Race Reports for Anglo-American Challenge 2002

Scroll down for latest results

Round 1

In race 5 at an absolutely soaking wet Mallory Park, St Martins proprietor Ralph Avis managed a strong third place behind the extremely quick Tiger of Chris Beighton. This was despite not being able to see much through a badly misted screen! Mike Adams took the winners spoils, but only after a crafty last minute change to wet tyres in the holding area. This enabled him to come home a full sixteen seconds in front of the Tiger who posted the fastest lap of the race at 1:01.407.

Top six results for Round 1

Mallory Park - Race 5 - Anglo-American Race

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Round 2

May bank holiday saw rain, wind, brilliant sunshine, some classic racing and unfortunately, some retirements. This popular meeting always draws in huge crowds and this year was no exception. Sunday saw a diverse field of cars taking to the start line for race 4 of the meeting, the Sportscar V Saloon Challenge. The name of this race is fairly self explanatory with Porsche 911's dicing against Morgan's, Aston's and of course Ralph in his Mustang. No saloon's you might say, but wait, there was one.....a Ford Escort!! Not any old Escort, but a highly modified example driven superbly by local man Rod Birley who took the win. 

The practice session appeared to be going well with Ralph qualifying fourth on the grid. However, there were problems when the ring gear on the flywheel came adrift. This necessitated a tow start to the race, upon which Ralph set about catching and passing the Astons in front. Now in third place, things seemed to be going swimmingly until the oil light came on. Easing off, it went out only to reappear again. Not wanting to risk blowing the engine, Ralph coasted back to the pits only to remove a spark plug and find that a valve had dropped and blown the engine.

Unfortunately, the problem was not rectifiable and so therefore Ralph would not be racing in the Anglo-American race on the Monday.

Top six results for Round 2

Brands Hatch - Race 13 - Anglo-American Race

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Round 3

Saturday the 25th of May saw the Anglo-American circus arrive at Oulton Park in rural Cheshire. Always a favourite with the drivers, especially on the long circuit, the action was as usual, fast and furious. Ralph was to be involved in two races during the course of the day, the Anglo-American Challenge and a Sportscar V Saloon Challenge.

Practice for the Anglo race was dry with Ralph qualifying 2nd behind Chris Beighton in his Tango Tiger. The parade lap at the start of the race saw spots of rain falling, which steadily increased to a shower. Driving a car with nearly 500 bhp in the wet is no easy task and Ralph dropped back to 4th, being passed by a much nimbler Caterham 7 and Mike Adams in his E Type. Soon however, the rain got the better of Mike and he spun in front of Ralph. The rain eased and Ralph was able to watch the Caterham pass the Tiger only to be repassed a lap later. On the last lap, the Caterham slowed allowing Ralph to take 2nd place. St Martins Race Team member John 'Bomber' Harrison had a great race in his Tiger, coming home a strong 6th.

The above pictures show Ralph (in hat), with 'Big' Tony, Chris Weeden, John Finimore and Chris Beighton. Picture on the right is the start and finish straight set in beautiful parkland. Behind Ralph you can just see the Marcos 1800 GT of Jim Forrester who finished 5th. All photos by Linzi Smart

Sportscar V Saloon Challenge

This was another successful race for Ralph coming home in 3rd place behind the modern Porsches of Marcus Fothergill (1st) and Peter Morris (2nd). Qualifying saw Ralph in 4th place at the standing start, but managed to secure third, when one of the leading Porsches driven by Ben Rapp, parked itself in the crash barriers. 

Top six results for Round 3

Oulton Park - Race 6 - Anglo American Challenge

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Round 4

Top six results for Round 4

Snetterton - Race 5 - Anglo American Challenge

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Round 5

Mallory Park - After a successful practice session, Ralph was lying third on the grid behind Chris Beighton in his Tiger and Alex Hammond in his Camaro. After the lunch period in the second race being held, a series incident occurred involving a Alfa Sud and another car. The Alfa landed up in the wall seriously damaged. Due to the severity of the incident the driver of the Alfa sustained fatal injuries.

As a result of the above incident no further racing took place.

Round 6

Sunday 14th July saw scorching weather at the Yokohama Classic Meeting at Mallory Park. Qualifying second, Ralph was in a good position at the start. As usual Chris Beighton pulled away into the distance leaving Ralph only Mark Wright to battle with. The race finished with Ralph in second place and the E Type of Mark Wright a close third.

Predictably, fastest lap of the day went to Chris Beighton in his Tiger.

Ralph makes the cover of the programme!

Top Six Results for round 6

Mallory Park - Race 4 - Anglo American Challenge

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Due to the Rockingham meeting being cancelled, there is no Anglo American racing until Silverstone on 28th September. However, Ralph will be in action at Snetterton with the Heritage Support Race for the British Touring Car Championship on the 27th/28th July.

Top six Results for Round 8

Silverstone  - Race 5 - Anglo American Challenge

Pos.  No.  Driver.                    Car.

Also at Silverstone Ralph took part in The Porsche Open & Sports v Saloon Invitation Race. Entrants were mainly modern Porsche and Lotus cars, with a few 60's and 70's cars adding a classic interest to the race. The top nine results can be seen below.

No.  Cl.   Driver.                     Car.

At Silverstone held on the 28th of September 2002, Ralph's first race was the Anglo-American Challenge. Ralph started the practice but in the second lap he slid off into the gravel trap and could not get back on again. Even when four marshals tried to push the car back on to the track it was to no avail. Eventually he was pulled out backwards with a tow truck. All this lost Ralph four practice laps but he continued and qualified for second position on the grid. 

The actual race was fairly un-eventful it began with a rolling start and Ralph followed behind Chris Beighton for about the first three or four laps. Beighton's Tiger gradually pulled ahead from Ralph. So Ralph eased up knowing that there wasn't anyone behind him and finished the race in second place. Steve Bateman In his Marcos Mantis was in third place but he came off on the last lap and therefore Mike Adams who was in fourth place attained third.

 Later in the day Ralph had entered into the Porsche v Saloon car invitation race. Ralph had gotten up to fifth place in the practice but due to another car coming of in a dodgy place the race was red flagged. When the race was re-started Ralph began in his original grid position in 8th. This time he didn't have a good start but eventually finished in ninth place not bad when you consider the advantages that some of the more modern machinery has fitted.

Top six Results for Round 9

Donington - Race 6 - Anglo American Challenge

Pos. No.  Driver.                     Car.

Donington on Saturday the 14th of October was Ralph's last race this season. On the day the weather was overcast and the ground was wet. The practice for the Anglo American race was at 10.30ish it was practice five. The track was wet and someone in a previous practice session had dumped a load of oil. Conditions were slippery. Ralph went round the track and along the back straight then the alternator or battery packed up. Ralph managed to limp it round to the pits and have a replacement battery strapped in. He carried on for a further one and a half laps and then the practice was stopped due to people sliding off the track. Ralph qualified in tenth place on the grid. 

In the actual race Ralph started well he managed to get up to about 5th place. He got past Mike Adams in his E-type for a moment. Then Mike passed Ralph and spun creating a cloud of tire smoke he came off. Then Ralph began to battle with Andrew Marler in his Lotus Elan and got passed him. Ralph finished the race in third place. Overall Ralph came second in class C this season, behind Chris Beighton who took first place on points at Silverstone two weeks ago.

Also at Donington Ralph and John Harrison entered in the half hour endurance race. Drivers get a 15 minute stint each changing half way through the race. John and Ralph took their practice, it was still wet on the track. Their Sunbeam Tiger qualified in 27th place. At driver change over Ralph found the steering wheel was shaking in his hands. The car handled so badly Ralph thinks maybe the shocks had gone or the suspension was badly set up. The suspension arm had become loose and this was adjusted.

In the Endurance warm up lap John had the brakes jam up on him and was put into last place at the back of the grid. He started the race and passed several other cars. John came in for the change over after 12 minutes. It took quite a long time to change over as John is so tall. Ralph needed a cushion and the seat belts need adjusting.

Ralph went out for his half of the race and did a half dozen or so laps. He took a corner too quick whilst being chased by an Aston and spun off. When attempting to get back on, Ralph slipped into reverse by mistake, he nearly backed up into the gravel trap. An easy mistake to make as the Tigers reverse gear is up and left, next to first gear. Anyway Ralph found first gear and completed another five or six laps and finally came in in 15th place. Not bad between them all things considered !.

Top 15 results for the Half Hour Invitation Endurance Race.

Pos.  No.  Cl.  Drivers.                Car.      

So that's it for this year folks. Ralph will be taking part in the Anglo American Challenge again next season. Also look out for him in the classic touring car races which occur along side the T.O.C.A. touring car meets. Next year there are plans that these may also be televised. What a great opportunity then to sponsor Ralph, you could get your company on T.V. and if not at least your Product and details will be seen at circuits all over the U.K. in two separate race series. Both with loads of competitors and thousands of spectators at every event. Contact Ralph on our e-mail address or phone him at the shop. Below are some pictures of Donington 14th October 2002.