All roads led to the Devon/Somerset border where around 140 cars assembled in the pits for the Smeatharpe Speed Weekend, which this year had the added bonus of the Saloon Stock Car World Final, along with numerous fancy cups for the F2's too.
Now this is rapidly becoming one of my favourite weekends of the year. Something about a busy bits and plenty of travellers coming down to play. Including some feuding drivers called Moodie and Speak. Personally I've never heard of them and their antics!
Now my journey wasn't too bad, but there is definately a saying in the Westcountry, never travel on a Summer Saturday. From those coming up from Cornwall, the bottlenecks of Chivvy to Carland and the notorious Temple tailback added at least an hour or so onto journeys. The amount of times I shouted "fucking emmets" went off the scale, such is my love of holidaymakers.
Of course Taunton is located just off the start of the holiday road the A303, which on this occasion was blocked at the Dorchester junction which is of course the one we require! Years of going here have taught me well, going through Honiton town centre and got out the other side relatively pain free. We overtook Dale Moon (302) and he rocked in an hour later!
For those coming from the North, the M5/M4 was a standstill and an accident at J25 (again the one required) added time to the journey. Some quick thinking from Autospeed saw them moving the Teen Sensations Championship. After a faultless win for Speaky in Heat 1, heat 2 looked to be going the way of the Moodster, however James Rogers (544) had other ideas, as wallop he took out the Scotsman in a move befitting of the winner of heat 1. After recovering, he appeared to have another go, but locked up. Held up by the incident, Moodie recovered to 6th, but it was purple dressed Neil Hooper (676) who took the win from Barry Goldin (401) who took the car of the trailer and took 2nd. The Teen Sensations race was in comparison, a little dull. Graded up in national points order, Jack Aldridge (921) drove away and was never seen again. Somehow I don't think it will be his only title this year.
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| Here in spirit (Ali P) |
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| Len Goodman's replacement give generous marks to Neil's Nifty Routine |
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| Ha ha ha |
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| A 1 2 3 with glee... |
Then it was time for the main event. The Saloon World. Autospeed had certainly raided the box marked nice touches, and it was certainly looking good. With the new tradition of painting the fence with the title names and sponsors having an effect on the track, the back straight was adorned with a mural of the 311 car and "Race in Peace, Steve" who without a doubt was sorely missed from the events of the weekend. As the twilight descended, a lengthy buildup delay from the infield PA. It doesn't work unless everything is coming out of the PA. Much as I love Safri Duo's Played Alive, I don't want to hear it numerous times back to back. However, sending around the girls with the 10 minutes to go boards was a nice touch. The legendary Lively gridwalk was good, although if Mr Linfield is to take Martin Brundles crown, he needs to bump into a 4ft multi millionaire Octogenarian. Wonder if Billy Batten could do that? It was then over to the grand marshal, Billy Newman, (son of Steve) to give the immortal words of Gentlemen, Start Your Engines. Applause, and a few tears in the crowd for the brave little chap. We had ex F2 pilot and friend of Autospeed, Neil Truran (306) as Mr Starter on the back of the purple Mondeo, bedecked in a gold shirt, possibly last seen in a St Austell nightspot. With Neil doing the moves to "Night Fever", the green went down and after a few frantic laps, it settled down to a battle between Eddie Darby (1) Shaun Webster (402) and Shane Brown (120). Indeed Darby doubled up his gold, and hometrack glory, with a few fireworks, gold was given. However, said gold shirt ended up briefly on the pintsized Devonian, although tried to deny. However, after financial inducements the picture was released....
Back to the 2's and after a consolation win for Ryan Hoskin (991), it was English Open time. The 34 entries gridded up in reverse average national points. Hoskin and the yet to race in the UK, Ryan McCrory (NI944) at the front, and Moodie and Bradbury at the back, with Speaky just in front. An early break for Speak saw him cut through the field. Moodie wasn't too far away, McCrory sped away to a decent lead with Hoskin tagging along for company. A misfire started to befell the Speak car, as Bradders (in the old Higgy being borrowed for the weekend) blew up and spilt the oil and made the next couple of laps interesting, along with a shower, it was a survival of the fitest. As McCrory spun, Moodie moved into the lead, and became a three time English Open champion. Second was rapidly improving yellow top Ritchie Mead (596) and Hoskin finished an impressive third.
A GN win for Hooper rounded out the night, with massive thunderstorms putting a dampener to the apres stox which usually is good, however, unperturbed, many partied into the wee smalls, possibly in just their wee smalls....
Sunday was Higgy day.... that will come tomorrow...
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