THRUXTON CLASSIC CLUBMANS

With the Championship going to Thruxton for a double header, there was much head-scratching in the Harper camp. Could the run of bad luck be finally put to bed?

   Practice for Saturday's race looked good, Harper taking pole for race one in a time just 0.014sec off the record . In an afternoon of bright sunshine, Harper got the jump on Charteris and Mallock at the start. The first two laps went according to plan, then problems struck again. A mistake at Village taking too much kerb and Peter was off. Result: one badly damaged car.

   With practice for Sunday's race starting at at 8.50am, good work by Peter and Andrew saw the car rebuilt by 8.00pm the previous evening. Surely, their luck now would change.

   Once again Harper took pole and with a very early race, as truck racing was also on the programme, there was not much time to wait. Another great start saw Harper out in front. With six laps gone,  Charteris made his move for the lead. Now down to second place, a great effort by Peter was needed. Coming up to lap a Mk8 1600 B Sport, he made the move of the race into the complex, diving down the inside and pushing Charteris out behind the slower car. Harper was back into a lead which was not to be headed. It was not only a race finish at Thruxton, but a win too, which was enough to put him into the lead of the Championship.