Stowe in May differs in only one aspect to Stowe in November - it's possible to walk around in T-shirts and only feel cold instead of hypothermic. If you're lucky it might be possible to stay completely dry, but any hope of walking in a straight line is destroyed by either gale force winds or excessive amounts of drink at the Green Man.
Eleven cars braved the conditions at the pre-24hr event, with a variety of races included. Hollis Motorsport won the early event of 'who can create the most attention in the paddock' by arriving in their new car transporter, allegedly stolen from the set of the Thunderbirds movie. Unfortunately, whilst it may be able to rescue people from burning skyscrapers and de-railed monorails, it can't transport a 2CV.
Qualifying for the first sprint race saw Wayne Cowling comfortably on pole, despite still running his engine in. Simon Pearson was next up ahead of Mad Pete. Back in 8th was series newcomer Adam Reeves, driving Jon Davis' car, although his attempts to ruin Jon's weekend were admirable as he did his best efforts to destroy the engine in practice starts around the paddock. Wayne got the best ever start in any motor race as he left everyone else standing. This was mainly due to the fact that all the cars were still in the assembly area as Cowling raced back to the paddock for a last minute trip to the toilets, never to return. This left Pearson in front for the whole race, although it looked as though he might have to work for it as Pete, Tim Dodgson and Richard Hollis were all close by. Hollis Motorsport had clearly spent more time and money on their transporter than their car as it soon became clear in qualifying that the springs had perished. Super stiff shocks helped get Richard up to 3rd from 7th on the grid, only for brake failure to result in a spin and a last lap defence from the now up to speed Reeves.
The Enduro race was next up, with Andrew Smith and Steve Panas on pole, ahead of Pearson/Graham Wallace and Wayne/Ainslie (Cowling's earlier toilet expedition had now been explained as a dodgy spark plug). At the start it was Panas and Cowling who pulled away, whilst the rest scrapped for 3rd. Matthew Hollis was in the pits having accelerated into the back of Paul Taylor at the start, losing half a lap. Pete Cardell-Williams was going well until he decided it was time for Mick Storey to have a go. Mick was well on the pace for about 2 metres, but after that he struggled to keep up with a car that refused to restart. After the stops it was Wallace out in front ahead of Ainslie after some slick pit work. Andy Smith and Francis Rottenburg battled hard for 3rd, but on the last lap it was three into one at the first corner as Ainslie tried to lap both of them. Lack of gears meant Ainslie decided not to accelerate very hard, meaning Smith had to take avoiding action, and Francis got a well-deserved trophy.
The final sprint race of the weekend saw Ainslie on pole ahead of a very rapid Rottenburg. Bousfield comfortably pulled away, but by half distance a bent valve meant he had to crawl round to grab an eventual 3rd, just ahead of Dodgson, who had been taking some interesting lines through the chicane, mostly involving grass and mud and not much tarmac. So it was the liquorice allsort car that took its 3rd win ahead of Davis, Rottenburg retiring with another bent valve. Richard Hollis finished last, having started the weekend with a car that had more lean than the Tower of Pisa, progressed through to it being genuinely scary to watch going round corners on three wheels, and then reverted back to leaning to avoid being sued for causing heart attacks. Still, at least he got to race, unlike Mick, though he did get to try out Rocket Dog's race seat prior to the 24hrs.
Result, for race 9, Sunday, 30th May 2004 from Andy Smith
Pos...No....Name....................Time............Laps..Gap......MPH....Best
1...... 69 .....Pearson/Wallace....1:00:21.982..66.................52.26..53.243
2...... 4 ......Cowling/Bousfield...1:00:39.972..66....17.990...52.00..53.562
3...... 22 .....Rottenberg............1:00:37.072..65....1 LAP.....51.25..53.978
4...... 46 .....Panas/Smith..........1:00:41.967..65....1 LAP.....51.18..54.047
5...... 27 .....Taylor/Dodgson.....1:00:57.718..65....1 LAP.....50.96..54.351
6...... 77 .....Davies...................1:00:59.918..65....1 LAP.....50.93..54.166
7...... 97 .....Harrold..................1:00:25.359..64....2 LAPS...50.63..54.593
8...... 72 .....Hollis/Hollis............1:01:13.454..64....2 LAPS....49.96..55.140
9...... 58 .....Riley......................1:00:52.976..62....4 LAPS....48.68..56.015
10.... 26 .....Brocklebank..........1:01:16.726..62....4 LAPS....48.36..55.965
........ 7 .......Williams/Storey.....DNF
Results summary
NON-CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT - SILVERSTONE (Stowe) 29/05/0430/05/04
Qualifying (Race 1)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
4 |
Wayne COWLING |
54.582 |
|
2 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
55.541 |
+ 0.959 |
3 |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
56.351 |
+ 1.769 |
4 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
56.614 |
+ 2.032 |
5 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
56.823 |
+ 2.241 |
6 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
57.100 |
+ 2.518 |
7 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
57.742 |
+ 3.160 |
8 |
77 |
Adam REEVES |
58.799 |
+ 4.217 |
Race 1 Result (15 mins)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Laps |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
17 |
15:46.680 |
|
2 |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
17 |
15:47.391 |
+ 0.711 |
3 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
17 |
15:57.377 |
+ 10.697 |
4 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
17 |
16:01.150 |
+ 14.470 |
5 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
17 |
16:03.541 |
+ 16.861 |
6 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
17 |
16:19.982 |
+ 33.302 |
7 |
77 |
Adam REEVES |
17 |
16:20.730 |
+ 34.050 |
Fastest laps (Race 1)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
54.599 |
|
2 |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
54.610 |
+ 0.011 |
3 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
54.630 |
+ 0.031 |
4 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.721 |
+ 0.122 |
5 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
54.796 |
+ 0.197 |
6 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
55.306 |
+ 0.707 |
7 |
77 |
Adam REEVES |
55.365 |
+ 0.766 |
8 |
4 |
Wayne COWLING |
no time |
- |
Qualifying (Race 2 Session 1)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
PEARSON/WALLACE |
53.720 |
|
2 |
4 |
COWLING/BOUSFIELD |
54.135 |
+ 0.415 |
3 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
54.239 |
+ 0.519 |
4 |
27 |
DODGSON/TAYLOR |
54.384 |
+ 0.664 |
5 |
46 |
SMITH/PANAS |
54.717 |
+ 0.997 |
6 |
72 |
HOLLIS/HOLLIS |
54.759 |
+ 1.039 |
7 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.994 |
+ 1.274 |
8 |
7 |
C-WILLIAMS/STOREY |
55.216 |
+ 1.496 |
9 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
55.459 |
+ 1.739 |
10 |
26 |
Aubrey BROCKLEBANK |
56.579 |
+ 2.859 |
11 |
58 |
Matt RILEY |
57.527 |
+ 3.807 |
Qualifying (Race 2 Session 2)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
46 |
SMITH/PANAS |
53.700 |
|
2 |
4 |
COWLING/BOUSFIELD |
54.236 |
+ 0.536 |
3 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
54.455 |
+ 0.755 |
4 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.635 |
+ 0.935 |
5 |
69 |
PEARSON/WALLACE |
54.721 |
+ 1.021 |
6 |
7 |
C-WILLIAMS/STOREY |
54.824 |
+ 1.124 |
7 |
27 |
DODGSON/TAYLOR |
55.027 |
+ 1.327 |
8 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
55.187 |
+ 1.487 |
9 |
72 |
HOLLIS/HOLLIS |
55.473 |
+ 1.773 |
10 |
26 |
Aubrey BROCKLEBANK |
56.086 |
+ 2.386 |
11 |
58 |
Matt RILEY |
56.963 |
+ 3.263 |
Combined Qualifying (Race 2 Sessions 1 + 2)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
46 |
SMITH/PANAS |
53.700 |
|
2 |
69 |
PEARSON/WALLACE |
53.720 |
+ 0.020 |
3 |
4 |
COWLING/BOUSFIELD |
54.135 |
+ 0.435 |
4 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
54.239 |
+ 0.539 |
5 |
27 |
DODGSON/TAYLOR |
54.384 |
+ 0.684 |
6 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.635 |
+ 0.935 |
7 |
72 |
HOLLIS/HOLLIS |
54.759 |
+ 1.059 |
8 |
7 |
C-WILLIAMS/STOREY |
54.824 |
+ 1.124 |
9 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
55.187 |
+ 1.487 |
10 |
26 |
Aubrey BROCKLEBANK |
56.086 |
+ 2.386 |
11 |
58 |
Matt RILEY |
56.963 |
+ 3.263 |
Race 2 Result (1hr enduro)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Laps |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
PEARSON/WALLACE |
66 |
1:00:21.982 |
|
2 |
4 |
COWLING/BOUSFIELD |
66 |
1:00:39.972 |
+ 17.990 |
3 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
65 |
1:00:37.072 |
+ 1 Lap |
4 |
46 |
SMITH/PANAS |
65 |
1:00:41.967 |
+ 1 Lap |
5 |
27 |
TAYLOR/DODGSON |
65 |
1:00:57.718 |
+ 1 Lap |
6 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
65 |
1:00:59.918 |
+ 1 Lap |
7 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
64 |
1:00:25.359 |
+ 2 Laps |
8 |
72 |
HOLLIS/HOLLIS |
64 |
1:01:13.454 |
+ 2 Laps |
9 |
58 |
Matt RILEY |
62 |
1:00:52.976 |
+ 4 Laps |
10 |
26 |
Aubrey BROCKLEBANK |
62 |
1:01:16.726 |
+ 4 Laps |
DNF |
7 |
C-WILLIAMS/STOREY |
22 |
|
Fastest laps (Race 2)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
PEARSON/WALLACE |
53.243 |
|
2 |
4 |
COWLING/BOUSFIELD |
53.562 |
+ 0.319 |
3 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
53.978 |
+ 0.735 |
4 |
46 |
SMITH/PANAS |
54.047 |
+ 0.804 |
5 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
54.166 |
+ 0.923 |
6 |
27 |
TAYLOR/DODGSON |
54.351 |
+ 1.108 |
7 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
54.593 |
+ 1.350 |
8 |
7 |
C-WILLIAMS/STOREY |
54.628 |
+ 1.385 |
9 |
72 |
HOLLIS/HOLLIS |
55.140 |
+ 1.897 |
10 |
26 |
Aubrey BROCKLEBANK |
55.965 |
+ 2.722 |
11 |
58 |
Matt RILEY |
56.015 |
+ 2.772 |
Qualifying (Race 3)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
4 |
Ainslie BOUSFIELD |
54.112 |
|
2 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.265 |
+ 0.153 |
3 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
54.536 |
+ 0.424 |
4 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
55.056 |
+ 0.944 |
5 |
46 |
Andrew SMITH |
55.068 |
+ 0.956 |
6 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
55.196 |
+ 1.084 |
7 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
55.215 |
+ 1.103 |
8 |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
55.232 |
+ 1.120 |
9 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
55.650 |
+ 1.538 |
Race 3 Result (15 mins)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Laps |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
17 |
15:32.702 |
|
2 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
17 |
15:33.445 |
+ 0.743 |
3 |
4 |
Ainslie BOUSFIELD |
17 |
15:49.470 |
+ 16.768 |
4 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
17 |
15:53.848 |
+ 21.146 |
5 |
46 |
Andrew SMITH |
17 |
15:54.070 |
+ 21.368 |
6 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
17 |
15:58.296 |
+ 25.594 |
7 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
17 |
16:19.208 |
+ 46.506 |
DNF |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
12 |
|
DNS |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
- |
|
Fastest laps (Race 3)
Pos |
No. |
Name |
Time |
Deficit |
1 |
69 |
Simon PEARSON |
53.757 |
|
2 |
77 |
Jon DAVIS |
53.887 |
+ 0.130 |
3 |
4 |
Ainslie BOUSFIELD |
53.990 |
+ 0.233 |
4 |
46 |
Andrew SMITH |
54.273 |
+ 0.516 |
5 |
22 |
Francis ROTTENBURG |
54.650 |
+ 0.893 |
6 |
27 |
Tim DODGSON |
54.766 |
+ 1.009 |
7 |
97 |
Martin HARROLD |
54.834 |
+ 1.077 |
8 |
72 |
Richard HOLLIS |
55.900 |
+ 2.143 |
9 |
7 |
Pete CARDELL-WILLIAMS |
no time |
- |
