WHITEHEAD WINS WHEELS WORLD QR
The second city looked respondent in grey skies as the threatened rain stayed away (well until the National at least), for the annual qualifying round. 44 cars in the pits, a kind of standard turn out for Brum this year, and a distinct lack of travellers apart from John Broatch (72) who is of course after some points for a chance at home track glory later in the year. Perhaps tacking it on to the 2nd busiest weekend of the year wasn't the best idea. The lacklustre support combination of Bride and Groom Bangers and Grimley Hot Rods and with a clashing F1 meeting down at Cov, England on the telly, and to a very lesser extent, the final of "The Voice", and the saturation of meetings meant the crowd was thinner than my hairline.
A rarity for Brum as we were blessed with 2 heats and a consolation. Heat 1 saw downgraded Aidy Whitehead (960) speed off into a fair lead. There was even a period when the cars were bunched together and were almost 6 abreast going down the straight. Not benefiting from this was Chris Bradbury and he found himself on the infield. Whitehead took the flag, before falling foul of the steward, and he joined the jumper club. Step forward Dave Pannett (836) who inherited the win. Reet canny be that. Heat 2 saw the early running taken by Mark Gibbs (270) who's unlucky start to the season saw he drop to yellow. Great stock car action saw Mike Green (115) up the running with 2 to go.
The consolation saw 18 cars line up and 12 cars qualify. Race sensible lads and you should go through! Someone forgot to tell speedway rider Carl Shields (617) who obviously still had his left leg trailing to slow him down, and took out the entire whit grade in one corner! Graham Mallings (11) and Luke Maw (409) traded blows each corner. Maw took the win, and Ben Fund treasurer Sharon Blood took an earache from some over enthuastic fans of Mallings!
Final time, and after the green dropped, the Greens (154) and (115) dropped out, becoming early casualties. Whitehead (960) quickly took up the running, from Gibbs, but behind saw a stellar star battle between Bradbury, Pannett, Kelvyn Whalley (101), Barry Goldin (401), Jakc Aldridge (921) and Richard Bowyer (761). Whalley broke away, but the blows being traded where fair and good and proper!
In the national, it was Gibbs who got away from the pack, and the smile was as broad as the Aston Expressway!
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| knit 1, purl 1... |
Points of order.... it was clear and apparent that Gary Wrench (359) 's bete noir, or if you rather, wrench, was the dreaded yellow flag. The white top got away numerous occasions only for his peers to cause trouble, evaporating that lead quicker than a Saharan rain shower. Pete Hobbs (8) had three races, and 3 big DNF's, including this little beauty, which took a while to unstitch....
GORDON GRABS 3 AT COWDENBEATH
After the 50 car meeting at the Wall last weekend, normal sub 20 turnout was resumed, and with that the Moodie/Burgoyne show. It was the sainted Windygates Wonder (7)that took both heats and the final, and only gremlins prevented him from making a severe dent in the double points, leaving Burgoyne (647) to take the GN. Notable performances of the night came from the rapidly improving Alan Edmiston (580) and stalwart Paul Reid (17)
So what will day 2 bring. Rain, and as Elizabeth would say - "Auf Weidershen!"
I am going to stand in the middle next time so I hear the shouts in stereo
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