HRCR Mini Cup: Big Bangs and hard day on the brakes

Clive King
Words & Photos: Startline Media

 

The Carfax Stages run by Oxford Motor Club took place on Saturday 6th August at Throckmorton Airfield nr Pershore. Paul and Jemma Taylor took a late entry taking the total numbers of Minis taking part in the event to 12.

The weather gradually grew hotter and hotter throughout the day and the crews soon began to see issues caused by the heat creep in. The main issue were brakes overheating on the Minis meaning some crews were struggling to stop or slow for the corners. Crews affected by this included Adrian Kermode, Paul Price and Clive King.

Shane Gamble

Category one
With only Minis making up the category, it's safe to say a Mini won it. The lucky Mini was that of Shane Gamble / Max Freeman having a relatively trouble-free run all day, only once needing a welder, coming 30th overall.

Peter Horsborough

Paul Price / James Seymour in 33rd overall took 2nd in the category after they tried they best to dismantle the stage furniture on one of the stages, breaking a headlight after going straight on at a 90° left. Peter Horsborough / Graham Carter in the Mini Spares Mini made a welcome return to the championship after having extensive worked carried out on their Mini engine. They took third place in the category and 36th overall. Peter Ellerby / Phillip Swanborough were forced to retire on the eighth stage after a driveshaft failure along with Adrian Kermode / Maurice Beckett who stopped due to lack of oil pressure in their Mini on stage three.

Category two
Again this category was made up of Minis. love:mini sponsored Clive King / Anton Bird took top honours with a happy 23 overall. Jim Brindle / Sam Bould came in second in the category, 26th overall hoping to repeat his performance from Caerwent. 

Stuart Hart

Stuart Hart had a change of co-driver on this event with partner Catherine Farrell sitting in with him for her first ever event. They seem to have gelled and their new partnership gained them 40th overall – 3rd in category. Regular Andrew O’Hanlon / Ryan Taylor was attacking all day but was to suffer a major engine failure on the penultimate stage. The blown engine having now to be replaced/ rebuilt before Isle of Man, not giving him much time.

Paul Taylor

In the open class Minis, Paul & Gemma Taylor's was the first open Mini home having put their last minute entry in for the event achieving 43th overall. Martin Melling / Carmel Venables came home 47th in the Cancer Research Mini.



The next event is the Isle of Man Rally Sept 15-17th.



Event Results

23rd overall Clive King / Anton Bird
26th overall Jim Brindle / Sam Bould
30th overall Shane Gamble / Max Freeman
33rd overall Paul Price / James Seymour
40th overall Staurt Hart / Catherine Farrell
43rd overall Paul / Gemma Taylor
47th overall Martin Melling / Carmel Venables

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