Mamba Motorsport - Mallory Park Race Report Page

Morgan Race Day - Mallory Park

- Front row of Grid and 1st in Class for the C23R

Author: Dave
Editor: Dave
Date: 30 July 2006

Mallory Park was the venue for the next outing of Ken and the Mamba C23R.

Mallory Park was hosting the Peter Morgan Race Weekend on the 29th and 30th July this year which was open to lots of Morgan racing, even more Morgans in the paddock and grounds (reckoned to be in excess of 500 of them representing a complete history of the marque) plus some formula Fords, some Legends (these are 5/8 scale Chevy and Ford "classics") plus a varied host of Sports Cars prepared by the boys from the RAF.

The day marked the end of the July heat-wave and the weather was warm but with warnings of rain showers being blown in on the Westerly winds.
First things first, the car had to go through the normal scrutineering checks, and passed as usual with just the addition of some yellow electrical tape to mark the battery ground wire! So no great surprises there.

The Mamba C23R was entered into the last race of the day, the Sports and Saloon challenge which was broken into classes based on engine capacity. The C23R was in a class with a couple of more powerful cars but being mid-engined was probably going to handle better than them so no real concerns on this front. We were up against other more powerful cars though, notably the very well prepared Morgan Plus8 of Keith Ahler which has notched up over 100 wins and is powered by a 4.6litre engine - so likely to set the pace for the day. Practice got underway at around midday by which time the temperature had risen and Ken got some fast laps in early to set a good time, but stayed out for the full session as he hadn't driven at Mallory since last year. (Although he was instructing at the Morgan track-day the day before, but sitting in the passenger seat is not the same as the one with the steering wheel.)
The early laps were clearly very competitive and Ken was 2nd overall just behind the established pairing outlined above. This was clearly an excellent start to the day as Ken was nearly 2 seconds per lap faster than his last race here (in November 2005) which shows some good progress made in tuning the car's set-up.

The time between practice and the race was spent on the normal activities, checking the car and fuelling both the car and the driver, before watching some of the racing.

A quick plug here for the Legends - these are 5/8 scale pre-war US Ford and Chevy look-a-likes but there the similarity ends. They are light, built to a strict spec and powered by 1200cc Yamaha engines - the result is truly close competitive racing. Not sure the best way to describe it but their handling has far more in common with go-karts than it does with old US saloons and because the engines are all of a muchness the racing is terrific. 2 or 3 abreast they don't care - it you get the opportunity don't miss it.

The Sports GT and Saloon Challenge was the last race of the day and featured a fair-size field with a lot of the runners having already competed in previous races. The key competition not only came from the car on pole position but from the next four cars on the grid which were representing the RAF Racing Association who can always be relied on to produce quick reliable cars, and they were only about 1 second slower than Ken.
Ken went to the grid quietly confident however as one of the great strengths of our Lotus 23 replica is its mid-engined layout.
Not only does being mid-engined give the car a superb balance, so important for going quickly round Gerrard's, but it also gives it phenomenal traction from the line - this was about to be tested.

The parade lap complete and Ken and the C23R were on the line with the red lights on, would the really light bike powered car get a drop on Ken from P3 or not?
The lights went out and Ken and the P1 Morgan both got away to excellent starts. I've looked at the video and it's hard to split them!

Picture Copyright Mamba Motorsport 2006

Ken pushes very hard for the first corner but the Morgan has the inside line and it's a long way round the outside of a Morgan at Gerrard's with cold tyres, so Ken has to settle into 2nd place as they go down the back straight in the hope of getting something out of the hairpin. Unfortunately it is not to be on the first lap which Ken reckoned was probably going to be his best chance.

pushing into Gerrards

Picture Copyright Mamba Motorsport 2006

powering through the Devils Elbow

17 laps later and the chequered flag comes down with Ken in a clear 2nd place and well clear of all other competition which was a superb result for the car in its first season of racing.

The de-brief afterwards was interesting and Ken was praising the confident handling of the C23R as it enabled him to get past back-markers safely and effectively without having to take chances - as he commented it was a great experience getting away from the front row and being able to concentrate on refining his over-taking technique. "Not bad for an old 'un" he was heard to mutter as he was chatting afterwards - it's beginning to become a catch phrase.

last time over the line

So another successful weekend in the inaugural season for the C23R, 1st in Class, 2nd overall and a front row position!