LONDON LOON BOYS.
Saloon Stock Car
World Championship - 30/31 August 2008 - Cowdenbeath Racewall Part One.
The build up to the World Final for the Jones Brothers was hectic as usual.
Not just with car preperations, but worklife which is important!
Both brothers were making their debut in the National Saloon World Final. A
huge occasion and a daunting prospect being staged at the Racewall! However
it was a track that the lads have raced at several times. More that most
young English, so an exciting build-up before the big day.
Murray decided to only have fresh front and rear bumpers for the World
weekend. No flash paint.....nada!
Todd decided a fresh approach. Family friend and race repair ace Terry
Norris re-panelled the car with a new shell. New front/rear bumpers, and
another excellent piece of signing by SignRight. This guy gets
better.....especially with the Allstox logo on the 186 boot. A stunning
looking presentation, and affordable too!
After a very long trip, via work committments on the way up to Scotland, the
brothers arrived on the Saturday for the afternoons scrutineering on track.
Both looked fairly relaxed, and practice later in the afternoon would settle
some nerves, and importantly, setting the car up accordingly. The pits were
a hectic place at times. Cars on and off, and plenty of observers walking
around in anticipation come the main race.
Practice was good for Murray. Although lap times were not the quickest. The
car looked very quick in corners, had good speed, and seemed to be handling
to Murray's liking. Todd however really struggled. An ignition problem,
countered by a misfire, and the 186 team were on the car all afternoon. Todd
works on the car with Pasty( Ian Willis), cousin to former Hot Rod Star and
now Truck Racer, Mark Willis. As mentioned before. the pair of the them
exchange info from the car and work well together.. Pasty is currently
building a car for himself for next season which will be a Sapphire based
car.
World Final Meeting.
The Last Chance Race provided six qualifiers for ther World Final, which
were, Winner Barry Hollett, Chris Lattka, Brian Honeyman, Carl Waterfield,
Alan Ainslie and Fraser Clark.
33 Cars formed the 2008 World Championship, with defending Champion being
Steve Webster. Pole sitter after the closing of the World Ranking Points was
David Aldous. British and UK Champion, Luke Grief on his outside of Row 1.
National Champion Shaun Webster and Stu Shevill jnr were on the second Row.
Steve Webster and Craig Barnett on Row 3. Row 4 had Winston Weir from
Northern Ireland alongside European Champion Shane Brown. Northern Ireland
had Stu McCammon, and English Champion Todd Jones on Row 5. Murray Jones
lined up next to Irish starman Andy Stewert on Row 9.
The opening laps were hectic and fast! Aldous the man taking up the running
early going, with Luke Grief in second. Early drama involving Ian Govier,
Kenny Purdie and Jamie Sampson saw them into the tyres on the first corner
leaving a large impact to avoid. Purdie got going again and was fast
becoming lapped as Aldous came charging through. Purdie was sandwiched right
behind Grief and Aldous, with Stu Shevill jnr and Steve Webster up right
behind.
Lap 6 and a hard hit from Steve Webster on Stu Shevill jnr into the pit
bend. Webster spun round as 618 Shevill limped round the outside down the
home straight. 401 Webster got going straight after, but pulled out in front
of Stevie Honeyman and Gordon Alexander. Alexander spun round Honeyman (607)
entering the start straight, as Alexander in 71 was then spun by Andy
Stewert in 991. Meanwhile as this was happening, Luke Grief tangled with
German Frank Loeff, causing the overseas driver to spin into the tyres on
the corner. David Aldous got caught up with Kenny Purdie who ran inside of
499 as 219 was getting tangled up. and was span into the turn One corner by
Fraser Clark who had nowhere to go. At the point before the stoppage it was
499 219. 720. 401. 186 the top five.
Aldous was out of the race, and fast approching through the pack at this
point was Todd Jones who was in third when the yellows came out for David
Aldous.
On the restart it read 219 720 186 401 262.
Back to the restart, and Grief led the pack away with Brown close to the
tail of 219. A lurking Purdie pushing the train of Craig Barnett, Winston
Weir and Shaun Webster into the first turn, with Webster 402 slowing down
exiting turn two. As Darren Barnett fired Andy Stewert into turn three as
they came back round on lap 7.
Then on lap 8, Shane Brown fired Grief up the wall to take the lead for the
first time. Not forgetting further back, Murray Jones in 176. He made up
eight places by lap 8, and was holding his own. All this until Gunner Chris
Lattka "slung" him up the wall, and hit the stationary car of 991 Stewert.
Murray said afterwards that the car didn't feel right after that, so a DNF
put paid to the 176 machine making anymore progress.
Once Brown got to front, Grief and Todd Jones were not that far behind each
other. But a few laps later, and the yellows were out again for the sticken
Andy Stewert car on the exit of turn four. The restart has 720 219 186 511
and once again a backmarking Kenny Purdie sitting behind!
Barnett made a charge down the inside of 186 Jones, as 17 Purdie pushed 511
Barnett into the bend to add to some drama. A few laps later and again the
yellows were out for Jamie Clayton, who was pushed up the wall by Lee
Sampson via Gordon Alexander.
The next restart had the Kenny Purdie 17 behind the front three of Brown,
Grief, Barnett, with Todd Jones in fourth place. A continuing misfire from
the 186 Jones car let the pack through, as Jones slowed down the order and
eventually retiring. A few laps later and Craig Barnett went up the wall
through mounting pressure from a lapped Purdie, as Grief dived back on the
inside of Shane Brown.
Five laps remained, and Brown stuck underneath 219 once again to take the
lead, as Purdie put the bumper in on Grief on turn one, as Barnett took
second spot still with Purdie mixing things up. Brown was away by now, and
thus Grief making another pass back on 511 Barnett. The top three, including
Purdie gave a last lap nail biter, but West Country Star added the World
Championship to the European he won at Cowdenbeath last season. The top five
was Brown, Grief, Craig Barnett, Teenage Sensation Frankie Cunningham and
Gordon Alexander.
TAUNTON NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
After the previous night's misfortune, and a rain soaked track, dry
conditions were much needed to see, especially as the boys had no luck on
the Saturday evening, it was the Last Chance Qualifier for the Jones
Brothers!
13 cars featured, including a surprise start for Craig Barnett. He also
needed to make the top 3 to go through to the afternoons feature.
Kev Dunne Jnr led them away, with Chris Horwell the main threat coming from
the yellows. Barnett got away from the back, in front of the Joneses. Tony
Gould was an early spinner, courtesy of Scotland's Alan Stirling on the pit
exit. Taking evasive action was Barnett, who went round the outside of
Gould. Todd and Murray then moved in on the inside to move in front of Craig
in 511.
Horwell moved in front of Dunne to take the lead, and then a cluster of cars
including Sterling, Ian Govier, Todd and Murray, Barnett and Frank Lttle Jnr.
were all bunched close together. Todd pushed Govier into turn 3 to move up a
spot, with Murray slotting in behind going down the back straight. What
seemed like the slightist of taps from Murray on his brother, and add the
slight push from Barnett on Murray, it all ended right there for Todd, as he
was sent sliding into the wall and clipping Stirling into a spin also, and
loosing his momentum.
Meanwhile, Murray lost a bit of time also, as he tried to avoid the
recovering Stirling. By lap 8, Barnett caught up to pass Dunne for second,
while Horwell in 103 continued to lead. At this point, Murray and Todd were
half a lap down on Horwell in fourth and Fifth, after both passing Little
Jnr in car 10.
Lap 12 saw Muz take Dunne in 171 for third, and an automatic qualifying
place. At this point in the race, Todd would have had to pass Murray and
Barnett to have any chance of the pair qualifying, but it wasn't to be. Todd
just missing out in fourth place. The early knock had a huge effect of
momentum on 186, and it was Horwell, Barnett and Murray Jones the three
drivers to go through to the National Championships.
The National title was being defended by East Anglia's Lee Sampson, with 28
starters. Pole sitter after points scored from the previous night was Jamie
Clayton, alongside Shaun Webster. Row two saw David Aldous and Stu Shevill
jnr. Row three was Ian Jarman and Scott Aldridge. Steve Webster (10) Shane
Brown (13) Kenny Purdie and Luke Grief (14/15) Lee Sampson (17) and Murray
Jones starting in 24th with Barnett behind him. All cars lined up in blocks
of four!
Murray made a good start, making up six places in the early going.from the
back. The same said for Luke Grief and Shane Brown. Shaun Webster made the
pass on Clayton on lap two for the lead, with Aldous and Jarman second and
third. Shevill in fourth.
By lap five, Murray was being lapped by 402, with 720 Brown, and Grief in
219, it was a case of running the race for the 176, and get as best place
possible.
Brown put 489 Darren Jarvis in hard on the pit bend. Grief was on Brown's
tail, and 720 couldn't hang around! Steve Webster was passed by Grief also,
heading down the home straight by lap six. A loose wheel from 360 Carl
Waterfield on the pit exit brought out the first yellow of the race on lap
eight.
On the restart as on the grid sat Shaun Webster in first, Aldous 499,
Shevill jnr 618, then a backmarking Murray Jones, then Jarman 490 in fourth,
backmarker in Alan Ainslie 777, then Shane Brown and Luke Grief in 5/6th.
For Murray, it was a case of 720 in a place just behind Jarman. Sportingly
pulled to the outside, and let the faster cars come through and drive a
sensible restart.
Grief took Jarman for fourth, Shevill took Aldous for the important second
spot, and then the pair exchange the lead for the next or two. 720 Brown
charged up to carch Shevill and Aldous, and on lap 13, luckily it was Brown
who put the hit on Aldous, who in turn passed Shevill leading into the pit
bend, and sneak underneath the pair to take over second place behind Shaun
Webster 402. Shevill re-took third as he and 499 Aldous played amongst
themselves.
Meanwhile behind, Sreve Webster 401 and Luke Grief were battling for fourth
place. Back marking Murray Jones played the domino effect, courtesy of 401
who snookered 176 into Grief in 219. 176 spun on the pit bend. Jones
recovered to pull off out the race on the infield. 219 and 618 launched
Aldous into the fence to move up for 3rd/4th. Aldous bounced back in fifth
and holding off 401 Webster, as Shevill pushed Grief into the bend on lap
16. Jarman was being passed by the Barnett brothers and slipped down the
order. Aldous and Webster passing Grief on the backstaright.
With three laps remaining, Webster 401 made his move on Shevill going into
turn one, A wicked spin left 618 spinning towards the marker tyres with
force. Shane Brown closed on on Shaun Webster near the end, but Webster 402
comfortably came home the winner from Brown 720 and Steve Webster 401.
A tough race for everyone and disappointment for the 176 team. Speaking to
Murray afterwards, he said he knew on the restart that Shane was a few car
lengths behind. Best thing in that situation was to move over for Jarman and
Brown. No point getting caught up with that lot!
NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING
Sat 16/08, Taunton
The National Championships were held at Taunton with qualifying heats on the
Saturday evening, and the main race on the Sunday.
They say that when it rains, it pours down in the West Country, and who
could forget the dreadful conditions the drivers faced on Saturday evening.
A monsoon Murray Jones called it and a meeting that the Jones brother would
care to forget.
Qualifying started for Todd and Murray in heat two for the Saloons, Without
a lap gone for Todd, he suffered a DNF from the off with a broken clutch
cable, and on lap three, Murray driving into the pit bend discovered he had
no brakes completely and pulled off to the infield. A miserable start to the
weekend and this would be the theme for the evening!
Heat three and Murray out in this one. With a line-up which included the
ever quick Jammy Jarman, Luke Grief, Shane Brown, Shaun Webster and young
Shevill Jnr, then the action tends to be thick and fast. Struggling to make
progress from the back, and Shane Brown firmly attached to the 176 bumper,
It was Shaun Webster and Shevill jnr the drivers making the quick route to
the front. Ian Jarman also on a charge into the top five early on. Further
back though it was Murray Jones and Brown reacquainting their rivalry with
the latter being sent up the tires and the 176 car up in the air at the same
time. No luck for Muz in this one as he was out with one lap remaining with
Brown. Another DNF and the rain coming down hard by this time!
Heat Four and Todd was out in this one alongside Steve Webster, Luke Grief,
David Aldous and National Champion Lee Sampson. A great start to Todd's race
saw him climb from 17th to 8th within the first five laps, as a battle
ensued between Jones and Grief. Sampson was again mixing it up with Jones as
some bumperwork was going in on the turns. Grief firing in Steve Webster who
in turn pulled off after five laps. Then trouble for Todd down the
backstraight as a driveshaft broke and luck running out again in this one.
David Aldous taking the win, and the rain by this time was dreadful to be
standing in, let alone race conditions. A monsoon it definitely was!
Heat five was the last race of the night for the Saloons qualifying, and
both boys out for this one with some quick work done on a quick turnaround.
22 cars for this one, and Stu Shevill jnr didn't hang around as he charged
his way into the top five early on. His new car showing it's way round in
the wet. An exchange of place for the first half of the race with Murray
Jones soon got the Scot on his way and the bumpers were flying on the bend.
Dreadful conditions continued and the track became tough to master. By half
distance and 618 (Shevill jnr) was at the front. Meanwhile for Todd, it was
having to contend with Shane Brown and Kenny Purdie early on too. Both
fighting their way through traffic and leaving the 186 machine at the rear
of the field early on.
Lap ten, and Murray pulls off with more problems with the brakes, and Todd
managed to survive another couple of laps as his night ended miserably with
another DNF and no more points scored to qualify for Sundays main race. Both
brothers now forced to qualify through the last chance race with the top
three drivers going through.
Cowdenbeath 9th August
For the second successive week, Todd Jones made the long visit to
Cowdenbeath to try and make amends for his previous visit seven days ago.
Murray Jones would have also made the trip alongside his brother, however an
accident whilst working left Murray with a fractured wrist, and laser
surgery was required,
Anymore English visitors this week? Well Luke Grief made the trip up once
again, along with Shaun Webster, and World Champion Steve Webster paying
another visit this season.
Heat One produced 23 cars and once again it was Frankie Cunningham making
all the moves as began to carve his way through towards the front as Derek
Duff continued the early going by half distance. Cunningham took the lead by
lap 9, but the action was coming fast as both Websters and Todd Jones broke
into the top ten and making quick progress to maintain pressure on the front
runners.
The second half of the race saw Todd maintain a seventh place until the last
lap. 600 Barry Russell putting in a hit on 186 with Shevill jnr lurking
behind with Kenny Purdie with him. Todd losing three spots to finish in
tenth place come the finish. Shaun Webster slotted into third place with
brother Steve behind in fourth. Cunningham crossed the line ahead of Duff
(only just) with 3 seconds between first and fourth place.
Heat Two and some minor changes for 186 and what a difference a race makes!
With 402 retiring on lap 2, Jones upped his pace as he and Steve Webster
began to reel in some of the movers which included Gordon Alexander who made
a lightening start from the reds. At half distance Jones was up into sixth
spot with 401 a few places back. With a timely push from 186 on 600 Barry
Russell, it was 71, 186 and 401 making strides. Once again Frankie
Cunningham was pressing for a lead spot behind duff and was up to second
spot after 9 laps were run.
Cunningham disposed of Duff for the lead, as Alexander slotted into second,
with Todd Jones moving up into third with six laps to run. A push from 186
on 71 moved Jones into second behind Cunningham, with Shevill jnr moving
aside 71 to grab third place on the last corner. Cunningham fended off a
last bend lunge from Jones, with 67 taking the win from Todd Jones in the
runner up spot, from Shevill jnr, Gordon Alexander and Steve Webster
rounding out the top five.
Jones very much pleased with the way the car was going in heat two? It's not
the lack of horsepower, we know we have the pace, it's just not getting
caught up in the pile-ups which keeps us moving! The car felt comfortable to
drive, you need it that way round here" (Cowdie)
So to the Final, and hopes of getting another consistent drive from the 186
machine. This race featured a spectacular roll from Frankie Cunningham. 19
cars out for the Final and in turn produced a lot of contact early on with
bumpers flying in on the bends!
Amazingly after lap 1, the star men charged through in the form of 402, 401,
219, 17 and 186. Early leader once again was Derek Duff, with Frankie
Cunningham once again making a charge towards the front. By lap 5, Steve
Webster and Luke Grief moved aside Barry Russell to move into second and
third behind Duff. 67 and 402 were just behind the front three as the race
entered into the second half. Todd Jones, Purdie and Alexander got in on the
act as the field began to close in on the top three. Jones in sixth spot and
on lap 12, Steve Webster disposed of Duff for the lead a lap later, and the
order with 5 laps to run was 401, 219 67 402 186 17 and 71 rounding out the
top six.
Coming down the homestraight with 3 laps to run, Grief had the lead whilst
Steve Webster moved out from behind Frankie Cunningham,into the turn, as
brother Shaun and Todd Jones were all behind one another going into the
bend. Jones pushed into 402 who in turn ran 67 up the wall and over onto his
roof. As 67 rolled, Gordon Alexander came through and had nowhere to go
apart from clipping Cunningham as he drove round, which spun him again on
his roof. Casualties from the crash were 67, 402 and 71.
On the restart, Jones had moved into second place passing the World
Champion. Grief, with Kenny Purdie in third. Lap 17 and a timely hit from 17
Kenny Purdie on 186 Jones saw the latter limp out of the race, as Luke Grief
took the win in the Final ahead of Steve Webster and Kenny Purdie in third.
A much happier Todd Jones licked his wounds as he reflected on his evening.
"much better than last week! pleased with how the car run tonight. It's
quick round here and you see how good Luke ran there in the final. The wall
as usual is unforgiving but thats the way it goes round here. The Websters
looked quick and I expect all the front runners come end of August to be on
pace"
Next meeting for the London Loon Boys - National Championship at Taunton on
August 16/17.
Saturday 2nd
August 2008 - Cowdenbeath
With just under a month to go until the 2008 Saloon World Championship, one
half of the London Loon Boys Todd Jones ventured up to Scotland to take in
some track time in preparation for the big event of the year for the
National Saloons.
Some English visitors making the long journey up were Racewall regular Shaun
Webster and East Anglian and British Champion Luke Grief.
Heat One for Todd and disaster struck for the English Champion on the
opening lap, as a stuck throttle put paid to his opening race, and an early
retirement, which saw Graeme Shevill just hold off Willie Mitchell on the
last bend to take the win from Frankie Cunningham finishing in third place.
Heat Two, and after some work during the F2 Semi's saw young Jones make a
good start from the green. Progress was being made, and not from a lack of
pace.
Jones worked his way through the 22 car field as he maintained his positions
moving through behind Kenny Purdie. By lap 6, Todd was breaking into the top
ten with Purdie still in front of him. Then a coming together involving
Gordon Alexander, Alan Ainslie and Barry Russell saw the bumpers fly in as
Jones climbed six places, and magaging to get his nose in front of Purdie
for the first time. Meanwhile up near the front, Luke Grief was on a charge.
He was up to second place by lap 7 as Shaun Webster took over the lead, with
Cunningham in third.
Purdie and Alexander caught back up with Jones on lap 8, as the Scotlish
pair exchanged places until young Stu Shevill jnr was on the scene. A hit on
the 186 car from 618 lost Todd a place on lap 10, but he fought back on the
next bend to slip underneath for fifth place, whilst Webster and Grief
swapped the lead with a handful of laps to run. Shevill jnr put in a big hit
on Todd Jones with 3 laps to run, and up the wall he went. Another DNF for
Jones, but not for the want of trying! Webster the eventual winner after a
great battle with Luke Grief on the last bend with Cunningham once again
finishing in third.
The Final, and would more bad luck arise for the young Southerner. Another
quick start from Jones saw him on pace once again, and moving up with Shaun
Webster throught the pack. Then on lap 3, a nicely timed push on 402 and 219
saw Todd slip through to fifth within the first four laps. Up front it was
Frankie Cunningham who looked ever so quick as Derek Duff and Alan Ainslie
slotted in behind the 67 car.
With the speed and quickness shown from Grief and Webster also, they moved
through on Jones to move up, but Gordon Alexander looked the dangerman who
was running in fifth. Alexander in 71 moved ahead of Jones for fifth with 5
laps to run, as Webster put in a hit on Grief with 2 laps remaining.
Cunningham still in the lead didn't look back as he took the win. Behind
though it was 402 coming home second from Duff and Alexander, who in turn
fired in Grief, and with Jones running side by side 219 over the line for
fifth and sixth respectively, the 71 car had an excellent fourth place
finish.
Jones, who thought he finished alongside Grief was awarded 9th place by the
lap scorers. Speaking afterwards, Todd said "I can't understand why I was
given 9th in the Final, as I ran with Grief until the finish. I never went a
lap down so I don't know whats going on"
So disappointment for Todd Jones, but a planned trip again to the Racewall
the following week should hopefully put this bad night's racing to bed and
live to fight another day!
Taunton Report - Sunday 20th July 2008
A track Championship meeting at Taunton, but more importantly it was the
final cut off point for the 2008 World Rankings in preparation for the 2008
World Championship at Cowdenbeath at the end of August.
Having both missed the Annual UK Championship Speedweekend at Skegness the
previous week, it was a must attended meeting for Todd and Murray Jones.
Valuable ranking points were lost that weekend which made this last meeting
even more significant if the London Loon Boys were to solidify their
positions, and not lose too much ground for final grid positions.
Heat One produced 21 cars, which also included front runners Luke Grief,
David Aldous, the Webster brothers and West Country Star Shane Brown.
From Yellow grade, Barry Hollett took up from where he left off the previous
week at Skegness with a sterling drive early on, and managed to pull out a
lead where he never looked troubled. The action was from further back though
with Murray Jones and Luke Grief making progress through the pack, and being
joined by Shane Brown and Steve Webster in the ensuing pack. An early
casualty in this heat was Shaun Webster, who pulled off with a broken
camshaft, and his day was run. When the cars settled down it was Luke Grief
on the chase to the front with Brown and Murray Jones battling for
positions. Todd Jones was making progress running in 7th. Aldous dropped
back through the field as he stuggled in this one in 11th a lap down. With
Hollett still out in front with a lap to run, it was Murray Jones on the
bumper of Brown going into the last bend. A punt wide to slip underneath
him, and a run to the line to edge 3rd place behind Luke Grief and race
winner Hollett. Todd Jones finished in 7th behind Iain Govier and 5th place
Steve Webster.
Heat Two, and Hollett beginning where he left off from in the first heat.
From the back of the field, Steve Webster started making his charge through
the pack by heading past Todd Jones, Grief, Brown, Aldous and Murray Jones
early on. A good battle developed between Murray and Nigel Parker mid race,
and with Todd Jones slotting into position behind the pair, an accidental
clip by Todd on Murray into turn three, sent the 176 car round as Parker
moved up a spot! Brown once again got near to the front as the World
Champion Webster made his way into 2nd place. Hollett winning another race,
with 401 behind, Brown in 3rd, Richard Paris 4th and Luke Grief rounding out
the top 5.
Onto the Final, and last chance to gain valuable Ranking points via the
Track Championship. Murray Jones began on a charge on lap two as he spun
Phil Powell on turn 3 in what looked to be a quicker set up for 176 in order
to move through quickly. The same for Todd Jones as he turned British
Champion Luke Grief around on the home straight to move up early on. Barry
Hollett once again was the frontrunner, and most certainly moves up to Red
with consistant finishes next month. He made the early running with Dan
Climo running well behind. Aldous was having a much better time of things as
he began to move through the field at a rate. Shane Brown fast approached
Todd Jones on the backstraight, who was behind his brother at this point.
Shane latched onto the rear bumper of the English Champ coming out of turn
two, and spun not just Todd, but collecting Murray as well, taking out both
Jones brothers in a very tidy move. The 176 car dropped a lap down as the
186 car got back on and made back some ground in the latter stages. But it
was Hollett who took a three races for the day, as he finished ahead of
Shane Brown and David Aldous. Grief was superb in clawing his way back to
finish 4th, and Climo rounding out the top 5. Todd Jones finished in 8th
after the early spin, with Murray Jones falling a lap down in 11th.
Final positions and thus the UK World Ranking Points chart has the following
grid line-up for the 2008 Saloon Stock Car World Championship at Cowdenbeath
on Saturday 30th August 2008. This grid does not include the overseas
drivers, which will be determined World Final night.
INSIDE OUTSIDE
499 David Aldous 219 Luke Grief
402 Shaun Webster 618 Stu Shevill Jnr
511 Craig Barnet 401 Steve Webster
720 Shane Brown 186 Todd Jones
490 Ian Jarman 18 Jamie Clayton
607 Steve Honeyman 428 Lee Sampson
149 Jamie Sampson 176 Murray Jones
67 Frankie Cunningham 17 Kenny Purdie
71 Gordon Alexander 305 Nigel Parker
512 Darren Barnett 328 Ian Govier
369 Andy Santry 83 Michael Bethune
311 Steve Newman 199 Phil Powell
Next meeting for Murray should be Kings Lynn on 26th July depending on work
committments. Plans are in place for the London Loon brother to travel over
the border to Cowdenbeath as part of the F2 Semi Final night on Saturday 2nd
August to get some track time there in preparation for the World
Championship at the end of August.
Taunton Sunday 8th
June 2008
A lovely Summer's day, and a trip down to the West Country to Taunton for
the Devon Championship.
Practice proved very promising for Murray as he recorded the quickest lap
time in the sessions set for the Saloon drivers.
Heat One was for the Devon Championship. A decent start from Murray, in what
was his first meeting in 08 from the Red grade. Within a few laps, the red
and star drivers clustered together at the rear, and with something having
to give on the tight track, it was Shaun Webster to spin first, as Muz had
no choice but to spin through the 402 car on the back straight. He continued
to make up a couple of spots into the middle part of the race, where an
interesting battle developed with the 490 car of Ian Jarman. In the end it
was an 11th place finish for Murray.
Meanwhile making significant progress early on was Todd. After getting past
Luke Grief and Shaun Webster early on, Todd was moving through the pack
steadily, passing Murray on the second lap, and exchanging a few spots with
Grief and Jarman. However the leaders were pulling away fast, and it always
seemed an uphill struggle to hang on the quicker drivers at the front.
Jarman proved he wasn't going to move over lightly, but once Todd got past
after half distance, his next target until the end of the race it seemed was
Andy Santry. A creditable eighth place finish was well deserved considering
it being a hard struggle to keep up the leading group.
Heat 1 (or heat 2 after the Devon) saw Murray pick up the win with an aptly
timed last bend hit on Richard Paris. Reeling Paris in with three laps to
go, Murray showed good patience for this one, compared to his normal style
of racing, and lead home from Paris, Phil Powell, Shaun Webster and Shane
Brown to round out the top five.
Todd had a few problems in this heat, when he collected one of the marker
tires on the corner of turn 3 early on, and become stranded there for a
couple of laps until he came back on.
The final race had Murray making excellent progress through the field as he
came from the back. Reeling in the leaders, and making it up to third with a
handful of laps remaining, problems occurred when he exited turn 2. The
steering compression shaft broke away from the chassis when he looked
certain to catch up with long time race leader Richard Paris. Murray had no
choice but to pull off. Paris eventually being caught by Shane Brown with a
couple to run.
Todd faired better than in the previous race, and an exchange of hits at
each end with Jamie Sampson was the highlight in the contact stakes.. With
some good pace being shown in the latter stages by taking Ian Jarman with
four to go, an eighth place finish was about the best the youngster could
manage.
Todd said afterwards "I struggled to keep up with Luke and Shaun as they
went through. I just wanted to keep up with the front runners, and didn't
cope too well in keeping up through slower traffic. The car had pace but by
the time they went though, they were too quick to mount a challenge on them"
Murray said of his afternoon's work "pleased to get a win. Gives me a bit of
confidence now to push on and be more consistent. Nothing I could do with
the steering. You can see the part sheered off the chassis, despite Shane
being behind us when it happened. I can see a few Brown fans having a whinge
of me pulling off, but you can see it for yourself"!
Next race meeting for the London Loon Boys will count towards World Ranking
Points. Buxton on Saturday evening 5th July.
LONDON LOON BOYS.
A very exciting prospect indeed for Allstox. We
are pleased to welcome Todd and Murray Jones to Allstox for 2008. The two
young lads from Surrey have been making headlines for all sorts of reasons
since they began National Saloon Stock Cars in 2007. Just competing each
week with such superb drivers like David Aldous, the Webster's, the
Barnett's, Luke Grief, and not to mention the host of Scots week in week
out!
The boys come from a Spedeworth background, Where Dad used to race way back
when.. and the boys follow in the footsteps. From ministox, they have had a
brief spell in the 2.0ltr Spedeworth saloons (including racing at thier
first ever meeting) before stepping up to the real stuff in 2007.
In 2008, 18 year old Todd won the Irish Masters at Ballymena, and on May 4th
at St Day, captured the English Championship by a half a car length from
East Anglian Star, Craig Barnett. Since then, 21 year old older brother
Murray has been putting in some consistent results as of late, and seeing
plenty of action and controversary along the way!
Murray's
favourite tracks are Kings Lynn and Nutts Corner. Todd however counts
Taunton, Skegness and Ireland as amongst his favourites. Murray, in his 11th
season of racing enjoys the banter that goes with it! It's all part of
racing!
Here at allstox, we wish them both success and enjoyment along the way,
every minute of it!
Regular updates from meetings, news, workshop, photo's, merchandising and
future meetings will appear on these Pages, with thanks to Todd, Murray,
Terry, Kev and all the Loon Boys Team.
THE SOUTH RISES AGAIN !