NORTH WEST LAWN MOWER RACING ASSOCIATION
Race Report from Barnard Castle Truck Show –
27th/28th/29th August 2005
The NWLMRA made the long trek (longer for some than others!)
up to Barnard Castle for the annual Truck Show over the August
Bank Holiday weekend. Blustery winds greeted the racers on
Saturday morning as they set to work creating a racetrack.
Unfortunately, one of the quad bike rides got in first and
claimed a bit more land than we would have hoped for. Nevertheless,
a decent track was made in the available space which attempted
to avoid the worst of the bumps from our previous visits.
Jason Whitehead finally brought along with Diesel powered
tractor which, in standard form, proved to be a good match
for the Racer Chicks’ Honda 3813, fresh from its own
12 Hour Endurance Race success. Daz Whitehead was running
a new engine, having opted for a Honda GXV340 on his #31 Lawnbug,
while Jason Whitehead was racing #18 for Josh Clarkson. Championship
contender Chris Randall was away on holiday
#31 Daz Whitehead’s lap of the track
“From the Start Line was a long ‘straight’
which curved to the right over a couple of bumps. The first
test on the lap was braking downhill for a very long and rough
tightening off-camber right hander. Most drivers found that
the very inside line was the best, but the added stability
of the Group 4’s allowed them to take a more conventional
racing line. At the end of the turn was a very tight right
which led into a short straight where the correct line was
crucial. This fed into a tight left followed by a short straight,
and a fast right over some nasty bumps. Next was a medium
straight over some more uneven bumps before a hairpin right.
This opened out into a short straight, then a fast left-right
over some very tricky bumps just before the start line. Lap
times were around 30 seconds for the fastest drivers"
Saturday 27th August 2005
As usual the first race was for Championship Points and it
had been decided to run all classes together but from staggered
starts. Group 3’s were first away, followed by Group
4’s and then Group 2’s. #69 Matt Randall took
the hole-shot to lead into the first corner from #31 Daz Whitehead,
#18 Jason Whitehead, #11 Sam Shaw, #100 Phil Davies, #4 Dave
Askew, #64 Mark Rostron, #9 Scott Evans, #7 Andy Little and
#12 Martin Shaw. #12 Martin Shaw retired on lap 4 with a broken
roller. #9 Scott Evans seemed to be having problems as he
slowly drifted towards to back of the pack on the second lap.
Matt Randall took an easy win ahead of Daz Whitehead, Jason
Whitehead and Sam Shaw. In Group 4, it was Phil Davies who
was showing some impressive speed ahead of Dave Askew and
Mark Rostron. Andy Little was the first Group 2 home
The Grand Prix was next up with all mowers, bar Martin Shaw,
taking to the start line. #69 Matt Randall once again got
the best start to lead from #31 Daz Whitehead, #18 Jason Whitehead,
#4 Dave Askew, #100 Phil Davies, #7 Andy Little, #64 Mark
Rostron, #11 Sam Shaw and #9 Scott Evans. The big interest
in this race was the battle between Dave Askew and Phil Davies,
with Dave heading his rival in the early laps, Phil passed
Dave on lap 9, only for Dave to get the position back on lap
15. At the front Matt Randall was proving to be in top form
despite being chased by Daz Whitehead’s Honda-powered
machine. Jason Whitehead retired from 5th on lap 12, while
Mark Rostron also retired from 6th on lap 13. Matt Randall
won the race after completing 20 laps in the 10 minute race.
Daz Whitehead, Dave Askew and Phil Davies were all on the
lead lap. Andy Little dropped 3 laps after retiring in the
closing minutes of the race, while Sam Shaw came home 4 laps
down. Scott Evans made it to the finish having lost 7 laps
A series on non-championship races were held in the afternoon
with the main talking point being the crash between brothers
Daz & Jason Whitehead. Jason was braking for the right-hander
at the end of the main straight when Daz tapped the back of
his machine. This sent him into a big spin before being high-sided
off the machine…
Sunday 28th August 2005
For Sunday, it was decided to run the track the other way
round. John Parden attended for the Sunday only with the ‘Big
Dennis’. All classes were to run together for the Points
race with a staggered start. As before, the Group 3’s
left first, followed by Group 4’s, and then Group 2’s.
#69 Matt Randall once again took the early lead from #31 Daz
Whitehead, #18 Jason Whitehead, #11 Sam Shaw, #9 Scott Evans,
#100 Phil Davies, #4 Dave Askew, #64 Mark Rostron, #7 Andy
Little and #63 John Parden. Jason Whitehead retired the #18
machine on lap 2 with a terminal problem. Mark Rostron had
a very good race being 8th on lap 1, then climbing to 6th
on lap 2, 5th on lap 3, then 3rd on lap 4. Matt Randall took
the overall win and was the first Group 3 home ahead of Daz
Whitehead, Scott Evans and Sam Shaw. In Group 4, it was Mark
Rostron ahead of Dave Askew and Phil Davies. Andy Little was
the only competitor in Group 2 Wheels, while John Parden won
his class being the only entrant in Group 2 Roller
Next up was the Grand Prix, and 9 machines took the start.
#69 Matt Randall took the lead into the first corner ahead
of #31 Daz Whitehead, #4 Dave Askew, #64 Mark Rostron, #7
Andy Little, #11 Sam Shaw, #9 Scott Evans, #63 John Parden
and #100 Phil Davies. Mark Rostron had problems, dropping
out of 4th place after just 6 laps, although he later rejoined.
Phil Davies had problems with the #100, coming back from dead
last after the opening laps to take 8th on lap 4, 5th on lap
7 and 4th on lap 14. At the front Matt Randall lapped everyone
but Daz Whitehead. Both drivers completed 22 laps. #4 Dave
Askew dropped 1 lap, while #100 Phil Davies and #7 Andy Little
both dropped 2 laps. #11 Sam Shaw was next along dropping
4 laps, while #63 John Parden and #9 Scott Evans both dropped
6 laps. Mark Rostron recovered from his early problems to
cover a total of 8 laps
A new race was developed during Saturday night’s social
gathering whereby the Chief Marshall blows a nominated car
horn, and from that moment a 15 minute race begins. Whatever
a racer is doing, they need to stop and start racing. Most
laps wins. The first running was a little chaotic as most
drivers were eating lunch but things went smoothly and the
first ever ‘Horn Race’ was won by #69 Matt Randall
Monday 29th August 2005
Blue skies and sun blessed the NWLMRA on the Bank Holiday
Monday. The track was modified slightly and run in its initial
direction of clockwise. After 2 hard days of racing, only
7 machines were left to compete for Championship Points. #69
Matt Randall led the Points Race on the opening lap just ahead
of #31 Daz Whitehead, #11 Sam Shaw, #100 Phil Davies, #64
Mark Rostron, #4 Dave Askew & #7 Andy Little. Matt Randall
wasn’t having things completely his own way as Daz Whitehead
closed him down as he learnt the best way to set up his new
engine. The #69 held on to take the win ahead of #31 Daz Whitehead,
#100 Phil Davies, #64 Mark Rostron, #4 Phil Davies, #7 Andy
Little and #11 Sam Shaw
The same 7 mowers lined up for the Grand Prix, and it was
a really good race. #69 Matt Randall took the lead into the
first corner, just ahead of #31 Daz Whitehead, #100 Phil Davies,
#64 Mark Rostron, #4 Dave Askew, #7 Andy Little & #11
Sam Shaw. The front 3 gradually pulled away and battled hard
though-out the race. Phil Davies eventually passed Daz Whitehead
on Lap 12, before stalling at the hairpin one lap later. That
allowed Daz Whitehead back into 2nd place, while Matt Randall
had pulled out a small lead. With one lap to go, #69 left
the track for a problem that allowed the #31 through to take
the lead and the win. Phil Davies came back to finished 2nd
on the lead lap. Dave Askew and Mark Rostron also finished
on the lead lap. Andy Little and Matt Randall both finished
one lap down, while Sam Shaw dropped 3 laps
Another Horn Race was held, and despite some very quick laps
by Martin Shaw on the #4 John Deere, it was #31 Daz Whitehead
who came through the field to take the win. More non-championship
races were held with the finale being a 15 minute Le Mans
start Grand Prix
The 2005 Championship Standings after Round 16 of 18 are:
~
Class 4
#4 Dave Askew 132 points
#100 Phil Davies 91 points
#64 Mark Rostron 88 points
#8 Kev Grimer 49 points
#66A Mark Jaffe 18 points
Class 3
#69 Matt Randall 136 points
#31 Daz Whitehead 114 points
#96 Chris Randall 109.5 points
#11 Sam Shaw 92 points
#86 Ian Carter 53 points
#44 Sheldon Webster 49 points
#9 Scott Evans 19 points
#18 Josh Clarkson 13 points
#27 Stu Polkinghorne 8 points
#2 Mike Stark 7 points
#26 Robert Smith 1.5 points
Class 2 Wheels
#7 Andy Little 130 points
#24 Dave Smith 13.5 points
#25 Phil Brooks 9 points
Class 2 Roller
#12 Martin Shaw 98 points
#66 Andy Howard 26 points
#70 Roger Knowlson 10 points
#63 Andy Howard 6 points
Grand Prix
#31 Daz Whitehead 303 laps
#69 Matt Randall 293 laps
#4 Dave Askew 280 laps
#11 Sam Shaw 269 laps
#7 Andy Little 248 laps
#96 Chris Randall 244 laps
#100 Phil Davies 169 laps
#64 Mark Rostron 160 laps
#12 Martin Shaw 154 laps
#44 Cameron Hill 139 laps
#86 Pete Collishaw 119 laps
#8 Kev Grimer 93 laps
#66 John Parden 63 laps
#9 Scott Evans 45 laps
#18 Josh Clarkson 36 laps
#24 Dave Smith 26.5 laps
#2 Mike Stark 24 laps
#63 John Parden 21 laps
#66A Mark Jaffe 18.5 laps
#70 Roger Knowlson 18 laps
#27 Stu Polkinghorne 14 laps
#25 Phil Brooks 8 laps
#26 Robert Smith 5 laps
The next event is at Kirkham, Lancashire over the weekend
of 10th/11th September. Planning is also well under way for
the season finale 6 Hour Endurance Race.
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