United Downs Raceway - Sunday 9th February 2014

Just over 70 drivers, across four classes, braved another day of wretched winter weather, to compete in the first meeting of the year at the United Downs Raceway, St Day.  Whilst there was some winter sunshine, much of the day was very cold, and although there was not much rain, when it came, it did so with venom, with occasional downpours throughout the afternoon.

Old Skool 2-litre National Bangers

Interest in the Old Skool 2-litre National Bangers was fully merited, and the action the drivers served up was first class.  The first heat was a taster of what was to follow, with some good action.  910 Katie Dawe quickly nipped past front row starter 97 Craig Deer, and she sped to victory.  In heat two, 637 Dan Smith turned Dawe aside very early on, and after a caution period, 912 Simon Rees eased well clear for victory.  The Old Skool final was an absorbing race.  Deer led initially, but then was challenged by 714 Paul Smaldon.  However, Deer dismissed him into the home straight fence, which allowed 648 Jamie Smith to pounce and grab the lead.  He was then overhauled by 333 Craig Partridge, and in a thrilling dive, Smith just missed connecting with Partridge.  Smith clobbered the fence at the turnstile end, and Partridge went on to win, as just four cars went the distance.  There were only 6 drivers willing and able to contest the Allcomers, but with heavier crashing allowed, that very much proved to be the case.  Dan Smith and Smaldon went up the fence together, which left Smith a sitting target for a blitz from his brother, Jamie.  189 Ry Beardwell transgressed the rules by turning around, but when he then spun the car around again to face the right direction, he left himself wide open to a thumping hit from Smaldon.  Rees powered to another win, and Partridge was the only other finisher.

Stock Rods

Points Champion 441 Tom Major was a non-starter in the first heat, whilst 49 Kev Lock spun, and picked up a puncture on the opening lap.  151 Simon Vincent set the pace, but he was caught and passed by 92 Adam Daniels and 909 Justin Washer, who finished in that order.  Washer and Daniels reversed their placings in heat two, in which Major was docked two places for spinning out Lock.  Washer won the coin toss, and took pole for the final, which forced Daniels to do much of the chasing.  It took major more than half the race to emerge clear in third place, and then he closed on the leading duo.  As the three came together, Daniels pounced, to steal the lead from Washer.  Then came an altercation, as Washer pulled across Major, who ran into the rear of the 909 car.  Major charged past on the inside line to take second, and Lock, who had roared through from last on the starting grid, then passed Washer to place third.  A Steward’s enquiry followed.  Major was docked two places for contact on Washer, but Washer’s inexplicable and unacceptable behaviour after the chequered flag, contributed to his disqualification.  Daniels thus won the Winter Supreme Challenge for the first time, with Lock and 83 Adam Ignaczak officially recorded as second and third.

Ministox

The only visiting driver in the Ministox entry was 236 Ryan Polley, who again produced a classy showing after making the very long journey west.  In the first heat, Polley featured in a thrilling duel with 986 Sophie Fasey.  They swapped places and positions in the race, but it was Fasey who pulled off the telling move, when she nudged Polley wide on the last bend, with an inch-perfect manoeuvre.  931 Jack Manhire found himself disqualified, for spinning 987 Ethan Pope, inside out.  Heat two looked as though 917 Warren Darby was going to win by the proverbial country mile.  However, late on, he encountered 922 Joe Parker, who clearly had mechanical issues.  That delayed Darby, who nearly fell into the clutches of the chasing Pope.  Calmly, Darby regained his rhythm, and saw out the remaining couple of laps for a fine maiden victory, which he celebrated with air punches.  Fasey spun 907 Cameron Lawrence aside near the start of the final, but their brief tangle allowed Polley to cut through the stars with ease, and once he had caught Parker, there was only going to be one winner.  989 Joe Marquand made it through for second, with Fasey completing the top three.

Bangers

A few no-shows from the Bangers, brought their numbers down to a point where three straight races was the format deployed.  With just under 30 starters, the first heat was always going to be hectic, and so it proved, with a race suspension called when 912 Simon Rees was one of many bundled into the turn two fence.  91 Ian Blight took up the running on lap five, and he went on to win, whilst 372 Jay Matthews clattered 612 Lee Pink wide in the scramble for second.  Heat two featured a double rollover at the midway point of the race, as both 818 Terry Rowe and 76 Kaylee Spooner inverted, right next to each other, at the pit gate.  In the restarted race, 60 Andy Bulled sped clear by some distance, to win comfortably.  The final was led by Pink, and then by comeback racer 79 Brian Edmond.  Just after halfway, 929 Sam Baker completed his charge from the star grade to the front, when he moved ahead.  Baker completed a convincing victory, and another late run by Bulled saw him take second, whilst 320 Dan Abbott was third.