BARC/MGOC Snetterton
(4th round)

Round Four of the hugely successful BARC/MGOC championship saw the MG's return once more to Snetterton, a popular circuit with both competitors and spectators alike. There was the usual strong entry in both class A & B. The Front runners of Class B all seem to be evenly matched and it could have been anybody's race, so who crossed the finish line this time ?
In Class A the leader board includes Jim Baynham (a Cambridgeshire man) Alan Yeoman and Nigel Woolcott. But it is Matthew Read who seems poised to go to the top, and here at Snetterton is looking to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Both practice sessions were split into two halves after the red flag was brought out stopping the session after incidents at the infamous "Russell Bend ". A Midget and later a Maestro were caught in the gravel trap in a dangerous position. Both were removed quickly and practice continued.

Top Qualifier in Class A was Matthew Read in a Midget, lapping the 1.952 miles circuit in 1m 36.18sec at 73.06mph. Top spot in class B was Fergus Campbell in a MG Maestro with a time of 1m 34.48 at 74.38mph.

BARC/MGOC Class A

The Class A race was a cracker. At Snetterton it is essential to get a good start and then hold the racing line. There is a good straight at Snetterton, the circuit is a former RAF station, and what was the main runway is now called the "Senna Straight". But the "Essess" at the end of the straight and then "Russell Bend " are a test of nerves and of the cars braking ability.
The only man in the top six, after the practice session to hold on to his position from the start was Matthew Read, in his splendidly turned out and very fast Midget. This win at Snetterton completes his hat-trick. But if there had to be a 'Man of the Race' it would have to be David Butler, who some years ago became the first disabled man to gain a RAC Competition licence in the UK. He rose from seventh place on the grid to finish second, he might have won had it not been for an excursion thru the gravel at that infamous "Russell Bend" on lap eight. Somehow, he kept going and set off once more in pursuit of Read.
I spoke to David after the race, who told me that of his 80 races, this had to be one of his best. Second ! " well I am used to finishing second" he laughed, "perhaps next time I'll race wearing a bridesmaid dress" !!

The Fastest lap was set by David Butler 1m 36.83s at 72.57mph

BARC/MGOC Class B

The top 1, 2, 3 in practice were to finish in the same order at the end of the 10 lap race. Surprisingly for this class for once the race passed with little incident, with only two of the twenty four car field failing to finish, but it still did not fail to entertain. Ten laps of Snetterton is equal to 19.52 miles and the winner, Fergus Campbell in MG Maestro, completed the race in 15m 55.08secs, just 1.89 seconds was the gap to second place man Adrian Olsson and Steven Wood took third spot, some 4 seconds behind the winner.

The Fastest lap set by Grahame Davis 1m 33.84s at 74.88mph

BARC / MGOC Championship

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