RACES 3&4 : BRANDS HATCH : 13&14 JUNE 2009
by Nicky Paul-Barron, with in-car from Gary Culver

Both our club racing series were featured at Brands, with separate qualifying and races on both Saturday and Sunday. Unlike 'classic', 'Open' continues to be a problem child. We saw some new drivers at Spa, where there was a decent entry of around 15 cars. There were new drivers at Brands too, but only six cars chose to play in the Kent countryside.

Race One (Saturday)
As expected Gary Culver qualified on pole position from the impressive David Tomlin. Next up was Tim Mogridge, Vance Kearney, Nigel Jenkins and Martin Braybrook.

Race time was around 16:40, but the day was still very warm and the track dry. From the start Tomlin led Culver, who is not maybe the world’s best starter. This order continued for many laps, but all of us who have raced Gary over the years felt there was only one likely outcome. In the end it took a mistake from Tomlin on the exit of Paddock to let Gary through. Once passed Gary pulled ahead and was some 16 seconds up by the chequered flag.

The next three were covered by less than two seconds, in the order Tomlin, Mogridge and Jenkins, with Kearney and Braybrook both getting home safely. This was a particularly impressive showing from Nigel Jenkins. Not only has he had very little time in his new car, but it had caught fire at Oulton Park on Wednesday, and it must have taken a lot of hard work to get it ready to race. Fastest lap Culver 52.849.

His view of the race: "The size of the grid was in inverse proportion to the quality of the racing, Tomlin managed a hillclimbers' start and bolted off into the lead. Brands is not a easy track on which to pass, especially in 355s and we both fought hard for honours for half of the race. Thankfully, Tomlin made a slight error at Paddock Hill bend which gave me the gap I was looking for".

Race Two (Sunday)
In the morning qualifying session David Tomlin had just pipped Gary Culver to take his first pole in 'Open'. Tim Mogridge was next up from Nigel Jenkins, Lee Moulden (driving the car that Vance Kearney drove the day before) and Martin Braybrook.

Gary’s poor starting continued and he was only fourth at the first corner with Tomlin leading from Nigel Jenkins and Tim Mogridge. The Culver charge soon got going though and he was chasing Tomlin for all his worth. However by the time he got clear into second place Tomlin was a fair way up the road.

It then really became two races – Culver chasing Tommo and then the pack of Jenkins, Mogridge and Moulden. I know that a race of six cars doesn’t sound over exciting, but this was an absolute cracker. There was some great dicing in the pack of three, and Gary really had the afterburners lit, setting fastest lap after fastest lap. Great stuff. In the end Tomlin took a deserved win from Culver (0.3 seconds back) Jenkins (a smashing drive), Moulden, Mogridge (rear tyres shot) and Braybrook. Phew, where’s that ice cream van?

Gary Culver, our in-car correspondent, said: "Another poor start saw me fourth into Paddock behind (Tomlin) Jenkins and Mogridge. After getting past those two, which took a few laps I was then in hot pursuit of Tomlin who had by that time pulled out a lead of seven seconds. Catching is one thing, passing is another round Brands.... Tomlin drove a good race and we crossed the line with him a split second in front."

'Open' could be so great if only we had more entries. For one particular driver though Brands will be long remembered. As Swifty said “David Tomlin will be leaving Brands standing two inches taller".

Next up: Snetterton July 19th.