ROYAL AERO CLUB AIR RACE, SHOBDON 11-12 August

FOR once the weather looked set fine for the fifth Royal Aero Clubs Record Racing and Rally Association's Air Race weekend at Shobdon in Herefordshire.

A field of 20 racers arrived and made ready to tackle the 120-mile course over the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.

The wind was light and this made the flying of the infamous 'octagon', which is used by the handicapper to establish a flat-out level speed for each aircraft, relatively straightforward.

The Saturday race was for the Beverley Snook Memorial Trophy, a beautiful model of a Mk14 Spitfire in solid silver in memory of our former president and the aircraft he used to race. First aircraft across the line was the Slingsby Firefly T67 owned and flown by Roderick Morton. However, after the handicapper had made an adjustment to the start times due to an earlier computer problem, his actual finish position was 5th.

Two new racers appeared at this meeting - Mark Manwaring, a former Phantom pilot flying a Grumman AA12, and David Howell in a beautiful Andreasson BA-4B biplane. Neither finished in the top three but thoroughly enjoyed their first outing.

The eventual winner was experienced racer Nigel Reddish in his outstanding RV7, race number 777, at an average speed of 188.9mph. Second went to Jim Wesson, in his first season of racing and flying a very tidy Auster V1 to an average speed of 115.9mph, and third was vintage racer Peter Earp flying a Beech Baron 58 to a speed of 225.3mph.

The weather on Sunday was a little windier but still bright and warm, and Shobdon soon began to fill with the spectators.

New start times were formulated based upon the octagon times and careful study by the handicapper of the tracks flown by racers on Saturday. This spots any pilot who might be trying to influence his start time by deliberately flying a loose or slow race on Saturday. Now that the 'spy-in-the-cockpit' GPS system is used, it is very difficult to play the gamesmanship game.

A thoroughly exciting race was flown by most racers, especially now they knew the course. The crowds were impressed by the tight course flown over the airfield turn by faster aircraft and the very impressive little Andreasson. Craig Beevers, race number 35 in his Ferrari red Siai Marchetti SF260C, flew an impressive and consistent race, although each lap saw Geoff Boot in his similar Marchetti SF260W catch up by a few seconds.

Craig's trademark knife-edge turn kept him in the front and eventually saw him cross the line in first place. This was to remain and he was announced winner at a speed of 193.9mph.

Second place saw a first podium position for newcomer Andrew Dent, race number 11 flying a Beechcraft Musketeer BE23, at a speed of 128.4mph.

Third went to new racer Mark Manwaring, having learnt from his Saturday experiences in his Grumman AA12, at a speed of 135.7mph.

There were three exclusions, David Howell in the Andreasson and Howard Savage-Jones in his Cessna 180B for low flying over the airfield, and Bruce Hook in his Baron 55 for missing a turn.
W: www.airraceuk.org.uk

NEXT RACES
1-2 September, Bembridge
22-23 September, Alderney

WORDS & PHOTOS John Kelsall