Swift beats the Expert

Date: 22nd April 2007

Round 3 - Bolton-le-Moors CC, Bolton, 22nd April

posted by petercox on 05/14/07

Paul Swift maintained his unbeaten start to the season in the BTRDA and MSA Championships with a commanding win. Paul returned from a successful visit to Northern Ireland the previous day accompanied by Ken Irwin and Robin Lyons. These three were to battle for overall honours with Alastair Moffatt. Ken was making a rare appearance in England and showed that he still has the skill to challenge for overall honours with an excellent second place.

Robin Lyons shared Ken's Mini Special and took fourth behind Alastair. The wet slippery conditions favoured the four front wheel drive Mini Specials. The challenging and sometimes confusing tests caught out the best, including Simon Echlin who was having difficulty with little grip in his Westfield. Clerk of the Course, Pete Sharples, had laid on three tests on the Motorway Service area. The tests were long and complex which caused several wrong tests. The slippery conditions were an added challenge with many sliding across lines or collecting cones.

Once again Gavin Dickson in the Nova was the highest placed saloon in sixth place. It was a day to reward smooth penalty free driving, however the remaining top ten drivers amassed eighteen penalties and two wrong tests between them. Despite this Henry Moorhouse had one of his best results in his mini engined special which has rear wheel drive.

Richard Pinkney survived a blown water hose on his Caterham and was able to continue when a fellow driver produced a replacement. Mike Biss took the small sports car class in his 1.4 Striker. He is getting to grips with his new mount. Paul Fobister and Stephen Gray entered the ex Steve Morten Striker which Paul bought at Foxley. Steve hopes to complete his new Striker soon and return to the championship in the large sports car class. Ian Chapman is also building a new Striker.

Duncan Wild

Results

1 Paul Swift (Mini Special) 985.3; 2 Ken Irwin (Mini Special) 1011.7; 3 Alastair Moffatt (Mini Special) 1033.5; 4 Robin Lyons (Mini Special) 1063.5; 5 Simon Echlin (Westfield) 1161.2; 6 Gavin Dickson (Nova) 1166.7; 7 Henry Moorhouse (Mini Special) 1190.1; 8 Duncan Wild (ABS Freestyle) 1196.7; 9 Ian Chapman (Westfield) 1212.9; 10 Richard Pinkney (Caterham) 1224.7.

Class Winners: Dave Goodlad (Mini) 1337.0; Howard Everingham (Mini) 1281.0; Dickson; Mike Biss (Striker) 1294.7; Echlin; Swift.