RACEWEEK 33
COWDIE CARVE UP FOR GLORIOUS GORDON
Your regular service of 3 race wins for Sir Gordon (7) was chewed up in the national as Robbie Dawson (854) took the national...
ISSIT STOKED
Over to the Potteries. Martin Ford (19) and Chris Mitchell (219) took the heats and Kyle Taylor (136) took the consolation before Carl Issit (103) took another final on the loose stuff this year.
GEORGE GRABS BEN BUT HOOPS SCOOPS FINAL
So with the sound of the Wurzels and the last taste of scrumpystox, as Bristol played host to its last 2014 offering. But it also played host to the Benevolent Fund Trophy. A decent turn out for Bristol of 36 cars saw visitors in the form of Moodie and Macmillan, and Wagner from way up north!
After Lee Morgan (745) took the Rookie's Reward, it was on to the meeting proper. First up was the title race- open to the stars, but alas not a brillant turn out of the stellar folks....
So after Treasurer, Sharon Blood, gave them their starters orders, they were underway, albeit breifly, as Paul Moss (979) and a few others spun halfway down the start bringing out the reds. Come the restart, Sy Harraway (83) sped into the lead. He was pursued by world champ George Macmillan (S1), Gordon Moodie (7), Chris Bradbury (886) and Neil Hooper (676). Having caught and dispensed with Harraway, a stellar battle between the big guns took place. Bumpers flying in and a decent scrap developed with hits trading every corner, proper stock car racing!
The second heat was a less lively affair, and it was also a little light in numbers - so a Top 8 was placed with Danny Withers (437) taking the win.
The consolation became the Bradbury show, a rarity indeed for Bradbury and for Bristol nowadays, saw him take a faultless win at a canter.
Morgan and Withers led the charge in the final until clash in the mid grid mid race saw Harraway facing the oncoming traffic. It was always going to be a matter of time before someone hit the car, and that they did. Gary Sillifant (627) being the unlucky driver. With the yellow flags, brought the same stellar battle now with added Justin Fisher (315). Bradders passed Moodie clean, and Moodie then rode into the wall with Bradbury, not once but twice, and those who know the usually smooth and fair driver, is not one to be messed with. Like Bruce Banner, you wouldn't like him when he's angry, just ask Mike James! The hits previously given by Moodie were only going to end in one outcome, as Bradbury latched on the #7 car and fired him straight in, sadly in the way of innocent bystander Justin Fisher (315). With Fisher needing medical attention, and the hoo-hah that followed with disqualification for 886, and a cause of the stoppage for Moodie. However, after the necessary admonishments it was back to the race. Gaining full advantage of the spat was Neil Hooper (676) who got the better of Macmillan this time, but not without a fight, but surprisingly a first final win for Hooper this season.
Back in the pits, the Justin Fisher car was in a poor state of repair, and Justin admitted he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had he not been involved I doubt the incident would have warranted sanctions on either driver.
So with both star attractions on the trailer, the GN was a subdued affair, it was a second win for Danny Withers (437) who sped away in to the distance.
RACEWEEK 34
DAWSON TAKES COWDIE
With Gordon Moodie (7) on one of his missionaries to the east (see below) the mice did play at Cowdenbeath.After Gregor Turner (391) took the WY Championship, there were heat wins for Chris Burgoyne (647) and Robbie Dawson (854). Dawson then took another final and Craig Wallace rounded out the Moodie free night with a win in the National.
SILVER AND GOLD THE STORY TOLD AT SKEG
Over at the East Coast, a mini Scottish invasion was the key as both Moodie and MacMillan brought an extra shine to the grid. However it was Mike Green (115) who took Heat 1, with Moodie and GeoMac taking 1-2's in heat 2 and the final. MacMillan then took the gold roof to victory lane yet again taking the GN.
HOOPER WINS OLD MOTORCYCLE TROPHY
So the final trip through the Valley of Windmills, to a spot of Cornish racing at the United Downs Raceway. A 2 out of 3 format was deployed with heat 1 doubling up as the Cornish Whites and Yellows Championship, which to add to the Devonian version, it was won by Tom Clark (575) to make it a double. Come the heats it was the returning Liam Rowe (605) who had spent the previous couple of months doing up a house and getting closer to the Jho family (he's dating my cousin!), taking the 2nd heat and rapid blue top Sy Harraway (83) holding off Rowe in the 3rd heat. Come the final it was the most prestigous of domestic trophies up for grabs, The Old Motorcycle Trophy, bought for £100 back in the mid 50's, and presented to Autospeed back in the 1970's. A veritable who's who of racing, it's been raced for from St Austell, Newton Abbot, Taunton, Ringwood, St Columb and St Day.
James Rygor (783) sealed the track championship for the 2nd season in a row with a win.
JOLLY GOOD FALLOW AT BUXTON
Nic Eastwood reports
12
cars were on the grid for the Buxton Whites & Yellows on 12th
October, 359 Gary Wrench got off to a good start and bumpers were going
in throughout the field from all competitors, by lap 7 they had spread out
a bit with 359
still in a good lead with 578 Mark Gibbs closing up, a misfire was heard from the
359 car and this may have started to hamper his progress, lap 11 and it was
359, 578 and 604 Jamie Conway, by lap 13 578 had took the lead from 359
and 604 in 3rd,
604
challenged for the second place and at the chequered it was 578, 604 and
359, a good race throughout with 578 Mark Gibbs enjoying the win at his
local track, thanks
go to Yokohama for providing tyres as prizes and BS Electrical for
contributing
to
the prize fund.
15
cars were in attendance for the meeting proper which then went into a
normal.Two Heats and Final format, Heat
1 was won by a very quick 604 Jamie Conway, Heat 2 was won by popular local 101
Kelvyn Whalley. The meeting Final was won by blue top Buxton regular 581
Dan Fallows,
second
place was 101 and 913 Pete Bartram third, also awarded after the Final was
the Stuart Swales White Top Award which was won by 132 Dan Birkin, the
Grand National was contested by 13 cars and was won by 101, 618 Ben
Lockwood did his last few yards onto the turn 3 fence on his two left
wheels, This event rounds off an excellent season of BriSCA F2 racing at
Buxton Raceway,not present today but winner of the track championship is 968
Mickey Brennan, many thanks to all the drivers that have raced with us
this season we
hope you will be back in 2015.
MOODIE WINS BARFORD BUT HISTORY MADE
14 cars took to the track at Barford, at a track which has been haemorraging drivers this season. After the "Race of Real Champions" which was won by Paul Prest (49) who also took the 1st heat. Heat 2 was won by Gordon Moodie (7), and the Scotsman took the final at a canter from Prest and the Zetec powered Liam Rennie (3). Rennie was to make history as the Zetec took its first win
BELLE VUE ROBBED IN MITCHELL MASTERCLASS
Over to Madchester for a spot of mad fer it stock car action on a late Sunday afternoon. With many drivers in attendance and the added bonus of a Shoot Our round for the tractors it was time to put on a good show. Heat 1 went the way of Luke Branston (741) who avoided everyone elses pickles to take the chequered (see what I did there). Tony Blackburn (225) took heat 2, before Rob Mitchell (905) took heat 3 and then supersized his win with a final win. Kyle Taylor (136) won the GN.
POINTS OF ORDER
A cracking show of comradery as Phil Mann (53), Justin Fisher (315), Paul Moss (979) et al, when the cars were crashed, everyone helped. Just makes you proud to be in this close knit community.
Again, a poor call by the Bristol steward saw Sy Harraway (83) pointing the wrong way at the fastest point of the track. In a meeting which was to the benefit the charity that supports the drivers when injured, maybe a more enthused performance could have avoided unnecessary damage and potential for injury. After the last meeting saw 2 drivers carted of in the ambulance, something needs to be done. Whether it is retraining, additional stewards (whole track visibility is a problem) something needs to be done
I don't like being critical of stewards, but again sometimes it needs to happen up and down the country, but a lack of clinical consistency is ruining the sport.
Like a football referee, they can't have their eyes everywhere, but its down to the other officials to be their eyes and to be on the radio. Like every football phone in I've ever heard, what the drivers, fans and officials want is consistency. Again the follow in...!
Another 3/4 drivers with battered to the point of being wrecked cars or with bad backs the following day. EVERY effort must be made by the officials to make sure that driver safety is paramount, and that the very clear difference that machinery is more than a scrapyard banger and a cider rod.
Also , and this is not anti Moodie, just pro rules, if a driver has suspension hanging over him, and a misdemeanor occurs, i.e is loaded up, what triggers off the suspension? Much more clarity required from the current foggy conditions that prevail diciplinary matters
Congratulations to Superstox's Steve Jackson (376) who took his third Spudworth World Title at Wimbledon on Sunday night. A great race, a rarity in the supers according to experts who were there. However, the crowd was a little disappointing, and the mighty Plough Lane, Wimbledon, is just waiting for the inevitable redevelopment which is very much on the cards. Now, if only the Supers and F2 could come together....
Stay tuned for a points of order state of the nation address coming very soon...it will be lively.
