TONGHAM MOTOR CLUB ROUND 9
27 July 2025
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Everyone at Tongham’s late July meeting seemed relieved that the
heatwave conditions from earlier in the month had gone away, leaving a
pleasant, dry cloudy day for a more “normal” day’s racing. As you’d
expect entering holiday time, and after an unbroken run of meetings with
no cancellations so far this year, a few regulars were missing and the
overall entry was the smallest of the year so far – but still plenty for
a good day’s racing, with a total of 94 cars for the class racing and 36
for the Bangers. Of course, there were still a few incidents and
disagreements, but nothing this time to stop the meeting being completed
on schedule at 4.30.
The biggest grid of the day was 21 cars in PRODUCTION A, although
one of the favourites, Alfie Alderton, had to sit out the first heat
after breaking a driveshaft in the service road. His dad Ben had no such
problems and led the race all the way, chased by Jamie Hales, making his
comeback after eight weeks on the sidelines thanks to his nasty
motorbike accident. The immaculate Bognor-based Micras of James Mitchell
and Tom Logan were split in the next places by Riley Rogers, testing his
sister’s Junior Micra, while Zak Gorrie kept the points battle alive by
coming through to sixth, at the head of a big gaggle containing Oliver
Hester, Jamie Dade, Taylor Lamb, Willow King, David Francis, Alan
Goddard, Joe Morgan, Cameron Wellgreen and Adam Dade, with Cherie Wells,
Jake Kurn and Charlotte Light close behind. Chris Bealing’s Nova was
lapped, with a sick sounding engine, and Justin Johnson retired.
Ben Alderton again led the second heat, but this time with Alfie in hot
pursuit, ahead of Jamie Hales and James Mitchell. These four were
settled at the front when the red flag came out two laps early, after
Adam Dade ended up on his side in the Farm bend. The main pack was
headed by Tom Logan, with Jamie Dade, Alan Goddard, Zak Gorrie, David
Francis, Cameron Wellgreen, Taylor Lamb, Oliver Hester, Cherie Wells,
Charlotte Light, Joe Morgan and Jake Kurn, while Justin Johnson and
Chris Bealing brought up the rear.
Willow King didn’t make it out for the second heat, but was back on the
grid for the final, only to pull off early on. Ben and Alfie Alderton
once more headed the field all the way, chased by James Mitchell, Jamie
Hales and Zak Gorrie. Adam Dade came in sixth ahead of Oliver Hester,
Tom Logan, Alan Goddard, Taylor Lamb and Joe Morgan, with a close battle
between Cherie Wells, Jake Kurn, David Francis, Charlotte Light and
Cameron Wellgreen for the next few places, and Justin Johnson retiring
again.
PRODUCTION B
continued its good turnouts this year, with 13 cars, although we lost a
couple in the first race with Aaron Culley and Ray Balmain both having
terminal engine blow-ups. The man on form was definitely Mo Penfold as
he made a good getaway from the red grade and by half distance was past
Kev Beck into the lead, where he stayed, holding off Thomas Connors at
the end, with Laura Connors and Fin Chance close behind. Martin Culley
headed Bob Salter and Zak Palmer, while Shane Phillips struggled to
eighth with a misfiring engine. Kev Beck, Addison Sibley and Lilly Green
took the other places. In the second race Zak Palmer made the best start
and quickly took the lead from Kev Beck, although after a sideways
moment passing a lapped car, he was soon having to fend off Mo Penfold
and Thomas Connors. Mo finally made his move round the outside on the
last lap and Mo took another well-earned win from Zak and Thomas. Laura
Connors came in fourth, chased by Martyn Culley, Shane Phillips and Fin
Chance, although Fin was removed from the result. Bob Salter, starting
as usual out of his grade at the back, beat Kev Beck and Addison Sibley
for seventh. Lilly Green was also starting at the back and came in
tenth.
Nine cars made the final, with Zak Palmer continuing his good form by
leading up to half distance. It was definitely Mo Penfold’s day though
and he challenged on the outside before a quick switch onto the inside
line exiting the Farm bend put him in front, to take another win from
Thomas and Zak. Shane Phillips’ car was sounding a bit more healthy as
he took fourth from Martyn Culley, Addison Sibley and Laura Connors,
with Bob Salter and Lilly Green completing the order.
The 1450 HOT RODS, with some regulars still out of action,
fielded five cars, although these included Kev Duce, making a second
outing in his unique VW-badged but mainly Nova Pickup shelled
spaceframe. Kev was running away with the first heat until he had to
stop in a hurry after the throttle stuck open. The battle between Ben
Stockley’s Micra and Rob Salter’s 106 was then for the lead, with Ben
just beating Rob, chased by Micky Hopcroft’s ever more competitive Nova,
which just held off Neil Hudson’s Horizon. Kev Duce then led the second
heat all the way, although he finished with a broken shock absorber and
called it a day at that. The battle between Ben and Rob ended with Ben
spinning into the inside barrier, so Rob took second from Neil and
Micky. In the final Micky Hopcroft, showing off his newly decorated
bonnet, led for a while before Rob Salter took over, but Ben Stockley
finally found a gap on the inside and took the win from Rob, with Micky
again holding off Neil Hudson for third.
The seven car grid of SUPER SALOONS included one newcomer, John
Morley, with a twin GSXR powered Seicento. Chris Carter’s 1600 Hayabusa
Pickup blasted from the back to the front on the first lap, and stayed
there despite snapping off the bolts in his drivebox, and completing the
last few laps on a flat tyre, which earned him a retrospective black
flag. The win was awarded to Laurence Connors ahead of Graeme Taylor and
Tom Chance, with John Morley opting to start half a lap down to get the
feel of the car, but getting past Shaun Maynard and Rian Sawkins before
the end. Chris Carter found enough help on hand to get him out for the
second heat, where a slightly more conservative start saw him take four
laps to hit the front, then coming home a clear winner from Laurence and
Graeme, after Tom Chance retired. The race was stopped a lap early as
John Morley and Shaun Maynard tangled on the Farm bend, although they
were placed fourth and fifth ahead of Rian Sawkins. In the final Rian
and Shaun led away before Laurence took over, but this time Chris Carter
struggled to clear Laurence; although from the third lap onwards Chris
constantly had his nose up the inside, Laurence always found enough grip
to persuade Chris to back out of it! Finally Chris managed to clear the
Growler coming up the back straight on the last lap and led by a couple
of feet over the line, with Graeme Taylor having a really close view of
all this in third. Tom Chance held off John Morley, quickly getting to
grips with his new car, for fourth and Rian Sawkins and Shaun Maynard
took the other places.
There were a few regular entries missing to bring the SPECIALS
grid down to eight cars. Danny Croucher and Poppy Carter had turns in
the lead of the first heat before Jason Woodgate came through at half
distance to lead the rest of the way, with Ashley Lock taking second
from Poppy and Danny holding off Mick Baigent for fourth. Chris Jewer,
David Baigent and Graham Baker all succumbed to sick engines. In the
second race Ash Lock came to a halt on the first corner, but then fired
up to rejoin a lap down, while early leader Danny Croucher pulled off.
After Mick Baigent briefly led, Jason took over and was chased all the
way home by Poppy. A hard charging Ash unlapped himself and with a
couple more laps would probably have made it to third, but he ran out of
time and Mick took third with Graham Baker just holding off Ash for
fourth, while Chris Jewer spun into the inside barrier. Danny and Graham
didn’t make the final, while David Baigent only lasted a lap, with his
engine problems not cured. Poppy took up the lead on the second lap and
this time she wasn’t to be caught, coming home to a good win as Jason
just held off Ash for second on the line. Chris Jewer finally brought
his dad’s old car home fourth from Mick Baigent.
The class with the biggest drop from its usual numbers was the
THUNDER RODS, with twelve cars lining up. Ant Sawkins had been going
well over the last couple of meetings with his Civic and, with a change
of colour, he dominated the day, while his fellow ex-Angmering racer
Jordan Dell’s Fiesta came through the pack to head the second place
battle from Trev Stamp, after losing his Fiesta’s exhaust, David Lock’s
Astra and John Burt’s MG. Next up was Jacob Lock’s Astra from Carl
Sawkins’ Fiesta and Paul Gadman’s Fiesta, with Elouise Powell’s focus,
Jordan Emery-Barker’s Mondeo and Connor Wright’s Audi TT taking the
other places. Emily Richer returned with a Mazda 3 but it let her down
before the start. Carl Sawkins led heat two away, but Ant took over just
before the red flag came out for Connor Wright’s smoking Audi. The
restart followed the same pattern and Ant then led to the finish,
holding off Jordan Dell and Trev Stamp to the finish, with David Lock,
John Burt, Carl Sawkins, Jordan Emery-Barker, Elouise Powell, Paul
Gadman, Jacob Lock and Emily Richer behind them.
In the final, the Sawkins family made sure they’d led every lap all day,
with Carl leading away and Ant taking over and once again keeping team
mate Jordan Dell behind him to the finish. This time Carl held onto
third from John Burt, with Paul Gadman and Elouise Powell next ahead of
David Lock, who was delayed by a tangle with Trev Stamp. Jacob Lock,
Trev and Emily Richer completed the finishers after Jordan Emery-Barker
and Connor Wright pulled off. Paul Gadman was later excluded from the
result.
Even the JUNIORS had a few of the top point scorers missing, but
the overall numbers were still strong, with sixteen on the grid for the
first heat. This didn’t last long before Tiger Kemp had a dramatic roll
on the pits bend and the rerun also only lasted a couple of laps before
a hefty impact with the armco for Freya Dixon brought out the reds again
– ironically the same two drivers whose mishaps had brought the day to
an end a couple of meetings ago, but fortunately both were unhurt. That
race was ended then, with white grade starter Ellie Lines still just
ahead of George Muirhead, while Jobi Boswell held third from Jay
Hopcroft with Tyler Cushing and Jack Stacey already having reached the
top six from the back of the grid. Jake Liyanage came next from Tyler
Hales, James Rich, Kaci Rogers and Callum Bealing, who was making do
with his dad’s Nova for the day. Harley Boswell, Elliott Simmonds and
Hayden Bullen had already dropped out before the restart.
Only Freya was missing from race two, again led by Ellie Lines but this
time there was no interruption as George Muirhead moved up to hit the
front, and the recently upgraded novice looked very impressive as he
pulled out a lead before coming under pressure in the closing stages
from points leader Jack Stacey. George just held off Jack at the finish,
with Elliott Simmonds in third. Ellie Lines held fourth from James Rich,
with Hayden Bullen, Tyler Hales and Tiger Kemp, none the worse for his
roll, just behind. Jobi Boswell, Jay Hopcroft, Kaci Rogers, Harley
Boswell and Callum Bealing were the other finishers, with Jake Liyanage
retiring and Tyler Cushing spinning into the inside armco.
Ellie Lines led the final away and George Muirhead was again the first
to catch and pass her, but this time Jack Stacey was already up with the
leaders and Jack went on to take a clear win, with George still doing
very well to take second from Elliott Simmonds and Jobi Boswell. Ellie
again held on well for fifth, at the head of a bunch comprising Jake
Liyanage, Tyler Hales, Hayden Bullen, Tiger Kemp, Tyler Cushing, James
Rich and Callum Bealing, with Jay Hopcroft last to finish after Harley
Boswell and Kaci Rogers pulled off.
There were a dozen NOVICE JUNIORS, which made their races easier
to follow – although start positions were still random, the back of the
grid didn’t overlap the front! No new drivers this time, but it was good
to see Louisa Field back in her Mini after breaking her ankle in her
shunt a few meetings ago. Harvey Mawdsley led the first heat all the way
in his Corsa, with William Thomas holding off Easmae Powell for second
and Alfie Symonds in fourth. Riley Cushing and Tia Stephens were the
only others not lapped by the rapid Harvey, with the other finishers
being Leah Gregory, Frankie Holland, Freddie Salter, Harry Williams and
Seren Chance, with Louisa Field unfortunately pulling off.
Second time out Harvey Mawdsley again led all the way, with Easmae
Powell in second, just being caught by William Thomas on the last lap.
Riley Cushing headed a train comprising Alfie Symonds, Tia Stephens,
Leah Gregory and Frankie Holland, while finishing a lap down Louise
Field beat Harry Williams to be first Mini home, followed by Freddie
Salter and Seren Chance. We did notice, though, that although Frankie
Holland looked to be starting at the back of the pack, he was scored as
starting half a lap ahead, which in the official sheets gave him second
and first in those races – but as ever, the positions don’t really
matter with no points at stake, and Frankie drove a good couple of races
whatever the result!
For the final Harvey again led away, but this time William Thomas went
with him and William made a pass on the outside with three laps to go,
taking a close win from Harvey. Riley Cushing took third with Tia
Stephens heading Easmae Powell and Frankie Holland over the line
(although the official sheet again showed Frankie a lap ahead). Lapped
at the end were Leah Gregory, Louise Field, Harry Williams, Seren Chance
and Freddie Salter. The three "most
improved" trophies went to Easmae Powell, Riley Cushing and Harry
Williams.
In the ALLCOMERS, the Unmodified race fielded eleven cars and was
led nearly all the way by Willow King, with Thomas Connors hitting the
front on the last lap, and Shane Phillips and Alfie Alderton crossing
the line three-abreast with Willow. Chasing the leaders home were Laura
Connors, David Francis, presumably one of the Kemp family in Tiger’s
car, Emily Richer and Trev Stamp, with Carl Sawkins and Jordan Dell
retiring. Chris Carter took over Poppy’s car for the Modified race and,
with only three starters, made short work of beating Micky Hopcroft and
Shaun Maynard.
We couldn’t find the signing on sheet for the MECHANICS’ RACE but
we’re pretty sure it was Carl Sewell in front all the way, in Justin
Johnson’s Prod A, ahead of the mechanics for Jake Liyanage’s Junior car
and Shane Phillips’ Prod B, with the Elouise Powell Focus dropping out
after moving up to second.
The NUDGE & SPIN BANGERS produced 24 cars altogether for the
“large” group, not all at the same time, and a dozen of the “small”
cars. Jamie Duff had found a new Focus and, by the look of it, a new tin
of pink paint, but didn’t take his customary win in the first race as
Brad Reid led all the way, with Charlie Callard and Tom Dickson closing
in on him while avoiding all the wreckage on the pits turn. Second time
out, on a watered track Jamie did take the win as the red flag came out
early, beating Tommy James. Zane Rose, in a massive Volvo hearse,
attracted lots of attention, from spectators when he arrived and from
other drivers when he made the track for the second race – it was soon a
bit shorter, but it was placed third in that race and still moving at
the end of the day! The final, also on a freshly watered track, was led
for a while by Harley James, but at the end Craig Green was in front of
Tommy James and Tom Dickson.
The small group saw Jordan Clark taken out of the first race lead by
Jamie Watts, who went on to win from Jordan and Bailey Ramsay, although
the reds came out a lap early when Jamie looked as though he might be on
fire. Second time out Jordan Clark was again removed from the lead, this
time by Ash Disdle, but when Ash broke down Craig Hutchins took the win
from Bailey Ramsay and Jordan. The final saw just three cars running at
the end. Jamie Watts was leading until he chose to rear-end Jayden
Cushing rather than continue, and Bailey Ramsay was ahead of Annabelle
Palser and Matt Gould when the red was thrown with Riley Rogers taking
revenge on Jamie.
Twelve cars made the Bangers’ allcomers, Jamie Duff holding off Owen
Daniels to win, and four of them stayed on for the DD, which didn’t last
long!
The next meeting was due a fortnight later, but this was cancelled to
allow time and money to be invested in the track surface, which had
taken quite a bit of punishment during the long hot summer. It was worth
sacrificing one day in the middle of the holiday season to maximise the
changes of a successful August Bank Holiday weekend, when the two day
event is, for many people, a highlight of the Tongham season.