Ma5da Pembrey Report

PEMBREY

April 6th & 7th, 2013

By Jon & Tracey Elsey

T

HE first event of the Ma5da Racing season got off to a flying start at Pembrey in South Wales with many new drivers keen to experience the famous Ma5da series and see how it would fare after another club launched a copycat event.

Clean but close racing was evident to

see as Mk1s, Mk3s and a bevvy of MX150Rs raced in a quadruple header, which meant big smiles all round the paddock with friendly rivalries formed. In between the riveting Ma5da races, the spectacular British Truck Racing Association Championship among other events, kept eyes glued to the track.

Bright, sunny but decidedly chilly conditions greeted competitors but even with the novelty of Spring weather it didn’t get off to the greatest of starts for Roger Chesneau whose front left wheel fell off on the way to scrutineering! (pictured right) Another driver to suffer mechanical gremlins early on was rookie racer Daniel Banham whose rear brake caliper failed which meant he could only complete a handful of laps in qualifying and started from the back of the grid for Race 1.

Qualifying Time sheets for the first session of the 2013 Ma5da season were headed by the ultracompetitive MEV Exocet-based MX150R kit cars. The top three of Kevin Dengate

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(pictured above), Stewart Mutch and Ma5da frontman Jonathan Blake were separated by just 0.3secs.

Things were even closer in the Mk1 class where Cardiff’s Jason Greatrex headed Cheltenham’s Roger Chesneau by an incredible 0.05sec. The pair would remain virtually inseparable on track for the whole two-day meeting. Following close behind, and covered by just over one second, were Nick Holmes, James Rogers and Italian Continued over

From page 1 Marco Aghem who had flown in from Turin especially for the event.

It was in at the deep end for the Mk3 MX5s as new drivers and near neighbours John Collins and Andrew Buchanan got to grips with their machinery, posting respectable times just behind the four MX150Rs considering their lack of time with their cars.

Another driver worthy of mention was 16-year-old Liam Murphy, qualifying his beautiful self-prepared Mk1 in a creditable 17th in his first race.

Race 1

n Main picture: Liam Murphy, above (top to bottom) John Collins (Mk3), James Rogers (Mk1) and Chris Lovett (MX150R)

A thoroughly entertaining battle between Blake and 2012’s MX150R Champion Dengate raged from the moment the lights went out, with the lead swapping on virtually every lap.

Blake became somewhat hampered by a loose bonnet, the trailing edge of which lifted a good six inches on the passenger side of his MX150R, impeding his vision particularly on the two fast left handers.

Blake said: “A touch with Kevin had dislodged my left front bonnet pin and over the next few laps the pin let go and the bonnet lifted, only being held by the right pin.

Due to poor visibility for a third of the lap I had to back off and started missing the odd apex. This allowed both Kevin and Chris Lovett to catch back up, with them overtaking me to push me down into third. The bonnet finally let go and flew off, providing clear vision and a chance to catch back up.”

The stray bonnet was unceremoniously run over by the Mk3 MX-5 of Buchanan, then later by Blake himself.

Dengate eventually crossed the line just 0.3s ahead of Blake, with Lovett securing the final podium place, a tenth of a second behind. It was a great result for the Whitsta-

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n Triple Mk1 Class winner Roger Chesneau ble–based driver’s first ever MX150R race.

Things were equally exciting for the Mk1s, where several race-long battles kept the spectators enthralled. Greatrex and Chesneau were pretty much nose-to-tail throughout, finishing just 0.2s apart. Further back James Rogers and Nick Holmes were having a great tussle, with Rogers finally getting past on lap 12 to take third in class.

Another encounter worth highlighting was between Paul Monteith, Darren Shepsman and newbie Michael Fisk for 7th in class. Barely more than one second covered the three but Kiwi Monteith managed to hold off the challenges of the other two.

Mk3 class honours were taken by former rallycross racer Collins, who headed team mate and rookie Buchanan at the flag.

David Hart didn’t finish Race 1 after a tyre came off its rim. He said: “It was caused by either a kerb or a rut in the grass.”

Race 2 The second outing for the Ma5da boys was a little more processional for the MX150Rs Continued over

From page 2 with a relatively easy lights-to-flag victory for Dengate, with Lovett taking second followed home by Stewart Mutch.

The drive of the race though was from Mutch who fought his way through the field from 20th on the grid to the podium.

An early challenge from Blake was over by lap 10 with a visit to the pits, after contact with another car caused his right rear wheel arch to come adrift. Rejoining a lap down, he managed to claw himself back to tenth place at the finish.

Chesneau and Redline-backed Greatrex were again the class of the 16-car Mk1 field.

Trading positions during the 18 laps, this time it was Chesneau who came out on top beating his rival by the narrow margin of just one tenth of a second.

Other race-long battles of note were between Monteith, Marco Aghem and Matt Short and also the new kids on the block Daniel Banham and Liam Murphy.

Collins beat Buchanan once again to Mk3 class honours.

Party night Following the presentations for races one and two, a driver’s meeting took place where Jonathan Blake and Alyn Robson

brought drivers up to speed on the goingson during the closed season, and proposals for taking Ma5da Racing forward during 2013.

With the formalities of the day over, a party soon started in Pembrey’s clubhouse restaurant. Hot dinners were enjoyed and the beer flowed as The Distributors took to the stage to deliver a range of cover tunes, from the likes of Pink Floyd to Lady Gaga, and The Stereophonics to David Gray. Tales of the day’s racing were re-lived by most, while D&S Motorsport’s Dan Stewart and fellow mechanic Andy still toiled on an engine, long into the night.

Race 3 Ma5da Racing’s first race on the Sunday nearly started without its director Blake, who arrived at the circuit after collecting fuel, only to find the crossing point to the inner paddock closed for a race.

After all the other drivers had assembled for the race, Blake finally managed to cross.

Race day coordinator Bob Marsh had Blake’s race kit ready in his motorhome and Alyn Robson drove the red and green MX150R to the collecting area.

Blake was then driven to his car and many pairs of hands frantically strapped Continued over

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From page 3 him in after the rest of the grid had already gone to form up.

Blake said: “At last I made it to the back of the grid as the countdown began for the green flag lap, but I was now starting in 21st rather than 10th. After a fierce green flag lap, with tyres hot and brakes smoking, I was ready for the best start in my career!�

The Ma5da boss wasn’t the only driver to get a great start as Chesneau had a great first lap reaching third overall behind Dengate and Lovett by the time he crossed the stripe. This was to be short-lived as the fired-up Blake, Mutch and Collins had all got by the silver and orange Mk1 by the end of the second lap.

And so battle was resumed as Greatrex once again latched on to his bumper. Noseto-tail, door handle-to door handle, they once again changed positions throughout, with Hatchets hairpin being a favourite overtaking spot.

Behind, James Rogers had a lonely race for third in class.

For the first time, Lovett took his turn leading the field several times, from the dominant Dengate who ultimately won.

Nick Holmes and new Ma5da man

n Jason Greatrex and Roger Chesneau battled throughout the weekend . Above, Enjoying the fun at the Party in the Paddock.

Michael Fisk were never more than half a second apart, but it was motorwise.co.uk backed Holmes who clinched 4th in class.

Bob Higgins held off John Powell by just one hundredth of a second at the flag for Continued over

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Race 4

n Quadruple winner Kevin Dengate with Ma5da Racing coordinator Bob Marsh From page 4 6th in class. Banham, David Jermy and Pelican Speed’s Darren Shepsman gave more excitement to the spectators with a blanket finish, the three crossing the line a mere half a second apart.

There was an incredible contest further back in the pack between teenager Liam Murphy and Marco Aghem, which was only broken up by the arrival of the front-running MX150Rs on lap 14. Murphy had a spin when being lapped by the faster machines.

Mutch said: “After carefully picking our way through the first four lapped Mk1s, we came upon a pirouetting Liam in car 17.

I went right, Blakey took to the grass and that was the end our battle.”

Blake added: “Who put the jump in the grass? I was two foot of the ground and had a Dukes of Hazzard-style recovery back onto the tarmac, narrowly missing the barrier.”

As a result of his spectacular off-track antics, one of the HT leads came loose causing his last few laps to be run on three cylinders. He gamely held on for fourth place.

John Collins was the only Mk3 to reach the finish after the early demise of Buchanan on lap four.

Another cracking Mk1 battle saw Chesneau yet again vying for victory with Greatrex, but this time with added pressure from James Rogers in the mid stages.

The three were lapping bumper-tobumper before the slightest of touches from Greatrex at Honda Curve on lap 7 sent Chesneau fishtailing down the start-finish straight. This let both Greatrex and Haven Racing’s Rogers past, but with the bit between his teeth Chesneau managed to get back past the pair by lap 12 to go on to win the class for the third time of asking.

Holmes, Higgins, Fisk and Aghem drove home covered by one second at the finish, after the Italian had an earlier fascinating tussle with Monteith.

There were intriguing race-long battles for the final placings too, with Kevin Brent, Murphy and Banham nose-to-tail for much of the race before crossing the line separated by less than half a second.

Mutch enjoyed a good start to the last race of the weekend, leading for nearly two laps until Dengate caught him on the back straight.

Mutch said: “We were two abreast at 100mph going into Honda, wheel-to-wheel all the way through the corner and down the start finish straight. This was probably the most fun I had all weekend. He just had the legs on me. Chris tried to muscle his way though as well but I wasn’t losing two places in one corner!”

Blake had to retire due to the recurring misfire problem and loss of a ‘fan belt’.

Mk3 honours once again went to the bright orange car of Collins. Buchanan started the race from the back of the grid climbing to 14th overall at the flag.

Paddock talk Marco Aghem pledged to take part in as many races this season as his international diary would allow. He said: “I did two races last year and fell in love with this series because I’m a Mazda lover - I’ve owned over 20. In my opinion the feeling of motorsport has been lost in Italy because it is

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Continued over

n Main picture: Stewart Mutch (MX150R).

Top to bottom, Bob Higgins (Mk1), Andrew Buchanan (Mk3), Michael Fisk (Mk1), Matt Short (Mk1)

n Above: Marco Aghem, Jason Greatrex, Stewart Mutch and Dan Stewart. Below: Bob Higgins, Paul Monteith, Matt Short and Kevin Brent.

From page 5 expensive with very complicated organisation. Ma5da Racing is great because it’s low budget, you can arrive and drive, enjoy yourself and have great fun. Everything here is organised well, as it was last year.

You have created a creature and it should live!”

Dan Banham was on track for the first time ever. He said: “I travelled 200 miles to be here and a problem with a brake caliper nearly stopped me qualifying but I got through and am improving during every race. I’ve been made to feel really welcome and by all accounts it’s been an awesome weekend.”

Roger Chesneau’s speed had improved since last year and led the Mk1s in battle with local driver Jason Greatrex. Both beat Tom Roche’s previous lap record.

Roger said: “It has been absolutely fantastic racing, clean but very very close with lots of swapping places but not too much paint swapping! I haven’t had such good clean racing before.”

Greatrex said: “It has been exciting racing, nice and fast and very clean. I don’t like everything on one grid though.”

Kevin Dengate said: “We just need a few more of these MX150Rs, and for the weight limit to be lowered so we can go even faster!

I’ve really enjoyed the weekend and the racing has been very gentlemanly.”

Chris Lovett said: “I couldn’t have wanted a better weekend in my new car. The MX150Rs are generating a lot of interest in the paddock and if we can get 8-10 of them out there it would really take off.”

16-year-old Liam Murphy said: “We’ve spent four months preparing the car, during most weekends. It was just a shell and I’ve sprayed it several times over. I’m training to be a paintsprayer so it’s good practice.

“

I hope Pembrey is a sign of what we’ll get for the rest of the season. A lot of close racing with a good amount of respect for each other.

Stewart Mutch

To build a car and finish four races this weekend, without any problems apart from having to move the transponder, is marvellous.”

Andrew Buchanan said: “It’s been a massive learning curve for me, and I got a ‘fastest lap’.”

James Rogers said: “At first it felt a bit strange with less of us but in a way it’s closer knit in the paddock and we’ve been having a laugh. Lots of the ‘big boys’ from last year have moved onto non-Mazda racing and some could afford to be a bit reckless on track last year. I’ve been really impressed with the etiquette on track here, combined with really close racing.

“The mixed classes are going to take a bit of getting used to but if it makes a decent sized grid that’s fine. I’m not bothered about the championship status or points - they would only matter to me if they deterred people from racing.”

Former rally and rallycross driver John Collins from the same village as Buchanan, had enjoyed driving the Mazda but added: “It was a disappointing turnout for the Mk3s so we”re hoping for more next time.”

Paul Monteith said: “Good racing is more important than trophies and titles as long as the sponsors are still happy. The mixed grids worked and the circuit is much bet-

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ter than I’d thought from watching it on youtube. It’s very challenging and very fast with lots of places to pass.”

Darren Shepsman said: “There has been a great atmosphere here. It would be nice to have championship status back again but it’s not the ‘be all and end all’.”

Mechanic Dan Stewart worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, helping out competitors, loaning out parts, and getting cars back on track.

He said: “It’s all part of the working week, but it is a buzz for me. I’ve gained two customers and maybe a third with lots of new faces around the Mazda paddock.”

Stewart Mutch summed up the weekend by saying: “I have to say, I was really impressed with the standard of driving across the three classes. Very fair driving, enough to know the other person was there but not to the point of being punted off the track. I don’t know if it was the size of the field last season, or standard of drivers in the pack, but it was a lot more aggressive, much bigger egos and a lot more damage. I hope Pembrey is a sign of what we’ll get for the rest of the season. A lot of close racing with a good amount of respect for each other.”

Ma5da back on track With all the issues and obstacles which have dogged Ma5da Racing over the past few months, it was good to see drivers both old and new enjoying the weekend on and off the track. It will take a lot of dedication and commitment from all sides, but with the type of support and camaraderie shown at Pembrey, the building blocks for a successful racing series are evidently already in place.

Thank you to everyone who is showing their support when it matters.

Roll on the next event.

n Above: Paul Monteith (car 89) holds off Marco Aghem (car 86) during the opening laps of race four.

Results

KEY: n MX150R n Mk3 n Mk1

Race 1 Pos No PIC 1

1

2 3

Race 2

NAME

1n

Pos No PIC

Kevin DENGATE

1

1

1 n

99 2 n

Jonathan BLAKE

2

62

62

3n

Chris LOVETT

3

4 42

1n

Race 3

NAME

POS NO

Race 4 PIC

NAME

POS

NO

PIC

NAME

Kevin DENGATE

1

1

1 n

2 n

Chris LOVETT

2

62

2 n

Chris LOVETT

2

62 2 n

Chris LOVETT

77 3 n

Stewart MUTCH

3

77 3 n

Stewart MUTCH

3

77 3 n

Stewart MUTCH

Kevin DENGATE

1 1 1 n

Kevin DENGATE

John COLLINS

4

42

1 n

John COLLINS

4

99

4 n

Jonathan BLAKE

4

42

1n

John COLLINS

41 2 n

Andrew BUCHANAN

5

41 2 n

Andrew BUCHANAN

5

42

1n

John COLLINS

5

105 1 n

Roger CHESNEAU

6 58 1 n

Jason GREATREX

6 105 1 n

Roger CHESNEAU

6

105 1 n

Roger CHESNEAU

6

58 2 n

Jason GREATREX

7 105 2 n

Roger CHESNEAU

7

2 n

Jason GREATREX

7

58

2 n

Jason GREATREX

7

69

3n

James ROGERS

8 69 3 n

James ROGERS

8 107 3 n

Nick HOLMES

8

69 3 n

James ROGERS

8

16 4 n

John POWELL

9 107 4 n

Nick HOLMES

9

9

107 4 n

Nick HOLMES

9

10 7 5 n

Nick HOLMES

10 64 5 n

Bob HIGGINS

10 99

10 8 5 n

Michael FISK

10

64

Bob HIGGINS

11 86 6 n

Marco AGHEM

11

6 n

Bob HIGGINS

11

8 7 n

Michael FISK

12 89 7 n

Paul MONTEITH

12 16 7 n

John POWELL

12

86 8 n

Marco AGHEM

5

13 95 8 n

58

69 4 n

James ROGERS

4 n

Jonathan BLAKE

16 5 n

John POWELL

12 8 6 n

Michael FISK

11

64

Darren SHEPSMAN

13

89

7 n

Paul MONTEITH

13

72 8 n

Matthew SHORT

13

72 9 n

Matthew SHORT

Michael FISK

14

86

8 n

Marco AGHEM

14

89

Paul MONTEITH

14 4 2 n

Andrew BUCHANAN

15 89 10 n

14 8 9 n 15 72 10 n

Matthew SHORT

16 17 11 n

Liam MURPHY

15 72 9 n 16

9 n

Matthew SHORT

15

86 10 n

Marco AGHEM

95 10 n

Darren SHEPSMAN

16

24 11 n

Daniel BANHAM

17

17 43 3 n

Kevin BRENT

17 24 11 n

Daniel BANHAM

65 12 n

David JERMY

18 24 12 n

Daniel BANHAM

18 17 12 n

Liam MURPHY

18 95 13 n

Darren SHEPSMAN

19 16 13 n

John POWELL

19 65 13 n

David JERMY

19 17 14 n

20 169 14 n

David HART

20 43 15 n

NOT CLASSIFIED NC 77 n

6 n

DNF 169 n

Stewart MUTCH

DNF 65 n

NOT CLASSIFIED

David HART

DNF 64 n

Bob HIGGINS

DNF 43 n

Kevin BRENT

Fastest laps

DNF 41 n

1:06.922

99 Jonathan BLAKE

41 Andrew BUCHANAN

1:09.531

41 Andrew BUCHANAN

58 Jason GREATREX

1:10.505

58 Jason GREATREX

Pictures: ©2013 Jonathan Elsey Motorsport Photography

1:10.039

58 Jason GREATREX

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David JERMY Kevin BRENT

19 17 14 n

Liam MURPHY

Kevin BRENT

20 24 15 n

Daniel BANHAM

Andrew BUCHANAN

42 John COLLINS

1:09.395

17 65 12 n 18

NOT CLASSIFIED DNF 99n

Jonathan BLAKE

Fastest laps

99 Jonathan BLAKE

1:07.139

Darren SHEPSMAN

Liam MURPHY

Fastest laps

Fastest laps

62 Chris LOVETT

Paul MONTEITH

95 11 n 43 13 n

NOT CLASSIFIED

David JERMY

16

1:06.914

77 Stewart MUTCH

1:09.039

42 John COLLINS

1:10.156

105 Roger CHESNEAU

1:07.231 1:09.467 1:10.378

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