2000 HPI Challenge UK

9 April 2000

Round Two - Aldershot

“Testing, testing 1, 2, 3…is this working?” short pause from Nick Adams (Race Director)… “Good Morning everybody, and welcome to Aldershot model car club for round 2 of the HPI Challenge 2000”

It’s just gone 9am, it’s round 2 of the HPI Challenge, we’re down at Aldershot Model Car Club and it’s wet… Now if you know the Aldershot track then you’ll appreciate how slippy this track can be when it’s wet. The probel lies with the trees that overhang the track. When it rains it seems to drip greasy sap from the leaves and the trees, but whatever it is, it’s SLIPPY.

I’m not joking but I attempted to accelerated my Pro 2 down the straight and it literally didn’t move. The more power I tried to put down the worse it got. I even span straight of the track without moving forward – No way!!!

Fortunately the track dried half way through round 1 and the rest of the day wasn’t effected.

Anyway, after worrying about that, I decided to concentrate on my job, and that’s to organise running this meeting, so on with the show….

I was concsious of the time we all finished at Round 1 at Ashby. So I insisted on starting the meeting on the dot today, and that’s exactly what I did.

Drivers Briefing prompt at - 9.15am and Heat 1 on the line, on the dot at 9.30am and we were away and eventually finished at just gone 6pm – a result!

The concourse was won (again I think!!!) by Stephen Wheeler with a different body this time, a realistic ‘muddy’ body which was spray painted in mud colour with window wiper marks…it’s really awesome. Actually it was first shown at the British National Rally Championship finals at the IMS. It should have won the Concourse then so well done Steve.

Qualifying – Round 1

Three minis took to the track with Kevin Davis resuming where he left off at Ashby to head the trio.The Sport class was headed by young Dominic Carter by 3 seconds over Ricky Copsey and Alan Harrington. In the Pro Class the absence of Robin Hammett meant that the field was wide open for Darren Styles to dominate, but things didn’t all go Darren’s way as Local driver Kevin Brunsden and Kris Ritchie were also in contention for the FTD spot. HPI driver, Greg Hill could only manage 1 lap and immediately found himself alone in the F Final a position which was sure to change in the following rounds. Also showing well was Peter Sargeant and Dominic Carter, who found themselves in the top ten along with Stuart Crates and Jon Withington all on 16 laps.

Andy Knowlton headed the Nitro Sport Class despite not completing his 5 minutes. Lee Groves was the best of the rest with the two Davids, Kapp and Bloy taking third and fourth spots with only three cars completing the full five minutes.

Because only two Super Nitro cars had booked in they were put with the Nitro Racers to make up a full qualifying heat. Marc Knight’s racer took the win with 17 laps from Alex Fernihough’s black Toyota Super Nitro in second place. Nigel Moss’s problems continued with his Super Nitro lacking power which meant an engine change during the interval.

Qualifying - Round 2

Paul Morrissey joined the fray in the minis but could only manage 7 laps as Keith Brooks took the win. Mark Jackson improved a great deal to take the win in the Sport class from Dean Osbourne and Adam Read. It was all change in the Pro class as Kris Ritchie took FTD with an 18 lapper just 1 second ahead of Kevin Brunsden. Greg Hill recovered from his round one dissapointment to take third. Andy Knowlton was demoted to 5^th in the Nitro Sport class as John Davis took the win from Matt Colwill and David Bloy again with just three cars completing the five minutes. An improvement in the racer class for Marc Knight as he went on to 18 laps from Class leader in the Super Nitro’s, Alex Fernihough in 2^nd place and Pat Piesley in third.

Qualifying - Round 3

Michael Creasey left it to the last minute to take pole in the mini class, whilst Alan Harrington took FTD in the Sport class from an improved Stuart Stanley. Jon Emery managed to sneak into the A Final leaving Steven Wheeler to head the B Final from Matt and Paul Truelove. A last gasp effort from Kevin Brunsden saw him take pole position from Darren Styles from Kris Ritchie in third place setting up a terrific battle in the A Finals. Matt Colwill took the pole in the Nitro Sports from David Bloy and John Davis. Marc Knight held onto pole in the racer class with Alex Fernihough the better of the Super Nitro’s.

FINAL 1

Kevin Davis took the first final win of the day with his mini from Keth Brooks whilst in the Sport class Matt Truelove headed the field in the B Final and keeping it in the family Paul came in second. Stuart Stanley took the win in the A Final from Alan harrington and Ricky Copsey. Chris Gamble won the F Final and headed the four cars home from Darren Griffiths. The E Final was headed by Barry Yeend and Philip Rogers and 8 year old Kristy Rosenberg. Paul Truelove swapped his sport to take the D Final from Dave Thomas and Ian Pullman. James Hart’s silver Alfa took the C Final from local driver Les Mainwaring and David Hall. Paul Oscroft’s third place on the grid in the B Final was converted into a win as the field collided on the first corner. Jon Withington hung on to 2^nd place from Craig Williams in third. Darren Styles was back in winning ways as mistakes from Kevin Brunsden dropped him down to third leaving Billericay driver, Peter Sargeant to take an excellent 2^nd place.

The Nitro Sports had a ten minute final to look forward to and Matt Colwill made no mistakes on his way to the win from David Bloy and Andy Knowlton. A starter box delay of over a minute meant that Alex Fernihough started three laps down but managed to lap the whole field 3 times apart from Marc Knight and pip Nigel Moss on the last corner to take the win in the Super Nitros. Adam Read took 2^nd in the racers from Nick Bloy.

FINAL 2

Michael Creasey overturned his third place from the first final to win in the Mini’s from Kevin Davis to give Kevin the overall win. A repeat of the first final saw Matt Truelove again take the win in the Sport B Final. Alan Harrington took the win in the A Final to seal the overall from Ricky Copsey.

Chris gamble’s second win of the day meant he won the F Final with ease. A double for Barry Yeend over Phil Rodgers saw him take the E Final. To make up for his dissapointing 8^th place in the first final, Martyn Rose took the D Final despite a few ‘offs’. He couldn’t however prevent Paul Truelove taking the overall win.

James hart’s 5^th place was good enough to give him the overall win in the C Final after Les Mainwaring could only manage 9^th. Martin Kowalski took the win which gave him third overall.

Third place was good enough to give Jon Withington the points after Paul Oscroft finished in 8^th spot giving 2^nd overall to Mark Cox after his fine win.

Darren Styles better time from the first final was enough to give him overall victory in the A Final despite third place behind Kevin Brunsden and Kris Ritchie.

Matt Colwill made it a double in the Nitro Sports with David Bloy’s third place giving him 2^nd overall. More bad luck for Alex as his drive shaft broke in the Super Nitro/Nitro Racer Final. Nigel Moss took the overall win with his new engine by just four seconds over Alex who had to watch Nigel reel off the laps. Marc Knights 5^th place was good enough to give him overall in the racers from Nick Bloy and Stephen Brunsden.

So as the finals were completed at 5pm, seven and a half hours of racing came to an end for the day. The vouchers were awarded to the lucky winners and everyone went home looking forward to the next round at Tibshelf. A big thanks must go to Chris Fife-Schaw and Nick Adams who did a sterling job as Race Directors throughout the day. Also thanks to the caterers who kept the drivers supplied with refreshments and to Kevs Racing Bits for supplying those bits and pieces that some drivers needed to replace throughout the day.

It is with a hint of sadness that I write this report because after the meeting Alex Fernihough, who had been racing for the last ten years decided to hang up his transmitter and call it a day. Alex started racing with a Tamiya Quick Drive and since then has competed in nearly every class of racing. The highlight of his career came at Ashby last year when he won the European championship in the HPI Challenge and went on to race in Los Angeles. Together we have had hundreds of race days together all over the country and abroad and I for one will miss the many friends that we have made at the circuits. We would like to wish everyone the best of luck in the HPI series and thank everyone who has helped us over the years.