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After winning class C and finishing 2nd overall last season (2004), the championship is the only thing, which eludes him. He will be competing in 1500CC MG Midget.
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As you know, the last races of the season were competed for at Croft last Saturday and Sunday. Despite a broken wrist in the Saturday race I was on pole for both and won both. Sadly though one of the competitors in my class did not turn up for the Sunday race (mechanical problems) which meant that I was only awarded half points for my win.
So, despite:
• Winning 8 of the 9 races and coming second in the other.
• Achieving a record 31 point class championship victory.
• And winning more races than Martin...
...the overall Championship goes to Martin Richardson. While disappointing to lose it on a technicality, Martin is a good friend, a good racer and a sportsman, and I am very pleased for him.
I really wanted to win the Championship this year and bring the trophy down to show you. Sadly it was not to be – but I could have done no more. I will return next year – with the same enthusiasm and even more determination!
Thanks to everyone at KMI for your support and interest. It has been a wonderful season’s racing, and all things considered, very successful.
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Round 8 of the Cockshoot Cup Championship was raced at Croft under blue skies. When the lights turned to green, Mike Peters stormed away into an early lead, but Andy Storer in his Midget gave chase and found a way through to lead. At the half distance mark, Mike tried to muscle through at the hairpin resulting in contact with damage to Mike’s steering. Andy then pulled into a comfortable lead, but sadly starting the last lap the engine in his car failed giving the victory to a surprised Mike Peters.
This elevated John Hewitt to second. In third place was Martin Richardson winning Class B in his MGB from Tony Crossley who took class fastest lap. Peter Bramble took third in the class from newcomer Graham Forrester. Paul Newton had a comfortable win in the standard class after nearest rival Ian Wright suffered a puncture. This promoted Richard Sapcote to second from Peter Toes, Steve McKie and Jane Laytham.
Martin Richardson drove a storming race in round nine at Croft to win the Road Modified Class and become Cockshoot Cup Champion for 2005. Race winner was Mike Peters with John Hewitt in second, but with Andy Storer unable to start only half points were available to Mike.
Second in the Road Modified Class was enough to make Tony Crossley second in the class in the Championship with Peter Bramble taking third in the race and the Championship. In the Standard Class, Ian Wright avoided puncture trouble to take the win from Paul Newton and Richard Sapcote. Paul’s second place gained him enough points to be Class Champion from Richard Sapcote and Ian Wright.
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The seventh round of the Cockshoot Cup Championship for 2005 saw the drivers competing around the Cadwell Park Circuit in dry and cloudy conditions. The track was shared with cars in another championship that resulted in some unusual and controversial racing.
Up front, Mike Peters scored a dominant race win and with it, the Malimson Trophy. Mike was so fast that he beat the MGBV8 of Roy McCarthy. John Hewitt would have been second in the class and the race, but sadly was excluded and Andy Storer failed to finish. Martin Richardson swept to a rapid victory in the road modified class, clinching the Genesis Trophy. Martin was pursued all race by the improving Tony Crossley in his B GT. Peter Bramble took third place with a down on power engine.
The standard class drivers suffered from several mechanical gremlins. Paul Newton had no problems in clinching the class and the Entune Trophy. Paul Rodman drove a great race into second place from Richard Sapcote who made the fastest lap. Ian Wright, Peter Toes, Richard Saxton and Steve McKie all failed to finish the race.Despite his class win, Paul Newton is now out of the Championship battle. The Cockshoot Cup Champion for 2005 will be either Mike Peters or Martin Richardson, with the victor being decided over the final two races.
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Round 4 of the 2005 Cockshoot Cup Championship was run under sunny skies on July 2nd at Oulton Park. The twenty minute race took place on the full circuit on a dry track. At the front of the field Mike Peters, John Hewitt and Andy Storer fought hard over the first few laps. Sadly, Andy had to pull out with mechanical problems leaving John and Mike to decide the winner.
Mike crossed the line first, although a deflating tyre caused some concern as the flag came into view. Chris Evans took third in the class. In the road-modified class, the early pace setter was Peter Bramble, but an early visit to the gravel trap put him out of the race. Martin Richardson then hit the front, but troubles on the last lap eliminated him. Guest driver Simon Ashworth took the trophy, but Tony Crossley driving his MGB GT took maximum points. Amongst the standard drivers, Paul Newton made an early break from the start and held onto a gap to take maximum points. Second and third places in the class went to Richard Sapcote and Mark Prutton after some frantic racing that also involved Sean Peters who was making a return to the class in the 1500cc Midget.
Sean suffered brake problems at the Foulston Chicane and made heavy contact with Mark resulting in damage to both cars. Into a solid fourth in class came Paul Rodman having his first outing of the year. Because the long circuit has been changed, all the fastest laps become lap records, so Mike Peters, Paul Newton and Peter Bramble now hold them.
Round 3 Oulton Park
A torrential ran storm prior to the start of the Cockshoot Cup Race at Oulton Park resulted in all the drivers using wet tyres in bright sunshine. Sadly, changing tyres gave Andy Storer a problem on the first lap that meant that a repeat of the Rockingham dice was off the agenda. Mike Peters ran away from the field winning by a whole minute from John Hewitt whose MGB was set up far too stiffly for the wet conditions.
Behind these two it was all action. On lap one, Martin Richardson’s MGB was pushed into a spin by Paul Newton going into the Knicker Brook complex. He resumed nearly last, but a storming race took him past Tony Crossley and Peter Bramble to take class victory. Meanwhile Paul continued leading the standard class, but another spin ensued followed by retirement with deranged front bodywork and Richard Saxton also visited the barrier at Old Hall. Through the spray the standard class battle crystallised between Ian Wright and Richard Sapcote with Richard having a few “looks” but having to settle for second with Mark Prutton in his Midget taking third.
The Championship goes into the summer break with Mike Peters leading with maximum points from three wins, but with six more rounds to go starting on July 2nd, there is still a lot of racing to be done.
Round 2 Rockingham
The Cockshoot Cup drivers were greeted by sunny and warm weather for the second round of the 2005 Championship at the Rockingham Circuit. At the front of the field, Mike Peters and Andy Storer in their Midgets and John Hewitt in an MGB diced furiously for the whole twenty minute race. They each had the lead at some point in the race, but when it counted, Mike was ahead with John in second place and Andy third.
This was one of the best races seen in the Championship for many years. In the road modified class, newcomer Ron Moorcraft took the honours from Martin Richardson and Peter Bramble all driving MGBs. Standard class victor was Mark Prutton who fought off the challenge of Richard Sapcote whose Midget developed a misfire that dropped him to fourth in class. Taking the other podium places were Ian Wright and Peter Toes.
Thanks are due to “Pukka Pies” who sponsored the race. Mike Peters now heads the Championship with 22 points from Mark Prutton and Martin Richardson with 20 each.
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Dry and cold conditions were on offer at Silverstone for the drivers in the first round of the Cockshoot Cup 2005. Mike Peters dominated the race taking a clear victory and setting a new lap record.
After a close tussle with Andy Storer in his MG Midget Mike drew away in the later laps leaving Andy to take second place. In the road modified class, Martin Richardson and Peter Bramble had a superb dice in their MGBs with Martin taking the class and third in the race.
A new lap record for the class and second place was Peter’s result. In the standard class, Paul Newton converted his class pole into a clear win also breaking the class lap record. Behind Paul was the best racing of the day with a superb struggle between Mark Prutton, Ian Wright, Peter Toes and Graham Prosser. Sadly Graham had a spin on the last lap allowing a recovering Richard Sapcote to snatch the fifth place in class.