GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!
On the Sunday, a few more girls came to play, with ex Calendar Girl, and consort to the World Champion Rygor, Tia taking his car for a spin. Literally. Again with the yellow flags that came out, Bowden had a very advantageous start that could have been a pringle! However she was tracked by Gilbert, but she then spun when she was on the back bumper of Bowden. Bowden then went into a big lead. Ladies race "veteran" Sarah Harley followed Bowden home for third and Dawe made it two podiums in 2 days, with this time a second!. All in all, a mammoth total of £2,500 (and rising) was raised for the Ben Fund, which certainly helps when drivers get injured.
BLEDEY YOUNGSTERS!
F2 CHALLENGE FAIRLY EASY FOR GORDON
So with the "novelty" races done with, it was time for the business end. 3 heats, a consolation and a championship final - the F2 Challenge Trophy up for grabs
Heat 1 was a fairly faultless affair for cheeky chappy Mickey Brennan (968), who it has to be said, is coming into form at just the right time. He is in the "relatively" quiet semi final also, and is no mug around Cowdie. Title number 3 anyone?
Heat 2 was looking like it was going to be another quiet affair, with James Rygor taking up the running from Richard Beere (254) late on. Both Dave Polley (38) and Neil Hooper (676) set about seeing off Luke Wrench (560) into second, but Wrench, Hooper and Polley were involved in a last bend shunt which saw the latter rather sore on the Sunday.
Heat 3 was a Moodie stroll in the park. Easily done. The hectic consolation was won by Dan Moss (797) in only his 2nd meeting of the season.
The final was a typical Smeatharpe affair. Rapidly improving white tops James Lindsay (572) and Courtney Finnikin (55) led them all away. Then with a few yellow flags, Chris Bradbury (886) hit the front, and then Moodie took over, with Richard Beere taking 3rd. Moodie took another title to add to his burgeoning sideboard.
CALENDAR FUN
With most of the main protagonists required for shooting this weekend, we had an astonishing 14 shoots to do. Darren Wade (891) had put his hand in his pocket to get himself on the calendar the previous weekend. As I rocked up at 12pm on the Saturday, Darren was spraying up bits of his car, and also touching up the paintwork. Abi and the now infamous Alana, dressed and got on it
Then on Sunday, model recruitment was needed, after a quick word and discussion, Autospeed girls Emily and Kim were signed up. I brought my large holdall full of costumes and the two trophy girls set about rummaging through it. Emily's friend ex Ministox driver - Kirstin Stone, and the woman who puts Mad, into Madame Starter, Sammy Brenton, joined in, and lo, were recruited too...
With thanks to the Autospeed team, including Steward Nick Wadge who was most pleased to see the pretty girlies in box, at high noon, car after car came on track to be greeted by a paparazi-esque team of togs, but Dave Trickey, got the job of taking the shots. Indeed, we had to split the girls off and enlisted the help of photography legends Alan "Ali P" Parkinson and the exiled Dutchman Bart Smeets to come and play. As Bart went on the side road with Alana and Tom Adcroft (768), all eyes were on the centre green to do our own little thank you to Bill. Bill had more than a smile on his face, and knocked at least 40 years off him!
Later in the afternoon, we decided to reshoot the April Showers after the footage from Skegness with Emma and April didn't look too good. So over to Polleysport people to borrow the cars for a spot of more soaking. Last time's moisture consultant, George MacMillan Jnr (100) had dispensed with the bucket, and found a new apprentice, step forward, his nephew David Polley Jnr. Water dispensed from George's "Hello Kitty" bucket (which is quite disconcerting that the Scotsman has one!), he kept on throwing, even better than Saloon driver and Polley mechanic Stuart "Scully" Sculthorpe, who had a full watering can... Kirsten and Abi had certainly an effect on GeoMac, so much that he changed his favourite girl from Steph from last year to Kirstin!
Finally we just a few pics from the away days done, we have a calendar again people. More to come on that soon....
PRESENTATIONS
So with the crowd set, a grand parade took place of all Bill's Cars.
Cars included a replica of his first car, complete with 651 numbering!
The car he made his comeback in 1989....
His car from 1995 that Graham Bunter bought from him, the 2006 car that Neil Langworthy currently drives, and his current stead, along with a micro F2, and Tim Farrell brought his F1 to play, However he had a surprise for the trophy girls, as he rigged his famous fire extinguisher to the roof of the one, and a hose stuck up the unmentionables and fired water out of his fingers, like some kind of X-men super soaker hybrid! Then the piece de resistance, courtesy of legendary mechanic of Mike James, Dougal, the restored and rebuilt 1981 World Final winning car. The attention to detail was awesome.
With the frivolity over, it was over to Steve Linfield on infield, with Bill and him having a chat. When asked if there was anything else to say, Bill said "Thank you" and was clearly overcome with emotion, and nephew Rob Farrell lifted him up onto the top step of the podium. There were tears everywhere... a truly emotional moment.
BRADBURY BEST AS THOSE TWO CLASH AGAIN,
The opening heat saw another good race victory for Richard Beere, fresh from his car being used by Sarah Bowden, after the early laps were led by James Lindsay (572). But there was an early clash as Rob Batten's return lasted just one lap, courtesy of Tim and that man Speak!
Heat 2 saw Jamie Beere (954) get reeled in by Moodie and Bradbury.
Heat 3 saw white top Courtney Finnikin (55) lead them all away, and that was the way it stayed fending off Neil Hooper (676) to the flag. Clearly inspired by her fellow female kind in the Ladies Race preceding, the maiden took her maiden win!
With more cars than you could shake a stick at for a consolation, a quick fire split of the two gave us two races with. Jamie Avery (126) took the first consolation, however, a rapidly moving Bill Batten was threatening....The second saw Tim Bailey (817) break from the pack to allow a 2nd victory in as many days.
Final time, and you had all the main protagonists required for a stellar final. Again, white tops led them off, to be reeled in by Richard Beere (254) who had a cracking weekend, and tracked by Matt Stoneman (127). When the yellow flag came out for the stricken car halfway down the back straight, things looked they were simmering nicely. However the explosion that followed will be discussed further down.
So a first win in a while at Taunton for Chris Bradbury (886) who has been a little off radar at Taunton this year, and one might think what might have been, if those two eejits hadn't of played silly buggers.
Micky Brennan signalled a good weekend for him away from home with winning the grand national. At one point, with the numerous yellow flags, it looked as it was opening up for a potential to be a fairytale finish for Bill, but alas it wasn't to be.
With an emotional Batten leaving the track for the last time with some gifts from friends and promoters alike, many that were left were witnessing an end of an era. With most of my gear in Race Control, I went to pick it up, thank Emily and Kim for their help, and bumped in Crispen, who despite the near on 7pm finish. "That meeting flew by". Normally, I'd be critical of a late finish, but the time and circumstance meant it necessary. Another great showing by Autospeed, who once again excel at putting on meetings of the magnitude and gravitas!
MOODIE VS SPEAK. ROUND UMPTEEN
It would be totally remiss of me not to mention this. The incidents of the final between Moodie and Speak were nothing short of disgraceful and disrespectful of the tone of the meeting.
If you've been away from the sport, here's what happened!
This charade between these two protagonists has been going on too long. Since Speak's dramatic comeback at Buxton in 2009, and all that has happened after that, the Hednesford Semi Final, the Barford gestures, and last year's assault in the big one, a line should have been drawn in the name of consistency then. Speak should have been banned in 2009, and Moodie last year. What we have now, is the need for both protagonists to play up to the crowds, and they both hang the rulebook. Now yes, when these pair meet, it is always combustible, and truly box office, however, our sport isn't just about these pair. It's not boxing, and nor should it be. We don't need endless Froch vs Groves trash talking and the like. It has to stop NOW!
It appears (at the time of writing this) that the pair have got off with a load up, and if that is the case, it is a very dangerous precedent that is being set. Let's look at similar incidents. Allen Cooper (702) got a month ban at the opening Kings Lynn last year, as did Nathan Maidment (935) and Sy Harraway (83) at Birmingham earlier on. The following week saw Neil Hooper (676) get loaded and fined for afters at Bristol. All a bit inconsistent. Now, those were under red flag conditions....this was under yellow. However, there were two clear offences made by each driver. For Moodie, clear bumper work and aggressive behaviour under caution, followed by wreckless driving on the infield, endangering marshalls safety. For Speaky, retaliation and goading. As Batten came over to tell them both off, it was an incident not befitting of drivers of their ilk. Especially as it was not the time or the place to do it. So, I would also warn them about their conduct and definately place a suspended sentence about bringing the sport into disrepute.
Now whether the leniency is due to both drivers due to take part in the 2nd world semi at the end of the month is also a dangerous precedent. An entrant now will have cart blanche to ride rough shod over the rules and do whatever they like. It almost gives them a get out of jail free card, with a Teflon coated bumper.
Mummy Moss had it right, both a bunch of misbehaved schoolchildren, and need a good clip round the ear.
One thing that this has certainly brought up is the "local committee" dishing out bans. Too many times, lenient and inconsistent approaches are dangerous when so much evidence is freely available, days later. As you can see above, there is 3 videos straight away for your perusal, including the most damning of them all, the in car footage. A reasoned decision, based on evidence is what we all want to see, working on precedent and on a strict list of offenses and the tariff of punishment sent out, to give greater consistency.
Time for the sideshow to stop, and lets get back to racing. Oh, it's your problem now Dave Coventry!!
TRIBUTES TO BILL
POINTS OF ORDER
The lights went out on Saturday night during the Mini British. Cue the rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy, and then the red flags. With 10 laps to go on the biggest meeting for the youngsters it looked as though potentially the race could have been declared null and void. The worry on co promoter Andrew Carter's face as he fended off discussions from family members and the like as he tried to solve the problem was clear to see. The source, the generator, which had choked itself up and started to smoke. A kind of automotive Michael Hutchence. Many crowd members had said that it was smoking brave, but none of them thought to let someone know about it. After a small delay, and as time went on, the PA came back on. Lively fired up the Jukebox, and whilst his selection of top pop hits was playing out, the Autospeed team, carefully and quickly brought the battered old genny back to life. Quite an acheivement in a short space of time and raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy the lights came back on!
It was quite a quiet night all be told for the revellers. Most people were tucked up in bed by 1 and well, no pig racing, no midnight football or general shenanigans. Maybe it was there was no Irish there, or whether all the fun was at the Holiday Inn at Taunton....
Meanwhile up at Crimond, a football team of drivers. Graham Kelly (721) taking the win, and Jason Macdonald scoring three goals.
EPILOGUE
For me personally, Bill was the ultimate driver. Hard but fair, a good laugh on and off the track, and every one has a story about Bill. He'd be a stubborn old git, and I witnessed him up close after an altercation with Uncle Mike at a Bristol, as it took 3 men a side to hold them back from a scrap!
The amount of times I watched that video of the Skegness World Final in 1992, and Stoxworld's Martyn Clark had the unenviable task of talking to a fuming Batten mid rant following his withdrawal due to technical changes, and him thumping Alistair Forsythe after a semi collision. But he'd always help too, I remember when Uncle Mike and Neil got a rather abrupt letter from GMP promoter at the time of the Warton Semi, after engine problems curtailed our entry into the meeting, we asked Bill what to do, he said "go wipe your ass with it, that's all thats worth!" He was Brisca F2's character, complete with 70's moustache. Akin to George Best or Hurricane Higgins, he was the original Ladies Favourite, when the ones had Super Stu, we had the Master.
But to all, he was just the Master, and to be the eleventh quickest on track at the age of 67? Jesus, this man is a freak!
This weekend's racing perfectly summed up Bill's racing career. Respectful, with a little bit of dominance, with a dash of controversy.
THE FINAL WORD.....
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