1st for Dadson – Whitewash for Fordham
Llandow Kart Club played host to round 4 of the Dadson Masters
The timed qualifying system was a 1st for the Dadson series now in its 6th year, so, you can teach old dog new tricks!!
Of the 24 drivers that made the trip, none complained about this system, there was an air of anticipation and excitement. The feed back from drivers was an overwhelming approval of the timed qualifying and indeed the circuit. There was no complaints of travelling despite some journeys taking 10 hours, in fact many drivers approached me and asked if I could make sure we visit Llandow next year. Clerk of the course Mr P Klassen & Mr P Jones called for all Dadson Masters drivers to attend there own drivers briefing where John Weatherley presented he’s "driver of the day" trophy to Graham Fagg after the dreadful accident he endured at Clay Pigeon. Tony Dickinson collected his "driver of the day" award from the previous round at Rowrah and Kevin Gilbert won the tyre draw and gets a free set of slicks.
Q1
With the weather indecisive/overcast and the tyre choice being declared "open", most drivers with the exception of Winston Bent took the wets option. Unfortunate for Winston the gamble didn’t pay off as it rained harder and he qualified last. Dave Wooder took the fastest lap (50.01) followed by Weatherley (50.53), P3 Fordham P4 Francis followed by Friend and Otway.
This would be the grid formation for Heat 1.
Q2
With conditions now almost dry most drivers were on slicks this time with the exception of Dickinson and just like Winston in Q1, Tony made the wrong tyre choice and qualified last (on wets).
Fordham was fastest with a 45.02 P2 Wooder (45.32) P3 Otway (5.36) P4 Friend P5 Weatherley P6 Francis. This would be the grid format for Heat 2.
Heat 1
At the start Fordham got the jump from P3 to lead the pack home 3.5 sec’s behind was Francis, Friend, Wooder, Brittain & Weatherley but there was very close racing all through the pack as drivers of a similar calibre were together as a result of qualifying.
Heat 2
Fordham took a lights to flag victory making it 3 out of 4 outings his, also, another fastest lap. P2 went to Otway P3 Friend P4 Weatherley P5 Francis P6 Wooder.
With all heat wins Fordham gets pole on the front row along side is Friend. Row 2 Francis & Wooder. Row 3 Weatherley & Brittain.
So, as to the great debate on times qualifying or 3 heat system, if you look at our qualifying which only gives the grid position for heats, then look at the grid positions for the final (which is after the heats) there’s not much to debate, the quickest is at the front, the mid is the mid and the slower at the back, just as you would expect.
But, none of the quick guys had to cut there way through the pack. Lucky for the Dadson drivers, they are over 35 and must have had experience weaving through the traffic for years. Some would say the next Lewis Hamilton needs not only to be fast but can race too and many believe the way to that is the 3 heat system, im sure the debate will go on.
Final
At the start Fordham stays in 1st, Friend tucks in behind for 2nd but on lap 3 Friends throttle cable snaps and after all that hard work a DNF. Wooder moves to 2nd while 3 times series winner Francis takes too much kerb & gets sucked in, crashes, recovers but down to 15th.
Fordham takes the win by 4 seconds and fastest lap from Wooder. Rogers raced his way through from 12th to 3rd followed by Otway from Brittain & Kerr.
With Fordham taking maximum (sorry Steve) points, Francis crashing & Rogers & Otway taking high points the Championship has been thrown wide open. To keep up to date fully & listen to our grid interviews go to www.dadsonmotorsport.co.uk
Go on … Do the Dadson
1st Fordham 2nd Wooder 3rd Rogers 4th Otway 5th Brittain 6th Kerr
Driver of the day Nigel Fordham