Chivenor Sprint - 21st September 2003

JANE SHOWS THE MEN HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE!

Another overwhelming success! That's the only way to describe the Chivenor Sprint that took place on Sunday 21st September.

This was the second NDMC Sprint at RMB Chivenor this year, and once again the event received a full entry of 100 competitors. And the weather gods were also smiling on us again, as the early morning cloud soon dispersed to give us a glorious, sunny day.

Despite this only being our second Sprint at Chivenor, the event was the final round of the Bridge Wheels and Tyres ASWMC Sprint Championship. We were somewhat fortunate to achieve this status so soon, as an earlier event at St Eval in Cornwall had to be cancelled due to poor weather, but there can be no denying that our venue and our event are more than worthy of their place in the Championship.

Following our first event back in June, a few minor alterations were made to both the course and paddock layout, and these changes seemed to meet with great approval.

When the action got underway, it was then NDMC's own Jane Farthing from Lynton who set the pace as she scorched to Fastest Time of the Day in her distinctive pink Force single-seater. Her time of 72.36 seconds now stands as a new course record, as she eclipsed the winning time set by Ed Hollier in our first event.

Not content with FTD, Jane also secured the award for Fastest Quarter of the Day - given to the driver who set the fastest time over the start line to quarter-mile speed trap - with a time of 11.47 seconds.

Other NDMC success could be found in the class awards, with Julian West from Braunton winning Class A2 again in his Lotus Elise and John Jordan winning class E2 in the Force that he shares with Jane Farthing.

Gordon Rogers proved that he is equally at home on the tarmac as he is on the loose as he took class D3 in his Rallycross-spec Vauxhall Corsa. And, despite living in Torquay, David Williams flew the NDMC flag as he won class A3 in his Ford Escort.

As with any event of this kind, the Club extends its sincere thanks to all competitors, marshals and officials, as well as the numerous event sponsors. Additionally, our grateful thanks go to RMB Chivenor for provide wonderful hospitality throughout the weekend, and of course for providing a superb motorsport venue.

The club are hopeful that the Chivenor Sprint will now become a regular event in the ASWMC Sprint Championship calendar, and may even one day be considered for the British Championship. For now though, the NDMC can reflect on a very successful return of the Chivenor Sprint to its event calendar.

Neil Partridge