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The website for owners and enthusiasts
of Mallock Cars
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To pause display place mouse over picture. To
view larger image double click on picture. (Thank you John Bloxham for the photographs)
Michael Mallock had another successful run at this years
Walter Hayes Trophy in the families Mallock Mk 9 Formula Ford. The annual event, open
to any Kent engined Formula Ford, had a huge 120 car entry, with chassis varying from Michaels 1969 U2 to the latest offerings
from Van Diemen and Ray, and operates a knock out system with competitors form 6 heats working through to Semi finals and
ultimately the 36 car Grand Final. With such a varied grid there are separate class trophies awarded at the end of the meeting
for the winners of the Historic (pre 1972) and Classic (pre 1980) cars.
After qualifying
7th in the wet for his heat, Michael made a strong start and after some great battles on the damp Silverstone National Circuit
finished in a great 6th position, putting him straight through to the Semi Finals of the competition. Lining
up on a drying track in 18th position for the first Semi, Michael got a great start passing 3 cars on the run to the first
corner. After some typically close battles on the opening laps Michael was caught out under yellow flags on the entry to Copse
and passed by four other drivers who had clearly forgotten what yellow flags meant! A strong dive back through the field saw
Michael take the flag in 14th place, and in doing so book himself a place in the Grand Final. In fading
light the competitors lined up on the Grid for the 15 lap Grand Final, as the lights went out Mallock again got a storming
start from 28th position, picking up a couple of places into Copse and a further couple through the complex at the end of
the lap. The first couple of laps saw incredibly close racing (the top 35 cars crossing the line at the end of lap 2 within
14 seconds!) and Michael battled in the pack. Soon the race settled down and the Mallocks lack of straight line speed started
to show through, with Michael loosing 4 care lengths on the pack on each straight.
At
the end of the 15 lap race Michael crossed the line in 26th place, not only the only Historic car to make it into the final
but also the top car built before 1989, some 20 years younger than the Mk9! Michael Fastest lap of 1.04.8 was only 1.8seconds
slower that the fastest lap of the race. An ecstatic Michael said afterwards "What a fantastic weekend! We got into
the Semi Finals last year and our aim was to beat that this time which we certainly did! The car was great all weekend, a
real pleasure to drive, unfortunately its just not quite as slippery on the straights as the modern cars and that really showed,
but we were easily the most competitive of the 'old cars' all weekend, and that's all we could hope for! I want
to thank everyone who helped this weekend and also thank Arthur for building such a great car 40 years ago!" Ray
Mallock was also competing at the weekend in his Mk18 Classic Clubmans Car, taking second overall in the Open Wheel race on
Saturday, and 4th place in Sundays Closed Wheel race, being awarded the BRDC Secretaries Challenge Trophy for his battles
with much more modern and powerful machinery, all in all a good weekend for the Mallocks!
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