Historic FF2000 title rivals collide at category’s Mallory Park birthday event

Back where Formula Ford 2000 made an inauspicious debut, in a sullen wet British Automobile Racing Club meeting finale on 9 March 1975, the Historic Pinto posse continued to mark the slicks and wings category’s 50th anniversary at the Historic Sports Car Club’s first visit to Mallory Park since 2021. Last weekend’s low-key, top value, clubbie on a challenging circuit was reminiscent of many 1970s offerings.

Saturday’s opener, another close encounter between FF2000 top guns Ben Glasswell and Graham Fennymore, featured poleman Glasswell resisting enormous pressure to stretch his slim points advantage. Fennymore only just made it out, thanks to a rival team who welded his exhaust.

Race two ended acrimoniously, however. Contact between Glasswell, who ran deep into Shaw’s hairpin, and Fennymore who dived inside him, split Glasswell’s radiator, forcing retirement, and propelled Fennymore into a 13-point lead. Only Silverstone’s October double-header stands between him and a third crown in five seasons.

Andy Storer fended off Adrian Reynard – the 74-year-old’s engine sounding like a vintage tractor, with a cracked exhaust – first time out, but the 1979 EFDA Euroseries champion’s subsequent third, with Storer second, dropped him behind Andy to fourth in the championship. Quickest non-Reynard driver was Antony Denham (Delta), who was seventh in race one. Neil Jenkins (Reynard SF76) landed an early class double after skirmishes with Neil Bowman (Van Diemen RF78).

Classic and Historic Formula Ford 1600 competitors also raced twice. Jordan Harrison (Lola T540E) extended his unbeaten run to eight rounds to secure a third Classic title. Rick Morris (Royale RP29), pre-’74 class winner Oliver Chapman (Lola T200) and Tom Gadd (Van Diemen RF81) chased him home in the opener.

Morris led the sequel briefly, spun – twice! – and charged back to ninth. Chapman and Gadd (hamstrung by unsuitable gear ratios) joined Harrison on the notional podium. Scott Rawlinson (Merlyn Mk11A), Andrew Smith (Van Diemen FA73) and Grace Parkington (ex-Tiff Needell Crossle 25F, who missed qualifying with electrical gremlins) completed the top six.

The progress of Grace Bates (Van Diemen RF80) and Parkington’s younger sister Murron (ex-Eddie Irvine Crossle 32F), who cut their personal best lap times to mid-52s and low 53s respectively – against Harrison’s 49.668s marker, and Grace P’s 51.398s – was impressive and commendably unflustered.

Benn Simms and his Jomo JMR7 were uncatchable in Historic FF1600. Chapman and James Hadfield (ex-Gary Magwood Hawke DL2B) came closest, but the fourth-place scraps were awesome. Danny Stanzl (Elden Mk8) beat Christian Goller (Lola T204) by 0.001s first time out, with Mark Wilkes (Merlyn Mk20S) 0.513s adrift. Wilkes rounded both rivals imperiously into Gerards in the finale, but Goller – who had mugged Stanzl into the hairpin – prevailed by 0.016s as 0.247s blanketed the trio!

An eclectic closed-wheel mix encapsulated the season’s best Historic Saloon field – including Stephen Miles’ ex-Mick Cave Austin A40 – and a bunch of Road Sports cars. Out front, Neil Wood’s dominance in his gloriously raucous Ford Anglia 105E reminded older onlookers of Leicester lad Roger Williamson’s early exploits. Mark Watts (Mustang) and Tom Bridger (BMW 1800) led the initial chase, while Chris Wilson (Dodge Dart) and David Lloyd (Jensen CV8) flexed Mopar muscle.

Top qualifier George Daws (Datsun 240Z) missed the opener with fried brake pads and veteran Mike Eagles (MGB GTV8) started it late, but split the quickest tin-tops later, when 500cc F3 ace Wilson boldly broke a minute on his final lap. A protracted tussle embroiling Celia Stevens (Lotus Elan Costin replica), Anthony Warnes (A40), Stephen Chapman (Fiat 600 Abarth) and novice Adele Hunt (Mini) was another talking point.

Wood’s Anglia was top of the Historic Saloon tree

Photo by: Mick Walker