Race, what race?

Mallory Park - 4 July 1999

Round 5 of the Morgan Motor Company Challenge was at Mallory Park on Sunday 4th July and following the meeting at Donington, where several cars were damaged, it was a credit to the series that 23 cars were out for practice on the dry and sunny morning. Stephen Wheatley was enjoying his first outing in the Championship and making a welcome return were Malcolm Paul and Rob Wells.

However the day was to belong to Keith Ahlers who, in the space of a few short hours, would experience both the highs and lows of Club Racing. After a terrific practice session he found himself taking his first ever pole position just .24 of a second faster than Peter Garland.

Our race was the third of the ten race programme at the Aston Martin Owners meeting and the good weather had attracted a large number of spectators. Unfortunately, just two laps into the Morgan race Keith, who had been passed by Peter at the hairpin, was attempting to regain his position when he got a wheel on the grass at the Devils Elbow and the car was catapulted across the track, over the gravel trap and into the barrier. To the great relief of everyone he emerged from the car unscathed.

The barrier regrettably did not get away so lightly. What appeared, from the outside of the track, to be a messy tyre wall concealed the real damage to three supporting wooden pillars which had split on impact.

After considerable discussion amongst officials it was decided that the repair work was substantial and could not be completed in time. It was unsafe to continue racing with the barrier in that condition and the decision was taken to abandon the meeting. As insufficient laps were completed, no results were issued and no points awarded. The Championship Standings therefore remain as they were following the 4th round at Donington.

Serena Aston