2001

2nd December, Ipswich - Cliff Davis Cup & National Championship

Harold Lowe made a welcome return to Ipswich - the only driver taking part in the meeting to have raced on it back in 1985 - the last time the Midgets graced the tarmac of Spedeworth's fastest oval. Gordon Pooley finally debuted his latest Midget (right - pic by & thanks to Sue Collins) but loaded up before the final when first night nerves (the car not Gordon!) plagued the team and no doubt they were pleased that the meeting was a non points event. Young Dave Smith made his Midget debut in the Bullitt but was also dogged with car problems although he did complete a race finishing 6th in the 15 lap dash at the end of the meeting.

The National Championship main event was run first to ensure all cars could take part with a bunched up grid non-qualifiers starting directly behind the qualifiers, each section in graded order. John Bilby started on pole with Chris Phillips on the outside on the front row, Barry Goldsby and Gary Granger made up row two with defending champion Sayell starting 7th. Phillips lead at the end of lap one with Granger close on his exhaust pipe. Sayell overtook 3 cars on lap one and was third by the end of lap two. Phillips help on for one more lap before Granger took up the running Sayell following through for second. A battle for the lead then ensued with Phillips never far away. Sayell tried every which way to pass the hard charging Granger as the rest of the field with the exception of Phillips slipped and slid in all directions behind. As the two lead cars entered the start finish straight around three quarter distance of the 20 lap race, Sayell looked to be set up for an inside line but switched rapidly to the outside, going around Granger who, realising too late, was unable to defend and Sayell took the lead. Phillips looked possibly likely to add insult to injury but ultimately Granger held on for second in an excellent race. Andrew Bilby came in 4th some way down on the top 3, with Barry Goldsby 5th and Gary Bonner 6th. Sayell was delighted to take the the National Championship trophy back home again and his 28th win of the season.

The second event (for the Cliff Davis Memorial) was run from full graded order with Joe Bourn taking what looked at one time was going to be an easy flag to flag victory. Bourn and Andy Collins did break away in the first half of the race with Phillips keeping close eye on them but unable to pass them and then gradually dropping back a bit when held up by spinning cars. Rob Sayell eventually passed Phillips at around two thirds distance but had some ground to make up to the leaders with Bourn still holding off Collins' advances. Sayell tried everything possible lap after lap to get past the lead pair getting up the inside on several occasions but unable to make it stick at the next bend. As the race drew to a close Sayell suddenly found himself under pressure from Phillips and as they exited the final bend it could have been any one of 4 drivers with the cars crossing the line together, Bourn winning by a whisker from Collins, Sayell and Phillips in a very exciting final few laps.

With time pressing the last race was designated a 15 lap dash and this was won with relative ease by Gary Bonner. This time Phillips outclassed the best of the rest including Sayell who had to be content with third.

National Championship: 1st Rob Sayell, 2nd Gary Granger, 3rd Chris Phillips, 4th Andrew Bilby; 5th Bary Goldsby, 6th Gary Bonner, 7th Andy Collins, 8th Andy Smith, 9th John Salter, 10th Gordon Pooley.

Cliff Davis Memorial Cup: 1st Joe Bourn, 2nd Andy Collins, 3rd Rob Sayell, 12 Chris Phillips, 77 Neil Clarke, 78 Barry Goldsby, 16 Andrew Bilby, 41 John Salter