Report by Derek Bradby/Brian Hopps
2004 saw a return to the usual home of the North East Inter-Club event at the Harrogate outdoor track at Beckwithshaw. Since the last time a regional event had been held at this venue, a perimeter fence had been erected around the car park, this reduced the area available to the club to half it's normal size, but didn't prevent this highly competitive event from taking place.
The weather made track conditions variable throughout the day and drivers tried out just about every compound to find grip, most choosing to use Ballistic Buggy green spikes as the weather deteriated during the last few rounds. Unfortunately there was a delay starting the event as there were a number of drivers in teams who had not competed at this type of meeting before, and needed some help sorting out crystals etc.
At this annual Interclub meeting, everyone starts at the same time, so to make racing as even as possible, F1 graded drivers start almost a full lap behind by starting just in front of the transponder loop, F2 drivers start approximately 3/4 of a lap down, F3’s half a lap, F4’s ¼ lap, up to the F5 drivers who started just round the corner from the loop which registers their first lap almost immediately after the race starts. In theory this should make for some close and exciting racing as more experienced drivers battle it out with the less experienced as the race goes on. Hopefully if a drivers licence reflects their ability, then everyone should finish around the same time, but, because of the shortened track this was difficult to achieve, with some of the faster drivers circulating in around 18 seconds.
As the results sheet shows once racing got underway it was close between York and Batley A teams, with York winning back the trophy from 2003 winners, Batley.
| 2004 BRCA NORTH EAST INTERCLUB at HARROGATE - POINTS TABLE | |||||||
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| TEAM | NAME | BATLEY A | YORK A | TEESSIDE | HARROGATE | YORK B | BATLEY B |
| Race | 1 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Race | 2 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
| Race | 3 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
| Race | 4 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Race | 5 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 6 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Race | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Race | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| Race | 10 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Penalties | |||||||
| TOTALS | 82 | 87 | 74 | 80 | 61 | 66 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| TEAM | NAME | BATLEY A | YORK A | TEESSIDE | HARROGATE | YORK B | BATLEY B |
| Race | 11 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Race | 12 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Race | 13 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
| Race | 14 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Race | 15 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 16 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Race | 17 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 18 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Race | 19 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
| Race | 20 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 7 |
| Penalties | |||||||
| TOTALS | 81 | 87 | 69 | 75 | 69 | 69 | |
| G/TOTALS 1+2 | 163 | 174 | 143 | 155 | 130 | 135 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| TEAM | NAME | BATLEY A | YORK A | TEESSIDE | HARROGATE | YORK B | BATLEY B |
| Race | 21 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| Race | 22 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 23 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| Race | 24 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
| Race | 25 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Race | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Race | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 28 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Race | 29 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 30 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
| Penalties | |||||||
| TOTALS | 81 | 86 | 77 | 76 | 65 | 65 | |
| G/TOTALS 1+2+3 | 244 | 260 | 220 | 231 | 195 | 200 | |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| TEAM | NAME | BATLEY A | YORK A | TEESSIDE | HARROGATE | YORK B | BATLEY B |
| Race | 31 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 8 |
| Race | 32 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Race | 33 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Race | 34 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| Race | 35 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| Race | 36 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
| Race | 37 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 5 |
| Race | 38 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| Race | 39 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Race | 40 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Penalties | |||||||
| TOTALS | 83 | 86 | 70 | 84 | 64 | 63 | |
| G/TOTALS 1+2+3+4 | 327 | 346 | 290 | 315 | 259 | 263 | |
| Teams Competing: |
| Batley A York A Harrogate Teesside Harrogate York B Batley B |
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Julie receiving the trophy for York A Team |
Derek presenting the trophy for highest placed B-Team, Batley. |
