Grzegorgz Kalinecki Wins at Mallory

Joint series leaders Lance Foster and Rob Gibson each suffered disappointment as the Team celebrated their 1st anniversary at Mallory Park 2 June.

The first casualty was Rob Gibson, who was reduced to the role of Spectator to witness his friend and main rival in the 1982/87 class Grzegorgz Kalinecki, take victory at round 3 of the Retro Rallycross Challenge.

Gibson, who arrived at Mallory Park on equal points with Foster, noticed a small oil leak on the cam belt of his Metro 6R4 when taking it off the trailer and was unable to join the pack in the chase for the title of 2013 Retro Rallycross Driver of the year.

Starting from the back row of the grid in the first heats Ray Morgan slowly picked off the opposition, enjoying a clean dice with Dave Black in the Vauxhall Astra along the way, each giving the other respectable room.  Paul Smith was struggling with a overheated VW Polo due to a sticking thermostat, running with the heater on full in an effort to keep the car cool. Jim Black was similarly suffering and his days racing came to an abrupt end in the first heats. By the time Morgan had made his move on Dave Black there was nothing he could do about Lance Foster who was controlling the race from the front and finishing 7 seconds ahead of Morgan at the Chequer Flag.

Morgan turned the tables in the second and third heats by recording the fastest time, the dry conditions suiting the Mk3 RWD Escort, with Lance Foster and Ian Biagi bringing their Mini’s home to take second and third respectively. Dave Black’s Vauxhall Astra was proving once more to be the one to catch for those further down the field, with Paul Smith continuing his run of bad luck when he picked up a puncture.  Mark Thomas impressed everyone in his Ford Anglia, which runs a 1600cc cross flow engine, despite the misfire that had blighted him all day. Thomas’ troubles multiplied when he lifted his bonnet after the second runs to find that the plug leads had melted in to one big mass. The team helped to try and resolve Mark’s problems and worked together to get him back out on track, such is the camaraderie between Retro competitors.

Ray Morgan had a bad start in the final, later stating that he had blinked as the lights changed, adding ”I was delighted to have got past Lance cleanly, he is very difficult to pass that car of his is a quick machine.”

It was Grzegorgz Kalinecki who turned out to be the one to beat in the final despite an unfortunate incident when the front of his Lancia Delta made contact with the rear of Lance Foster’s Mini, for which he later apologised. Ray Morgan was chasing hard behind, but failed to catch Kalinecki who was by now in charge at the front. A disappointed Lance Foster suffered engine failure and could do nothing other than watch as Dave Black and Ian Biagi led the rest of the field home resulting in the following final podium places

                    Pre 1982                                                               1982/87

1st   Grzegorgz Kalinecki                                             1st  Ray Morgan

2nd  Dave Black                                                            2nd Ian Biagi

3rd   Paul Smith                                                            3rd Marc Griffin

Kalinecki, Morgan and Biagi are regular top points scorers in their respective classes but it was first time on the podium for  Paul Smith in only his second race since joining the team, he was thrilled to be able to offer his family and guests the hospitality that is on hand in the Retro Arena for the drivers, their sponsors and guests at each round in the series.

Paul Smith  ”Round 3 at Mallory Park turned out to be a successful days racing for me, considering the problems I had with the car, being presented with a trophy and prize money for my 3rd place was a nice surprise to say the least.”

It was second time in a row that Dave Black had picked up an award;  Brother’s  Jim and Dave who make up Team Black had a mixed day,  Jim’s overheating issues resulting in damage to the engine, but nevertheless enjoyed practice and first heat’s. Dave was pleased with achieving a front row position in the final, resulting in 3rd overall and 2nd in class. Team Black have a new sponsor; Flowtechnology UK, the premier catalogue provider for fluid power products in the UK.

Dave Black  ” we very much appreciate the support we are getting from our sponsor and strive to perform to the high standards that the company set.”

Marc Griffin, who had rolled his car two weeks previously at Knockhill circuit, was equally pleased with his points score and first podium finish in the series that he has supported since the Retro Rallycross Challenge was formed in 2012.

Mini man Ian Biagi added ” Mallory Park is a driver’s track, the inception of the first Retro Rallycross Challenge and to find now that we have full grids with racing that felt more like the Supernationals than a historic event, it’s got to be the Goodwood for Rallycross.”

Returning to the Birthplace of the Ripla.co.uk Retro Rallycross Challenge, the whole team were in party mood and with lots of guests on hand set about celebrating in style, with everyone in good humour. A celebration cake was cut by Shirley Gibson at the end of the days racing as Champagne flowed to mark their successful first year.