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The last formula classic race of 2004 attracted 21 starters with twice-winner Nicky Paul-Barron being the most notable absentee – the body shop not being able to fix the damage incurred at Castle Combe in time. The favourites were therefore William Jenkins (308GTB), Castle Combe winner, Gary Culver (328GTB), Brian Page (328GTS) and Nick Taylor (Mondial t). This first three named qualified in that order, with Jenkins having a useful one second advantage over Culver. Taylor was sixth behind a surprised Richard Allen (328GTB), who claimed he was “just cruising” and John Swift (308GTB). This time it was Chris Drake’s turn to be fastest of the 12 cylinders in his 250 GTO replica. Once again, there was a huge spread of times with some mumbling by the drivers of the later tipos about the V12s lack of speed round the corners and the opposite down the straights! This, to some extent, is part of the classic game, but the speed differentials in the field are increasingly a problem and ultimately affected the outcome of the race. Jenkins and Culver both bogged their starts and Allen (a distinguished hillclimber) said his was appalling, yet he was in the lead at the first corner, where fumbling with his gear-blocker pitched him into a spin. Pole man Jenkins spun in avoiding him and general mayhem broke out – luckily without serious consequences. The commentators said there was a blue car in the lead – was it Mike Spicer (328)? No - it was Swifty! Following him were Spicer, Page, Drake and Tristan Simpson (308GTB). Nick Taylor was 6th, with Gary Culver down in 8th. At the other end of the field, birthday boy Marco Pullen (Mondial t), who started last having qualified out-of-session, had passed seven cars on the first lap. At the end of the second lap, Swifty had pulled out a 1.7 second gap over Spicer; Taylor was up to third, with Culver right behind him. The following lap, Swifty was just four-tenths ahead of Taylor with the same gap to Culver, both having disposed of Spicer. So it went on for another three glorious laps - it was a bit like watching Red Rum leading the National again, but with wolves snapping and snarling at his heels. However, it couldn't last and on Lap 7, having proved his point, Swifty graciously let them through (is that OK John?), Taylor in the first corner ‘Riches’ and a lap later it was Culver’s turn. Whilst all this had been going on, there was a hugely entertaining 5 lap dice between Chris Drake in his GTO replica and Sam Whitman in the ex-Robin Ward/Mike Spicer blue 308GTB. The entertainment deriving from the fact that Drake was really chucking the old-style car about and fighting with Whitman’s totally different type of car from another era. This was interrupted on Lap 8 by pole-man Jenkins on his way through to an eventual 7th place and on the last lap when John Marshall (328GTB) split the battling pair, Drake taking 8th, best V12 and Class 1 fastest lap, and Whitman 10th. Brian Page and Jon Goodwin (Mondial t) were similarly engaged in an almost race-long dice, only resolved on Lap 10 when the former missed a gear coming out of ‘Russell’s’, Goodwin pounced and took 5th place which he held to the flag. Meanwhile, Taylor and Culver were engaged in a thrilling and crowd-pleasing display of hard, but clean racing, there being nothing to choose between them, with Culver closing in the corners, but Taylor not giving him an opening and using Mondial grunt on the straight. Unfortunately it was resolved somewhat unsatisfactorily on the last lap when Taylor was badly baulked by backmarkers when going onto the back straight and Culver seized the opportunity and got through. Taylor refused to give up and launched his car over the ‘Russell’s’ chicane, he got onto the grass on the exit, had a 90° spin, but recovered to hang onto his second place from Swifty, who took the ‘Class 3’ win. Mike Spicer finished in a fine 4th place which he’d held since Lap 3. So, the fifth and final formula classic race this season ended with victory for Gary Culver after a great fight back from his opening lap problems. In contrast to the PMFC, the race finished with most in good cheer. John Bolster said that the enjoyment of motor racing is inversely proportional to its seriousness; let us hope that formula classic doesn't get too serious and remains good, clean fun for all involved. It’s certainly a great crowd-pleaser.
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