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October 11th Birmingham North and Midlands Championship
Fifteen cars attended the Birmingham Wheels Raceway on a pleasant
autumn evening for the Northern and Midland Championships.
This meeting would also determine the final placings in the
national point's championship.
This meeting saw the return of Gary Grimsley (2) in his revamped
Vauxhall powered car. "Mr Chairman" Gordon Pooley (33) has
been reworking the car changing suspension pick up points
etc and his son Jonathon (31) has built a new engine for Gary.
Also returning for his first meeting of the year was Barry
Goldsby (78). Due to other commitments, the club president
has been unable to race thus far but will make a full return
for next season. Another welcome addition was Klaus Kilianski
(93) from Germany. Klaus and his brother Josef had left their
home at 4 am to get to Birmingham on time.
The cars made an impressive sight as they took to the track
to race under the lights. Peter Dorrell (8) and Grimsley lead
the pack away but the race was to come under waved yellows
as Goldsby failed to start. At the restart the two white tops
were being chased by blue grade. Steve Brattan (75) made a
fast start to outstrip Phil Retchless (9) to the first turn.
These two were chasing down Grimsley and Dorrell. Brattan
took up the lead on lap 6 when the race came under caution
again due to a high speed accident involving 3 cars abreast
exiting the pit turn. Retchless (9) and the father and son
duo of Gordon (33) and Daniel Pooley (32) came together in
a big way in front of the sizeable crowd with Cliff Bunn (23)
and Steve Young (59) also having a coming together. The crash
enforced the retirement of Retchless with steering, suspension
and oil pipe breakages, Steve Young (59) with broken steering,
Cliff Bunn with major suspension and bodywork issues and Daniel
Pooley with chassis problems.
At the restart Brattan sped away pursued by Geoff Bunn (28)
and a fast moving Kilianski. "Mr Chairman" Gordon and Andrew
Bilby (16) worked their way past Neil Clarke (77) and Allen
Herbert (76) for fourth and fifth. Kilianski passed Bunn to
chase after Brattan. The German was not making any progress
as Brattan took the chequered flag. The rest of the order
remained the same with World Champion Jonathon Pooley retiring
also with broken suspension.
Heat two started minus Retchless, D Pooley, C Bunn and Young.
As per the previous race Grimsley and Dorrell sprinted away
at the green flag. The usual suspects made quick starts from
the blues with British Champion Geoff Bunn, Herbert and Brattan
taking up the chase. Geoff progressed into the lead with J
Pooley and Brattan having a dice for the minor places. At
mid way the race came under waved yellows as Gordon Pooley
and Neil Clarke came together down the back straight causing
Clarke to hit the fence hard wiping each corner off his car.
At the restart Kilianski and Bilby held a watching brief waiting
for a mistake from the top three and it happened with four
to go as Brattan span out of third place on the exit of the
City turn. This allowed Kilianski through for third. Klaus
was showing his liking for this track as he was recording
quick times. Bunn took a good win from J Pooley after a close
battle, with Kilianski third, Bilbly fourth, a creditable
fifth for Grimsley, Dorrell sixth and Brattan seventh.
The final was for the last two championship titles of the
year, namely the Northern Championship and the Midland.
With the field reduced due to the crashes in the heats, the
race was lead away by Dorrell and Grimsley. Brattan beat Herbert
off the line with G Bunn away quickly also. Jonathon Pooley
was on a mission chasing down the front runners on his trademark
blasts around the outside. Brattan hit the front as Pooley
and Bunn diced for second and third. A close three way battle
then ensued. Jonathon passed Bunn to take it up. Geoff's exhaust
had broken again, some remedial work required during the winter
me thinks. Kilianski was lurking in the background as Brattan
span out of third place on his own water. Pooley was driving
a faultless line to take the titles from Bunn and Kilianski.
Brattan recovered for fourth, Herbert was fifth and Grimsley
sixth.
All in all a satisfying turn out of cars, Jonathon added to
his list of titles and Klaus enjoyed his visit to the Wheels
Raceway with a deserved haul of points.
This meeting certainly sorted out the top six in the National
Points chart which will be covered in another report.
Heat One 75 93 28 33 16 77 76 8
Heat Two 28 31 93 16 2 8 75
Final/Championship 31 28 93 75 76 2
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