Change of surface gives car club members a testing time (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Change of surface gives car club members a testing time

THERE was a change of surface to grass for the third round of Cirencester Car Club's annual summer series.

Last Sunday, an impressive 15 crews turned up, including two new Japanese members working for Honda in Swindon who had not previously competed in motorsport.

Competitors had to complete four tests, each run twice with the best score from each counting towards the final result.

The weather was perfect for crews to enjoy a competitive but safe and social day to test their driving skills to the full with many having to learn new skills to drive on such a slippery surface at this superb venue.

Using his RS 2000, club chairman Martin Saunders opened up the lead on the first test from Swindon's Jerry Mead in his Subaru Impreza with Richard Clayton following up in third place in his 850cc Mini. But Naaio Ajiro spoilt a clean sweep of tests for Saunders by taking the best score on test three in his Honda.

Even so, clean, consistent driving saw Saunders taking his second win in three events in the absence of round two winner Ben Jefferis.

Jerry Mead took second, four points behind and one ahead of an incredible driving display on his first-ever motorsport competition by Noaio Ajiro, with Richard Clayton getting fourth place and first Mini.

In a rare competitive outing, club stalwart Ivan Goodfield entered in his MG Midget with his son James in a Mini Cooper. But it was James who came out on top at the end of the day.

After three rounds, the championship shows a breakaway at the top with current leader Martin Saunders followed by Ben Jefferis in second and John Peirce moving up to third.

Pam Moore leads the ladies' class from Vicki Mead. The next round in the series will take place on Sunday, July 11.

Summer series round 3 results: 1 Martin Saunders (RS) 115.30, 2 Jerry Mead (Subaru) 119.40, 3 Noaio Ajiro (Honda) 120.40, 4 Richard Clayton (Mini) 121.40, 5 John Pierce (Subaru) 122.50, 6 James Goodfield (Mini) 123.80, 7 John Smith (Pug 205) 127.50, 8 John Shuker (BMW) 127.70, 9 Pam Moore (Mini) 127.80, 10 Jonathon Smith (Pug 205) 128.80, 11 Sean Forde (Pug 106) 129.60, 12 Yosi Hasegawa (Honda) 129.80, 13 Pete Shepherd (Mitsi) 130.80, 14 Ivan Goodfield (Midget) 134.90, 15 Vicky Mead (Subaru) 137.50.

Championship standings: 1 Martin Saunders (RS2000) 42, 2 Ben Jefferis (Nova) 25, 3 John Pierce (Subaru) 24, 4 Jeremey Wells (Healey) 22, 5 Rich Bean Clayton (Mini) 14, 6 Pam Moore (Mini) 13, 7 Jerry Mead (Subaru) 12, 8 John Smith (205) 11, 9 Noaio Ajiro (Honda) 10, Joint 10 Richard Jenkins (Fiat), Andy Isherwood (Mini) and Jonathon Smith (205) 9, Joint 13 Rodney Manners (Mini) and John Shuker (Scirocco) 8, 15 James Goodfield (Mini) 7, 16 Rob Boltman (Elise) 6, Joint 17 James Alderwick (R5) and Pete Shepherd (Lancer) 5, 19 Chris Roberts (205) 4, 20 Courtney Gelling (205) 3, Joint 21 Craig Killpack (205) and Sean Forde (106) 2, Joint 23 Vicki Mead (Escort), Yosi Hasegawa (Honda) and Ivan Goodfield (Midget) 1.

For more information on Cirencester Car Club, please contact Martin Saunders on 07798 58471.