2000 HPI Challenge UK

26 March 2000

Round One - Ashby

Round 1 of the HPI Challenge UK 2000

Thanks to Greg Hill and Alex Fernihough for the report!

Driving to the Ashby Model Car club at 7.45am thinking to myself “I’ve got loads of time, I’m early…”  Errr…no it turns out I’m not early…in fact I’m only just in time for Heat 1.  Any guesses for working out who forgot about the clocks going forward an hour?

Anyway, on with the day.

With 112 drivers booked into the first round, we were sure to have a hectic day.  New rules, a new class for the awesome looking Super Nitro’s and all the questions related to rules, rules, rules to face all day.  All this and I turned up 15 minutes before Heat 1 starts!!!!

The old crew including Greg Hill (series Co-Ordinator), Jamie Booth (Chief Scrutineer for the day), Syd Evans (Chief Motor Man), Peter Emery (of Radio Race Car Editor Fame) and Alan Fernhiough (Race Reporter) returned to run the meetings for another year. 

Interestingly, the HPI Challenge is entering its second year, following the launch at the same track at the same time last year.  The main difference this time was the weather.  Unlike last year when the first round of the HPI Challenge was almost called off due to torentail rain, this year we could have been wearing T-shirts if you were brave (or is that stupid?)

Drivers briefing kicked off at around 9.30, a little late, but quickly followed by the Concourse competition which was won by regular HPI competitor, John “Boy” Withingtion, with a beautifully painted Alfa Romeo. 

The new race format which HPI will use includes 3 qualifying rounds followed by 2 Leg Finals for everyone.  Qualifying got underway at 9.50am.

Entries per Class

Finals

RS4 MINI

Keith Jenkins led from start to finish with the RRC ‘guest’ car of Mark Jackson just two seconds down at the end of the race. Kevin Davis was consistent but just slightly off the pace to record  a third.

RS4 SPORT B FINAL

Barry Champion and Steven Wheeler fought out this final and were separated by just two seconds. Darren Griffiths came in ten seconds adrift with the others over a lap down.

Philip Brown and Graham Godwin were the best of the rest wit Samantha Groves also finding teh competition tougher than last year.

RS4 SPORT A FINAL

Ricky Copsey who had managed to get in the event as a reserve showed the regulars that he is a force to be reckoned with in 2000 after posting a 16 lapper to take the win from Alan Harrington and Terry Atkinson in the A Final. Adam Read managed 4^th place from the eighth row of the grid whilst an early collision by Dominic carter saw him drop to ninth.

RS4 PRO F FINAL

Stephen Wheeler ran away with this one finishing a lap ahead of Brendan Turton who finished a lap ahead of Graham Silcock. Young Kristy Rosenberg finished a creditable 6^th and Bobby Towers luck deserted him again as his car didn't make the first lap.

RS4 PRO E FINAL

The top three places were filled with new drivers with Dave Thomas taking the win over Philip Rogers after Peter Emery had the race sewn up until his cells went at 4 minutes ( I am told that it MUST be his speed controller as he has changed virtually everything else!). Matthew Dagnall finished an impressive third from the back row of the grid.

RS4 PRO D FINAL

Luke Hawkins and Barry Norris swapped places throughout the race and finished just a second apart with Luke getting the decision. Chris Hughes managed third almost a lap ahead of Paul Barnes who had started in 7^th spot.

RS4 PRO C FINAL

Young James hart took a deserved win over William Thompson with Tony Blackburn and pat Piesley both coming from the back of the grid to challenge for the honours.

RS4 PRO B FINAL

Despite missing out on the A Final by a fraction of a second, local driver, Martin Page led from start to finish to beat the other local driver ‘Superstar’ Syd Evans by 6 seconds. Jimmy Maddison finished third after a race long duel with Syd which saw them coming together on more than one occasion. A remarkable fact in this race is that all ten drivers finished in the order they started!

RS4 PRO A FINAL

The race finished as it had started with polesitter, Robin Hammett taking the win from Greg Hill and Darren Styles. Peter Sargeant was a creditable fourth just a few seconds behind. Peter thought that he may be outclassed in this formula but has proved that his driving skills could spring a few surprises before the end of the season especially when the show moves onto his home track of Southend.

SUPER RS4 NITRO

A great start by Alex Fernihough saw him lead the field for the first few laps until his gears stripped and the race was handed to Jon Dobney who finished well ahead of Nick Bruty and Nigel Moss. Nick would have been credited with second if only he had remembered to put in a transponder.

NITRO RS4 SPORT

Andy Kowlton continued to battle with Matthew Colwill to take the win after an early challenge from Lee Groves who retired on lap 5. John Davis was then promoted to third even though he too didn’t finish.

NITRO RS4 RACER

Although this looked an easy win for Jon Dobney he was pushed by Marc Knight who looks to be his main rival this year. Pat Piesley cruised to third whilst three drivers didn’t even make the start.

(2^nd LEG)

The sun was still shining as the first final got underway and most drivers realised that they had to race all over again and most knew what they had to do to pick up the maximum points.

RS4 MINI

Keith Jenkins made sure of maximum points as he led from start to finish with Mark Jackson in the RRC guest car coming in second. Kevin Davis drove a steady race to complete a duo of thirds.

RS4 SPORT B FINAL

The expected challenge from Stephen Wheeler didn¹t materialise so Barry Champion had the race to himself despite an improved effort from Darren Griffiths who finished 2^nd and so clinch 2^nd overall.

RS4 SPORT A FINAL

Ricky Copsey was the favourite to take this win but Alan harrington had other ideas.  As Ricky¹s challenge faded it was up to the Skegness driver, Adam Read to take up the pursuit. Alan held on to win by just half a second on the line.

RS4 PRO F FINAL

Brendan Turton improved on his 2^nd place from the first final to take the overall win whilst Stephen Wheeler¹s fourth place was good enough to earn him the runner-up spot.

RS4 PRO E FINAL

Even a win by Kit Jones was not enough to put him in the points following his disastrous first final. It was dave Thomas¹s third place which was enough to give him the overall win.

RS4 PRO D FINAL

Barry Norris and Luke Hawkins continued there battle in the second leg with Barry getting the decision with a faster time. Chris Hughes¹ third place in both finals gave hin the trophy for third overall.

RS4 PRO C FINAL

James Hart was hoping to make it a double but accidents on the opening laps saw him drop down to 6^th place and so hand the overall winners spot to William Thompson.

RS4 PRO B FINAL

A retirement from Syd Evans on lap 7 meant that Martin Page could cruise to his second win and give Jimmy Maddisson the chance to take 2^nd overall.

RS4 PRO A FINAL

Darren Styles overturned his third place from the first final to take the win over Greg Hill whose 2^nd place was still not good enough to give him the runner-up spot as Robin Hammett fought off Kevin Brunston to take third.  Peter Sargeant was fourth after a close battle with an improving Kit Smith.

SUPER NITRO RS4

Again these impressive cars took to the grid and again it was Alex who had the better start, overtaking Jon Dobney into the first corner. However the Ashby curse struck again and a stripped gear meant an early retirement leaving Jon to bag his second win.

NITRO RS4 SPORT

Andrew Knowlton¹s challenge failed and this allowed Matthew Colwill to take the overall win. John davis finished on the same lap and was ell ahead of the rest of the pack which contained David Kapp and Chesterfield driver, Peter Stefanski.

NITRO RS4 RACER

Jon Dobney had an easy win in this final and was cruising after his fuel stop. Marc Knight was the only real challenger with Pat Piesley a further two laps down.

The vouchers were handed out to the winner and the free raffle meant that some lucky driver went home with an RS4 Rally kit. The whole day had been a complete success and it was good to see so many new faces as well as some old friends from last year. It seems that the HPI series is well and truly here to stay giving everyone regardless of their skill level a chance to compete. Who knows, yours truly may have even taken to the track by the time you read this report. Thanks must go to the Ashby crew for their excellent organisation not forgetting the unseen heroes in the canteen who provided the refreshments throughout the day. I am looking forward to the next round and a new challenge!

POINTS AFTER RD 1 (ASHBY)

MINI

100 KEITH JENKINS

99   MARK JACKSON

98   KEVIN DAVIS

97   PAUL MORRISSEY

96   KEITH BROOKS

SPORT

100 ALAN HARRINGTON

99   RICKY COPSEY

98   ADAM READ

97   TERRY ATKINSON

96   DEAN OSBOURNE

95   CHRIS KAPP

94   THOMAS BROOKS

93   DOMINIC CARTER

92   MATT TRUELOVE

91   PETE PARTRIDGE

90   BARRY CHAMPION

89   DARREN GRIFFITHS

88   PHILIP BROWN

87   ROY RODGERS

86   STEPHEN WHEELER

85   GRAHAM GODWIN

84   SAMANTHA GROVES

83   RACHEL BAXTER

82   ANDREW BOWKET

81   SHAWN HENSBY

PRO

100 DARREN STYLES

99 ROBIN HAMMETT

98 GREG HILL

97 KEVIN BRUNSDEN

96 PETER SARGEANT

95 KIT SMITH

94 FRASER LOW

93 KRIS RITCHIE

92 DEAN OSBOURNE

91 FRED SINGLETON

90 MARTIN PAGE

89 JIMMY MADDISSON

88 MARK COX

87 PAUL OSCROFT

86 SYD EVANS

85 MARTYN ROSE

84 JON WITHINGTON

83 DOMINIC CARTER

82 CRAIG WILLIAMS

81 PAUL TRUELOVE

80 WILLIAM THOMPSON

79 TONY BLACKBURN

78 JAMES HART

77 PAT PIESLEY

76 IAN THOMPSON

75 DAVID LIPPIATT

74 STUART CRATES

73 DAVID HALL

72 DAVE DEWSON

71 LES MAINWARING

70 BARRY NORRIS

69 LUKE HAWKINS

68 CHRIS HUGHES

67 PAUL BARNES

66 CRAIG RUSSELL

65 MIKE ROLLINSON

64 BILL THOMPSON

63 BARRY YEEND

62 ANDY LLOYD

61 ALEX WYATT

60 DAVE THOMAS

59 MATTHEW DAGNALL

58 KIT JONES

57 IAN PULLMAN

56 MIKE GODWIN

55 PHILIP ROGERS

54 GAVIN DAVIS

53 PETER EMERY

52 CHRIS GAMBLE

51 KEVIN JANES

50 BRENDAN TURTON

49 STEPHEN WHEELER

48 ADRIAN HENSBY

47 GRAHAN SILCOCK

46 PAUL BENTLEY

45 NATHAN LOCKLEY

44 PAUL ROSENBERG

43 KRISTY ROSENBERG

42 JAMES FLACZYNSKI

41 BOBBY TOWERS

SUPER NITRO RS4

100 JON DOBNEY

99 NIGEL MOSS

98 ALEX FERNIHOUGH

97 NICK BRUTY

NITRO RS4 SPORT

100 MATTHEW COLWILL

99 ANDY KNOWLTON

98 JOHN DAVIS

97 DAVID KAPP

96 PETER STEFANSKI

95 DAVID BLOY

94 MATT FISHER

93 STEVE SOUTHAM

92 LEE GROVES

91 NICK BLOY

NITRO RS4 RACER

100 JON DOBNEY

99 MARC KNIGHT

98 PAT PIESLEY

97 CHRIS TUCKER

96 CHRIS LOMAS

95 BOB HARLEY

94 STEVEN BRUNSDEN

93 ADAM READ