Historics thrill as EnduroKa 24-hour proves a hit

Reigning Historic Formula Ford 2000 champion Graham Fennymore and 2014 title winner Benn Simms are not tall men but they currently stand head and shoulders above their rivals. Back at Cadwell Park where the Pinto party started in 2007, Fennymore won Saturday’s robust Historic Sports Car Club Wolds Trophy opener by 0.03 seconds. Sunday was almost a washout, but their return match was a repeat as perseverance and steadfast marshals saw the last chequer fall at 1602.

Behind the duo, Suffolk puncher Ben Glasswell was a fine third in another Reynard, ahead of local Lee Bankhurst (Royale RP30). Bankhurst claimed Sunday’s final podium step as fellow new dad Ollie Roberts (Reynard) moved up to fourth.

From displaced drum-braked rear-engined Class C, Historic Formula Junior champion Nic Carlton-Smith shot clear of the feature front-engined runners in his ex-Lionel Mayman Kieft on Saturday. Pursuers Trevor Griffiths (Emeryson) and Keith Pickering (Britannia) were in the same boat as Justin Fleming (Lola Mk2) headed the ‘pullers’.

With Pau victor Clive Richards sidelined by a broken crank in testing, Michael O’Brien had no opposition in dad Mike’s Brabham BT6, its new body still in primer. Benn Simms (Caravelle) doggedly kept him in sight for a while on both days. When gearbox and rear upright failure stopped Tim Child (Lotus 22) and Peter de la Roche (BMC) respectively, Geoff Underwood (Tulip Stable BT2) claimed his first podium.

Three unrelated namesakes winning races at one event on the same day is surely unprecedented. Samuel, John and Jordan Harrison did on Saturday, but none had it easy. Tom McArthur (Titan Mk4) pressured Samuel (SpeedSport Merlyn) in Historic Formula Ford 1600 until he contacted the barrier on the Mountain.