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Senior Ashton does it again!
 The penultimate race of the season at the beautiful Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire turned into a real thriller with excitement from flag to flag! 22 drivers came out to play including Les Tyler and new boy Tom Sanderson. Simon White made the journey from Chester and Lee McNamara was driving his father’s car. It was pleasing to see Nick Isaac again and Mike Williams in his class D car.
Practice saw Jon Flanigan take pole from Dick Trevett with Tony Howe third and Simon White fourth. As to class B – Lee McNamara was fastest followed by James Webb, benefitting from a track day at Cadwell, and Andrew Ashton. Neil Gardiner took fourth. Terry Bracey-Wright led class A from Jon Agar. However, practice was not without its problems as Nick Isaacs had engine trouble and Dave Heasman had to have a push to enable him to join the grid.
 Trevett got the drop on Jon Flanigan at the off but Tony Howe had a great start and overtook them both. Flanigan had the inside line at Coppice and Howe was by his side. Flanigan had the lead after Mansfield but the pack was right behind him. He had gear selector trouble as he approached the foot of the Mountain, which led to him going off onto the grass. The crowd gasped as Howe took the lead followed by Paul Ashton, Trevett, White and Garrard. Andrew Ashton had the class B lead from Lee and Terry led class A. By Hall Bends Lee was alongside Andrew. Flanigan rejoined the fray but was in last place.
By the end of lap 1 Tony Howe had a good lead over Paul with Dick in third, Simon fourth and Richard fifth. Lee led class B from Andrew and James Webb. Flanigan had overtaken five cars in his climb up the field. Mike Williams was going well and Adam Palmer had gone off at Hall Bends but was able to rejoin the fray in last place. As the cars passed me on the Mountain Tony still had a good lead Dick had moved to second with Simon third, Paul fourth, Richard Garrard fifth and Brian Owen sixth. Lee still led Andrew from James.
Nick Isaac’s car sounded terrible as he drove up the Mountain and he pulled off on lap 3. Flanigan appeared to have a problem with his car and Adam Palmer’s car looked to be a little down at the rear with a possible suspension problem. Back at the front Tony and Dick had pulled out quite a lead over Paul, Simon and Richard. Brian Owen was sixth. Lee led class B from Andrew and James. Les Tyler was going well, as was new boy Tom Sanderson. At the end of the lap the gaps between second, third and fourth were a little larger and Jon Flanigan, who had slightly bumped Derek Facer, pulled off.
Neil Gardiner looked like not making the race at all but did manage to start after the race had begun only to come to a halt at the foot of the mountain. Dave Heasman broke down on the first lap with fuel problems.
As the cars reached the foot of the Mountain Tony still led from Dick but only by two car lengths. Paul was some distance behind followed by Simon and Richard. Dick was right up behind Tony at Hall Bends whilst Brian Owen, Lee and Andrew were still in close contention. Trevett was all over Howe as they entered the straight but Tony had the straight line speed and at Coppice Tony was leading by only four tenths of a second. In reality this is around five car lengths.
 By the bottom of the Mountain, Tony still had the lead with Dick right behind. Tony still led at Coppice but Paul had caught up a little and Richard had dropped back. Brian was well behind Richard and he and Lee had pulled away from Andrew. Jon Agar had dropped back a little and Adam Palmer and Derek Facer seemed to be going better. Paul had caught up to only 30 yards behind Dick and I reckoned that there was going to be a momentous finish. Simon was well clear of Richard but some distance behind Paul. On this lap Dick set the fastest lap of the race so far and Paul and Simon set personal best lap times.
Tony had a 30 yard lead over Dick who led Paul by the same margin. This was close and exciting racing as Paul passed Dick by the foot of the Mountain. With three and a quarter minutes to go Tony still led from Paul. James Webb was in front of Les Tyler and Mike Williams had dropped back a little. Miles Gentle was enjoying himself, his tyres squealing at the corner below the Mountain. Andrew Ashton had fallen a bit further behind Lee McNamara. Tom Sanderson had the inside line at Coppice but Les Tyler closed the door to lead him through the corner. I was sitting on the Mountain grandstand and as they passed me Derek was being closely followed by the leaders. Over the brow of the hill he pulled over to let the race leaders through. Jon Agar was fast approaching Hall Bends when the pack caught him up and he took to the grass, partly to let the pack through. Happily he came to no harm and he was soon back on track.
At the start of the last lap it was clear that Tony had a problem and Dick overtook him at the start of Coppice. By the foot of the Mountain Paul had taken the lead from Dick and Tony was nursing his car. Simon was fourth and Richard fifth. In a very exciting finish Paul held off Dick for his second win in a row. Tony came home third, battery problems robbing him of a win. He was awarded the prize for “Driver of the Race”, which was some small compensation.
Lee won class B from Andrew and James, Terry winning class A from Jon Agar. Paul Ashton had the fastest lap of the race in class C, Andrew Ashton being fastest in class B and Terry in class A. Congratulations to all the drivers for an exciting and enthralling race.
So now we go to Snetterton for the Championship decider. Andrew Ashton and Jon Agar are still leading overall but anything can happen! I am hoping for a bumper entry so please get your entries in promptly. Remember also that the four hour relay will be on the Sunday. We already have two teams entered and the Championship will donate £150 to any team made up from our drivers. The relay is something special and Peter and I will be around to help. As last year’s event was rained off, our Metro Maniacs are still champions! It is well worth staying over and our teams will be glad of offers of help.
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