Oulton Park International Spring Race Meeting

Track length: 4.443 m

Fastest lap: Pierpoint in 1.56,8

Distance: 19 laps
Average speed: 134,62 kmh
Weather: Dry
Ruleset: Group 2

There was a real bang and crash start, involving Pierpoint and Whitmore, with Sears being pushed almost off the track, and Gardner's Willment lotus Cortina being sandwiched between the Mustang and the Whitmore Cortina. After the clatter of metal had subsided the race was on, with three somewhat battered cars leading into Old Hall in the order of Pierpoint, Whitmore and Gardner; the unfortunate Sears parked on the grass with ignition failure.
The traffic jam sorted itself out, with Fitzpatrick leading the rest of the bunch comprising Baldet, Baillie, Rhodes, Ratcliffe and Middlehurst. Pierpoint came through with Whitmore and Gardner close behind, and the Maroon Broadspeed Mini of Fitzpatrick cheekily leading Baldet's fast Lotus Cortina. Michael Campbell-Cole's Mini Cooper S headed up the up to 1-litre section.

Pierpoint, Whitmore, Gardner, Baillie, Fitzpatrick, Baldet - that was the order for lap after lap. Savoury stopped with his Don Moore Mini at Knickerbrook and abandoned. Tony Lanfranchi pitted his Alexander Mini-Cooper S. Goodwin packed up with his Anglia at Old Hall, while Chris McLaren parked his Jaguar at Old Hall.

Gawaine Baillie was now getting the hang of his Mustang, and giving the ebullient Whitmore no peace whatsoever, taking the Lotus Cortina on the eighth lap for second place behind Pierpoint's similar car. Frank Gardner was also after Whitmore, while Baldet was duelling merrily with Fitzpatrick. Gardner pushed past Whitmore on lap 10, but next time round the Team lotus car was wallowing all over the place, and Whitmore parked it behind his team mate's abandoned car with a flat tyre.

Banks had taken over the lead in the tiddler class from Campbell-Cole, and behind Baldet came Ratcliffe (Mini Cooper S), Newman (Lotus Cortina) Middlehurst (Mini-Cooper S) and Neal (Mini Cooper S). Baillie closed within 1 1/2 seconds of Pierpoint, the two red Mustangs cantering along unchallenged, with Frank Gardner some 17 seconds adrift.

Near the end, the Fitzpatrick-Baldet battle ended with both drivers inverting their cars, the exit of the former giving the class victory to John Rhodes in the works Mini-Cooper S, followed by Harry Ratcliffe in the Vitafoam machine.

Cars were timed over the measured tenth, the fastest in each class being Pierpoint with 118 mph, Gardner with 112.4 mph, Neal with the Arden Mini Cooper with 111.4 mph and Phil de Banks (Sutton Mini-Cooper S) with 107.4 mph.

Source: Autosport

Harry Ratcliffe - Morris Mini Cooper S

Anita Taylor - Austin Mini Cooper S 970

Harry Ratcliffe - Morris Mini Cooper S

John Fitzpatrick - BMC Mini Cooper S

Klasyfikacja generalna.

1. #89. Roy Pierpoint (GB) - Ford Mustang.  19okr.
2. #88. Gawaine Baillie (GB) - Ford Mustang.
3. #85. Frank Gardner (AUS) - Ford Lotus Cortina.
4. #69. John Rhodes (GB) - Austin Mini Cooper S.
5. #67. Harry Ratcliffe (GB) - Morris Mini Cooper S.
6. #82. Jack Newman (GB) - Ford Lotus Cortina.
7. #78. Phil Middlehurst (GB) - Morris Mini Cooper S.
8. #75. Steve Neal (GB) - Austin Mini Cooper S.
9. #81. Robin Smith (GB) - Ford Lotus Cortina.  18okr.
10. #64. Warwick Banks (GB) - Austin Mini Cooper S.
11. #73. Tony Lanfranchi (GB) - Morris Mini Cooper S.
12. #62. Mike Campbell Cole (GB) - Austin Mini Cooper S.
13. #65. Phil de Banks (GB) - Morris Mini Cooper S.
14. #61. Anita Taylor (GB) - Austin Mini Cooper S.