Dave Hockaday (3) is shown ‘backed’ into the tyre wall after being nudged by Colin Laine while leading the senior libre final. Matt Corson (2) was unable to take avoiding action and drove into the side of Hockaday. The move saw Laine black flagged. (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 0611501)
DAVE HOCKADAY is too long in the tooth to get excited about hiccups such as being shoved into the bales when leading a final.
But that was the scenario at the Track yesterday morning when the senior libre class racing was as hot as the July sunshine. Hockaday, 53, his age, not race number, led for 10 of the 20-lap final only to be forced off and lose out on more precious championship points.
But at least the veteran campaigner had not one consolation, but two. Firstly, it was his son, 21-year-old Ayrton, who benefited from the shunt and secondly, he could use the result as his one discard for the season.
Hockaday snr is ‘loving it’ as his return to the sport he excelled at in his teens approaches the end of a second season. He started the day joint leader in the overall points from finals, just three off the lead in those accumulated from the qualifying heats.
It is 30 years since his first coming as a kart racer and, as you might expect, he’s found change.
‘I’d say it is a bit easier now than then. The racing was harder in the earlier days. It is much safer now,’ he said while pointing to the side-guards which nowadays prevent wheels from becoming intertwined and causing flip-overs.
Until the mid-race shunt, he had been having a decent day.
‘I struggled a bit with the handling in the first race [he placed fifth with his son the winner] but the second and third were a lot better.’
What he might have said had he not been so modest is that he won both heats to put him on pole for the final.
‘Today, winning would have put me ahead in the championship but, unfortunately, that’s not the case now,’ he said as the inevitable post-race debate raged as to who was to blame.
It was either Colin Laine or Andy Ward, depending on whom you spoke to.
The marshals investigated the shunt and were happy to allow the result to stand, certainly as far as the first three were concerned.
Ayrton had won, Nick Ford was second and Toby Neilson third.
Ward, who it was suggested might have nudged Laine who in turn took out the leader and led to three karts spinning out, was fourth as the enquiry continued long after the final chequered flag of a day which had started in sombre fashion with the announcement of the death of former Guernsey Kart and Motor Club president, CI champion and kart captain Ron Torode.
Rather than a minute’s silence, three cheers were called for to mark the man’s long service and devotion to the sport.
His spirit lives on with the performances of his grandsons, Angus and Fraser, in the cadet class.
Angus especially impressed and swept the board, winning all three heats and the final in convincing style.
The only worrying moment for him came in heat one when he was headed by Daniel Galpin until late on when a neat inside move took him to the front.
Grandad Ron would have been impressed.
Article posted on 28th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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