United Downs Raceway - Sunday 12th February 2012

With Trackstar's flagship 'Icebreaker' meeting in Norfolk again cancelled due to bad weather (obviously the 'Ice' remained 'unbroken' then....) and with most of the country under a blanket of snow and other freezing stuff, the United Downs Raceway at St Day was enjoying some hazy winter sunshine for its opening meeting of the 2012 season - well, not quite but it was snow and ice free and the sun did shine on the chosen few towards the end of the afternoon. With the 2 litre National Bangers in a World Championship qualifier, Bangers in a British Championship qualifier, Stock Rods and the excellent youngsters in the Ministox it was certainly a packed programme, and there was  a very healthy turnout of both competitiors, in all four formulas, and spectators and we certainly had some heavy action with spins, jack-ups, two-wheel driving and even (almost) a refusal to shake hands (!) - and that was just the Stock Rods ! Before the racing got under way though there was the presentation of awards for the 2011 St Day track champions - and many congratulations to 162 Brett Ellacott (National Bangers) 246 Ryan Sparks (Bangers) 909 Justin Washer (Stock Rods) and 991 Ryan Hoskin (Ministox). Particular credit to Mr Ellacott who risked the Wintry Cornish weather playing havoc with his beautiful hair to take to the parade vehicle for his lap of honour!

2 Litre National Bangers

There was a surprisingly good amount of drivers anyway in the pit area for the first World Qualifier of the season some, as expected, using their cars that had survived the Winter Open a fortnight ago but numbers were swelled when 3 of the notorious DWO team arrived, unpainted, to join 162 Ellacott after their Saturday night trip to Northampton for the Heartbreaker meeting had been shelved due to the adverse weather. Heat 1 produced 22 cars, all Mondeos apart from the still immaculate Winter Open Cougar of 162 Ellacott, a well used version from 410 Dan Galley and a fresh but unpainted Vectra in the hands of 74 Adam Hitchcock. 99 David Spooner sat on the inside of row 1 with ex World Champ and all-round superstar 114 Nick Courtier on his outside, and if I was a betting man I would have put a couple of quid on the Ipplepen man there and then.....but I'm not, more's the pity. Among the starters in this one was 383 Andre McLellan who had raced his Focus earlier in the Bangers and was now at the wheel of a well used Mondeo - obviously some guys just can't get enough - and 714 'No Show', 341 'Jonesey' and 190 'Pikey'. At the green it was indeed 114 Courtier that got away first by some margin as 'pole' man Spooner struggled to get the car around turn 3, the 74 Vectra also started well to move up into 2nd as 862 Darryl Cock took to the infield and 101 Andrew Bishop clouts the turn 1 fence hard, joined by the Mondeo estate of 474 Darren Polden. At the opposite end of the track 4 Tony Hulland's Mondeo was having intimate relations with the similar car of 891 Darren Wade but somehow managed to get going again before coming to grief finally on turn 1. 162 Ellacott then helps 99 Spooner onto the infield, probably against the young gun's will, but with not a hair out of place the immaculate Cougar driver continues on his way. 891 Wade is in a wrecking mood and piles into 648 Jamie Smith hard, Galley spins his 410 Cougar then takes a portion from 383 McLellan but at the front it is still 114 Courtier by some distance, from 74 Hitchcock. 133 in 3rd begins to catch the Vectra and pushes the 74 car around turns 3 and 4 before taking up 2nd, with 452 Anthony Sleeman now closing in also, with the well groomed Ellacott right on his back bumper in the Cougar. 74 seems to be the centre of attention as he gets hustled around the raceway by 452 and then 162 Ellacott who now has team mate 190 Bailey for company. 4 laps left to run and 114 Courtier looks pretty much safe at the front with 133 a little distant in 2nd, from 162 and 190, 452 'Lurch' now seemingly going backwards down the field. 133 then comes under a lot of pressure from 162 as they begin the final couple of laps, with the DWO man moving up to 2nd in the still super-smart Cougar, with one lap to go Ellacott has significantly caught the 114 Mondeo and as they come round turns 3 and 4 for the final time almost looks to have the speed to ruin the veterans day but he just holds on for the win, from 162, 190 'Pikey', 133 and the 74 Vectra - Hitchcock certainly deserving some credit after receiving attention from, well, almost everyone ! Coming forward to recieve his winners trophy, his car looking as straight as it did at the start, Courtier admits that he is not over impressed racing these FWD Mondeos and much prefers racing the big, unlimited class cars - now that is something to look forward to !

A creditable 20 cars line up for heat 2, with 133 on the inside of row 1 and the Vectra of 74 Hitchcock the outside, 114 Courtier is at the back of the field in this one along with 162 Ellacott and fellow gold roof DWO man Stevie Boy Bailey. At the green it was 133 who got his 'smartest car award' winning black Mondeo's nose in front as 45 'Lips' gives 43 one up the chuff, 47 Marcus A'Lee then spins on the exit of turn 4. 101 Andrew Bishop then gets acquainted with 341 'Jonesey' as 47 gets going again. 211 then gets helped into the wall by a lively 45 Antony Croshaw, with 213 giving 101 Bishop something to think about on turn 3, all this action brings out the reds for one reason or another and with only a lap or two completed a complete re-start is called for. 101 Bishop it would appear is the cause of the stoppage but thankfully all is well with the St Austell driver and 14 cars line up for the re-start. Among the non-starters is 341 'Jonesey', the DWO man not having one of his better days. 243 and 311 Simon Rogers make up the front row but as the flag drops 243 gets the hurry up into turn 3 and collected by half the field, 662 also has a problem as 47 A'Lee gets a big one from 311 Rogers. At the front 133 it is who takes it up from 891 Darren Wade with 714 'No Show' also going well, 45 has a problem on turn 4 as 714 moves up into 2nd, shadowed by both 162 Ellacott and 190 'Pikey', the slippery track is playing havoc with the leaders but 190 masters the conditions better than others and soon moves up into 2nd behind 133 with 714 now 3rd and the 162 Cougar now up to 4th, with 891 Wadey now seemingly going backwards down the order. At half distance it is still 133, half a straight in front of the DWO trio consisting of 190, 162 and 714 - 114 Courtier though still somewhere near the back at this stage. With 4 laps to run 133 still leads but 190 Bailey is catching as 714 goes past the start/finish line his car is sounding anything but healthy and he retires to the infield on turn 2. 'Pin-up Boy' Ellacott is still holding station in 3rd with 891 Wade now settled in 4th as we reach the final lap. 133 has his mirror full now of the 190 car, probably best he doesn't look then but if he did he would have seen that Bailey was about to push him wide into turn 1, which he did, and we had a new leader with half a lap to go. 133 manages to keep it all together though and as both 2nd and 3rd place Ellacott reach turn 3 it looks as if the Cougar man is going to push the 133 car wide once more but 133 is wise to this move now and somehow keeps cool to finish just in front of 162 at the line, with 891 and 383 the next to finish. After his deserved lap of honour, 190 so sportingly once more gives away his winners trophy to his number one fan, the little boy in red overalls.

With the sun really shining now the 'Tyrefinders' World Qualifier Final produced an encouraging 16 car line-up with 841 'Dingle' Tom Perkins and 45 'Lips' Antony Croshaw making up the front row, with the very battered 410 Cougar of Dan Galley a welcome starter after a lot of attention in the earlier heats. At the back of the grid once more the DWO gold-roofed duo of 190 'Pikey' and the immaculately turned out Cougar of the immaculately turned out 162 'Bad Boy' Ellacott. 45 Croshaw it was that got his nose (or Lips) in front at the green, as 648 Jamie Smith gets a big one on turn 3 as does 243 and 642, with the lively 891 'Wadey' and 74 Hitchcock also involved, and 714 'No Show' also piling in for good measure, surprise, surprise !! 410 spins courtesy of 101 Andrew Bishop on turn 2 as 45 surprisingly still leads from 341 with 190 Bailey managing to overcome all temptation in his way now up into 3rd, shadowed once more by 162 Ellacott and 133. As expected, 45 then joins in the pile-up on turn 3, with a little help from 841 Tom Perkins who then gets pushed into the infield tractor tyres hard by 341 'Jonesey' for his troubles, in a cloud of water and steam. Top marks though to 841 as he manges to extricate himself and rejoin the race, only to get collected once more on the next lap by 'Jonesey' and that is the end of 'Tomo' - or is it, as the 'Dingle' man somehow manages to coax the battered Mondeo back into life and off he goes once more, but is then flattened again this time by 101 Bishop. Top marks to the Gunnislake man - they breed them tough up there ! At half distance 45 has managed to get his Mondeo mobile again but has a bad case of the crabs to contend with, well his car has anyway as he wrestles the 'crabbing' machine around the armco fencing as 190 Bailey leads the field from 162 Ellacott, with 133 in 3rd. 162 'The Hair' then removes 410 Galley in the other Cougar as he continues his way in 2nd and all looks good for the DWO team in this one. 101 Bishop rejoins after an earlier excursion as 841 gets clobbered again and 45 'Lips' has found bouncing off the armco an excellent way of getting around the United Downs raceway bends by managing to get up into 4th. With 2 laps to go, Ellacott passes Bailey to head the pack, with 133 still safe in 3rd as 841 spins out yet again, as they start the last lap the two DWO men are neck and neck, the lure of World Championship points too much for Stevie-boy to give Ellacott an easy ride. With 190 on the inside as they round turns 1 and 2 it is going to be mighty close but 162 gets the Cougar's power down first and gets his perfect nose just in front as they arrive at the final bend, 841 for a brief moment thinks about reversing the remains of his car across the track in front of the leading pair on the start/finish straight but wisely thinks better of it and it is 162 Ellacott that takes the spoils from team-mate 'Pikey', with 133 a very worthy 3rd and 452 'Lurch' relagating the lively 45 'Lips' to 5th at the line. A special mention must go to 841 Tom Perkins who actually managed to keep his car going and finish the race, surely the entertainer of the meeting, with 243 surely the wreck of the day. So, another good day at the office for the DWO team with valuable WQ points safely in the bag, it wasn't an epic meeting by any stretch of the imagination but it was certainly an enjoyable afternoon. To the victor the spoils, and along with his handsome winners trophy Mr Ellacott, after checking his appearance in his mirror, also picked up a rather smart 'Michelin' shirt courtesy of sponsors 'Tyrefinders' but being only a size 'large' there was no way in this world that it was ever going to fit the big man, and anyway, it was of the 'polo' shirt design and, of course, there was no chance he was going to risk any damage to his beautiful hair by pulling THAT baby over his head, no sir. As is customery, 2nd place 'Pikey' gave away his trophy, this time to a very surprised little girl on her father's shoulders, which was nice, and everyone went home happy, content and in time for a pasty and 'Dancing on Ice'.............and not a penny of anyone's prize money was put, un-declared, in any off-shore bank account named after anyone's pet dog.     

Autospeed Bangers

An excellent showing from the domestic Banger formula chasing British Championship points and some excellent paint-jobs too proving that these guys are serious about their racing. Heat 1 of the 'Sparky's Taxis' sponsored events fielded 23 cars, with the smart Rover of 38 Kevin Styles on the inside of the front row and 20 (in a BMW 320 !) Nick Manning on his outside. Top car in this one simply had to be the superb silver Ford Focus of 383 Andre McLellan which surprisingly turned out to be all-show-and-not-much-go as it never seemed to be a serious contender in the performance stakes. Also amongst the starters in this one, at the back of the field, was current Autospeed points champion 246 Ryan Sparks. At the green it was 38 who made the better start from 20, with 131 Stephen Cock being the first casualty having a coming together with 735 Wayne Flint and clouting the turn 4 fence. Lap 4 and 38 continues to lead but can't shake off the handy looking 20 - the BMW being one of the only RWD cars in the race and drifting superbly around the corners in style as 438 Dan Rice spins across the start/finish line and 654 Mark Pope also coming to grief on the start/finish straight. 28 Stephen Linly in a very smart orange Mondeo was now up into 2nd as the BMW estate fell by the wayside and with 4 laps to go it was 38 from 28 with 121 Graham Peers up into 3rd. As the laps came and went the 38 Rover was coming under a lot of pressure from the 28 Mondeo and with 2 laps to run Linly fired up the inside on turn 1 and took over the lead which he held on to the finish, with long time leader 38 Styles a deserving 2nd place.

Heat 2 saw 26 starters, with 491 Charlie Fulbrook's strangely painted car on the inside of the front row and 291 Kieran Cocks on the outside. Among the starters in this one were reigning British Champion 242 Ben Ellacott in a fresh Honda, and the man who could probably be the longest surviving Banger racer in the country, 194 Alister Buchan, who apparently began his career in 1971 - but no one can obviously verify this as nobody can actually remember that far back......! Top marks to the veteran anyway, racing a car that, condition wise anyway, looked as though it had been racing almost as long as its driver. As the race began 491 was the early leader with 291 Cocks hitting the fence on turn 4, 289 Jamie Cocks in an indecently quick Mazda 323 Coupe meanwhile was on a flyer and was soon up into the lead as 10 Iain Sparks spun on turn 2, 232 David Thomas moved up into 2nd. 10 Sparks and 491 Fulbrook then have a big coming together on turn 3 as 289 Cocks continues to dominate at the front and 291 hits the turn 4 fence again. 451 Mickey Reed was driving very well and was now up into 2nd but a long way behind 289 Jamie Cocks, and it was the local Falmouth man who took a convincing win, a long way ahead of 2nd place man Reed and 321 Mark Johns home in 3rd. It is always good to see the variety of different cars that race in this popular formula, some successfuly and others best forgotten, like the 248 Citroen Saxo that was also a starter in this race - driven by John Sparks. 

Next up was the consolation which fielded a healthy 26 cars, with the BMW estate of 20 Nick Manning lining up on the inside of the front row and ex Ministox driver 817 Andrew Neville on the outside. 817 got his nose in front as the green flag dropped but almost threw it all away on turn 3 but somehow managed to gather it all together and lead across the line followed by the BMW, the 20 car then managing to take the lead on lap 2. Meanwhile the oldest-surviving-banger-driver-in-the-world 194 Buchan spins, with 881 Gary Emery also involved but both get going again as 491 Fulbrook moves up into 2nd. As the race settled down, the 20 was still clear at the front and began carving a way through the back markers, followed at a little distance by 491, with 438 Dan Rice now up into 3rd. 134 Jarret Bond then gets spun as he crosses the start/finish line and then is joined by 735 Wayne Flint and 607 Gary Sillifant as 438 moves up into 2nd and 775 to 3rd, with 3 laps left to run. Meanwhile, virtually unseen (by me anyway) 246 Ryan Sparks has stormed through the field from the back of the pack and is now up into 4th and looking like a threat to the leading trio as 654 Pope comes to grief on the exit of turn 4. The last lap begins and with Manning comfortable out front, 775 moves into 2nd and 246 Sparks takes over 3rd and that is how they finish, the 20 BMW certainly a worthy winner with almost a flag-to-flag victory.

The final saw 232 Thomas and the very smart Rover/Honda of 38 Styles making up the front row of 25 starters, row 2 had the rapid BMW of 20 next to the very quick Mazda 323 Coupe of 289 Cocks so it looked like a good race was in prospect from the off. And at the 'off' it was 232 that took it up as 438 Dan Rice became the first spinner on turn 3, 38 then moves up into the lead before getting it wrong, clipping the fence and ending up facing the wrong way thus handing the lead back to 232 Thomas as 20 pulls the BMW off with a problem from 3rd. So, 232 leads from 289 Cocks with a very greasy turn 3 catching a lot of drivers out, next lap 289 hits the front as the turn 3 surface continues to claim victims. 235 and 438 Dan Rice then have a frank exchange of views but then both get going again as 289 continues to lead from 232 and 87 Paul Lawer now up into 3rd. Next lap and 87 moves up into 2nd and is looking threatening as 46 then mounts an assault on the leaders, 87 passes 289 Cocks who then gets ambushed by 46 who then sets about leader Lawer, so as we approach half-distance it is 46 who leads from 87 Lawer and the now ill-handling Mazda of Cocks. 246 Ryan Sparks now joins in the fun and relieves Cocks of his 3rd place, pushing the 289 car gently into the turn 1 wall and with 4 laps left it is 46, 87, 246 but Sparks has eyes for the bigger prize and takes over 2nd on the next lap with 28 Linly now following him closely. As 46 begins his last lap he is well clear of 2nd place man Sparks who is finding the close company of 28 Linly a little uncomfortable but unpleasantness is avoided and at the flag it's a clear, half-a-straight win for the flying 46, from 246 Sparks who made excellent progress once more from the very back of the grid and the ever lively Linly. And then the sun came out and everyone felt good about the world once more.

The allcomers raised 33 starters and with the sun beginning to set (this was the final race of the afternoon) it was getting a little chilly. 291 Cocks and 491 Fulbrook were the front row sitters and it was 491 that hit the front first, followed by 38 in the rapid Rover/Honda as 131 Stephen Cock and 247 Richard Sparks acquaint themselves with the armco on turn 4. 654 Pope (not THE Pope obviously) gets put in on turn 3 and 415 Sean Gillett also has problems, as does 45 Mike Reed (not THE Mike Reed obviously) as 654 gets spun, and after getting going again 45 gets spun out again on turn 2. 347 then spins 847 Andy Whatley on turn 1, as 441 Dan Sutherland leads with 38 up into 3rd, 10 Iain Sparks gets spun by 60 Andy Bulled on turn 2 and then gets collected by both 158 Sean McCarthy and 929 Sam Baker on the exit of turn 4. 38, in 3rd, hits the wall with some help from 735 Wayne Flint on turn 1 and 438 Dan Rice spins on the start/finish line. 38 then gets put in once more, this time by 929 Baker, and 132 Barry McAleer hits the wall in the very slippery conditions. With 4 laps left to run 87 Paul Lawer is the leader with 511 Dan Crosbie, 246 Sparks and 491 Fulbrook also there or thereabouts. 491 then clouts the wall on turn 1 but manages to get it going again, with 438 Rice also involved somewhere, 247 Sparks gets clobbered by 491 Fulbrook as 246 takes a short cut across the turns 1 and 2 infield, 87 still leads. 254 gets spun spectacularly by 847 Whatley and ends up facing the wrong way but at the front no such problems for leader 87 'Shaky' Lawer who keeps his cool and takes the chequered flag, with 247 Sparks giving 45 (I think) Reed a big one on the entry of turn 1 after they both cross the line. So, a very good race from the 'Autospeed' Bangers, probably the best one all afternoon from the junior crashing formula - the damp track adding to the fun and catching a lot of the driver's out.   

Stock Rods

There was a good turnout of National Stock Rods including visiting driver 136 Steve Gooch who had left the snow in his hometown of Drayton up there in Middlesex for some Cornish winter sun. The last time he had raced with us at Autospeed had been at the Winter Supreme meeting at Smeatharpe a fortnight ago when he was in blistering form, winning heat and final - so much was expected. There were also track debuts for ex Saloon Stock man 3 Matt Peters and local driver 83 Adam Ignaczak. Heat 1 saw 19 cars grace the raceway for this 'Racetech' sponsored event and as this was the first race of the new season the track surface was a little unpredictable to say the least. 83 Ignaczak started on the inside of row 1, with 437 Lewis Trickey on his outside and as the green flag dropped it was Trickey that just got his nose in front as the cars went through turns 1 and 2, meanwhile 3 Matt Peters was finding things particularly difficult sliding up the main straight and going very sideways through turns 3 and 4. Trickey led them into lap 2 from 83 with the 'old skool' RWD Starlet of 311 Neil Martin up into 3rd after a cracking start. Martin being the last men ever to win a Stock Rod race at United Downs in a RWD car a few seasons ago now. 222 Mike Belcher spun coming out of turn 2, which tended to focus everyone's attention, as 311 Martin took up 2nd behind the flying Trickey. 83 Ingnaczak was finding his new formula a little difficult to adapt to as he was passed by 54 John Tait for 3rd as 311 began catching leader Trickey. 437 went a little wide out of turn 4 which allowed the Starlet through up the inside, followed by 54 Tait with 3 Peters now up into 4th having got his Vauxhall Nova under control. 83 then pulls off into the centre with a problem as 311 Martin and 54 Tait have a brief coming together on turn 4 which allows 437 Trickey back up into the lead and now followed by 49 Kev Lock up to 2nd. 730 Brendon Sealy is on a charge from the blue grade as is the Peugeot 106 of 909 Justin Washer, with the Salisbury man soon up into 3rd. 49 Lock moves up into the lead as we reach half distance, with Washer now in 2nd and Peters 3rd, but the Peugeot has the better line through the corners and soon takes over at the front. 92 Adam Daniels pulls off with a puncture and just as things are getting exciting 196 Phil Chapman spins his Corsa to a standstill on the entrance of turn 3 and in the interests of safety the waved yellow flags come out, but before all the cars have slowed the unfortunate Sealy in the immaculate 730 car hits the rear of the stricken but abandoned 196 at quite a rate of knots, putting an end to the Taunton mans racing afternoon and leaving the 730 car looking very sorry for itself, a real shame. With 5 laps left to run 909 Washer leads away the field for the re-start from 49 Lock and 136 Gooch now up into 3rd as 437 Trickey has retired onto the infield, with the other RWD Starlet of veteran 306 Neil Truran superbly up into 4th. Gooch almost catches Lock asleep as the green flag drops as Washer disappears into the distance but the 49 car stirs just in time and we have a race on our hands. Lock is a man who likes the inside line and if the Drayton driver is to pass he is just going to have to go around the outside - as Malcolm McLaren once said - or is he..... With the chequered flag in sight and 909 way out front now 136 Gooch comes out of turn 4 and attempts to shoot up the inside of the 49 car - eventhough Lock is rightly on the inside racing line which results in contact with the 49 car spinning wildly and the 136 Gooch machine skidding onto the infield and clobbering the retired 437 car hard in the rear. So, with two very unhappy and dis-agreeing drivers in the shape of 136 and 49  and certainly no handshakes attempted (so no refusals) the flag comes down on 909 Washer, with 306 Truran inheriting an excellent 2nd, 181 Lindsey Jones a very creditable 3rd and the recovering 49 Lock 4th. Spectacular stuff then from the non-contact Stock Rods, and the all-in final was no different with the highly modified rear-ended car of 437 Lewis Trickey lining up on the inside of row one, with 3 Matt Peters on his outside, the thought struck me that perhaps Matt had come over from the Saloon Stock formula to the Stock Rods in the belief that there was not enough contact in the heavily armoured 2 litre class...... Also amongst the line up of 17 cars were both 136 Steve Gooch and 49 Kev Lock. As the flag drops it is the Nova of 3 Peters that powers his way around the outside of turns 1 and 2 to take an early lead from 437 Trickey who then spins out of contention on turn 4 and ends up facing in the wrong direction. Peters it is then that leads the field into lap 2 being chased hard by the FWD Starlet of 311 Martin, 184 Lawrence Tye, 54 John Tait and 12 Kevin Hockings, also going well was 306 Truran who had 136 Gooch filling his mirrors. 4 laps completed and with 3 well out in front now, 136 Gooch catches 49 Lock and spins his prey quite deliberately on the exit of turn 4, leaving the Lock machine stranded across the start/finish straight, a move that saw the Middlesex man receive an instant black flag - which to his credit he accepted and pulled onto the infield, but the damage was done. 437 Trickey then comes to grief on the exit of turn 4 as 49 Lock gets going again. At half-distance it was still 3 Matt Peters way out in front from 311 Martin and a very close 54 Tait and this it how it continued until lap 17 when 54 Tait managed to slip one up the inside of the elderly Starlet on turn 3 to take up 2nd. Heat winner 909 Washer had by now managed to work his way up into 4th and looked menacing, the last lap saw Peters comfortably in the lead but the trio behind him were now almost touching door-handles and as they exited turn 4 for the last time were literally neck-and-neck but as they crossed the line somehow the positions stayed as they were and it finished 3, 54, 311 and 909. Another spectacular finish and congratulations to white grader Matt Peters on his maiden win in the Stock Rod class in only his second meeting - thoroughly deserved too. The Grand National was the last race of the day for the Stock Rods and with 3 Peters on a lap handicap for winning the final it was sole white grader 437 Lewis Trickey that lined up at the front of the 16 car pack, a pack that included the hopefully lesson-learned 136 Steve Gooch and 49 Kev Lock. Not surprisingly it was 437 Trickey that led away the field with 311 Neil Martin once again in hot persuit in 2nd followed again by 54 John Tait. 3 laps in and handicap man Peters was almost up with the tail-ender red grades, quite a feat and certainly something to watch, but not far behind him the flying Trickey was also closing on the back-markers. With the track a little slippery after the earlier Banger races the RWD Starlet of 311 was finding the going difficult and this allowed 54 Tait through into 2nd, and pretty soon 12 Kevin Hockings was breathing down the Starlet driver's neck, followed by 222 Mike Belcher. At half distance it was still 437 Trickey way out front with 311 Martin somehow still holding 3rd but holding back the field a little from 12 Hockings. 909 Justin Washer was looking good, the little Peugeot seemingly indecently quick down the straights and quite controlable around the outside line too and it wasn't long before the Salisbury man was up to 5th behind 12 Hocking, and then helped further in no small way by 54 Tait having a brush with the turn 3 wall which didn't do his OSF wheel any good at all. With 5 laps left to run the order was 437 Trickey, 311 Martin now back up to 2nd with the demise of Tait with 12 3rd and 909 still 4th. Meanwhile, further back, a huge sigh of relief as 136 Gooch passes 49 Lock without incident and at the front 909 Washer moves up into 2nd with some brave driving around the outside of both 12 Hockings and 311 Martin, 853 Sam Matthews moves up into 5th. 40 Rick Cornell then manages to get his car up on two-wheels coming around turn 3, helped by the inner curb no doubt but comes back down to earth safely and carries on regardless, strong old cars these Novas ! Bad luck too for 49 who survives a pass from 136 Gooch only to suffer a puncture just before the end. The final lap sees 909 Washer right on the rear bumper of the 437 Nova but young Trickey just manages to hang on to take a popular and deserved win in his battle-scarred machine, 311 Neil Martin a very creditable 3rd and likewise 12 Hockings in 4th. A good day for the white grade then and another excellent, if a little controversial, showing from the Stock Rods and I for one look forward to more of the same when the season begins properly.           

Ministox

An encouraging showing once more from the youngsters with a healthy 18 cars arriving to do battle, which included Incarace Points Champion 236 Ryan Polley, who had made the long trip from March in Cambridgeshire. The grandson of National Hot-Rod legend 306 George Polley a very welcome addition to the programme. Another welcome visitor was 108 Mark Cooper from Wimborne, like Polley young Mark had already raced at the Winter Open meeting at Smeatharpe in January where he won an excellent meeting final. Two other young drivers were making their Ministox debut, 987 Ethan Pope and 951 Aiden Vincent, who simply brimmed with confidence, in the ex 991 Ryan Hoskin Mini. Heat 1 fielded 16 cars with 946 Emily Hector on the inside of row 1 with 951 Vincent on her outside. Hector it was who led the field away with 936 Alfie Whitelegg spinning on the first corner, as the field rounded turns 1 and 2 for the first time new boy 951 Vincent spun big style with 910 Tom Cadby and 925 Amy Collett also having problems at opposite ends of the raceway and so the red flags came out in the interests of safety and a complete re-start was ordered. A baptism-of-fire then for the young Vincent but I am sure this will do little to put the youngster off. 946 Hector it was who led away the re-start from 977 Kieran Bradford who was then passed almost immediately by the flying 910 Cadby, non the worse for his earlier brush with the turn 1 fence. Miss Hector continued in command at the front as 910 Cadby and 977 Bradford battled for 2nd, with 955 Frankie Radmore joining in the fun also and 108 visitor Cooper holding a watching brief in 5th. Back down the field 236 Polley was beginning to get to grips with the tricky layout of the United Downs track and progressing up the order nicely into 6th as 987 Ethan Pope had a bit of a moment. With 5 laps left to run it was still 946 at the front with 910 Cadby now safe in 2nd and 977 Bradford 3rd. Two laps later Cadby went wide around turn 3 which allowed Bradford up into 2nd but with no chance now of catching run-away leader young 946 Emily Hector and indeed it was Cullompton girl who took a well earned victory, with 108 Cooper excellent value for 4th. Heat 2 again saw 16 cars venture onto the track with 925 Amy Collett on the inside of the front row and winner of heat 1 946 Emily Hector on her outside and as the green flag waved it was 946 Hector that took it up as 936 Alfie Whitelegg became an early retirement. 955 Frankie Radmore soon moved up into 2nd behind Hector followed by 977 Kieran Bradford in 3rd, with 935 James Flint also going well from the blue grade as 925 Amy Collett joined Whitelegg on the infield in retirement. 989 Joe Marquand, who was having a quiet day by his normal standard, had a problem on the exit of turn 2, his OSF wheel seemingly having caught the inner curb and the car just out of harms way on the infield. 977 Bradford moves up into 2nd at the expense of 955 Radmore who then comes under a lot of pressure from 910 Tom Cadby, with 108 Cooper now 4th and having a right old ding-dong with 907 Ben Sillifant. With 5 laps left to run 910 Cadby passes 955 Radmore who then has 108 Cooper nibbling her rear (bumper) meanwhile further back 942 Stephen Gilbert has had a coming together with 236 Ryan Polley which has resulted in a spin for the Incarace Champion - one up to the Cornish then......!! So, looking comfortable at the front is leader 946 Emily Hector, with 977 Bradford just as comfortable in 2nd with a right old battle going on for the other places but as the leader gets amongst the back markers she misses a gear or something and hesitates a little which allows 977 to close the gap and indeed pass the slowing 946 car with two laps left to run. Young Emily then recovers some speed and comes back at Bradford as they cross the start/finish line to begin the final lap but clips the 977 rear bumper which then seems to aim the 946 car toward the infield which allows 907 Sillifant, 910 cadby and 108 Cooper to pass. Thankfully Emily manages to control the car and recover to finish a creditable 7th behind 932 Sam Moore and the Doublebois super-star 942 Steven Gilbert. An exellent win then for young 977 Kieran Bradford with 907 Ben Sillifant a worthy 2nd.

12 cars made it out on track for the 'Dobwalls MOT Centre' sponsored final and it is at this point I have to apologies most sincerely to all as due to various problems I failed to make notes on all the action, but I will do my best to recall as much as I can and my mistake should not take anything away from any of the drivers in this race as it was a cracker. 946 Emily Hector, the sole white grader, led the field away from 977 Kieran Bradford. On lap 4 236 Ryan Polley caught and spun 942 Steven Gilbert, returning the favour after the 'Flying Cornishman' had spun him in the earlier heat. 907 Ben Sillifant was going very well from the blues and was soon up into 3rd behind 946 Hector and Bradford, 932 Sam Moore also going well. Emily then spun away the lead and 977 Bradford took over at the front with 932 Moore looking very handy indeed and soon up into 2nd and then taking the lead on lap 10 after 977 Bradford had a problem. Further back 236 Ryan Polley had really got to grips with the tricky United Downs track layout and after disposing of his main rival Gilbert was storming through the field and as the lap boards came out went into the penultimate lap within striking distance of the leaders 932 Moore and 907 Sillifant, with 108 Cooper once more holding a watching brief in 4th. Last lap and Polley did indeed hit the front, as 946 Hector and 977 Bradford have a coming together, the young Incarace/Spedeworth champion showing the Cornish crowd just why he is a worthy holder of both prestigious titles as he takes the chequered flag to win a thoroughly entertaining final for the youngsters. There is an old saying in motorsport that 'money cannot buy talent' but if it is in the genes it is in the genes and talent, well young Ryan - as others in his family have also proved - certainly has that in spades. As for young Steven Gilbert, top marks for keeping Polley on it earlier in the afternoon and I simply know he will not be letting anyone push him round again in the future - no matter what colour his roof is !