Nathan's is Roy's Boy!

Glorious sunshine befell the Devon track for probably first time this year. With the onset of Summer, some 32 cars were in the pits, up on the previous meeting. A huge crowd befell the tight little track, probably with the sun and the added incentive of some caravandalism, a huge tonic to anyone on the roads in the busiest weekend for emmets! Or maybe it was to discuss the finer points of a jubilee and anniversaries with Mark Moon! Onward with a full format!

Neil Hooper (676) drove a faultless race in heat one after white top newcomer James Politmore (79) took the ex Luke Thomas car into good positions. It was almost a flashback to 1998 when a plucky young Scot was a white top with a similar car! Paul Rice (990) singled a return to form in heat 2, after Nathan Maidment (935) took the running.

The consolation was a display of excellence by Dan Moss (797) who made his intentions clear, by taking up the lead early on from the rapidly improving Paul Milsom (245) who held off late charges from Richard Beere (254) and James Rygor (783).

The final started in a tremendous fashion. After a few frantic laps, the Westcountry's top men in the National points, Hooper and Chris Mikkula (522) tangled. Within a few laps Milsom had taken up the lead pursued by Moss and Ritchie Meads (596). The yellows came out for the first incident, and Moss soon took up the running. Bill Batten's (167) lead over his fellow reds, and it was Liam Rowe (605) who on the restart, despatched the soon to be pensioner to back of the queue, like some post office renegade! Some laps later, Milsom was despatched into the infield concrete block by Meads. From the blues came Nathan Maidment (935) who joined his fellow TART at the front of the grid. With the lap boards showing, Moss led from Maidment and from Rowe in 3rd. It was clear that Maidment was going to catch Moss, and duly did as the 2 to go board came out. Rowe was catching and went into the final bend, ready to go snooker loopy by firing Moss into Maidment. However, he moved only the Moss and Maidment took his second Taunton final win for the season. And another red top! However that wasn't the end of the matter as Moss was deemed to have jumped the start, and thus became joint leader in the Pringle series. Moves are afoot to find a dodgy pringle jumper to award to the "lucky winner"

After the assualt

The Grand National was delayed as a lively Devon Championship for the Bangers (semi skimmed variety) took one of the wires out going into the Honiton bend. Some people took advantage and went home or went to pick their missus up from Crealy, a local theme park! However when racing got underway, it was to be a controversial one. As Milsom led them away again, Moss took up the running. However it was Hooper that took the win. The main talking point, bedlam on the Honiton bend. Matt Westaway (835) was picked up, latched and despatched by Dave "The Semtex Kid" Sansom (352) in a follow in of the most massive variety. Totally unprovoked, Sansom picked up the Cornish blue top and fired him in. Instant disqualification for the comeback blue top. Be it 1994 or 2012, this was totally OTT, leaving Westaway dazed, winded and confused. Totally out of order. Westaway obviously shaken by the incident says that the incident has made him take stock of the situation, and will be taking some time off. Be very surprised if Sansom doesn't pick up a ban for that.

Now anyone thinking of giving the Saloon World Final a miss - simply don't! The Saloons were at their brutal best, a mouthwatering display of bumper action and race craft, if you miss the World, then you are a tool of the highest order.

A Barfbados report might be here later, but keep all eyes here on Tuesday Evening, as I will try and keep you informed of who's going to Buxton for the semis........

Tatty bye now....where's me aftersun!