Earle Howe Trophy - Oulton Broad 28/07/2011
The JC Racing Team retained the fantastic Earle Howe Trophy that has been raced for at Oulton Broad since 1931, taking three race wins from three. It was an evening of action packed hydroplane racing and incidents that JC racing Team driver Julian Codling was also involved in.
Thirteen hydroplanes and OSY outfits took part in the group handicap event which meant the 250cc outfit of Julian Codling, Wayne Turner and Kevin Turner would benefit from being the first boats into the race (smallest engine size start first) despite being quicker than the stock 400cc OSY engines and also the classic 500cc konig powered hydroplanes.
Race one saw JC Racing Team driver Julian Codling time the start absolutely perfectly as he roared across the line ahead of Wayne Turner in a similar 250cc outfit. with clear water infront of him Julian never looked back, and despite Wayne Turners best efforts to catch him it was Julian who took the first heat race win, with Wayne Turner finishing second.
The second race saw the roles reverse at the start as it was Wayne Turner this time who beat Julian at the start to gain the advantage of clear water as they powered around the circuit at Oulton Broad. With Julian trying everything possible to catch and overtake Wayne he pushed it a little bit to hard and hooked the boat at the famous wherry turn completley submerging it before coming to a stop. With the JC Racing Team driver adjudged to be in a dangerous position by the race organiser the race was red flagged.
The restart saw Julian get the start spot on again and it looked like it would be victory number two until James Bowan rolled his OSY outfit at the top turn forcing another race stoppage. It was discovered after the race was stopped that Tony Knights and Wayne Turner had also collided which meant due to a damaged boat Wayne couldnt continue and his race evening was over.
This was dissapointing after what had been some close racing with JC Racing team driver Julian Codling.
It left the door open for Julian to win both race two and three which meant he retained the fantastic Earle Howe trophy for the JC Racing Team. Tony Knights came second overall with the ever improving Kevin Turner bringing his 250cc GRM hydroplane home in third overall.
