The British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) took over the rolling hills of Cadwell Park during the Easter weekend to hold 9 races from a diverse set of 4 championships. The Sports/Saloon Car Championship, 2CV Classic Racing, Mighty Minis and the British Superkart Championship were all out on track.

A long time ago in a far away land I had a splendid summer with a friend travelling around Scotland in a bright yellow 2CV. My abiding memory of that summer was the very worrying and less than desirable handling of the 2VC as it careered round the mountain roads of the highlands. 

I was looking forward to the 2CV tipping into the corners and lifting some wheels giving me some great action shots of these classic cars. But it was not to be, I think someone has developed some seriously good suspension for these cars to go racing. 

The lack of power does have it's benefits to the spectator photographer, you get plenty of time to compose your pictures and the racing is close, very close, with a lot of drafting on the straights going on. If the photos have whetted your appetite for 2CV racing you can see much more of them at Snetterton; this year they will be running a 24 endurance race.

As far as the racing went, former champion Lien Davies took the win in the first race in the Blue and Gold car. But it was reigning champion Pete Sparrow who was consistently fast in all of the 20-minute races taking two wins and a second.

Up next were the British Superkarts competing in three Championship classes, F450, F250 and F125. Having the karts just after the 2CV was not great for me. The speed difference between the two types of race cars was like chalk and cheese. 

Once I had adjusted my panning and upped my shutter speed to compensate for the rapid acceleration of the fully kitted out Superkarts that were driving their two and four stroke engine through six speed gear boxes, the pictures started flowing. 

Qualifying in pole position for the first race in the Superkart F250 HRK/THR it all looked to be going according to plan for Julian Davies (8). However, Davies did not finish the first race and it was Gareth James in Kart 101 who ended up dominating both races.

Paul Platt (1) came in second and recorded the fastest lap 1:25.274 at 92.32 mph  

93 Jake Shortland looked to be going well until right in front of me something failed on the back of the kart resulting in a large puff of smoke, engine failure? Jake's quick thinking kept the disruption to a minimum for race 2 qualifying. 

Next out for our entertainment were the Minis. These iconic cars always guarantee fast close racing and with the benefit of some tyre shredding three wheel action. I knew I should get some nice shots for my portfolio.

I was not to be disappointed, the track was bone dry but a few of the more exuberant drivers were trying to find grip where there wasn’t any. To be fair, the corner at Park catches quite a few out wet or dry, week in week out.

The Mini Championship is split into two classes Mighty Mini and Super Mighty Mini the difference is basically how much power the 1.3i cars are running. For the first time this year there is a carbureted class as well. 

Neven Kirkpatrick in car 11 took the win in the first Super Mighty Mini race with David Kirkpatrick, car 10 taking the second race. Alex Comis was second in both races with Steven Rideout grabbing a podium as well.

Reigning Mighty Mini champion Stuart Coombs has moved up to the Super Mighty Mini so it was down to pole sitter Dan Haywood to take the Mighty Mini class win in the first race with Owen Edgley top of the podium for the second race. 

Greg Daw took the third podium place in both Mighty Mini races even after getting up close and personal with car 49 Peter Vemply-Burwood during practice.

The Sports / Saloon Car Championship saw a diverse selection of 26 cars in six different classes line up for the start. Fastest overall and qualifying in pole position was Andrew Southcott in the MG Modsport 2300. I think this car is a highly modified MG Midget, well the back lights look like a Midgets, I could be wrong.

Chasing Southcott all day were David Harvey in the Stuart Taylor Locoaski 1400 and Paul Dobson in the Locost 7 1602. Southcott in the MG went on to win both races leading from the front. 

It would have been two third places in a row for Paul Dobson but on the final lap of race two Dobson in car 13 had to take avoiding action when David Harvey lost the back end of car 3 at the bottom of the mountain.

This allowed Paul Woolfitt in the Lotus Exige 1340 emblazoned with the Union flag to snatch the final podium place. 

Race 4 CNC Heads Sports Saloon Championship 

The BARC has a stable of championships that is as diverse as any other motorsport organisation in the world. From Touring cars to Trucks and covered in this report, 2CV to Superkarts.