Sunday 25th September marked a return to Curborough after our last round there in May 2007 on a particularly cold and wet day of competition. Unfortunately, for much of last Sunday, that weather returned to make the circuit very slippery, especially in the practice sessions. By the afternoon’s final run, however, the weather warmed up a little and the track had dried enough to see some very quick times being put in.
This round was also significant as it formed, in part, a memorial to the late Jeff Archer. A large number of competitors, both past and present championship drivers, gathered at Curborough to compete with the Aston Martin Owners Club in memory of Jeff. The last time we were there in May 2007 Jeff collected a trophy in Class P2 and, this year, Jeff’s son Angus and his brother Stephen drove Jeff’s car and also picked up a ‘Jeff Archer’ Speed Championship trophy.

Six drivers entered Class P4 with a very close fight over the day between 924 drivers Stuart Maclean and Justin Mather for third and second place. In the end, after the final run, just 0.17 seconds separated them with Stuart taking third place in 69.21 seconds and Justin finishing the day with 69.04 seconds for second place trophy. It was a good day for current champion Graham Rose (924S) who took first place in 67.30 seconds in P4 and consolidated his points lead. Another close battle for second and third place marked out Class P3 with David Hilton (911E 3 litre) taking third place in 67.18 seconds just behind David Chivers (911E 3 litre) who picked up second place trophy with a final time of 66.78 seconds. Unusually for Class P3 it was a significantly large margin between second and first place after Ian Wadsworth (911 Carrera 3) put in a storming final run. With a perfect combination of a well set up car that suited the conditions at Curborough and superbly controlled driving Ian picked up a well deserved class win and fastest time of the day with a remarkable final run of 64.51 seconds.

Although Geraint Evans (911 3.2) shared Class P2 at Curborough with Stephen and Angus Archer he was the only registered championship driver in the class on the day and collected the first class trophy after finishing the day in 70.31 seconds after drama free run despite the conditions. Class P1 has been a strong class this season and so it was again at Curborough with six registered drivers. Despite an unexpected and uncharacteristic spin in the first timed run Mel Spear (964 Cup) was sufficiently focused next time out to gain third place in 67.07 seconds. It was a battle between 964 RS’s with less than a third of a second between Tim Barber and Adrian Rowlands in the final run. Both drivers have a smooth, well ‘planted’ style of driving and there wasn’t much to separate them. In the end Tim Barber took second place in 65.65 seconds while Adrian, in only his third round this season, took first place in 65.35 seconds.