24th and 25th May Double Header at Snetterton

Norfolk in England. Circuit length 1.952 miles, 7 turns, best viewing position Russell Bend.

Rounds 4 and 5 – Snetterton 25/26th May 2008

The second double-header meeting of the season saw the drivers descend on a wet and windy Snetterton circuit in Norfolk. This is a popular circuit and with all the top drivers present, a hardy bunch of spectators were expecting to see some exciting MG racing. The drivers were scheduled to have two races on a single day making it a busy weekend for all.

Class A/F

The last qualifying session of the day saw 18 cars take to the track in very wet conditions. Stuart Plotnek mastered the difficult conditions to take pole position by a full 1.6 secs from Ian Evans with Paul Savage, Ian Deaves, Robin Walker and Peter Higton filling the first three rows of the grid. Class A pole was taken by the MGBGT of Malcolm Hill by 0.9secs from the 1275 Midget of Will Sharpe with Chris Pollard and Paul Eales behind him.

Race One
On a damp track, Plotnek and Evans both made perfect starts and were never more than a couple of lengths apart, both drivers were driving superbly and were side by side through Coram but Plotnek always seemed to have better traction exiting the Russell Chicane. At the start of the last lap, Evans had closed to within a cars length and closed in on Plotnek who finally succumbed to the pressure and spun off at the Bombhole allowing Evans to steal the win from Plotnek with Savage 100 metres back in 3rd place ahead of Wills who drove well to gain three places from qualifying his qualifying position.

Further down the field in Class A, Hill took an early lead from Sharpe with Eales some way back in 3rd place. Hill held a slight lead in what was an enthralling battle for the Class A lead but race was effectively decided in favour of Hill when the Midget of Sharpe spun off on lap 6 at Russell Chicane. Hill went on to take his first win since August 2006 by 20 secs from Eales and Sharpe who recovered from another lurid spin to take 3rd place from the 1500 Midget of Pollard.

Race Two
Plotnek was determined to make amends for losing out in Race 1 and on a wet track he made a perfect start to lead from Savage with Evans a little further back in 3rd place. Plotnek looked well in control but Wills began to catch Savage in the closing stages of the race and took 2nd place on the penultimate lap. With Evans and Wills battling for 2nd place, Plotnek extended his lead and took a well judged win by 7.5 secs. from Wills who pipped Savage for 2nd place a by a cars length.

In Class A, Hill took an early lead and, with Sharpe embroiled in a battle with Eales, looked the likely winner but Sharpe spun off at Russell Chicane on lap 10 allowing Eales to mount a late challenge on Hill. With two laps to go, Eales mounted an excellent late charge and closed to within a length of Hill but the Cheltenham driver held on bravely to take his second win of the weekend by just 0.4 secs. with Sharpe taking another 3rd place ahead of Pollard.

Class B/Z

Class B welcomed a new driver, Chris Miller, who was making his racing debut in a Maestro. Qualifying took place on a wet track which saw David Mellor take pole position with Gary Smith joining him on the front row. Simon Byrne was on row two and was joined by Lee Sullivan who drove brilliantly to qualify on pole for Class B a full 2 seconds ahead of Stratton Mackay with Ben Short, Ulric Scott, Paul Haylett and Mark Halsall a little further back.


Race One
As the red lights went out Mellor made a perfect start on a dry track to go into Riches ahead of Smith and Byrne. These three soon pulled away at the front of the field and were seldom more than a few lengths apart. It all changed on lap 6 when Byrne nudged Mellor into a spin and took over in 2nd place. Smith began to pull away looked the likely winner but Byrne returned the favour by spinning off on lap 10 allowing Mellor back into 2nd place. Smith went on to take another accomplished win by 6.7 secs from Mellor, Byrne, Dixon and Morris.

Sullivan made full use of an excellent qualifying position to lead class B by 100 metres at the end of the opening lap from Short, Mackay, Scott and Haylett. Sullivan’s lead was never threatened but Short and Mackay were putting on a great show swapping positions at least eight times in a hugely entertaining battle. Sullivan went onto take a well deserved first ever MGOC win by 4.4 secs. from Mackay who just held of Short for 2nd place.

Race Two

On a wet track, Mellor made the better start but Smith lead the field at the end of the opening lap from Mellor with Byrne some way back in 3rd place. Mellor lost his 2nd place with a spin at Coram on lap 3 giving Smith a lead of at least 200 metres. Mellor clearly wasn't giving up and set off on a fine recovery drive getting past Byrne on lap 5 and closing in on Smith. The Summit MG driver was coming under increasing pressure from an inspired Mellor but held on to take the win by 0.6 secs. with Byrne taking 3rd place ahead of Olsson and Dixon.

Sullivan dominated Class B but, in a repeat of Race 1, Short and Mackay were battling hard for 2nd place until Mackay lost out with two spins late in the race. Sullivan drove another immaculate race to take his send win of the weekend from Short with Mackay settling for 3rd place ahead of Haylett and Perkins. Chris Miller was enjoying his racing debut and entertained the crowd with at least three spins to finish last but thankfully without damage.