2010

13th June, Tourist Trophy, Cowdenbeath

Thankfully a great effort by team Pooley and others saw the Scorpion return to the track in time for heat 2.

Race 1

A damp Cowdenbeath track greeted the drivers who managed to survive Knockhill, Just before race one a shower of rain made it a wet race. It was Andrew Lewis who led the cars away then it was Andrew Bilby, Lee Hazeltine and Neil Clarke. At the front of the reds was Cliff Bunn and Steve Young, next was Daniel Pooley, Mark Hodges and Jonathon Pooley, Lee was not finding the track conditions in his favour as Neil Clarke passed him on lap two and then the red grades a lap later going down the back straight. Meanwhile at the front of the field Andrew Lewis was still leading but Andrew Bilby was closing fast with the BMC, and another man who was doing well was Neil Clarke in the standard 16v engine as the wet conditions levelled the playing field. On lap5 Jonathon Pooley spun his car damaging the front and rear of the car and putting him out of the race. By Lap 7 there were six cars all fighting for the first six places - Andrew was trying to take the lead from Andrew Lewis but lost a bit of momentum and this allowed Neil and Cliff to take him on the back straight followed by Steve Young and Daniel Pooley, Lap 11 Neil Clarke was trying to keep Daniel behind But the wet master soon passed Neil around the outside of turn one, Neil now had Cliff Bunn right behind him but Steve Young box Cliff and moved up to third, and that’s how it stayed to the end of the race.

. 1st D.Pooley 2nd N.Clarke 3rd S.Young 4th C.Bunn 5th A.Bilby 6th A.Lewis 7th M.Hodges 8th L.Hazeltine

Race 2

Andrew Lewis was leading but Andrew Bilby was soon up with him closely followed by Neil Clarke and Cliff Bunn. This stayed like this until lap 5 when Andrew B took up the lead. Further down the order Jonathon Pooley was getting the feel of the repaired No31. His brother Daniel who made a slow start was now on a charge to make up for lost time. By lap 8 the order was Neil Clarke, Daniel Pooley, Cliff Bunn, Steve Young, Jonathon Pooley, Andrew Bilby, Andrew Lewis, Lee Hazeltine who retired the next lap and Mark Hodges. Back at the front Daniel was giving Neil a hard time trying the outside and then the inside line to try and pass Neil, by lap 10 Neil went wide and this allowed Daniel the chance he wanted and took up the lead where he stayed to the finish, Cliff was now trying to pass Neil but as the laps went by there was no way past and as the flag came out there was a five car train with Daniel with the win.

1st D.Pooley, 2nd N.Clarke, 3rd C.Bunn, 4th S.Young, 5th J.Pooley 6thA.Bilby 7th A.Lewis, 8th M.Hodges.

Grand Final (Northern Trophy)

Yet another rain shower just before the drivers went out on the track made this a wet race, and it was Andrew Lewis out in front with Andrew Bilby making a good start from the yellows. Lee Hazeltine was taking it steady and this allowed Neil Clarke to catch and pass on the home straight. Daniel Pooley was making his way through the red graded cars going round the outside of Cliff Bunn with the tail of the car drifting nicely . Neil Clarke took up the lead on Lap 7 from Andrew Bilby but by now the fast Daniel Pooley was right behind him, further down the field Cliff Bunn was trying to hold off Steve Young and Jonathon Pooley as all three came up to Andrew Bilby. Andrew let them through on the outside and then on lap 10 Daniel was still out in front with Neil Clarke doing his best to keep the chasing pack behind him, Steve Young went a little wide going into turn one allowing J Pooley through. The next lap he passed Cliff on the inside coming out of turn 4 onto the home straight. With Cliff out wide this allowed Steve to nip up on the inside going into turn one. With 3 to go Jonathon was putting Neil under pressure but he could not find a way past and this let Daniel build up a length of a straight lead as he took the flag, Well done Daniel, who made it six wins out of six for the Pooley family in Scotland.

1st D.Pooley 2nd N.Clarke 3rd J.Pooley 4th S.Young 5th C.Bunn 6th A.Bilby 7th A.Lewis.