Mallory Park Sunday 29th July 2012

The Spectator ventured to Leicestershire's other circuit on Sunday for a meeting organised by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club. This was my first visit to the self styled "Friendly Circuit" in 2012 as my last visit was on Boxing Day for the Plum Pudding meeting last December 26th funnily enough. For various reasons there aren't many car racing meetings at Mallory this year, indeed this was only their 3rd of the season. As to why, well Mallory has always been a bike circuit first and foremost but was always a good club venue for cars, but with BRSCC not even having one meeting this year it has to rely on the smaller one-off clubs to help fill the schedule.
The CTCRC usually run their portfolio of championships within BARC meetings but once a year they run their own meeting at Mallory, The AUTOGLYM Classic Festival to give its official title. 12 races were run all of 15 minutes in length and after spectating at curfewless Donington for most of the year it was unusual to leave a circuit at 5.30pm! 6 categories had double headers which were Pre'93 Touring Cars, Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Cars, Blue Oval Saloons, Post Historic & Group One Touring Cars, Classic Thunder and Alfa Romeo Owners Club.
Mallory always provides close racing and this was a very good meeting with excellent entries. Best race of the day was the first Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Car race which had a superb 3 way dice for the lead between Phil Manser's Mini Cooper, Steven Sprigg's Lotus Cortina and Richard Sprigg's Ford Anglia. Lots of drifting through the Esses and plentiful use of the grass when overtaking!
Thankfully there were only 2 red flags on the day with the first Classic Saloon & Historic Touring Car race having a first lap crash at Gerards and the 2nd Classic Thunder race being stopped early following an incident at Shaws Hairpin.
Only a few showers during the day which stayed warm throughout. Admission was £15 on the gate but I was given a free ticket (many thanks to all concerned...) and a cracking A4 size all colour programme was £3. In a year when certain clubs and circuits have lost the plot where programmes are concerned this was proof that you can produce something that is readable and contains an up to date entry list.....

One final thing to say though is that Mallory need to address the condition of parts of their circuit. The access road as you come through the gate is badly potholed and after a period of landscaping and barriers being moved back around the track there are areas that are in very poor condition. The lack of a spectator barrier in many areas is disconcerting with only rope separating you from the action. Toilets on the exit of Gerards  would be quite useful too!