This meeting comprised of a Saturday test day, Sunday race day and some "close encounters of the 'Walton' kind". It also included a couple of unusual highlights - the first was that a photo of us now features on the new sign for the Darley Diner...
The second was that our Kawasaki Supersport machine carried a special message to club photographer Tony Else. Following the previous wet/dry/wet/dry meeting, Tony made mention (on Facebook) that we had "missed a bit" during clean-up between races - so we crafted a message especially for him :-)
 The comment... |  ...the message... |  ...the response |
As a stark contrast to the previous meeting, it remained dry all weekend and the track conditions were ideal. In the Formula 600 class we qualified in 3rd place, and for the combined PreInjection 600 and Mini Sound of Thunder grid we took pole position overall.
Some close moments in qualifying!
Our opening race was the Mini Sound of Thunder 'Qualifying' Race, where unfortunate machine issues (experienced in practice) ruled Darley-regular Mike Gittings out of remainder of the meeting. When the race started, we entered into a battle with some PreInjection racers and created a gap to the rest of our class. A battle with Steve Price kept us entertained during the race and we won our race and took 5th place overall (giving us a 5th place grid start for the 'final' points race).
 Photo by Graham Mallen |  Photo by Graham Mallen |
Next up was the Formula 600 'Qualifying' Race. A good start put us in 3rd place into the chicane on the opening lap. At the end of the opening lap Scott Stevens came passed, then on lap 4 we caught and passed David Shallcross to move back up to 3rd place. And then, on the final corner of the final lap, we tipped in to Paddock corner to find the day-glo yellow machine of Joe Walton making an appearance. We tried to keep a tight line whilst avoiding contact with Joe and both strived towards the line - where Joe pipped us by 0.09 of a second, leaving us with a 4th place finish.
 Photo by Chris Swinton |  Photo by Neil Kirby |  The view from onboard |
Photo by Glyn Ivings
After the lunch break, we headed out for the Mini Sound of Thunder 'Final' Race. An average start saw us entering the first chicane second in class, but we managed to take the class lead into Park corner on the opening lap. As per the first Mini Sound of Thunder race, we spent the first 6 (of 8) laps closely following Steve Price, before losing the tow when we caught a backmarker. We won our class, with Richard Hunt taking second and Alistair Corr taking the final podium spot.
Our final race of the day was the Formula 600 'Final' Race. A good start put us into 3rd position by the end of the opening lap in a race where all of our flying laps were in the 59-second bracket. We remained in 3rd place until the end of lap 5 when Joe Walton came passed. For the remainder of the race we gained a bit, then lost a bit - but eventually crossed the line 0.57 of a second behind Joe, who took his first ever Formula 600 podium, taking 4th place. At the front, Scott Stevens took the win from the ever-consistent Rich Baker.
 Photo by Graham Mallen |  Photo by Graham Mallen |
We are now at the half-way point of the championships (as double-points are being awarded at the final round). We currently stand in 2nd place in the Formula 600 championship and are leading the Mini Sound of Thunder championship.
FORMULA 600 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER 4 OF 7 ROUNDS) - TOP 5
Rich Baker 49
David Carson 34
Matt Zschiesche 18
David Shallcross 18
Zach Tansley 16
MINI SOUND OF THUNDER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER 4 OF 7 ROUNDS) - TOP 5
David Carson 60
Richard Saville 22
Alistair Corr 18
Daley Mathison 16
Mike Gittings 16
FORMULA 600 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER 4 OF 7 ROUNDS) - TOP 5
Rich Baker 49
David Carson 34
Matt Zschiesche 18
David Shallcross 18
Zach Tansley 16
MINI SOUND OF THUNDER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (AFTER 4 OF 7 ROUNDS) - TOP 5
David Carson 60
Richard Saville 22
Alistair Corr 18
Daley Mathison 16
Mike Gittings 16
Another trophy for our collection :-)
Our next race meeting will be at Darley Moor Round 5 on 4th August. If anything happens in the meantime we'll keep you posted... :-)
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