JEC XJS Championship - Snetterton 23^rd & 24^th April 2005:

The Snetterton race meeting took place over the weekend with qualifying on Saturday morning, the first race in the afternoon and the second race on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately it also stayed dry but windy on this 1.9 mile circuit.

It was the 2 top guns, Derek Pearce and Gary Davis, in his Jaguar Monthly XJS, that took both the XJS races by storm with a brilliant display of speed and car control. They changed places more often than the BBC 'Changing Rooms', but it was Derek who took the spoils by winning both races, fastest laps and Class G wins. The reigning champ Sean Collin was 3rd in both races and also took Class E wins.

Gail Hill took both Class D wins but not before an excellent tussle with Gary Hastings, who was all over Gail like a, Mexican poncho'. Gail was having non of it! She also did well to force ex rally driver Gerald Webb into a spin at the esses, he really was attacking those corners!

Last seasons champ, Steve Davis, had rotten luck in qualifying when his engine seized and so couldn't enter the first race, however with the help of Stewart Lyddall, Steve Avery's "Purple Ronnie" was rushed up from London, arriving in time so Steve Davis could enter the Sunday race, and it was well worth waiting for. Steve started at the back of the 24 car grid where he shot past cats like they were standing still, to finish a fantastic 4th. Definitely drive of the day.

Dave Eyles had a great weekend where he qualified 7th and finished 5th in race 1 and 6th in race 2. In race 1 Dave had great run against Cliff Ryan who finally finished 8th.

In race 2 the underpowered Kevin 'cannibal' Doyle got involved in a 3 way match with Simon Seath and David Ball. You should have seen the look on everyone's faces as they came out of the Russell chicane 3 abreast! The crowd were cheering and clapping.

Lawrence Coppock of Braishfield also had a good weekend, qualifying 12th and finishing 9th in both races.

The final class winner was Paul Reynolds who took Class F in both races.

Report by STEVE GOREY (JEC)