Team Urban Hygiene (non) stick it to Snetterton.

11 April 2010

Sunday saw Team Urban Hygiene’s first race of the season at the Snetterton race circuit in Norfolk. This year Roy Johnson, still piloting his championship winning Rover Tomcat, will be joined by motor racing newcomer Mark Johnson in his own race prepared Rover GTi.

Both drivers will be competing in different championships this year since team bosses advised them to split them up. “Competition off the track is great for the business,” says Team Tactician, Ian Wright “but on the track that same competition could be extremely costly!”

Roy is racing in the Future Classics championship this year and was first to take to the track for qualifying. After a fun-filled 40 minuets Roy was placed an impressive 4th on the starting grid seeing off competition from over 30 other drivers.

In his race Roy started extremely well and soon found himself tucked up in 3rd place behind the Ex Porsche cup-winning car of Stuart Jeffcoate. The battle raged on lap after lap and no one could call it until disaster struck for Stuart and he was forced to retire from the race when one of his rear wheels parted company with his car. It looked like lady luck had smiled on Roy and he began his charge for 1st place when, without warning Roy snapped a drive shaft on the exit from a particularly challenging corner and his race was over.

With Roy’s retirement all eyes were on Mark. This is his first ever race season and understandably nerves were running high. In practice Mark posted a competent 4th in Class, which put him in 18th place on a grid of 36 cars. When it came time for the race Mark lined up for his first ever racing start and appeared focused on the task in hand. The lights went out and Mark lit up the front wheels of his Rover propelling him exactly nowhere as the rest of the grid advanced. Mark found purchase in 2nd and the car flew off the line and up towards the first bend. Suddenly a dust cloud erupted ahead and as Mark approached, Colin Stubs, who was P17 on the grid came cannoning towards him. Colins car passed within inches of Mark's and crashed violently in to the Armco where it was met by a high speed Fiesta. Fortunately both drivers only suffered cuts and bruises but the work necessary to clear up the accident closed the track for 15 minutes and Mark was forced to wait patiently for the restart.

When the restart came Mark was better off the line and in a slightly depleted field did well to hold his position. Once again the racing was intense and on a number of occasions Mark over cooked it in to the corners and struggled to regain composure of the car. At mid race distance Mark was closing on P16 and on lap 11 Mark expertly passed him in a daring overtaking manoeuvre through the Russell chicane. Keeping his cool through the rest of the race Mark was hot on the heals of P15 but unable to quite catch him before the chequered flag fell. It had been a fantastic race and Mark was amazed to find he had managed to finish 2nd in Class - a position that earned him his 1st ever trophy.

All together it was an exciting day for The Team and a promising start for the newcomer. Next race is at Anglesey on the 22nd of May and anyone interested in tickets should contact Mark or Roy on 01302 623193. We hope to see you there.