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!
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....
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!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment