Harrison pushes Jackson all the way at Cadwell

Cam Jackson has won the second Classic Formula Ford race of the weekend at Cadwell Park, but only after surviving a late charge from Samuel Harrison.

Elden Mk8 driver Harrison was just 0.242s behind the reigning champion’s Winkelmann on the line, having fought back from a wobbly first lap and actually gone faster than Jackson towards the end. This follows a serious challenge to Jackson by Harrison in yesterday’s Historic race and sets up an intriguing new rivalry.

Jackson got an efficient start and had begun to pull away from Harrison, but he was challenged by backmarkers and not quite able to lose sight of him. Harrison was overtaken by Rick Morris in his Royale RP21 on the first lap, but retook his position to chase Jackson once more.

Class A winner Morris was a rather lonely third, over 40 seconds behind Harrison and considerably ahead of fourth-placed Stuart Kesternbaum, driving a Van Diemen RF79. Kestenbaum had pulled ahead of Paul Unsworth’s Lola T200 early on and withstood a challenge from Mark Harrison in another Royale, who had been scrapping with Unsworth and finished just ahead of him in fifth.

Harrison Junior, Jordan, made the start of the race after an emergency wishbone repair to his Lola T540E. From the back of the grid, he made his way into the top ten on his first lap, but it wasn’t to be and the car expired again before he had a chance to put in another one.

The grid was shared with a small number of Heritage FF1600 cars; the best of these was Simon Jackson’s Lanan 1604, which gave him a seventh place and a double Jackson family class win. His fellow Heritage competitor Tom Roark was eighth in a Van Diemen RF92.

Series regulars Colin Williams (PRS RH01) and Alan Fincham (Van Diemen RF80) rounded out the top ten.

Full results at TSL Timing

Image copyright Paul Lawrence

Jackson cruises to Cadwell victory as Chart misses out

Cam Jackson won his first race of the weekend in HSCC Classic Formula Ford. The Winkelmann driver, at his home circuit, was denied the challenge of Henry Chart but had a new rival in Samuel Harrison.

Chart was due to start from second but did not get on to the grid after blowing His Van Diemen RF81’s engine up in qualifying. This left Jordan Harrison (Lola T540E) and Samuel Harrison in an Elden Mk8 to try and catch Jackson.

Neither was able to get on his tail, but Samuel Harrison rapidly gained on Jordan Harrison, passing his more experienced rival on lap 5. He continued to gain ground while the Lola driver struggled with suspension troubles, sliding down the timesheet and into retirement.

This left Samuel Harrison to attempt an attack on Jackson, but he was now increasing in pace and pulling away. Harrison held a safe second place from Rick Morris’s Royale RP21, promoted to third place. Some way behind, Paul Unsworth was fourth in his Lola T200, having sneaked past Stuart Kestenbaum’s 1979 Van Diemen on the penultimate lap.

The lower reaches of the top ten were the site of a lot of position-shuffling; a disrupted qualifying meant that some of the slower entrants found themselves higher up the grid than usual and took their chances. Mark Harrison was sixth, having qualified eleventh in the Royale RP21 raced by son Jordan Harrison last year. He was followed by the PRS RH01 of Colin Williams and Ben Hadfield in a Van Diemen RF78. Both Hadfield and ninth-placed Alan Fincham (Van Diemen RF80) travelled up and down the places in this middle pack before settling into eighth and ninth.

Richard Yeomans was tenth in his Crossle 25F. Robin Haslam sorted out his Alexis Mk15 after his qualifying tangle with Hadfield to finish twelfth, behind Laurie Hughes’s Van Diemen RF78.

Full results at TSL Timing

Cadwell Park Wolds Trophy: qualifying round-up

Qualifying for all HSCC Formula Ford categories is now done at Cadwell, with some familiar faces on top and some surprises.

Cam Jackson is out again in his Winkelmann for both Historic and Classic Formula Ford and qualified on pole both times, but was not quite on his usual dominant form. Henry Chart will line up second in Classic less than half a second slower, although he had engine trouble with his Van Diemen RF81 towards the end of the session. Jordan Harrison (Lola T504E) is another couple of tenths behind in third, setting up an interesting opening lap.

Samuel Harrison will start fourth in his Class B Elden Mk8, ahead of 2019 champion Rick Morris’s Royale RP21.

The session was interrupted by a red flag after a collision at the Hairpin between the Alexis of Robin Haslam and the Van Diemen RF78 of Ben Hadfield. This has left several drivers with only a few laps under their belts.

Historic Formula Ford 2000 has a massive entry and two heats will be held later today. Benn Simms was the quickest from two qualifying sessions in his Reynard SF77, ahead of Andrew Park, who topped the second qualifying session in a Reynard SF81. His fellow SF81 driver Graham Fennymore was third quickest and these three were the only ones to go under the 1:31 mark. Murray Shepherd, the sole Classic FF2000 entry in Tony Hancock’s Van Diemen RF82, was fifth in the first session.

Jackson was predictably the quickest of the Historic FF1600 drivers, but again, he was kept relatively honest by his rivals this time and only did three laps. In the absence of Linton Stutely, whose Royale RP3 is still being repaired after its Silverstone shunt, Samuel Harrison qualified second. Harrison, who ran well at this circuit last year, will be looking to make up for the disappointment of losing out due to a crash with Mike Gardner.

Horatio Fitz-Simon, driving for Classic Team Merlyn, was another driver who only got three laps in, but they were good for third on the grid. Brian Morris (Lola T202) and Danny Stanzl’s Elden are up next, with Matt Wrigley’s Merlyn just a thousandth of a second slower than Stanzl.

Full qualifying results at TSL Timing

Image copyright Shaws Motorsport

Round-up: Classic regulars star at Mallory and Shepherd wins again

With no Classic race at this weekend’s HSCC Silverstone International Trophy, a few regulars decided to try their luck in the BRSCC Northern series.

Rick Morris, who has been vocal in his disappointment over the Silverstone decision, put his Royale RP29 in second position on the grid, out-qualifying a series of newer cars, but it was his Don Hardman Racing team-mate Stuart Kestenbaum (Van Diemen RF79) who took the lead from fourth. A lengthy yellow flag period followed while Chris Hodgen’s 1994 Swift and Edwin Hannah’s Reynard FF84 were cleared up, and combined with Mallory’s compact layout, this meant that there was no room for hesitation at the restart. Kestenbaum also had a gearbox problem to contend with and dropped down the order, finishing seventh. Morris was ultimately unable to keep on the tail of Nigel Dolan’s Van Diemen JL012K, but he held on to second ahead of Paul Mason’s Swift.

Morris was fifth in the second race, ahead of Dolan this time but a fair way back from the podium finishers, led by winner George McDonald in a Swift SC92F. Kestenbaum did not complete a lap due to continuing problems.

HSCC Classic regular Alan Fincham (Van Diemen RF80) also came along and was tenth in the first race. Ian Fernihough’s Titan Mk6 was the other Vintage-age car present.

Back at Silverstone, Murray Shepherd showed his class once more in Classic FF2000, winning both races in a Van Diemen RF82 and running among the Formula 3 machinery that shares the grid. He was seventh overall in the first race, ahead of Greg Robertson (Reynard SF79) in tenth and Jon Finch in a similar car, who was 12th.

Shepherd was fourth in the second race, with only three F3 cars in front of him, giving himself an early birthday present of another FF2000 win. eighth-placed Stephen Barlow, driving a similar car, was second, with Andrew Smith’s Royale RP27 just behind in third, ninth overall.

Full results available at TSL Timing

And the rest: Bank Holiday weekend roundup

Vintage Formula Ford cars have starred against more modern machinery this weekend.

HSCC Classic Formula Ford frontrunner Jordan Harrison earned two fourth places in the Avon Tyres Northern and Superclassic Formula Ford series at Mallory Park. He was driving his usual Lola T504E and was easily the fastest of a large historic contingent out this weekend. Behind him in both races was Simon Hadfield, driving the number 0 Hawke DL2B. Hadfield had a terrific run to the line in Race 1, beating Chris Hodgen (Swift SC94F) but just 0.002s.

Mark Bates nudged into the top ten in both races, driving an Alexis Mk15. He was tenth and eighth. Eight of the 18 cars were historic or classic Class C or D machines. Although he was in a modern Ray, Classic champion Ben Tinkler was third in both races.

PRS driver and Classic regular Oliver Chapman was down to contest the Castle Combe championship round on Monday but did not appear. Fifteenth-placed Bob Higgins was the leading Class D entry, driving an early Macon MR7, a car which has had success in recent years in the hands of Paul Sleeman.

Another rare early car, the Nike Mk4 of Alan Slater, was 18th.

2018 HSCC Historic championship contender Ben Mitchell was fourth, driving a Van Diemen RF99.

Champion’s chat

Cam Jackson talks tyres, speed and his Formula Ford plans for 2021

2021 Classic Formula Ford champion Cam Jackson showed at Snetterton that he was still the driver to beat. He may have lost his HSCC Historic FF1600 crown to Pierre Livingston in 2020, but he was back on top straight away with four Formula Ford wins, plus another his his Brabham Formula Junior.

His phenomenal qualifying pace at Snetterton – a second and a half quicker than his nearest rival, Tom McArthur – raised a few eyebrows. With the new, more durable Avon compound being introduced this year, was he taking a chance on last year’s fast, but quick-to-degrade rubber?

“No, we’re running the new tyre which is supposed to be harder, but the car felt great straight away on that tyre,” he explained.

“I mean, I got a massive tow, but the car in clear air will do a very low 4, maybe even a 3. I’ve always said, this car, the chassis is incredible, and it suits me so much.”

Jackson suggested at the end of last year that he was probably not going to commit to a full championship, but has his early success changed this plan? Although a relative newcomer to the Classic series, the last time he ran a part-season in Historic was 2017.

“I don’t know if I’m going to,” says Jackson. “I just thought I’d do the first round because I’ve got the time to do it. It might change later in the year.

“I might not do Classic all the way through, because it’s quite hectic and it’s a lot of running on the car.” (He is racing the same Winkelmann in both championships.)

The reason for this reduction in schedule is that Lincoln native Jackson is relocating to London this year with his family.

“Bit of a work thing, family thing, school thing,” he explains.

“This summer is going to be frantic.”

Anyone hoping to capitalise on his absence will have to wait for at least a while. He is going to enter the Silverstone rounds in May as he is racing in the Guards Trophy with father Simon, driving a Lenham GT.

(Image courtesy of Andrew Ellis)

Classic races at Silverstone cancelled

Upcoming races for the Classic Formula Ford Championship at the Silverstone International Trophy have been cancelled due to low entries.

The Classic series had been due to join the bill on the 22nd and 23rd of May, alongside Historic Formula Ford and a host of other HSCC championships on Silverstone’s International circuit.

Historic Formula 2 will take the place of Classic FF1600 on the schedule.

There has been some anger expressed online due to the fact that entries for Silverstone had not even closed when the decision had been made. However, potential entrants had been warned that cancellation was on the cards if numbers were not high enough.

It is not clear whether the races will be rescheduled later in the year.

Jackson and Chart do battle once more

Cam Jackson and Henry Chart have set themselves up as HSCC Classic Formula Ford’s premier rivalry with another one-two in the second Snetterton race.

Jackson’s Winkelmann got away quickly and remained at the front throughout, although Chart, in a Van Diemen RF81, was less than two-tenths behind and would have had a chance of catching Jackson if he made the slightest mistake. The presence of backmarkers towards the end of the race looked like it was going to help Chart’s cause, but Jackson negotiated them easily and did not lose too much time.

Jordan Harrison (Lola T504E) was third and much closer to the leaders than in Race 1, finishing just under a second behind Chart. Harrison had a fairly uneventful race again but racked up valuable points this weekend for his two podium finishes.

Simon Toyne, active in both Classic and Historic this weekend, was fourth. He managed to take advantage of a tussle between Samuel Harrison’s Elden Mk8 and Rick Morris in the Royale RP29. Morris had passed Harrison late on, taking Toyne with him and then past him. Morris was fifth and Harrison was very close behind in sixth.

Sam Mitchell, driving the family Merlyn Mk20, had been a constant top-five presence for most of the race but he retired suddenly on lap 5, promoting Harrison temporarily to fourth and giving Toyne and Morris the chances they needed.

Jake Shortland (Lola T440) kept Stuart Kestenbaum’s Van Diemen RF80 at bay to hold seventh. Tim Brise, another Merlyn driver doing both Classic and Historic this weekend, was ninth and RF80 driver Simon Davey was tenth, with the similar RF80 of Alan Fincham close behind.

Full results available from TSL Timing.

Image copyright Andrew Ellis

Jackson and Chart renew Classic rivalry

The first Classic race of the season rekindled last season’s fierce rivalry between Cam Jackson and Henry Chart.

Jackson, driving the Class B Winkelmann in which he won the 2019 Historic championship, put his car on pole after a crowded qualifying session interrupted by a yellow flag, but Chart was not far behind, driving the same ex-Tim Harvey Van Diemen RF81 he campaigned last year. This pattern continued for the race itself with Chart remaining glued to Jackson for most of it. He did attempt a pass on the start-finish line early on and had a look at the hairpin later, but Jackson had managed to eke out a lead by the chequered flag, winning by 1.4s.

Jordan Harrison had a fairly solitary race in third, a position he held comfortably throughout in the Lola T540E he previously shared with his father Mark, who was 14th in the Royale RP21 that Jordan used last year. The unrelated Samuel Harrison was a solid fourth in an Elden Mk8, a new car for the Yorkshire sixth former.

Behind the Harrisons, more of a scrap was occurring. Sam Mitchell, who is sharing his father Westie’s Merlyn Mk20, came out on top and claimed fifth place, having seen off challenges from Simon Toyne, who had qualified in front of him in a Lola T200, and 2019 champion Rick Morris in his familiar Royale RP29. The three became two when Morris had problems and dropped back to seventh. Toyne made a few more attempts on Mitchell’s fifth but was fended off. Jake Shortland (Lola 440) passed Stuart Kestenbaum’s RF80 for eighth late on, ahead of Tim Brise, making his first appearance in the Classic series in a Merlyn.

Further back, Ben Hadfield (Van Diemen RF78) and Richard Yeomans (Crossle 25F) had a spirited battle, with Hadfield coming out on top in 15th spot. Yeomans was 17th, behind Ian Jeary, whose Elden Mk8 was decked out in a Candy Tyrrell tribute livery.

Image courtesy of Andrew Ellis

Full results are available at TSL Timing

The season starts at Snetterton

Vintage Formula Ford fires up into action tomorrow at Snetterton, both on-track and here online

Following a year’s delay, Snetterton will finally host the Jim Russell Trophy from tomorrow (17th April).

HSCC Historic Formula Ford, Classic Formula Ford and Historic FF2000 will all be in action, plus some Classic FF2000 cars up against the Classic F3 grid.

The Jim Russell Trophy Meeting should have opened the 2020 season as a tribute to racing school founder Russell, who died in 2019, but lockdown intervened. Snetterton was chosen as the venue due to the Jim Russell Racing School being founded there in 1956.

Two special trophies will be awarded on Saturday. The Jim Russell Trophy itself will go to the winner of the first Classic FF1600 race, and the Norman Greenway Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the first Historic FF1600 race.

Norman Greenway was Snetterton’s regular commentator for many years and is still fondly remembered. His widow Barbara and daughter Lee will be present, alongside Jennifer Russell. Barbara Greenway herself once raced a Formula Ford at Snetterton in 1985 as part of the Esso Ladies’ Race, itself a Jim Russell Racing School event and probably the first all-female single-seater race in the UK.