(Report by LC Branch, photos by Jackie Baker and in-car videos supplied by Brett Dillon)

For our 2026 season's opener, we travelled to Cadwell Park in the picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds just south of Louth.  Originally set up as a motorbike race track, this 3 km circuit is often referred to as the 'Nurburgring of the north' due to its hilly setting.  It is beautifully looked after with all the facilities and a perfect track surface.

As this was our first visit to this track, BARC Midlands really looked after us by giving us the prime paddock location next to the track.

We had 10 Healeys entered with the 100's of Michael Berry, John Ducker and Mervyn Coxon, the 3000's of Ian Thomas, Warren Beese and Peter Walton, the Jensen Healey of David Lane and the Sprites of Garrow Shand, Brett Dillon and Paul Baker.  Both John Ducker and Michael Berry took part in the wet track day at Cadwell on the Friday before the sprint, which unfortunately resulted in John Ducker's 100 hitting the Armco barriers in Hall Bends, so he could not take part with us on the Saturday.  However, both John and Cate still came to watch all the guys race on Saturday.

Most of the drivers had not been to Cadwell before so they were learning this complex but highly entertaining track.  Brett Dillon had circuit raced there last year, Warren Beese had raced motorbikes there many times before but had not been there in his 3000 (pictured right at Chris Curve) and David Lane had raced his Jensen Healey there about 10 years ago in the 70's Roadsport series.

Saturday dawned sunny with a clear blue sky but with a biting northerly wind, resulting in a dry track but it was very cold.

One of our drivers made the fundamental error of leaving his race suit at home -190 miles away!!!!  A trip to the race office and all the other Healey drivers and no race suit to be had, as most drivers only bring the one they plan to use.  Fortunately, a single-seater driver in another class had a spare with him which was in date and fitted which he happily lent to our very fortunate Healey driver, who had almost resigned himself to spectating the others enjoying themselves. 

Practice got underway and after the two practice laps it was no surprise that it was Brett Dillon in his Sprite with a new and upgraded 1380 engine produced the quickest time of 102.28.  Paul Baker was next quickest in the Sprite class with a 117.78 and Garrow Shand did a 130.90.  In the Big/Jensen Healey class, it was Michael Berry out front with a 103.19, from Ian Thomas in 107.78, Peter Walton in 110.91, David Lane in 115.95, Mervyn Coxon in 121.49 with Warren Beese just behind him in 121.81.

On to the two timed runs and in the Sprite class it was Brett Dillon who took the top honours with a superb time of 101.02 from Paul Baker in 113.24 and Garrow Shand in 120.56.  Like all the drivers new to the track, Paul and Garrow were learning fast and improving with every run, but would need to have a few more runs to get on terms with Brett.

In the Big/Jensen Healey class, it was Michael Berry (pictured right going through Hall Bends)  in first place with an excellent time of 102.44 from Ian Thomas in 105.62 who takes the title of the "quickest learner of the day" using all his rally driving skills to get to that time in 4 runs - really well done. Next was Peter Walton in 107.89, then David Lane in 118.06, Mervyn Coxon in 120.94 and Warren Beese in 121.31.