Snetterton - Saturday 7th October

For full results look on www.msttiming.com - click on CSCC (Classic Sports Car Club) and then the date.

Steve Watton and Roger Connell both finished the season with excellent performances in their tvr’s at Snetterton last weekend, in the final round of the ‘Henry Recruitment’ Thoroughbred Sportscars Championship.

Qualifying was a busy affair when the organising club, with one eye on getting all the events in, on what was a very busy day decided to combine the qualifying session with the Sports & Saloon Challenge.  This meant 42 cars trundled out for qualifying and inevitably space was at a premium.  Steve came in after 7 laps having had one clear run but Roger stayed out until the end.

This resulted in Roy McCarthy once again taking pole in his V8 MGB, Steve was next in his Griff.  The second row comprised Roy’s son Russell in his MGB alongside Harry Wyndham in his FiA E-Type, Roger was 5th fastest heading the third row next to the E-Type of Nick McCaffrey.  A further 14 cars completed the grid, all a typical mix of 1960’s sportscars ranging from MGA’s and TR6’s to an Elva Courier and a Kougar Jaguar.

The other Griffith present on the day of Michael Smith is shown top of the combined practice times with a 1.12.  Unfortunately for Michael this was a spurious time, which was not really any good to anyone.  He worked hard in the sports and saloon challenge race however finishing in 8th place, with a fastest lap of 1.34.15.

Steve knew he would have to up his game to do well in the race, but his crew of Rick Ireland and Paul Welsh had some good tyre data from the morning and some adjustments were made, along with a new set of brake pads for the race.  Roger also knew he would have a fight on his hands but as usual he was ready for the challenge.

At the start Steve made his now customary getaway, and, well that was that really.  He absolutely blitzed the field lapping everyone with the exception of Roy in the V8MGB.  In so doing setting the fastest lap of all the cars competing on the day (1.17.78), including some pretty quick modern Ferrari’s, Honda’s etc., so a great advert for tvr.
Roger mean time had a great race, after moving into third behind Roy he was embroiled in a great 4 car tussle throughout the race.  It didn’t matter what they threw at him Roger was up to the job, the four cars being covered by just two seconds at the finish, but Roger still very much in third spot.

In interview after Steve said he knew he had to be ‘on it’ from the start as he usually starts better than Roy, but he knows the MG driver will usually come on strong later in the race, today however it was not the case and he held a comfortable 27 second cushion at the finish.  Roger said how much he had enjoyed the battle but it was hard work and a very nice way to finish the season off.

That is all from the Thoroughbred’s for this year but they will be back for more action next season.