2005
Kelly Rogers Racing
Glorious weather at Snetterton was the setting
for round 3 of the Mini Miglia Championship, the temperature was set to be
30°c by mid afternoon. Race Car Television were also filming at the circuit
for the start of our first production of the Mini7 club DVD.
Kelly had been testing at Snetterton the previous week and had taken his time to get a good setup for this race weekend as he knew this was Baldwins home circuit and he would know every trick in the book to getting a car quickly around this 1.95 mile circuit.
Scrutineering was a major headache as the electronic fire extinguisher decided not to work! With only 20 minutes to go before qualifying, the race was on to put a manual system in. "I must thank all the people who helped me undergo this task" said Kelly, Ralph, Mark and many more, i couldn't have done it without the support of helpful club members".
Qualifying started at 10.25 with the sun blistering down onto the circuit, with 15 minutes to get a good grid position things were going to be just so to get pole. Some traffic and the searing heat hampered Kelly's attempts to push the car to that greater limit to snatch pole off of Baldwin. With 11 laps completed and one with a major hair raising moment for Kelly as the car is totally out of shape coming into Russell, 2nd position on the grid for the race is good enough.
Keeping cool waiting for the start of the race was very difficult, with a delayed start for the Miglia's hopefully the temperature would drop slightly. The original race start time was 5.20 pm but was pushed back to 6.10 pm.
Six o'clock came as all the cars were lined up in the holding bay ready to go out onto the circuit, a slight breeze had picked up which was greatly received from everyone. All the cars lined up on the grid after there sighting lap ready for the lights to go out. The lights go out and Kelly and Baldwin race up to Riches Corner side by side, Sollis in third with close company from Hack and Hunter. All 17 cars race down Revett Straight trying to use the tow from the other cars to be able to pull past going into the Esses. Lap 1 completed, Baldwin, Kelly & Sollis had made a slight gap from the chasing pack, Sollis was trying very hard to pass Kelly as they entered the Esses for the second time. Kelly had no worries when Sollis slipped past him as the front three were always in such close company on the track. Start of lap 3, the level of commitment from the front runners was breath taking to watch as they all tucked in behind each other going along Senna straight. Red Fags were then being franticly waved as the leaders went through the bomb hole. There had been two incidents, one by Corham and the other at Russell. The race was then declared as a result from lap 2!
The Circuit had run out of time for holding the event, a 6.30 pm curfew, very disappointed were all the drivers and for Kelly a 3rd position which was not what he wanted.
Hopefully the race could be re-run at another event so log back on in the future to see what the final outcome of this dilemma is.
Round 1
Silverstone
Round 2
Castle Combe
Round 3
Snetterton
Non
Championship
Silverstone -
19-03-2005
Silverstone
-
23 / 24-07-2005
