Somebody Stoke the Lights!!

Up'anley m'duck fetch me an oatcake, cos the Jho Midland tour rolled in to Loomer Road, Chesterton in the People's Republic of Stoke on Trent. It's forefathers of Matthews, Taylor and Williams would have been proud. But Stan, Phil and Robbie would never have foreseen what was about to occur.

Front row sitter, and Mr Talking point from the weekend (well, apart from me), Rob Speak (218) turned up for his first shale F2 meeting for over 11 years, in a field of about 34 cars, with his old Elite to play with. 2 out of 3 was the format of choice. A white top charge took hold as the reds of Palmer (606), Bradbury (886) and the aforementioned Speak scrapped, with Speak dispensing with Palmer into the wall allowing his wheel guard to come adrift, which called time on his race. Speak then fired Bradbury into the traffic to move to which, to which Bradbury didn't recover and eventually pulled off. In Speak's eagerness to get to the front he tripped over a slow moving yellow top which meant progress slowed. Martin Love (548) took the win - his first - and such was his delight he didn't know what to do when he won.

Heat 2 saw Liam Bentham (488) take the early running, but it was the battle for red top supremacy between Bradbury, the rapidly improving Whippersnapper Jack (921) and Sam Wagner (823) which saw all 3 cars trade blows on each corner for 5 laps, and come the charge to the line it was 3 abreast and by the skinniest rizla paper, Bradderz took it from Wagner, however Bentham had long since crossed the line.

Heat 3 saw the PA go, and after an early pile up involving 418 and Aldridge, the rapidly moving Robert the Great, got re accustomed with the shale, and re accustomed with the chequered having skillfully defended his position from Palmer. With the light rapidly dimming, and with the "attraction" of a handful of grasstrack motors and 1600cc Bangers left over from the Cov at the weekend, it was final time. A little bit dark, but fair play to the drivers for continuing in near darkness. My video (complete with commentary debut) shows how black it was. As it was shot using a camera, and no tripod the darkness hides a multitude of sins.

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So Bradbury took the win from Palmer and Speak, in a track littered with cars, and putting a show on for the crowd who were extremely patient with the Startrax officials. Impressions of Stoke were that it does look like it has been neglected and needs a bit of TLC, I'm sorry but orange bunting fencing won't stop it. Other than that, the racing was good, and for me, I love a midweeker having being brought up on a diet of St Austell, Newton and latterly St Columb, there is something about going to a stock meeting on a school night!

Right, I'm off to buy some carrots and find some 50p's for Mr Rees!