The CSCC Special Saloons + Modsports series
Mondello Park
Ready for battle at Mondello Park...David Beatty`s ex-Gerry Marshall Aston is nearest camera. Photo by Hugo Holder. The CSCC Special Saloon + Modsports series enjoyed their first overseas races as part of the CKMC weekend at Ireland's pemier race circuit.
RACE 1 :
With the David ( Chris Southcott ) v Goliath ( Ian Hall ) duo on the front row it was some surprise when 3rd place man Thomas Carey nipped ahead at the first corner and lead the first lap before the 2 pre-race favourites got passed. Southcott headed Hall from then on with a 3.3 second avantage by lap 4 , Carey tucked his Honda into 3rd whilst the expected battle between Neil Duke ( Anglia ) and Tim Cairns ( Midget ) was already underway. The latter pair are remarkably well matched race after race and were just 1.2 seconds apart by lap 4 for fourth place.
David Betty in the mighty Aston V8 was 6th ,Martin Reynolds was next but struggling with only 3rd gear working in the Escort so wasn`t doing either car or himself justice . David Smith ( in the 3rd Midget ) was 8th.
The running order held the same as Hall continued to pressure Southcott ,the gap got down to its closest at the end of lap 8 by 2.3 seconds. Thereafter Hall found he was losing the brakes in the mighty Darrian-Wildcat V8 and the gap began to increase each lap. 12 seconds ,24 ,38 then 51 seconds as Hall`s pace dropped right off . Southcott hustled the Midget home to another CSCC win and established a new series lap record on lap 2 of 58.596 seconds.
Behind the winning Midget it Carey who caught and passed Hall to claim 2nd place with Duke and Cairns also getting passed the stricken Darrian for 3rd and 4th respectively. David Beatty took 6th from the struggling Reynolds ,whilst Smith went out after about 7 laps.
July 13th /14th 2019
RACE 2 :
7 cars took the track for race 2 at ten o`clock on the sunday morning. Race 1 winner Andy Southcott starting at the back due to his 'winner's penalty' with Thomas Carey and Neil Duke on the front row. Ian Hall had changed his brake fluid since his issues the day before and lead for half the race until the Southcott Midget got passed. By the end Hall trailed Southcott over the line some 23 seconds down with Carey third and again Duke just ahead of his class rival Cains 5th.
David Beatty had ignition trouble in the big Aston and retired after 7 of the 15 laps. Martin Reynolds was again struggling with his gearbox to take 6th.
RACE 3 :
The same 7 cars took the track for race 3 in the afternoon with again race 1+2 winner Andy Southcott starting at the back due to his 'winner's penalty' . Ian Hall this time was on pole with Carey along side. The 2 diced for the lead knowing Southcott woild soon be catching them up. Hall lead lap 1 by half a second but the Honda of Carey got passed to lead the next 2 lpas before Hall retook P1.
Southcott took Carey for 2nd on lap 5 and closed the gap on Hall taking the lead on lap 8. Hall kept up until the last 2 laps when he had to ease off and Southcott took the flag for the 3rd time and an excellent weekend's work .
Carey again took 3rd and Class C and again Duke just pipped Cairns for the class with another close race only half a second apart at times. Reynolds took 6th again.
David Beatty was again blighted with an issue ,this time low fuel pressure in the Aston and having pitted went out to take a steady finish and win class A.
The drivers and crew members pose for a group photo on the Mondello podium. Despite the grid not being quite as large as usual both competitos and organisers expressed their delight at the event . The CSCC races were of course only part of the CKMC weekend's racing .
' A superb weekend of racing in sunny Mondello Park. A huge thank you to all who made the trip and especially to David Beatty for his sponsorship of everyone that raced.' - Hugo Holder of the CSCC . Driver Neil Duke said 'Great weekend. Hosts were great, a very technical circuit. Would go again'.
Despite a few problems David Beatty brought the ex-Gerry Marshall Marsh Plant Aston Martin home to claim the Class A win in race 1 and 3.