PREVIEW
Several drivers were busy testing, in the damp and the dry to try to get the best possible chance for Sundays race. Paul McMillan from the local fenland contingent rolled his car thursday in damp conditions through the bombhole when the left rear tyre clipped a kerb and deflated.
The report I received stated that the 'local topdog' McMillan was setting respectable times before the roll, which damaged both sides of the roof, a door, and a wing. Of course the use of the term 'topdog' must be taken with a pinch of salt, as the source of this report may be just a tiny bit biased. Paul was kept busy rebuilding in time for the race.
Qualifying
Despite threatening clouds, it remained dry all day and a closely fought battle for the lead positions saw Carl Townend take pole from the likes of Taylor and Shepherd who have always performed well here. Gordon Macmillan's clutch disintegrated on lap 2, leaving him no quick lap times, and leaving me the opportunity to see the local sites around Thetford and Norwich looking for a new clutch in time for the race. The top star though has to be Darren 'golden lap' Blumson whose artistic interpretation of brake knock off saw him take to the grass at full speed and miss the chicane. For some reason I had a feeling something like this would have happened, yet despite this I was so stunned at his pace across the grass that I failed to take a picture. Anyway, a quick wrist slap from the officials, and his 5th place lap time stood.
Top Race
Paul Taylor got the best of the first lap, and emerged around Coram already with a healthy lead under his belt. Further back, the action was thick and fast - which helped Taylor, but meant all bets were off amongst the top half dozen or so, including McMillans repaired Saxo, Morgan, Shepherd, Townend, Stokes and Felix. Peter Felix eventually broke free and gave chase, setting determined laps, using plenty of kerb through the chicane. He was soon pressing hard on taylors bumper, but this was to be short lived as the chicane kerb bit back, breaking his gearbox, and depositing oil on the track as he disappeared into the pits followed by a big cloud of smoke. Next to break free of the pack were Shepherd and Townend, and with Taylor now slowing, Shepherd took the win. Townend was so determined to get a mention on this site that he planted his 106 into second spot, with Taylor coming in third, only to get towed back to the pits once the race was over.
B race
With his clutch replaced, all eyes were on Gordon Macmillan at the back of the grid. Helped by the cars ahead of him battling hard for position, he was already up to mid-field by the time they emerged from Coram for the first time, and the rest was a formality, as he took the lead by mid-distance and never looked back. Behind him (or in front of him for half the race) Steve Groom took a good second from (I think) Gary Parkes.
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