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Third test TOTAL MAHEM RACEWAY PRETORIA
The UK Team pulled off the coup of the century
last Saturday night by winning the final test match.
In the first heat, South Africa won the toss
and elected to take pole in the final leaving Gary Granger
on pole for the heat. At the start the Africans controlled
the pace from the front waiting for their fast man, Theo Bruusow
to come from the back. Granger held on for 4th place with
Andrew Bilby in 5th, Jonathon Pooley in 6th and John Bilby
bringing up the rear in 8th.
Heat 2 saw Rob Sayell, on the outside front
row make a storming start to take the lead only for two Africans
to spin on the exit leaving Gordon Pooley no place but to
brush the wall and unable to make the restart. As the green
flag dropped again Rob took the lead and good positional driving
saw Neil Clarke and UK reserve Jonny Archer move up into 2nd
and 3rd. A lap later, what looked like a brave try around
the outside, was actually a stuck throttle saw SA 3 hit the
wall very hard, wrecking his car and his night. At the restart
Rob kept his lead to the flag with Archer following him home.
SA 5, Jan Kemp, was next with Neil 4th and Chris Phillips
6th.
Heat 1b saw John Bilby on pole with Theo's
250+bhp next to him. The BMC could not hold him off the line
and John let Andrew take up the chase. The SA side then played
cat and mouse with the VW and James Myburgh came through for
the win with Theo 2nd. Andrew held off the Rotary powered
SA77 car for 3rd. Jon Pooley stayed in 5th with Gary unable
to make an impression from the back, in 6th, Vic Hodkinson
in 7th holding off John's BMC in 8th.
In heat 2b Jan Kemp held pole and out dragged
(as he should do with a 2.2 Yoyota!!) Chris at the drop of
the flag and was never caught. Rob had a storming drive from
the back and took 2nd with Gordon, Neil and Jonny Archer taking
the next few places. Chris was having a good battle with replacement
driver Riaan du Plessis until the 15 car got a miss fire and
the pair tangled on the home straight.
This gave the UK a 10 point lead going into
the all car final. The UK had a meeting and decided that they
had nothing to lose and all the drivers worked out a strategy
from their grid positions.
SA captain Theo Brussow took pole in the final
with Rob on his outside, and just drove off into the sunset
with James Myburgh in tow. Rob and Gordon then held the next
two places with the Rotary (190db) breathing down their necks.
The SA team then suffered a few failures. The SA45 car dropped
a link and was black flagged leaving the whole of the middle
of the field to the UK. Jonny Archer had a good race from
the back, being followed home by Gary, Jonathon, Andrew and
Neil. Bilby jnr and Chris both caught and overtook SA44 and
were closing in on SA26 when the laps ran out. Reliability
and good team work made the day, showing that you do not need
big horsepower to win races.
The best comment of the evening was when veteran
racer Clarke quoted: "In 30 years of racing this is the best
trip on a pace car I have ever had."
John Bilby - Pretoria (32 deg in the shade!!!)
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