United Downs Raceway - Sunday 12th October 2014

There was a spectacular conclusion to the national Stock Car racing season in Cornwall, when the United Downs Raceway, St Day played host to a thrilling programme.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

The entry of F2s was disappointing at 24 cars, particularly with all of the extra incentives and bonuses on offer.  Nonetheless, the racing was right out of the top drawer, with a different winner in each of the day’s quintet of races.  Having won the corresponding race at Smeatharpe two weeks ago, 575 Tom Clark again took top honours in the White & Yellow grade series final.  Clark quickly hunted down the white grade duo of 572 James Lindsay and 828 Julian Coombes, and at the flag, he was well clear of 290 Jay Tomkins and 302 Dale Moon.  Heat two saw local racer 605 Liam Rowe in great form.  Rowe he returned to his home track, after a prolonged absence, and chased down Moon, to grab the lead, and the win, late on.  In heat three, 83 Sy Harraway scored his first ever St Day race win, with a fine display which was a little more impressive than his attempt at post-race celebratory donuts.  With an extra £500 of lap leader bonus money at stake on the Old Motor Cycle Club Trophy final, the competition was always going to be fierce.  776 Ben Hissitt benefitted from starting at the front of the grid.  On his first racing appearance at St Day, Hissitt led six laps to scoop £150.  He relinquished the lead to Tomkins, who powered on at the front to pile up nine lead laps, and net himself £225.  Tomkins was overhauled by 126 Jamie Avery on lap sixteen.  Avery, winner of the feature final at St Day on 10 August, looked set to strike again, but just over two laps from home he was baulked by Hissitt who, by now, was a backmarker.  As Avery bumped into Hissitt, his car jumped out of gear and he lost momentum.  That opened the door for European Champion Hooper to pounce.  Needing no second invite, Hooper seized the moment, and grabbed the lead, reeling off laps 19 and 20, to secure a bonus of £50 and regain the Old Motor Cycle Club Trophy he had won in three consecutive seasons between 2010 and 2012.  Track Champion 783 James Rygor completed the afternoon with a win in the Grand National.

Stock Rods

The entry of Stock Rods included 315 Trevor Ashworth on his first St Day visit of the season, and track debuts for 705 Dave Ham and 626 Richard Edmonds.  The opening heat saw penalties issued to 909 Justin Washer and 151 Simon Vincent – the latter driver then choosing to cease racing at that point.  As the leading pack dithered whilst looking for position, 3 Matt Peters brilliantly burst around the outside of them, and he went on to claim a convincing win.  The final was led away by 740 Nigel Stuart, until 26 Alan Furse took up the running.  Peters, showing his best form for some time, reeled him in and looked set for the win, but a late charge by English and ORC Champion 306 Neil Truran saw him sweep around the outside of him in the late stages.  Peters was second, and Washer completed the top three.  Ashworth scored a commanding victory in the GN.

Ministox

The first race for the Ministox was significant, in that it brought a first ever win for 11 year old 180 Charlie Lobb.  Having hit the front, he was chased down in the closing stages by 986 Sophie Fasey.  However, even though Fasey was looming large behind him, he held on and sped over the line to clinch the win, with 987 Ethan Pope completing the top three.  Fasey scored a comprehensive win in the second heat and that put the seal on the Autospeed Points Championship, as she became only the second girl racer to take the title, after Katie Dawe’s 2005 success.  The final began with Fasey spinning aside current silver top, 907 Cameron Lawrence.  Shortly after, the race was stopped and delayed considerably, after Lobb clobbered the spun 988 Harry Sheppard car – the latter needing to be extricated with his car.  Gladly, his trip to hospital proved to be just a check-up, and he was released later in the evening.  Pope and 911 Harrison Bryant led the way, but Fasey came through again to take the victory, as Pope and 922 Joe Parker filled second and third places respectively.

Bangers

Over 30 drivers competed in the Bangers, and their series of races began with back-to-back wins for 45 Mike Reed.  Heat three saw 447 Adam Hicks take his nifty Ford Puma to victory, for what was his first ever win.  Hicks led the early stages of the final, which began with a rollover for 612 Lee Pink.  That caused the race to be re-run, and very quickly Reed was making swift progress.  However, Reed was sensationally removed by 304 Marty Penhaligon.  That left Hicks to battle with 53 Chris James and 847 Andy Whatley.  As they contested the lead, 479 Jamie Jenkin began to close.  James fell back down the order, and Jenkin moved past Hicks to take second place, but he ran out of time to catch Whatley, who duly scored a fine victory.  The day’s action for the Bangers ended with a comical Chained Pairs race.  Four pairs contested the race, but when they all became entangled on the home straight, the race had to be ended prematurely.  163 Dean Lundy and 787 Mike Nelson had completed the most laps, and they were awarded the win.