2008

July 13th Bovingdon June Cochrane Trophy

"King Edward" the track commentator at Bovvy, normally opens the meeting by saying "Welcome to sunny Bovingdon" and on this occasion it certainly was. The last time the Grand Prix Midgets raced here it absolutely threw it down with rain and Steve Brattan (75) won the Southern Championship.

Neil Clarke (77) had travelled down through the night and greeted everyone into the pits. I think he was there early so that he could collect all of the 59th birthday cards from the other teams as they arrived.

Unfortunately for Geoff Bunn (28) his clutch failed in practice and he could take no further part in the meeting. Incidentally, Geoff has a new nickname of "Ariston" because since his win at Aldershot he has gone on and on and on and on!

Pooley Plant Hire have decided to give a trophy at each meeting for the fastest recorded lap time of the day. Thanks to all at Team Pooley for that.

The grid saw Neil Clarke, Daniel Pooley (32), Scott Roth (7) and Cliff Bunn (23) lead the pack away. Steve Brattan (75) and Jonathon Pooley (31) were having an intriguing battle for the minor places and Steve Young (59) was having a somewhat sideways slant on things. "Mr Chairman", Gordon Pooley (33) managed to run into poor old Andrew Bilby (16) for the second time in two weeks and is starting to get a complex. Gordon stamped on the brakes that strongly that he snapped off the brake pedal! On questioning after the race, he said that it had nothing to-do with the amount of weight he has put on recently. Daniel managed to keep all of his tyres on for this race and took the win from Scott, Cliff, and the two Steve's. Brattan recorded the fastest time for this heat.

The same pattern for heat two. Gordon had welded his brake pedal up and was away from the red grade. He was chasing down the fast moving Scott Roth and Cliff Bunn. Bilby appeared to be suffering from a lack of grip spinning out in front of Brattan at the half way mark. At the chequered flag it was Scott (7), from Cliff (23), "Mr Chairman" (33), Sidewinder Young (59) and the "Brat" (75). Gordon had taken the fastest time of the day so far in this heat by 0.5 secs.

The 25 lap final was for the impressive June Cochrane Memorial Trophy. The blue grade made flying starts with Scott and Cliff having a good battle for lead position. Brattan and J Pooley were having their now customary side by side battle for the minor places with Jonathon making a late breaking move on the pits bend, managing to get by. Brattan's car was suffering from jumping out of gear again at critical points i.e. on braking for the bends! Jonathon was then away chasing down and passing Steve Young in pursuit of his dad for third. The laps ran out for him as Cliff got around Scott to take the win. Gordon was third followed by Jonathon and the two Steve's again.

Jonathon recorded the fastest time of the day but declined to take the trophy home as Sue has too many to clean as it is! This will be retained for another time.

The points chart is getting interesting now with Jonathon Pooley 24 points in front of Steve Brattan and the next three places separated by one point each with Gordon, from Cliff and Steve Young.