Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 7th March 2010

2-Litre National Bangers

The season's first World Championship qualifying round for the National Bangers saw just under 30 drivers do battle.  Joint top scorers for the day were 239 Steve Carter and final winner, the newly Autospeed licensed 331 Jason Jackson.
162 Brett Ellacott was also a heavy points scorer, and he also found time to contribute to a lot of the action, particularly during a busy first heat which saw much crashing at both ends of the circuit.
Best Presented awards went the way of 208 Jimmy Randall, 719 Chris Storey and comeback racer 234 Paul Galliford, who was making his first appearance for just over two years.
A game display from the quintet of orange/green cars, saw 444 Mark Clarke, 841 Tom Perkins, 842 Jack Perkins, 642 Nigel Thomas and 843 Toby Hodges all contribute well to the day's fun.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

877 Eddie Darby took the honour of winning the first westcountry BriSCA F2 Stock Car final  of the new season.  Darby lifted the MDP Services annual trophy, after winning a head-to-head shoot out with 315 Justin Fisher.  It looked as though Fisher had the pace to overhaul Darby, but no sooner had Fisher taken the lead, then Darby responded by blasting Fisher wide in the west bend.  Darby saw out the remaining laps, and won from 538 Chevy Mills and 891 Darren Wade.
Mills was first home in the opening heat, but was then docked two places for a jumped start, which promoted 189 Paul Butcher into first place.  Heat two went to Fisher and 105 Ross Rowe inherited the consolation, when 76 Chris Rowe failed the post-race rear axle offset check.
A 23-car Grand National ended the day, with 464 Matt Linfield victorious.

Saloon Stock Cars

Despite misplaced doom and gloom about the Saloon Stock Cars, a dozen drivers produced three lively races, with star men 618 Stuart Shevill Jnr, 219 Luke Grief and 360 Carl Waterfield always in the thick of the action.  Grief just pipped 199 Phil Powell to win a sensational first heat, and Grief doubled his wins tally when he caught 127 Steve McMillan late on in heat two.  However, it was young Scot, Shevill Jnr, who claimed the chequered flag in the final, ahead of McMillan and Grief.

Ministox

Another hugely impressive showing from the youngsters in the Ministox saw 22 junior drivers in action.  The heats went to 954 Hannah Sear and 960 Dale Moon, but having led many laps during the afternoon, 942 Steven Gilbert refused to be caught in the final, as he led home Moon and 945 Ashley Prisk.