This must be the most challenging qualifying session the series has seen. The format for saturday had been planned well in advance that to accomodate all the CSCC series the usually under subscribed Special Saloons would share the 30-minute session with the fledgling 'Slicks' series. The Specials would also be joined by cars from the Bernie's V8 series of whom a handful and joined the fun previously at Thruxton. A week before the races it was clear the response across all the CSCC series by competitors to get back racing was so positive that a record 492 driver entries had come in and each series had bumper grids to sort out. The Specials/Bernies plus Slicks session was over subscribed thus some cars were placed on the Reserves list. It should be noted the club didnt favour their own series cars over the guesting Bernies cars as it was a fair, first come, first served basis. 2 of the cars were entered in both Specials and Slicks to confuse matters further.

There were 24 Special saloon entries and they included 2 of the most famous Supersaloons of all time. Joe Ward again kindly brought out 'Baby Bertha' for a second time this season. The other car though hadnt been seen racing for 42 years other than the series revival meeting back in 2011. This was the ex-Tony Hazelwood Daf V8 now owned by Andy Wilson. This was on the reserve list and hadnt even had a shakedown test so fresh from its major overhaul was it.

Further entries of note were the Maguire Mini Countryman of Mini legend Bill Richards who was delighted to be at the meeting. Now fitted with a 2-litre Ford Duratec the car, which used to sport a Metro body, becomes the first car officially in the series to run in the parallel 'modern' engine category. Bill had problems in both qualifying and then race 1 before it all came good for race 2 for him taking 18th. Returning to the series after an 8-year lay off was Joss Ronchetti and his immaculate 'black bullet' Sunbeam Lotus. This was to the scene of that accident back in the 2012 race when he was clobbered by a locked up 'Baby Bertha' at the chicane leading to the car's long break until now. Joss was one of the 2 down to qualify for both the specials race and Slicks race which caused some confusion with TSL timing. His time should have been good enough for 4th on the specials grid but this was used for the afternoons Slicks race. Overnight he was listed as starting at the back of the specials race with no time but come morning he would start 7th.

Back in the series too were both the James Plant Healey-Chevy, which for me was the best sounding car of the entire weekend, after its accident at Thruxton plus the spotless BMW V8 of Clive Anderson who also had missed Snetterton. These were all likely top 6 runners but who was going to be on the front row ?

Qualifying was indeed hectic and many drivers said they couldnt get a clear lap in. Ignoring the Slicks ( which are modern GT cars and a fabulous series in itself ) Andy Southcott set Specials pole in the Midget with a rapid 1 minute 11.7 . He had been testing the day before and honed his car and style to perfection to set the benchmark yet again. The Peugeot 309 of the Morris brothers were again 2nd, ahead of the fastest of the Bernies cars, Steve Ough in a Crossle sports racer. Then Ronchetti as mentioned, 2 Bernies TVRs then Plant, Paul Connell ( Sierra ) and John Cockerton ( Porsche 935 ). The latter was having trouble with the lovely black Porsche which didnt want to fire up at soundcheck and come race day John would swap it for his GT3 Cup car from the Slicks and run as an invitational entry.

2 Bernies Ascars were next then Anderson's BMW which was struggling on 'new' second hand rubber ahead of 'Baby Bertha' and Tim Cairns ( Midget ) all around the 1 minute 21 region. However the biggest loss was the Ford RS200 of Wayne Crabtree which gave the Southcott Midget a good run at Snetterton.

Sadly after just 3 laps the right rear suspension broke and Wayne pulled the car straight onto the grass. Despite what seemed a fix back in the paddock the car was withdrawn. Oddly most of the problems seemed to be all suspension related over the weekend. Meanwhile back on the reserve list was the popular Tony Paxman ( Escort ) who made no fuss about not being able to qualify and happily waited to start the race at the back the next day. The Daf too would start at the back subject to any last minute final preparations.