Raceweekend 13 - A Ram Jam Whitsun and Galloping Gordon....

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Raceweekend 12.... nothing witty here!

So yet another meeting comes along....and a return to midlands action...

GORDON SHINES ON SALOON BRITISH NIGHT

A season's best of 22 cars, with the added high octane spark flying Saloons contesting their British title, second only to the world as titles go for them. Robbie Dawson (854) took heat 1 adding to his Crimond wins. Gordon Moodie (7) took his obligatory heat win and then followed it up with a final win. He had to catch the blue graded Wee Dennis and also had GeoMac tracking him. That was the way it finished. Middler took the national.


WILLIAMSON WINS AT WHEELS

The man with a playlist of obscure incidental music from 80's television shows, and Voice of Incarace, Deadly Dave Goddard reports in....
"There was a near 40-car entry in F2 land at Birmingham on May 17th with former BTCC man Aaron Williamson passing Paul Bailey and Keith Walding to take the first heat with Bailey then sent into the banking by Richard Bowyer. Matt Brewer set the early pace in heat two but Adam Rubery made rapid progress from the front of the reds and the local man took the spoils, the consolation seeing Walding lead for most of the way before Bailey took over with four to run for his first victory in a couple of seasons. The veteran also led the Final along with Julian Coombes but it was Williamson who took over to score his double and book a move up to blue grade, the GN halted for the crashed James Muckian before Walding again led most of the way, this time however the duo of superstars were on the pace and it was Mike Green who took over for victory. The shine however was taken off the night when blue tops Sy Harraway and Nathan Maidment chose to stage their own private demolition derby after the race for reasons best known to themselves."

MOODIE BEASTS BARFORD

Our Barford bloke and part time member of Wham to the partially deaf, Andrew Hingley was there...
"Well, 13 cars today and another clean sweep of the heats and final by Moodie. He was teasing 301 in the final for a few laps by staying behind him. Up to 5th in the GN too, which 301 won. I hope numbers improve for the next meeting, we could do with a few more to give Moodie a bit more of a challenge"

FORD POWERS ITS WAY TO STOKE WIN

With all the talk over what will be best Ford to be the best for the moment, not Zetec, Duratech or Pinto. At Stoke, at the qualifying round, the Ford you needed was a Martin (19). From the racing dynasty, Ford took a fine heat and final double at a very dusty meeting. Shale form man Barry Goldin (401) took heat 2, and Stewie Griffin (866) took the consolation. Ford took the final and the qualifier with it. Another Martin, Chadwick (757) took the GN.

POINTS OF ORDER

Well not a lot this time... usual moan about fixtures but it is pleasent to see Incarace caving into pressure from the more experienced promoters about the final being the feature race. Made the evenings racing a bit better, however, 8, 8 and 12? Why not 3 x 10??

Whitsun Weekend folks, see you about with ya wanger out!

Grade Changes for June

So who's up and who's down! Remember these are only guidelines and predcitions. Nowt official...

Incidentally, why is the rule that you have to race one meeting in the previous grading period but not in the previous season? Just a thought... we need to look seriously at how we do points - there are far too many sub 20 meetings this year....maybe take the dominator co-efficient for grade changes??


Up to red is Peter Macullum (187), Nathan Maidment (935) and Jamie Avery (126). Wee Den (641) is back to red but the best performance is Aaron Williamson (411)

Up to blue goes.... Paul Bailey (297) Ross Rowe (105) and PJ (979) gets a blue top...

Full grades will be available from Brisca soon enough, but this is a heads up!

Mini Mossy's Monster Tour Log...

So if you've been a stock car meeting this year you might well have seen Paul Moss (979) and the team TART tour bus. The Cornish Youngster is embarking an attempt to race at all tracks... Here's a diary of his mad escapades!

Paul Moss F2 979 Mini Mossys Monster Tour - Story so far !!!!!!!!

10 days - 7 meetings - 61 points
Northampton, Skegness, Cowdenbeath, Bristol, Taunton, Cowdenbeath & Crimond
A total of 2753 miles from my home in Fowey Cornwall

Day 1 Part 1 Northampton -
Heat 2: I was going really well and running 5th but spun on some oil on the track with 5 laps to go – didn’t finish
Consolation: From the front row of the whites a pretty non eventful race with a flag to flag victory and my 2nd F2 win in less than a week
Final: I got mugged by the pack before going too far so finished out of the places
GN As we were going to Skegness we loaded up after the final

That was Northampton done now a mad dash to Skegness where going through Boston got passed by John Aldridge in his lorry on the roundabouts but still beat him to Skegness due to his lorry having a puncture on lorry!

Day 1 Part 2 Skegness
Heat 2 I managed a 11th place after being spun by my so called team mate Nathan Maidment (935) ; )
Final I raced hard and managed a respectable 8th place
GN Didn’t bring much but no damage so I loaded up with all 4 wheels facing the right way

With 17 points for the day I won the Good Friday white top award of a new tyre and was well chuffed with my results

Day 2 Cowdenbeath

After driving the car onto the trailer at Skegness track and travelling up to Scotland we put the car on the ramps at McTarts Garage (Thank you Keith )and found a few bits wrong that added up to 5 hours work !!!!!

Heat 1 1st time at the Racewall in the dry so slow but steady and managed a 12th place

Heat 2 A bit faster and I led the race till lap 6 when F2 7 & the train passed me and ended up with a 9th place

Final Seemed faster again but with more laps got swamped by the train again but managed a 10th place

GN Got more confident and went across line 6th but with F2 7 getting docked 4 places for jumping the start I got promoted to 5th place

So that was day 2 and 9 more points which gave me a total of 26 points for the weekend so far

Day 3 Bristol QR

An overnight haul after refreshments at McTart HQ ( Thank you Sharon ) we arrived at Butcher HQ at 4am and with a few hours kip and breakfast (Thank you Sandra) we went down to Mendips track.

A greasy practice showed promise as I thought it was quite quick

Heat 1 Pole white with a good start but as I came out the 1st corner the cab filled with smoke so I pulled it up and drifted onto the infield

A quick engine change (Thank you Dad, Dan, Keith & Darren) I just missed out on the consolation but managed to get out for the

GN which was very wet but at a nice even pace got me 12th place.

So a pretty disappointing day overall but Day 3 completed with still 26 points

Day 4 Taunton

Heat 1 I led all the way up to 5 laps to go when more engine troubles started and had to pull it up again

Consolation I got mugged by the pack quite quickly and only managed 11th place

GN I got mugged again and finished but way out of the places

So again a pretty disappointing day and no points to add to my total of 26

Days 5,6,7,8 Home in the Garage with Dad & Dan

On repairs, checks and attending my place of employment

Day 9 Cowdenbeath

Back up to the North with a 5am start for 9+ hours to McTart HQ for refreshments (Thank you again Sharon) before travelling across to the track

Practice looked very promising but over the evening I only made 15 laps over the 4 races with more engine issues L

So more than disappointed now with stress levels growing !! Still with a total of 26 points

Day 10 Crimond QR

With a borrowed engine and a massive thankyou to team F2 641 and transport of said engine and an early start from F2 102 ! I was raring to go !

A dry practice seemed quick but before the heat the rain came down.

Heat 1 On a wet track I led up to 4 laps to go when F2 7 passed but managed to keep a 2nd place

Heat 2 Still on a wet track but a bit drier I led again until 5 laps to go when once again F2 7 passed me and then F2 854 so I took a 3rd place

Final I was drawn outside front row and with a good start I led into 1st corner and a lot of the race until F2 7 & F2 647 passed but I managed to keep hold of 3rd place

GN With rain starting to fall I was back on the front of the white grade I drove away following F2 7 ! for a flag to flag win with a whole straight ahead of F2 854

So a fantastic day and a massive collection of 35 points for the day, which is nearly double of my pervious highest score

Which was a brilliant way to end 10 days of racing, 61 points, a few pound notes & a lot of fun

Thank you to everyone involved especially Mum, Dad, Dan & Keith

Minimossys Monster tour continues................................

Raceweekend 11 --- Barry, Bradders and Beards

So with my attention this weekend taken up by chasing paper to earn a shilling, most others it was a eastward migration as the tractors had the summer Skeg speedweekend, Mildenhall had potentially if horrid rumours are to be confirmed, its last one and Arena playing host to its singular meet after a year's absence.

DOUBLE BAZ AT TRACTOR SKEG

Tractor fans united as for the first time this year, they could moan about the state of the toilets at Skegness for the first time on Stoxnet. 40+ from the North and South came eastward. On the Saturday night the heats went the way of Aaron Williamson (411) and Ben Lockwood (618). An unlikely situation, a consolation for Gordon Moodie (7), which the Scot duly won. However, for the first time this year, Barry Goldin (401) took yet another final win, only this time on the hard stuff, and David Pannet (836) took Grand National glory.

After those imbalanced folk celebrated into the wee smalls, drinking smuggled in dark ale and tesco value lager, whilst moaning about the crapness of the car park and the fact they couldn't see anything despite taking up all the room with their shitty chairs and standing on 4 year old children feet in the queue for the pies. After disputing over who was better Wainman or Smith, or whether Tom Harris is running his car on Ribena, whilst having levitating suspension and electromagnets, Sunday came, and so did the rain. After a few cars went south to Arena or went home, those tractor fans demanded a shrubbery! Moodie on the other hand, took both of his heats, and with the seriously undergraded Aaron Williamson (411) taking the other heat. But it was Goldin who took another final topping a good weekend for the Bolton driver. Paul Bailey (297) took a fairly good place in 3rd, and Moodie was runner up, and the GN went back to Scotland...

FIRST FOR FARRINGTON

Mildenhall plays host to the semi finals this year and lots of hardy drivers were trying to take in some shale shifting. Paul Moss and Jay Tomkin came from Cornwall. Heat 1 was a flag to flag win for Andy Gibbs (431) and Heat 2 went the way of East Coast veteran Carl Issit (103). The Consolation was quite well populated with star graders, and the king of the Consi, Sam Wagner (823) took another one. The final was quite a bumper happy affair with many lead changes. Simon Farrington (259) took the win from Issit. Martin Ford (19) took the win in the GN, in another cracking race. Sad if this track is closed, produces some cracking racing...

GEOMAC ATTACK CONTINUES

With many drivers finding shelter in the south, it was little surprise that the numbers were approaching an all time low at Cowdenbeath, with a dirty dozen taking to the track. With Moodie proclaiming the neigh sayers will be happy as he is not there, a chirpy Chris Burgyone (647) responded on twitter that he for was happy as someone else could win. And that he did, taking a heat and the grand national, with the other heat going the way of Wee Dennis Middler (641).
However the final was grabbed by George Macmillan (100),  cue another final win selfie! That's 2 in 2 weeks for team S100.

ARENA QUALIFIER - BRADDERS TAKES IT

23 cars turned out for the joint Autospeed/PRI effort, when more than a third no show from your published list, it can be very disconcerting. I was toying with the idea of going myself, but as the numbers dwindled it became less of an option. So it was local-ish driver Chris Bradbury who took his two heats. Nowhere near ish driver Sam Wagner took the other heat, after newcomer Stuart Moss Jnr fell foul of post race scruitneering. It was Bradbury who took the final, taking his second maximum in the qualifiers, going so quick that he could go for a quick look around Lakeside for a perfect gift for the lovely Alana....Sorry Bradders, she made me do it, and she is Plymouthian.... Adam Rubery took the GN

DAWSON TOPS TEN

Home of the best Scottish turnout this season (well until the end of the month at least), the mighty Crimond had, if it was Strictly Come Dancing, a very good score. However, 10 cars took the near Shetland outpost to race in Arctic Circles.... Nearly Norwegian Robbie Dawson (854) took a heat and final double, with Craig Wallace (163) winning in Heat 2. Fellow North country man, the once monikered Ellon Exocet, Graham Kelly (721) won the GN. 

POINTS OF ORDER

Arena and Crimond - far outposts with little or no local support. It would be remiss of me to say this but Arena has reaped what it sowed with regard to driver turnout. Being easily accessed by the motorway (albeit the M25 is a c**t at the best of times) and having a rather large catchment area, and with the lack of a London/South East drivers in Formula 2. It's a catch 22. It is reliant on travelling support for a successful meeting - look at the drivers present, from all corners of the country.
I've said all along that proper fixture planning  will reap more benefits that the problems and disagreements it will cause - like the "I've had this fixture for umpteen years" palaver. Radical thinking needs to happen, you can't sell a second rate product for too long before numbers dwindle further.

No Final wins at all for one G Moodie esq this weekend - Shurely there is some mishtake...

What actual benefit do the F2's have from being support at Skegness's F1 speedweekend and vice versa? Again, with the fixture planning drawing from the same resource has made potentially a classic at Arena - a qualifying round no less, poorly attended because of the attraction of sun, sea and STDs at Skeggy. Another fixture that could be sacrificed for the greater good...

Mildenhall rumours - Seems that the future of the track, once again, lands in the High Court of this land. With costs estimated at staggering £2 million the hearing to determine this figure will indeed potentially kill, cripple or maim the popular Suffolk track. If common sense prevails, racing will continue, but if it doesn't, an empty house wins over the enjoyment of thousands... I am led to believe that if the doors shut, contingency plans are in place to make things run smoothly, including the Semi Finals....

Sam Wagner's trip home to Middlesborough from Arena took 4 Hours. Impressive, but in the words of fellow smoggy sage Boro Pat.... "fucking neeeeeeeeeeeooooooooommmmm"

Gerrum Jess, gerrum.....

Raceweek 10..... Teasy round the Maypole..

With May Day comes many traditions. Usually grown men with dodgy beards going round in circles. So stock car is no exception to this rule, although morris dancers aren't circumcised. You think that's weird, have a look at the Furry Dance in Helston, where people dance in the streets to Terry Wogan and women get up the duff going under the 'Obby 'Oss in Padstow. Yup, madness in the air, and with it some brutal action. Brutal being the word of the weekend!

GEORGE GRABS COWDIE FINAL

A solus date for Scotland and still no improvement on 17 cars, a little disheartening fact was that Dave Polley (38) and the Stuntman Ritchie Mead (596) were visitors along with our first Irish visitors of the year Chris Kincaid (NI312) and Connor Hughes (NI929). However after making a pigs ear it was Moodie's turn to win the heats. However in the final, it was all eyes on GeoMac as the Smashing Orangey Bit took its first win - a final win no less. Cue beaming grin at a final win from the popular Scot. Moodie took a rare GN victory, as he's usually a lap down!!

ROSS BOSSES BRUTAL ST DAY

Windmill Valley greeted careful drivers as it was the traditonial Mayday Bank Holiday Sunday, as we headed down to Brisca's southern outpost in the glorious parish of St Day. Last year's average of 29 cars attended which was very good considering the amount of regulars who got lost at ended up at PENIS.

Heat one was going the way of Gary Sillifant (627) but soon became a battle between Jamie Avery (126) and Chris Mikulla (522), with the later taking the win. As the flag went down Tyla Keveth (428) crashed down the back "straight" and left his ex Jason Phillips Randall slightly mangled and looking sorry for itself.

After getting a verbal dressing down from myself for having a rubbish yellow aerofoil, which had been hiding in his back garden for at least a couple of years, Ross Rowe (105) took the heat after Darren Wade (891) who in turn had dropped to white due to the teething problems on his new Motorworld sped into the lead. Brother and now wingman Liam (605) took second

The third heat saw a nasty but spectacular crash for Mikulla and final winner last time Tom Clark (575) when the 522 car clipped the kerb, got out of shape and took 575 as his buffer. Another car looking very sad for itself as it took the brunt of the crash. This was again a disaster for Wade as his lead evaporated. It was the Tiger himself, James Rygor (783) who took the win. 

Final time and despite the casualties in the heats, an impressive 23 cars took to the grid. Once again Wade led them away, with Jamie Beere (954) and Ross Rowe breaking from the pack and chasing the Victoria white top. However, once again the white top curse of the yellow flag struck, as an allmighty assualt from new superstar Steve Gilbert (542) on Ryan Hoskin (991) saw the St Pinnock based youngster's Higgy wrecked. Over zealous from the 542 pilot in this mans eyes, some might say a textbook follow in.As this happened the lead of around a quarter of lap that Wade and Rowe had over the rest of the pack was evaporated which brought Rygor and younger brother Liam Rowe into play. From the restart, Wade led, until the boards came out, and the 105 car took over persued by Rygor. As the boards descended it appeared the Ross's Liam Deeble Motorworld was going pulling away, and another final win for the most local driver to the track. Rygor and Mikulla rounded out the top 3.
Incidentally, the last time Ross was yellow was in his second season, when he had upgraded to the Derek Sillifant Higman. He has only ever had 3 meetings from yellow - and 2 final wins!

listen to ‘Stoxcast #9 St Day Final winner Ross Rowe’ on Audioboo

After another "brutal" (word of the week folks, remember) race which saw a track blockage in the Saloon English which ripped the "O" out of United Dwns Raceway, albeit undetected by the steward and went this way for a couple of laps...a lengthy delay followed. A lot of drivers said "sod it" and loaded up. Rygor won the national albeit a slighty underpopulated one. But not as bad as.....


ELEVEN ELEVATES BARFORD TO NEW LOWS

Andrew Hingley witnessed a shocking turnout at Barford...

11 cars. What can be said. I thought Moodie would have a clean sweep today but that didn't happen thanks to Polley taking the final. Moodie didn't seem to be able to catch him in this one. 11 cars!!! 3 of them were out for the first time this year to I think, 402,244 and 603. Good to see Ritchie Mead (596) calling in too. 11 cars!!! Where have all the others gone???

WHALLEY WINS WORLD QUALIFIER AT PRIMO

It was World Qualifier day for the BriSCA F2s with a 40-plus turnout, heat one seeing white tops Paul Bailey(297) and Keith Walding (563) lead the first half before blue top Richard Stott (169) took over and he went on to win. Kelvyn Whalley (101) dominated the second heat from his recent downgrading to blue while further back Mark Gibbs (578) crashed out and Micky Brennan (968) went up in smoke in the closing laps but was still able to take fifth. Aaron Williamson (411) built up a sizeable lead in the consolation and such was his advantage even a late misfire couldn’t prevent him hanging on for the win despite the close attention of Drew Lammas (341). Stott’s Final was over on the opening lap as he tangled with Ben Lockwood (618) and Dan Fallows (581)  and it was Whalley again as he passed early leader Bailey, even Chris Bradbury (886) not able to catch the blue top who secured his double with Williamson third, the latter winning the GN after a scrap with Bailey. Dave Aboveaverageard

BRADDERS BRISTOL BANK HOLIDAY BONANZA

And to the Mendip Hills where they still point to the moon at wonderment, and a hearty bank holiday crowd witness 26 cars, a lot of which were there for the bangers and the robins.

After a non points Rookie Reward won by Darren Wade (891), Heat 1 looked to be going to be a stellar battle between Bradbury and Rygor, and as the boards came out and Rygor looked to pounce, he clipped a kerb at the bottom of the track allowing Bradders to get the crucial gap needed. Further heartbreak was to become of Rygor the Tiger as once again for the second meet in a row at Cheddar, he fell foul of the technical disqualification flag for a loose guard. Heat 2 went the way of the Radnor Rocket Ross Rowe (105) who's allerative description added onto his final win the previous day. Heat 3 went the way of Wade, who seriously undergraded at white. He took Rowe for company.

Final time and with it a gaggle of white tops sped away. Veteran Neil Langworthy (740) on the best performance of his comeback so far followed Shane Hector (528) and Wade. Ross Rowe (105) broke away form the yellows and Jamie Avery (126) and Liam Rowe (605) from the blues. Hooper got the break from the Reds and got clear of Bradbury and Rygor. However, Matt Brewer (206) and Matt Issacs (937) got hooked together and collected Hooper which slowed his progression allowing Bradbury by. The quarter lap adavantage that the white top trio had been eroded. This allowed Rowe and Avery to get along the high street, but not too far behind was Bradders et al. A typical Bristol final. Avery pulled off on the rolling lap and Liam Rowe stuttered at the start. This allowed firstly Ross Rowe to get involved  in the mix as Langworthy and Hector moved and Bradbury soon was not too far behind. It all became a little processional, as Bradbury led from Rygor, Hooper, Mikulla and the Rowe Bros. Indeed up until the final corner this was the case for 1st and 2nd, as Bradders and Rygor took the 1 and 2. With one to go, Mikulla was on the Hooper back bumper, he give the 676 car a shove to move wide, both cars the went back down straight locked together, and the last corner, 522 car spun the 676, and both failed to finish. Hooper then started wheel spining and there was a spot of afters and it was very much a stern telling off from Andy Chant and loaded up. GN went the way of Rygor again....

listen to ‘Stoxcast 10 Mayday Mendips final winner Chris Bradbury’ on Audioboo

NO WHALLEY AS FINAL WIN 2 FOR KELVYN

Considering just a fortnight ago Kelvyn Whalley (101) was sweeping all before him at Buxton with a red grade, it was little surprise, especially as he had won the final from blue at NIR the day before, that he took a heat and final double. The other race was taken by Richard Stott (169) and national went to Richard Bowyer (761)

BARRY THE BANK HOLIDAY BELLE 
Over to Manchester for another Belle Vue meeting, and not a lot is forthcoming from the Manchester track other than Jo Polley-Goldin's lucky stay away hoodoo has benefited husband Barry (401) with yet another shale final win....

MARVELLOUS MONDAY FOR MOODIE

Over at the Fun Coast, where I dare say it was bracing, but bracing itself for its regular invasion of Scottishness in the form of Gordon Moodie (7), as he was one of 27. Both heats and the Final went the way of the Scot, with circuit star Aaron Williamson (411) making full advantage of his advantageous new yellow roof by taking the GN...

POINTS OF ORDER

Having World Qualifiers when weekends are already busy isn't big or clever. Bristol has been traditionally Easter Sunday, but attendances have been dropping for quite some time when points are given for turning up, the incentive to drop your local track in aid of points gives the hardened fans a poor quality product to contend with. Bank Holidays are tradtionally always busy meetings for casual and hardened fans alike. It's an opportunity to grab a crowd which hopefully will come again and again - they won't do that if they feel ripped off when only 12 cars race! I just think these weekends are busy enough, and building weekends of qualifiers in clusters will help all. I will be going into rant mode about grades, fixtures et al sometime in the near future...

Steve Linfield being a have microphone will travel commentary gun for hire. Sadly in his brief cameo, he not only out shone commentator incumbent Jon Wyatt with his saloon knowledge on the static grid walk, he also showed him how to project his voice correctly. There was a call early in the day for Wyatt to go to Race Control, maybe he was delayed from the traffic from the Crucible....

Neil Langworthy (740) started for the first time in his illustrious career as white top. When he came into the sport the first time, he came in at yellow as he previously raced Autorods - an Autospeed forerunner to the Saloon Stocks back in the early 80's - don't think much of his young apprentice mechanic, one W M Batten OBE OAP.

And the ultimate king of pringle Matt Stoneman (127) made his return at NIR.

And you may notice that its Eurovision time, so I will be commenting on the freaks, ala Terry Wogan on Twitter....

Until next time, we are children of the universe, don't you know, dancing on the edge of time!

Power to the people!!!!