REVIEW
The 2007 Dadson Masters season was one of the busiest ever in terms of registrations.
Not only did
the thrilling on-track action provide headlines, there was also a seemingly
endless stream of crucial off-track developments that kept me, our reporter,
constantly on my toes.
In this review we take a look back at the stories & interviews that caught our
attention from March to November in the 10 Race 9 Month long 2007 Dadson Masters
Series.
We also preview 2008 in this one feature.
Dadson kicked off their 2007 road show programme in style wowing a crowd of on lookers including Jean & John of JAG Engineering who were present to support, thereby putting the rubber stamp on the series.
From Wooder on the front row to novice’s at the rear.
From the Friend protest dramas to the privateer taking on teams.
ROUND 1 LYDD
Little did we know the first race had set the trend for the entire series. These old guys know how to race, (and party) throughout the day there were in excess of 350 overtaking manoeuvres but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
A victory for Dave Wooder at Round 1 puts the Kent man back in contention for the 2007 title but things are less happy at 2005 champion Beckenham’s camp, where a firing off incident forces the Surrey driver to run at the rear. Also there’s this new kid on the track. He’s new to the series this year.
ROUND 2 CLAY
Dramas aplenty involving a massive pile up at the start of heat 3 involving the
air ambulance team being scrambled to Clay. At that time I refused to write a
report based on the misfortune of a mate. I feel the same today, the only thing
to report here other than Grahams made a full recovery is the fact that there
was a que of volunteers willing to tow his equipment home & do anything to help
him or his family. We are proud of our emergency services in the UK and the
professionalism of ALL at Clay Kart Club. Thanks Clay, see you October 2008.
Francis took the win.
ROUND 3
Novice Dickinson’s extraordinary debut, during which he masters the rain-swept Rowrah race overtaking old hands like Francis to finish a respectable 3rd.
He continues to race at the sharp end & must be a contender for the for coming season.
Pasterfield meanwhile, looked to the future after announcing plans to become the first pilot to use sponsors Dartford Karting’s Wildkart.
The Pasterfield & Long combination has even more reason to celebrate as they score their best-ever result, finishing just outside the top 10 for the 1st time & finishing in heats much higher up the pecking order.
ROUND 4
Several times throughout the year Dadson Masters drivers made a bad choice in calling the right rubber. Llandow was no exception. Although it would be timed qualification that gets a massive thumbs up from drivers. Oh nearly forgot to mention that new guy, he’s quick. In actual fact he’s been at the front a lot nicking all those points of the southerners. He just put it on pole & took a lights to flag victory.
ROUND 5
On to Shenington &Wooder hits a stumbling block. With a new team, woes continue and he is relegated to the back of the grid after engine troubles. Again changeable conditions at Shenington seamed to hamper the Dadson Masters drivers, is there a pattern emerging here or is it just inclement weather. One thing that is now clear, remember that new guy, his name is Nigel Fordham. You may here more of him. The dadson drivers certainly are seeing more of him. Particularly those at the front.
ROUND 6
After Wooders poor performance at Shenington big Dave’s hopeful of an upswing in pace. It’s needed because the newcomer Fordham is rite up his exhaust in leader board terms. Wooder headlines again, when, for round 6 returning home to Kent at Lydd puts his Kosmic on pole & converts that to a lights to flag win maximising on points keeping him top of the leader board.
ROUND 7
On to the fantastic PFI circuit in Lincolnshire and a blast from the past- John Weatherley puts his kart on pole for the second time this year. Former Citron works rally ace Johns back racing karts and mixing it up with the best of them.
ROUND 8
At the Mansell circuit, while Wooder is away on European duties Fordham needs to
compound this with maximum points. Nigel rises to the occasion converting a pole
to a win in extreme style. While talking in our post race interview
www.dadsonmotorsport.co.uk he said:- “tell Dave I miss him”.
After debuting back in March Rogers, featuring a Wright kart retires from the series & karting having made several visits to the podium.
ROUND 9
Onto the penultimate round at 3 Sisters. The battle between Fordham and Wooder continues to rage throughout the 3 Sisters race weekend, but a different rivalry also grabs the headlines. Friend, Francis, & Beckenham are now all fighting for highest positions in the championship not withstanding the fact dropped rounds now come into play.
Wooder takes on the might of Fordham in a straight-line speed contest at Wigan & loses out by two kart places. Fordham maximising points again.
ROUND 10
Trouble reins at Lydd ahead of the last race. Meanwhile, Strudwick & Francis
escape serious injury after crashing heavily in the final test on Saturday.
Although Strudwick is out of hospital within hours, he is withdrawn later for
medical reasons.
With Fordham almost assured of the title providing he keeps out of trouble & Wooder runner-up we can look elsewhere for racing. Friend has 3rd position almost in the bag. Im being couscous here because like the end to any championship dropped rounds now come into play. The different permutation of events leading ultimately to a drivers score are far to complicated to go into suffice, to say if a driver got excluded which could happen for a vast amount of reasons (not just driving), that round could not be used in the calculations as a dropped round. Basically that could really munch the numbers up & in some cases loose your position within the championship.
Again inclement weather for this the final round, oh dear, here we go again. Dadson–Tyres–Rain it’s almost a contradiction in terms.
Friend took the win & fastest lap in the first heat while Cowlam came in early to preserve his tyres!
Friend made it a double taking the 2nd heat win & fastest lap again.
Getting ready for heat 3 Friend’s totally destroyed his wet tyres & the regulations don’t allow him to buy fresh rubber on the day. TILT. Friend makes a protest regarding tyres. Into the clerk’s office & Friend’s appeal is not upheld. This is a terrible shame because Richard could have been in for a shout with a win he certainly looked as if he had the pace but managing your racing has to be part of your set-up. Fundamentally part of racing is to conserve your tyres & order them in the manor set in the regulations, after all you don’t forget to enter, do you, or you wont be racing. Perhaps now we can see what Cowlam done.
The conditions for the final were interchangeable, tricky to say the least. Some was on wets others on slicks it would be the wise who had studied the track working out what set-up to use bearing in mind a 15 lap final may have a bearing on the outcome. As the green flag goes up there is a dry line starting to appear. Drivers on wets would break away but after 6 laps those that were on slicks and managed to stay on the dry line had the upper hand. Brittian took the last round win.
After impressing in 2002 /3 /4, the three-time Dadson champion Melvin Francis tests a Wildkart & takes the fastest lap in the final outing. Unfortunately Friend DNF having made the wrong tyre choice & not being in a position to control his kart.
The guy who most never heard of, come into this series, alone, on his own in many cases. Working from the boot of his car, sometimes mechanicing for himself WINNING then driving home alone. We used to say whatever your level of ability, you’ll always find somebody of a similar standard to race against in the dadson series & it’s true you can.
AWARDS
The 2007 Dadson Masters Awards took place at KARTMANIA with Fordham, Francis, Beckenham & Weatherley all in attendance to collect their 2007 winners’ trophies. Others honoured include Pasterfield, who received the Best Improver award. British & European reporter Ken Walker made the presentation along with (yours truly) Dadson Director Dannie Pennell.
Retired 2007 champion Nigel Fordham wins one of Dadson’s most prestigious sporting honours, the Drivers Driver of the Year award, voted for by his contemporise.
1st Fordham 2nd Wooder 3rd Friend 4th Francis 5th Rogers 6th Beckenham 7th Brittian 8th Weatherley
Drivers, Driver of the Year Nigel Fordham
Best Improver Chris Pasterfield
PREVIEW
In track news,
Lydd raceway in Kent unveils several revisions to its layout confirming it will
host 3 rounds throughout 2008.
The new season gets underway with a bang as the first race, which will be held
in February will be the first time in Dadson history, they will run
anticlockwise. Many drivers getting their first championship points for going
backwards. Hmmmm
Now in its 7th year the 2008 Dadson Masters really does go from strength to strength. Not only did the name change fit the series, we now have copiers & what better praise could you receive than someone making a snide copy. Of course the original is always better & the real McCoy.
Throughout the past, there had been several sponsors and some remain today like Iden Signs who make all the series number plates & stickers that are required including the Dadson Masters logo. Karting magazine that cover the series. Out go Butlins Holidays. But to get the support from the Importer of the Rotax Max Engine and tyre distributor JAG Engineering is fantastic. It now gives the championship the recognition it truly deserves. Added to this the support from possibly the biggest kart shop in the world Dartford Karting and the support they give to the series through their www.kartstore.co.uk business the prize fund is in the thousands. Huge thanks to all our Sponsors including Dadson Motorsport.
With both drivers enjoying several notable performances, Brittian & Bryn Green both announce they will for 2008, stay with tonykart chassis.
Green returns from his winter break ready to tackle the season with renewed vigour insisting he WILL be quick with his new purchase - an Arai GP SK5 helmet but the paint job will have to wait unless there are any sponsors out there!
Brittian having purchased a new Tony kart EVXX will hope to carry forward his last round wining form after winning the prestigious Lee Wood Memorial Trophy.
Confirming a trying 2007 campaign, 3 x Champ Francis looks ahead to the new season as he unveils the WILDKART fighter 2.
Beckenham 2005 Champ is in high spirits too as he celebrates news that
he will partner Francis using the DK Chassis.
For 2008 Tracy Francis officially returns to take over the co-ordinating for the
series.
Mr Ray Crossley is confirmed as series clerk of the course.
If you would like to find out more or follow this series with live interviews keep reading karting magazine or go to the website
Go on – do the Dadson