MG Car Club
Race Reports 2024
Silverstone National September 29th
The Cockshoot Cup Championship for 2024 concluded at a cold but dry Silverstone Circuit on September 29th. The races would be on the national circuit. Fifteen drivers took to the circuit for qualifying early on Sunday morning. After twenty minutes Ray Collier grabbed pole position with a lap well below his previous lap record. Second quickest was Keith Egar driving his MG Midget. Right behind on the second row would be Dave Morrison’s MG Midget and Peter Bramble’s MGB. Quickest Class A runner was Leon Wignall ahead of Mark Bellamy both in MG ZR170s. Carl Chadwick had repaired his MG Midget which was damaged at Anglesey and took pole in Class B ahead of the MGBs of Martin Richardson and Harry Wilkin. Quickest MGF runner was Phil Rigby. Phil’s MGF stopped during the session and was ruled out of the races by engine damage. It then became clear that Dave Morrison had a problem with the rear axle of his car and so would be a non-starter.
Race One
The first race started just before the lunch break. Keith Egar got a flying start which resulted in him leading from lights to flag taking the race win. Ray Collier had two spins in the early laps of the race but still held on to second place from Peter Bramble going well in the MGB. Mark Bellamy had a fright when Karl Green’s MGF Cup Car spun in front of him but both cars were able to continue with minor damage. As the race entered the final few laps Mark Bellamy caught Leon Wignall. Minor contact was made with the Class A lead changing hands several times. At the line Mark was just ahead and won the class from Leon with Helen Waddington finishing third. Carl Chadwick won Class B just holding off Martin Richardson’s MGB. There were no finishers in Class F. Mark Bellamy was awarded Driver of the Race.
Race Two
Several hours later the drivers formed up on the grid for race two. Rain was threatening but thanks to the race programme running early the twenty minutes was completed in the dry. This time, Ray Collier got a much better start and began to close on race leader Keith Egar. He then swept into the lead, and it soon became clear that Keith had a problem which turned out to be a deflating slick tyre. He continued to circulate but slipped down the order being passed by Peter Bramble who finished second. Third in the race and winning Class A was Mark Bellamy who overtook Leon Wignall early in the race. Carl Chadwick finished fifth in the race and was the clear victor in Class B from Martin Richardson. Karl Green in his MGF Cup Car took the third place in Class C. Andrew Walsh had repaired his MGF and so won Class F. Ray Collier won driver of the race.
The Tim Forwood Trophies for best aggregate performance were won by Ray Collier (Class C), Mark Bellamy (Class A), Carl Chadwick (Class B) and Andrew Walsh (Class F).
Oulton Park September 7th
Eighteen drivers signed on at Oulton Park for the fortieth anniversary Cockshoot Cup Championship race. The weather was set fair and the cars left the assembly area in mid-morning for a qualifying session. Competition amongst the fastest cars was incredibly close with Keith Egar’s MG Midget grabbing pole position by two thousands of a second from Chris Greenbank’s MGF. Just a bit slower and making up row two were Dave Morrison and Ray Collier in Midget and ZR190 respectively. Quickest Class A runner was Leon Wignall driving his pink ZR170 with Mark Bellamy right behind in a similar car. Sadly class F was reduced to a single runner, Phil Rigby after Gareth Jones was forced out with an engine problem.
Race One
After a celebration with cake at lunchtime the seventeen drivers lined up for the first race. The lights went out and Keith Egar leapt into the lead with the others close behind. Chris Greenbank was challenging, but a fractured suspension arm put him out of the race on lap two. There then followed a race long dice between Keith and Ray Collier with the two completely different cars swopping places on a regular basis. Keith was ahead as they entered the final lap ten and set a new lap record to stay ahead and win the race from Ray. This was the fastest ever Cockshoot Cup race lap around Oulton Park International circuit. Dave Morrison completed the podium with Peter Bramble bringing his MGB into fourth, these being all Class C drivers. Next finisher was Leon Wignall winning Class A with Mark Bellamy and Andrew Walsh taking second and third. Mark was awarded driver of the race for winning a scrap with David Coulthard’s MGF Cup Car, holding him at bay for the whole race. Phil Rigby and Harry Wilkin were the only finishers in Classes F and B. Karl Green had to retire his MGF Cup Car with overheating which wasn’t repairable for race two.
Race Two
There was a short interval before race two during which Team Greenbank removed the broken component from Chris’s car, welded it back together and reassembled the suspension. The starting positions for race two were the finishing positions from race one so Chris would have to start from the back of the grid. Keith again got a rocket start, but Ray got through into a lead which he would hold to the chequered flag over another uninterrupted ten laps. Meanwhile by lap two Chris had got through the whole field into second place with Dave Morrison in third and Keith relegated to fourth. As the race moved towards the end, Dave grabbed second place and began to close on Ray, but a rear axle problem forced a sad retirement with less than two laps left. So Chris finished second winning driver of the race for his off and on track efforts with Keith taking third and Pete Bramble fourth. Leon Wignall completed the double again winning Class A from Mark Bellamy who was much closer this time the two setting identical lap times. Andrew Walsh was third with Helen Waddington and Eliza Seville taking fourth and fifth in Class in both races these two also very closely matched. Strong drives from Phil Rigby and Harry Wilkin again secured Classes F and B.
The Vicky Peters Trophies for best aggregate performances were awarded to Ray Collier (Class C), Leon Wignall (Class A), Phil Rigby (Class F) and Harry Wilkin (Class B).
Anglesey August 4th and 5th
Qualifying
Thirteen drivers made the journey to Trac Mon to race on the Anglesey Coastal Circuit on August 4th and 5th. Qualifying took place in perfect conditions with a dry track and blue sea. Defending champion David Morrison driving his MG Midget clinched pole position and making it an all red Midget front row Keith Egar was second. Row two was made up by Peter Bramble’s MGB and Mark Bellamy who was the quickest Class A car in his MG ZR170. Fastest Class B driver was Carl Chadwick in his MG Midget and the sole Class F runner was Gareth Jones after Andrew Walsh swopped his entry from MGF to ZR170.
Race One
Race one on Saturday afternoon got off to a chaotic start when the red light went off more quickly than some drivers were expecting. Peter Bramble and Keith Egar were both delayed as the pack screamed round the banked hairpin for the first time. Sadly, Carl Chadwick left the circuit and contacted the barrier which brought out the safety car. Meanwhile, Keith Egar had deranged his gear selector mechanism and pulled off. The circuit staff quickly cleared the circuit and racing resumed with Dave Morrison going on to win the race from Peter Bramble and Leon Wignall driving the pink ZR170 finishing third and winning Class A. Mark Bellamy was next up taking second in Class A from a hard charging Karl Green. Karl is still learning about his newly rebuilt MGF Cup Car and moved through the field being awarded driver of the race for his efforts. Andrew Walsh finished third in Class A with Martin Richardson in his MGB and Gareth Jones in his MGF winning classes B and F.
Race Two
Sunday was colder and windier but still dry for race two. Helen Waddington had a new alternator fitted to her ZR 170 and would start from the back of the grid as would Keith Egar as the two Saturday non-finishers. Carl Chadwick could not repair his car and Lloyd Tredell who was having his first outing for many years in his MGF Cup Car had to miss out with a head gasket problem. This time everybody made a good start, but Keith’s problems returned leading to another early retirement. David Morrison started to drive away from the field leaving Peter Bramble and Leon Wignall in second and third. Karl Green was dicing with Mark Bellamy, the MGF and ZR170 being very close around the circuit. Helen Waddington made good progress from the back of the grid and caught Mike Ashcroft’s ZR190 eventually getting by. Mark began to close on Andrew Walsh for second in Class A but Andrew clipped the kerb, lost control and hit the barrier. The safety car was deployed which raised the prospect of a close race to the flag, but time ran out just as the recovery was completed with the chequered flag being shown with no changes to the race order. So Dave Morrison was declared the winner from Peter Bramble and Leon Wignall. Mark Bellamy was fourth followed by Karl Green, Gareth Jones, Helen Waddington, Mike Ashcroft and Martin Richardson. Helan was awarded driver of the race for her drive from the back of the grid.
Donington Park May 11th
Qualifying
After a very long winter break, twenty drivers signed on for the first round of the Cockshoot Cup Championship 2024. The race was run at a meeting organised by MSVR at the wonderful Donington Park Circuit. Fine weather which was to last all day greeted the drivers as they entered the circuit for qualifying along with a handful of Seats over from Ireland. Dave Morrison is seeking a hat trick of championships and to do so has moved into Class C. Within three laps he had set a time good enough for pole position. Ray Collier secured the other spot on the front row with his MG ZR190. The second row was filled by MGFs with Mark Wright just ahead of Tom Church. Quickest in the newly defined Class A was Leon Wignall in his ZR170 ahead of Tony Robert’s ZS170. There were only two runners in the new Class B with Ian Whitt quickest but then unable to take further part in the meeting. Class F for standard MGFs was headed by new driver James Brown from Gareth Jones and Andrew Walsh.
Race One
The Cockshoot Cup drivers started their race at the drop of the flag following the departure of the Seats. The Midgets and MGFs got the best starts pushing Ray Collier down the field, but a stunning first lap from David Morrison gave him a good lead which he held throughout the twenty minute race. Chris Greenbank was sadly an early retirement followed by Mark Wright in his MGF Cup Car. Ray forced his way through to second place by the end of the race with Tom Church finishing third in his MGF followed by Keith Egar’s Midget in fourth. Leon Wignall dominated Class A but was chased down by Tony Roberts who got quicker and quicker as the race went on being awarded Driver of the Race for his efforts. The yellow MG ZR170s of Mark Bellamy and Helen Waddington were third and fourth in Class. The only Class B finisher was Carl Chadwick who had a good race after problems in qualifying. In Class F, Phil Rigby was unable to start with the class being won by James Brown having a great run. Second in Class was Andrew Walsh and third went to Laura Farrow having her first ever race.
Race Two
Mark Wright, Chris Greenbank and Tony Ryalls were all non-starters for race two. In a repeat of race one, David Morrison flew into the lead when the flag dropped and dominated the race to take maximum points from the day. David was awarded Driver of the Race for his performance. Ray Collier once again got swamped at the start but managed to come through the field and take second in Class C and the race. Tom Church lost time with a spin at Redgate so Keith Egar was able to take the last podium position although he was being chased down by Eliza Seville over the final laps. In Class A, Leon again beat Tony on the road, but the result was reversed as Leon was given a time penalty for exceeding track limits. Mark Bellamy and Helen Waddington were again third and fourth in Class. Carl Chadwick had an ever better race taking Class B again. The Class F winner from race one James Brown took a second Class victory was pushed by Gareth Jones who had retired from race one. Andrew Walsh was third with Laura Farrow fourth.