All British day, Winton competition event.
Winton Sprint Report 16th August 2025
The majority of our crew arrived up to our accommodation on Friday afternoon after dropping our cars at Winton and taking up pretty much one whole row of carports. Our crew was Brendan Sullivan (MGA), Dan Hall (Midget), Brendan Hall (MGB), Rod Mayes (K series Midget), Craig Ballinger (MGBGTV8), Chris Freeman (MGBGT), Pete Thomson (MGB), Stephen Duniam (Jag powered MGA), Ross Boyd (MGB), Charlie Ogle (MGBV8), myself (MGB)and Gary Toulmin (MGB), 12 in total, probably the biggest group we have ever entered in a sprint. So bright and early on Saturday in the rain and wind and cold we surveyed the very slippery looking track and wondered how long it would take to dry as the rain stopped. We all took to the track on run one being very cautious. Charlie Ogle did a great job to keep the powerful V8 in line after a few sideways moments. Craig Ballinger was getting faster as the run went on and coming into turn 3 got into the wetter part of the track and neatly did several pirouettes staying on the track but stalling the car. The rest of us just circulated to get a reasonable time as the next run was lined up in time order from this run. Brendan Hall was driving his new 63 MGB racecar for the third time, the first two being putting it on and off the trailer. Was very happy with how it drove. By run two a dry line was forming all around the track but don't get off it! Most of us improved by around 20 seconds, the stand-out being Charlie Ogle who was right up at the pointy end on only his second event and first Sprint. Brendan Sullivan had the steely look and blew Chris Freeman's time away to maintain bragging rights. Dan Hall had a sudden lock up around the cleavage and early thoughts were a failed water pump. After this run events were halted while a display group did several laps of the circuit, mostly triumph club members. Just as everyone got ready for run 3 the rain came down again, just enough to get it all wet. We all did run 3 in the wet but by run 4 it had dried out to such an extent that the full track was dry. Don't know about everyone else but I had a ball passing around 5 cars on the run and setting my fastest time and dicing with the yellow Midget of David Norris from MGCC Vic the whole run. Overall the track was slower than usual with most cars down around 5 seconds from fastest times as the temperature didn't climb above 10. Craig Ballinger continued his great form with a FTD again. Pete Thomson did well just falling short on his final run. Everyone else had a great time going quicker on each run.
Times: Craig Ballinger 1.50.02 Graeme Ruby 1.52.66 Charlie Ogle 1.52.73 Pete Thomson 1.53.87 Dan Hall 1.55.10 Brendan Sullivan 1.57.45 Ross Boyd 1.58.16 Rodney Mayes 1.58.29 Chris Freeman 2.02.11 Stephen Duniam 2.08.64 Brendan Hall 2.09.04 Garry Toulmin 2.19
The Goss
