2024 Formula Classic – Round 6
Collie Motorplex – 18th August
It was a very wet and windy day that greeted us for round 6 of the 2024 Formula Classic Championship at Collie Motorplex.
Eight cars were in the paddock for qualifying but only five made it to the track! Bruce Mitchell had no wet weather tyres for his Reynard FF2000 and wisely choosing common sense over stupidity in the very wet conditions. Marty Bullock was unable to get his Palliser FF1600 to fire up in the paddock and Brian Searles got turned away from the dummy grid with a leaking fuel line.
The qualifying run saw Bill Norman put his Ralt RT4 on pole position with Glenn Swarbrick alongside him on the front row, Glenn punching way above his weight in the very damp conditions in the Macon FF1600. Dave Dearden qualified 3rd followed by Lance Carwardine and Craig Thompson.
Brian got his fuel leak sorted on his Ralt RT1 in time for the first race and joined the field at the back of the grid. The race was red flagged after the first lap as Lance had aquaplaned into the wall on the back straight and was stranded beside the track. Fortunately only minor damage to the front wing and nose of Jane Brabham was incurred. The race was restarted after a few minutes and the finishing order was Bill followed by Glenn and Dave.
Bill elected to swap from his wet weather tyres to his slicks for race 2 as it appeared the weather was clearing, however the clearing weather was short lived and rain resumed in time for race 2. Lance re-joined the field for race 2 with his front wing and nose cone sporting for racing tape repairs, the engine however was not running cleanly and struggling to run at its best. The slick tyres didn’t seem to hinder Bill’s performance as he disappeared into the distance to claim the race win. The minor places went to Glenn finishing in second spot with Brian third.
Race 3 saw Bill disappear once more into the distance with the rest of the field tip toeing around the continuing wet conditions. Lance had elected not to run in the third event following the engine
maladies experienced in race 2. Glenn and Brian were having a great tussle for second spot, with Glenn the victor.
Outright results for the meeting were;
1st Bill Norman 75 pts
2nd Glenn Swarbrick 60 pts
3rd Brian Searles 53 pts
Handicap results for this round;
1st Craig Thompson 21 pts
2nd Glenn Swarbrick 20 pts
3rd Brian Searles 19 pts
The next round of the 2024 Formula Classic season is at Wanneroo Park over the weekend 14th / 15th September (note; Formula Classic will be running on both days).