Mamba Motorsport - Mallory Park Top Hat Race Report Page

Top Hat Race Day - Mallory Park

- Front row of Grid and 1st in Class for the C23R

Author: Ken
Editor: Dave
Date: 15 October 2006

A return to the Leicestershire circuit proved successful for the ever consistent Ken and the Mamba C23R.

Mallory Park was hosting the final Top Hat meeting of the 2006 season on the 8th October, this was the ever popular Best of British Sports Car Race.

The race had attracted a full grid with Lotus 23s and Elans, Morgans, various MGs, TVRs and both D-type and E-type Jaguars, and one late entry.

As often proves the case at Mallory, qualifying can be as exciting as the real thing, and today's was certainly going to prove to be in the exciting category.

The first stint was interrupted very early and Ken was still in the process of warming up the tyres and brakes when the incident happened, this was the unfortunate demise of Michael Doyle's very competitive Lotus 23 at Shaw's Hairpin - this was red flag number 1!

With a much reduced practice session it was now important for Ken to get out early and put in some fast laps at the front before the traffic build-up that inevitably happens as the session proceeds. Unfortunately for us there were now 3 cars in the pit lane in front of Ken's C23R and a clear track - so there nothing for it but to be brave and go for it - Ken did it around Gerrard's. He had got the better of all three before the Esses and could take advantage of a clear track on which to put in some really fast laps. This proved to be a superb decision as a second red flag truncated practice early when a Morgan+8 over-cooked it.

Practice turned out to be only 9 racing laps but this was enough for Ken to put the C23R on the front row of the grid for the 2nd time this year with John Bussells fully expensed E-type some 0.48 seconds in front.

For the 30 minute race Ken had the outside berth on the front row with the more powerful Jaguar on the inside - Ken got a great start off the line but the run down to Gerrads is long enough for the more powerful Jag to get alongside and hold his inside line so grid position was maintained into and through the very long and challenging first corner. The first surprise came out of Gerrard's and up to the Esses when the 4th placed Lister flew-by exhibiting far more traction than during practice - by some quirk of tuning the Lister is now capable of lap times 4 seconds quicker than practice, a neat trick if you can perform it!

poised into the Devil's Elbow

Ken and the C23R continued to chase the E-type during the early part of the race and their 3rd place was never under threat, to such a degree that Ken backed off in the final two laps to preserve the tyres for the next outing, confident of their podium position.

out of the Esses

enjoying the back markers

35 laps later and the chequered flag came down with Ken and the C23R clear Class Winners and well clear of all other competition.

The de-brief afterwards was interesting and the full lap times reveal another first for the C23R in the fastest lap it has ever done around Mallory. Ken yet again praised the sure footed handling of the C23R which gave him the confidence to drive straight to the front during practice and thus secure the excellent front-row grid position. "Not bad for an old 'un" Ken was heard to mutter again, not sure if he was referring to the car or something else!

So yet another successful weekend in the inaugural season for the C23R, 1st in Class, 3rd overall and another front row grid position!