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By Dave Wisdom

For the past few years, the Wolves May classic event has been based around cars raced at Le Mans. The regulations vary each year to allow cars from specific periods i.e., 50s 60s or 70s. However, this year it was decided to run Can-Am and SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) cars that competed up until the end of 1967. The event attracted a huge entry of 60 with 54 actually turning up on race day.

As usual, the entry included a good mix of modellers and racers. The regulations permitted 2 classes; long wheelbase and short wheelbase. This enabled some fabulous cars to be entered. Included amongst the LWB entries were such gems as the McLaren M1, M2, Lola T70 Spiders and Honker Ford. The SWB attracted a very pretty assortment of Frogeye Sprites, Sunbeam Alpines, Triumph TR4s and TVRs.

This year’s event took place on the Wolves recently acquired 6 lane Aldersley track. A demanding combination of twists, turns, ‘S’ bends and very little in the way of straight lines. The circuit is very unforgiving and requires nothing less than 100% concentration.

Saturday practice dawned early with competitors arriving from 9.00am onwards. Getting to grips with the new track proved something of a learning curve and initially there were many excursions into the wall for many of us, but as the day progressed things improved and lap times started to fall (for some!).

A dozen or so of us met up on Saturday evening for a tea time pint followed by an evening meal in the Premier Inn restaurant. Speculation was rife as to what would happen on race day; would it be nothing more than a demolition derby, or would the damage be minimal? Whatever, it was anticipated by everyone as being an exciting day of racing to look forward to.

The crowds arrived in force on race day with at least 70+ people packing out the Wolves Clubhouse. Scrutineering got underway early, followed by the Concourse competition. As per usual at Wolves Classic events, a high standard of modelling was exhibited by many of the scratchbuild regulars and entrants. However, yours truly forgot to fill out his entry form…so my chances of any success were dashed before it even started…Doh!!

There was a fine selection of models on display with the final concourse honours being awarded as follows;

1st Joel Thura – Cooper Oldsmobile
2nd Pete Shepherd – Austin Healy Frogeye Sprite
3rd John Hayward – TVR Vixen

The racing commenced late morning. With it being 6 lanes there was a considerable number of heats to complete before reaching the ladder finals. Fortunately, it wasn’t the anticipated carnage it might have been. Evidently practice had provided everyone the opportunity to learn the track and keep damage to a minimum.

Pendle’s very own Paul Cash kept a cool head throughout the heats to reach a respectable LWB C final in which he finished a commendable 4th. Friend of Pendle Roy Pritchard, fought through to reach the LWB A final finishing in 4th place. Wolves youngster, Lewis Gough proved something of sensation by driving superbly throughout the day finishing 3rd in the LWB A final and setting fastest lap in his HRS chassis Chevrolet Corvette.

The SWB final saw Graham Windle disappear into the sunset, winning by a country mile, while Pete Shepherd and myself battled hard, with Pete just piping me to the finishing line to claim 2nd place. Ocar/World Classics man, John Hayward brought his neat little TVR Vixen home in 4th place.

Long Wheel Base final

1. Andy Tyrer 26.04 laps
2. David Farrow 25.61 laps
3. Lewis Gough 25.38 laps - Fastest lap 6.797 seconds
4. Roy Pritchard 24.85 laps
5. Mick Kerr 24.66 laps
6. Robbie Davies 23.87

Short Wheel Base Final

1. Graham Windle 21.02 laps - Fastest Lap 8.499 seconds
2. Pete Shepherd 18.78 laps
3. David Wisdom 18.73 laps
4. John Haywood 16.68 laps

Attention now turns to the October Classic Euro-Saloon event for SWB and LWB cars raced in Europe (and of European origin) up to and including 1976. It has the makings of another great event and the entry list is full to capacity once again. Report and pictures to follow.

Can-Am SCCA Classic 2009 photos