A detailed report on the 2006 season with comments from Mike.
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The Cockshoot Cup competitors had to share the track with the Scottish XR2 Championship at Croft but a split grid and 30 seconds delay kept most (but not all) of the two races apart, with hard battling Andy Storer and Mike Peters lapping all.
After a furious race, Andy Storer took the race win by just over a second from Mike Peters who won Class B, the King of Shaves Midget again fighting above its weight beating all but one of the modified cars. Even so, Andy was only just hanging on at the line as Mike put in three final laps all an incredible three seconds under the lap record, thus making history yet again this year having taken the lap record at every circuit this year. On the podium a breathless Storer thanked Mike for a great race and requested a quieter race on the Sunday!
Third in the race and second in Class B was Tony Crossley pushing the MGB GT to the limit. Behind Tony a monumental scrap between the MGBs of Graham Jones and Peter Bramble was resolved in that order on the last lap. The usual drivers fought out Class A with Paul Newton jumping into the lead. Ian Wright took up the chase and closed the gap to half a second at the line. Peter Toes got ahead of Richard Sapcote for a while, but spun on some fluid from his car and slipped back to fourth. Steve Mckie, Richard Saxton and Steve Gregory all put in solid drives to take the remaining places.
Andy Storer took up his pole position for Round 11 of the Cockshoot Cup at Croft, but sadly his car did not move when the lights went out as his half shaft failed, and had to be moved to a place of safety. Mike Peters took the lead immediately and led from, lights to flag winning the race at a stroll to achieve a 100% finishing record for the season. Mike refuses to relax and at the end of the race with a lead of three quarters of a lap opened the car up and gave a two lap display of superb driving, threading his way through the field to lap all and break the lap record he set yesterday.
At the post race interview he thanked sponsors King Of Shaves and race prep man John Hewitt, and announced this would be his last race and is retiring. Mike will be greatly missed in the race paddock. He is always cheerful, helpful and respected by fellow competitors and officials alike. A fierce competitor, but sporting at all times, It is typical his last lap was a lap record, the sort of attitude that endeared him to race crowds. The last blazing lap was unnecessary in view of the race but important to him as a competitor.
Tony Crossley again pressed hard and took second in the race and Class B. Peter Bramble tried too hard early on, spun his MGB, and then spent the rest of the race trying to catch Graham Jones but failed resulting in the same finishing order as Round Ten. In Class A, Ian Wright got the jump on Paul Newton after early leader Richard Sapcote fell back. Paul tried everything he knew but Ian hung on and took the class win by a short bumper. Sadly Richard had a moment with an XR2 which let Peter Toes through into third in Class.
Mike comments:
“It’s been a great season for me, a wonderful way to finish. I would like to thank you all sincerely for your support and interest.”
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Mike Peters celebrated his Championship win with a dominant performance at Mallory Park. On a dry circuit Mike won the race and set a new lap record. After a fantastic start he spent three laps increasing an unassailable lead and setting a new lap record before backing off and bringing the King Of Shaves Midget home safely a lap ahead most of all but two of the field.
Behind Mike the battle of the Bs resumed one week later from Anglesey. Peter Bramble held second in the race early on, but lost power. Graham Jones moved up to second from Martin Richardson and Tony Crossley recovering from an early mistake. Sadly Martin's MGB shed a fan belt with two laps left promoting Tony to third with Peter limping into fourth. In the Standard Class, Ian Wright held an early lead, but problems with traffic resulted in Paul Newton nipping ahead. Initially Richard Sapcote was third, but his Midget started mis-firing. Peter Toes took up the chase and finished third taking the fastest lap in the class. Steve Mckie drove steadily to fourth from Richard Sapcote, Graham Marchant and Richard Saxton.
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Competitors arriving at the Anglesey Circuit on Saturday were greeted by torrential rain causing rivers of water several inches deep to run across the track. Proceedings started three hours late, with no official practice and the drivers following the safety car for three familiarisation laps. Grid positions for the first of the two Cockshoot races was agreed as championship points so Mike Peters was on pole for the first of Sunday’s two races.
In the first race, with Graham Jones coming to grief at the first corner, Ian Whitt took the lead and he and Mike were inches apart as they tore off into the distance. For two laps Ian led until Mike passed on the inside at Radar, a brave move, and clear statement that a win was the only result he wanted. Having passed Ian the gap grew with each lap and Mike ended a comfortable winner by half a lap, having lapped all other cars on the circuit except Ian.
Behind a battle raged for third place finally being settled in favour of Peter Bramble, while the Standard Class honours were won by Paul Newton after Richard Sapcote had an incident on the last lap, recovering to clinch second.
The win secured the Class Championship for Mike and the King Of Shaves Midget, with yet another lap record. A win in the afternoon race would give him full championship honours.
The last race of the day at Anglesey was to be the last ever at the circuit, as it closed for reshaping and rebuilding from Monday. Grid positions were set on the results of the first race, and therefore, Mike Peters led out the field for a historic moment in the circuit’s history, to a barrage of marshal’s flags. At the start second place man Ian Whitt got the jump on Mike, who again was followed by Mike, with perhaps four to six inches space between the two for a lap and a half. Mike’s experience told and was clearly comfortable putting pressure on Ian. When Mike made his move at Radar again, Ian missed a gear and Mike passed as Ian’s gearbox disintegrated. Already with a comfortable lead Mike drove the remaining twenty laps at the front and alone, increasing the lead steadily until the last lap. At the start of the final lap Mike drove the King Of Shaves Midget home at half speed accepting the Marshall’s flags and greetings. A wonderful finish to the historic Anglesey circuit, with it’s last lap ever seeing a worthy champion crowned.
In second place was Tony Crossley, after a hard charging Martin Richardson spun off on the penultimate lap. Again the Standard class saw a great battle with Paul Newton taking the honours followed by Ian Wright. Richard Sapcote was third following yet another spin on the last lap.
On the podium, Mike Peters thanked sponsors King Of Shaves and the circuit organisers for producing a full programme of racing despite Saturday’s appalling weather.
Other classes will be settled over the final three races and next week we go to Mallory park. Mike is determined to make history by achieving a lap record at every single circuit in the season, so will not let up now because the championship is secure. The Standard class remains wide open with any one of five drivers still possible leader”.
Mike comments:
“So first objective of the season met, and the Cockshoot Cup will be brought to the KMI offices after the November presentation dinner! As the report says, I will be going all out next week for another win and lap record.”
Thanks again for all your support.
Round 6 - Oulton Park
Red flags in previous races delayed the start of the Cockshoot Cup race at Oulton Park on July 29th. Anxious (and hopeful) eyes were directed towards the horizon, but the rain held off and finally the race got underway.
Mike Peters made a good start from pole position alongside Andy Storer and although Andy looked like challenging, he did not make it through with Mike winning the race. Again the King of Shaves midget’s only challenge coming from a fully modified car while all cars in its class battled it out for position way behind the two leaders.
Way behind these two a titanic battle raged between Peter Bramble and Tony Crossley in their MGBs with Tony gaining the upper hand to take third in the race and second in class. Peter fell back slightly and was passed by Graham Jones in his MGB.
The standard cars in Class A also put on a great race. Richard Sapcote was in control at first, but a small mistake dropped him to third with Ian Wright and Paul Newton getting past in their Midgets. Paul then had a moment at Lodge Corner which left Richard on Ian's tail starting the penultimate lap. Richard pounced at the Knickerbrook Chicane to take a well deserved class win.
Mike Peters, Andy Storer and Richard Sapcote took the fastest laps, all records for the Island Circuit. Mike now has the lap record at each circuit visited this year and now has a clear championship lead and could win the Cockshoot Cup at the double header round at Anglesey Circuit in mid August.
Mike says:
“So hopefully I can fulfill my promise and deliver the Championship trophy to you. It’s possible to achieve it with four races to spare, making the last four academic!”
Round 5 - Silverstone
Mike Peters dominated the Cockshoot race at the MG International meeting at Silverstone. He converted pole position to a solid first place and took yet another lap record, this time at the Silverstone circuit, and now holds four individual lap records at Silverstone. Mike said afterwards this was a particularly satisfying record, having taken it from British Touring Car driver Rob Huff.
Interviewed in front of the 30,000 spectators at the presentation he thanked sponsors King Of Shaves, race sponsors Tag and car prep man John Hewitt.
Adam Cunnington made his championship debut and finished second in his Midget and won class C (Mike yet again beating one of the fully modified cars to the line in the rapid King of Shaves car).
Right behind, Dave Beresford in the mighty V8 and Jeremy Cottingham in his MGB took second and third in class B. In the standard class A, Richard Sapcote retired with overheating and Ian Wright swept through to take a comfortable win. Peter Toes clinched second in class from Richard Saxton. Thanks are due to TAG Environmental who sponsored the race.
The three class winners, Mike Peters, Adam Cunnington and Ian Wright each won the Tim Forwood Trophy. This takes Mike to Oulton Park on 29th July with an eighteen point Championship lead.
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John Hewitt dominated the Cockshoot Cup race at a sunny Oulton Park by taking pole position and the race win, his fifth in the series.
Mike Peters was equally dominant in Class B finishing the race only 0.055 seconds behind John, having harassed him for the whole of the race. Mike had no rights to be contesting the fully modified car on slick tyres etc, but somehow managed to keep apace with John - leaving the rest of the field well over a minute behind!
John had to drive hard, to fight off the King of Shaves Midget with Mike taking a full and amazing 6 seconds out of the lap record. An amazing feat. John said afterwards - “That was a tremendous race and Mike drove the car well beyond it’s capabilities. That was certainly Mike’s best ever race, and probably the best ever performance in the class. Remarkable!”
With three wins and a second out of four races (and four lap records) Mike Peters now has a clear lead in the Championship, with Steve Mckie the leader of Class A being his nearest rival.
Mike noted:
“This was an important win for me, as it was for The Vicky Peters Trophy.”
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It looked as if pole sitter Andrew Storer was going to clinch a win and the Malimson Trophy at Donington Park on 6th May. It was expected that the lighter, fully modified car of Storer would stroll to victory, but Mike Peters harried for the first four laps, taking the lead twice as the two swapped places, racing inches apart at speeds of 130mph.
As the two were lapping a back marker with Mike in the lead Mike the back marker turned in and hit Mike’s King Of Shaves Midget hard, leaving him traveling backwards at over 100mph. He recovered and rejoined the race in second, bout Storer now had a 15 second advantage in the lead. Mike began to Close on Andy but, already leading his class, Mike accepted pit instructions and slowed to a more moderate pace to ensure the class win.
As the last lap board was shown Mike’s pit crew amazingly signaled to him to speed up, clearly seeing that Andy Storer had fuel problems. The gap narrowed and as they came out of the last corner Andy still led the race, with Mike continuing to close. As the checkered flag came out both cars crossed the line together – Mike 17 thousands of a second ahead. So for the first time ever a road going modified car took the honours and the cherished Mallimsom trophy from a fully modified car.
Unlucky for Andy, but a fantastic last lap from Mike gave him the win while smashing the lap record. That makes it a lap record for Mike in each of this year’s races so far, and he now leads the Championship by 5 points.
Into third place came the mighty MGB V8 of David Beresford harried all the way by Ian Whitt in his Midget. Chris Evans drove hard to finish fifth and second in class C staying ahead of Graham Jones and Martin Richardson in their MGBs. Paul Newton carried on where he left on in previous races leading the Class A pack, but a mechanical problem caused him to retire elevating Richard Sapcote to a class win from Peter Toes and Steve Mckie. Paul's non finish means that Mike Peters now leads the Championship from Richard Sapcote and David Beresford.
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Round two of the Cockshoot Cup Championship for 2006 took place on a dry Cadwell Park circuit. Early race leader was David Beresford driving his MGB V8, but Mike Peters was the man on the move from a poor start, scything through the field, he broke the lap record and won the race.
David finished second to the flying Midget with Jeremy Cottingham slotting his MGB into third. Ian Whitt hustled his Midget to fourth holding off Graham Jones in his MGB. Martin Richardson was again the best of the "historic" cars. In Class A, Paul Newton took his second win of the season and the Championship lead.
A great scrap between Richard Sapcote and Ian Wright was resolved in Ian's favour on the last lap with Peter Toes finishing fourth. The next round is the long awaited return of the Championship to Donington Park.
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The drivers competing for the 2006 Cockshoot Cup were faced with a wet track for qualifying at Silverstone on April 1st. Martin Richardson grabbed pole position from James Cottingham at the end of the session with Ian Wright being the fastest of the Class A cars. David Beresford took the race lead at the start in his MGBV8 but had James Cottingham driving an MGB close behind.
Meanwhile, Mike Peters got into the groove and set off after the leaders catching and passing both of them, but James did not give up and managed to cross the line first with a victory margin of 0.15 second. David Beresford got slightly left behind by the flying duo at the front but still finished a clear third. Peter Ratcliffe drove his MGB to fourth place from Tony Crossley. Martin Richardson won the battle of the MGBs Graham Jones.
Mike Peters consolation was a new lap record. In Class A, Ian Wright retired to the pits early in the race. Paul Newton stormed through the pack to take the class win. A great scrap between Peter Toes and Richard Sapcote in their Midgets resulted in Peter catching and passing Richard to take second place in the Class. A superb race with seventeen starters was a great start to the season which continues on April 22nd at Cadwell Park.
Mike comments:
“What this forgets to say is that I was leading until the last but one corner, when Mr Cottingham hit the rear of my car and had me off the circuit. OK so he got past this time - but I doubt he will do it again!
I shall continue at Cadwell on April 22nd and have every intentions of bringing the Cockshoot cup to you (King of Shaves) in September!”