TO THE CHIEFTAIN SPRINT

July 2001 saw the first ever Sprint event to be run at the superb QinetiQ Test Track at Longcross,near Chertsey, Surrey. Despite pre-event concerns about the infamous Snake, with it's twisting and turning negative-camber corners. The event was met with huge acclaim despite and there were so many smiling faces were seen at the awards presentations that Sutton & Cheam Motor Club have decided to run 2 events during 2002.

Despite the rain Gods dumping down on the organisers while they were setting-up, the rain stopped by the time the first half of the field were scrutineered and the day was dry right up until the last car had finished its last run. Then the rain gods decided to have fun with the organisers while they were tidying up.

Large puddles greeted the competitors during their 2 convoy runs and so caution was the order of the day on the 2 practice runs.

After lunch the wind and sun had dried out the track and so competitors really got stuck in. The eventual winner came in from his runs with a huge grin and promised to go faster next time.

Unfortunately Gino Cuomo had a "moment on the snake and managed to bend both sides of the fearsome Turbo Cosworth powered 4wd Dax Rush.

The rest of the day passed without major incidents and the winners were presented with their awards just after 5 o'clock.

The competitors appeared delighted with the event and hoped that this exciting course could be used again before the venue is closed to build more houses.

The Chieftain Sprint

Sunday 17th March

Differing from its sister event The Scorpion (Longcross is the home of Chobham Armour and both classes of Tank), The Chieftain boasts a longer, more dramatic course. Starting on the 'Straight & Level', the course skirts the edge of the Belgian ParvŽ before turning 90 left along the old Railway straight and into the Snake, traveling in the opposite direction to last July's event. At the end of the Snake alongside the Paddock, the course hairpins onto the Outer Track for a long blast through Mansion Crossing, around the lower bankedtrack before hitting a large chicane at the Northern most point of the venue. From there its another blast around the remainder of the banked track into the long Finish Straight. The overall length of the course is well in excess of 2 miles of fast, testing super-smooth asphalt suitable for drivers of all levels of experience and capability.