-war proceedings, with two scintillating rounds of their 2014 Championship. Despite countless changes of lead in both races, the same top three emerged, with Keith White’s silhouette BMW Z4 a double-winner on the day.
The day’s first Trophy Race, the Hawthorn Brighton Trophy for Special Pre-war Sports-Cars had been hit hard by the weekend’s mechanical issues with just three cars taking to the start-line. And yet the race proved a highlight of the day, with the three Riley machines separated by less than second for the entirety. Richard Iliffe led the way in the Riley Kestrel 12/4 Special, fending off several brave manoeuvres at Hatchett’s Hairpin from Kneller in the TT Sprite and the 12/4 of Greg Lerigo hot on their heels in third.
The winner of the day’s title race, the Hawthorn Memorial & Spanish Trophies for Pre-1961 Racing Cars, was a foregone conclusion and, despite a slow start, Philip Walker’s rapid Lotus 16 – the lone Post-war entry – galloped to a commanding win. The Pre-war battle proved far more interesting with early frontrunners, Eddie Gibbs in the Frazer Nash and Robert Cobden’s Riley Falcon both falling to mechanical gremlins. This left an inspired Tim Greenhill to storm to a deserved Hawthorn Spanish victory in the Wolseley Hornet, his first Trophy victory in the VSCC, ahead of third placed Robert Carr, the Vintage Class winner ahead of the forever-squabbling Morgan Three Wheelers of Duncan Wood and Sue Darbyshire. Greenhill would cap a perfect weekend with victory in the day’s closing Allcomers Scratch.
A depleted Hawthorn International Trophy Race for 1950s Sports Cars offered Walker his second victory of the day, dominating from start to finish in his Lotus 15.
The Bill Phillips Trophy for Standard and Modified Pre-war Sports-Cars proved another close-run affair. Having harried Simon Blakeney-Edwards’s Frazer Nash Super Sports for the opening laps, reigning champion Andrew Mitchell finally passed on lap 4 in the quick HRG to take a lead he was not to relinquish, despite the close attention of his rival.
To mark the Riley Register’s own 60th Anniversary this year, we were delighted to host a very special Handicap Race for Racing and Sports-Cars of the Coventry-based marque, which attracted the weekend’s largest grid. Simon Kelleway took the spoils in his 12/4 Sprite example, who passed the collective thanks to fellow Riley pilot, David Pryke – unable to take part himself after Saturday’s mechanical woes – for his efforts in rallying the troops for this milestone event, one that may well become a staple of the VSCC Racing calendar in future years. A triumphant weekend for Riley was capped with a clean sweep of Handicap victories on the day, with wins also for Nick Lees and Ken McAvoy.
Roy Hunt’s Martin was victorious in the F3 500cc contest, ahead of John Turner in the Cooper Mk 9, making a welcome return to racing following an accident at Silverstone earlier in the year.
It proved an undoubtedly fantastic weekend in Wales, with all those in attendance adamant that it remains one of the most enjoyable of the year with its blend of challenging motorsport and friendly atmosphere. Our thanks go to all those who made it possible, including Competitors, Officials and the Marshals, who made us all feel so very welcome. We look forward to going back!
Visit the event pages via the links below to download full results and to view photos from the weekend. More photos will be uploaded to the galleries as they are received.
Click here to visit the Pembrey Sprint event page (Provisional)
Click here to visit the Pembrey Race Meeting event page
