Speak steals Steel City QR!

So the exiled pixie sends us another report with his missionary work in the frozen north. Frozen being an apt word, as Sheffield was cancelled due to the weather.... Here's Dave Crossman!

After a few weeks sweating over whether the Green Army were going to stay in the Football League. It was back to racing and the rearranged world qualifier in the home town of the Blades and the Owls.

It was a rare trip on my own thanks to Northern Rail and a lovely warm day. A quick trip to the restaurant bar to quench my thirst before a quick trip around the main pit area which included Chris Burgoyne (647) in a Bingley shale car.

On to the racing and what looked like an over watered track before the minis went out, looked about right when the 2's came out for their first heat of all in racing.

29 cars lined up and at the drop of the flag and Sir Rob (218) slowed on the first bend and pulled to the infield. Chaos started with cars going always and the yellow flags were soon out as Paul Hopkins (994) lost a wheel. 9 cars did not take the restart and those included Burgoyne and Sam Wagner (823). At the restart Andy Palmer (606) and Mark Simpson (871) were at the front of the reds with the pack being led away by Graham Morrison (881) and Barry Clow (597). Palmer soon spun away his chances followed by Morrison who was collected by the "Entertainer" Brett Townsend (710). This left Spedeworth convert Colin Aylward (151) leading from Simmo, who took the lead just before halfway. A few laps later Paul Wilson (925) overtook Alyward to take second.

After 2 heats from the Tractor Boys and lots of fence damage (F1's and rsj's there is only going to be one winner!) and the track crew attemping to pull one upright with an actual tractor (not a chance guys)

The 2's came back out on a track which had no shale on the racing line on the bends so the track staff watered the racing line. At the start Dave Massey (977) and Daz Shaw (377)  tangle on the start / finish line and Wagner pulled off again. Speak got out of shape coming off the last bend which caused the car of  Shaun Login (568) to veer into a post and come to a very sudden stop and a very badly damaged car. At the restart Oliver Iles (997)  heads Dave Harley (362) and Geoff Maskery (90). Travelling Burgyone made good progress up to 2nd and was followed by Rob Mitchell (905) both of whom were never going to catch Chaos, who took the win.

Onto the final and Sam Wagner's day got worse as the 823 car was a no show. The first start saw Dick Raymond (416) hit the fence hard then Steve Wycherley (662) hit the back straight fence and was collected by Burgoyne. The melee saw Speak's car out of control but narrowily missed it but Paul Wilson (925) was not so lucky. The restart William Clement (158) led the way from Maskery, Clow and Morrison.  Clow soon got into lead as 881 &90 clash soon followed by Simpson and Palmer. at halfway The 597 car started to leaving Robert The Great into the lead, with Rob Mitchell (905) and ex Superstox World Champ Colin Alyward (151) rounding out the top 3.

With just 11 cars for the GN and time going on, as I wonder if I will still have a train to catch,  it was never going to be as good as the rest of the meeting  Morrison led away but Burgoyne took a win making the miles worthwhile for the Scot.

If I kick up enough of a storm then we can get away with it!

Well a long winded day 5 hours for 13 races,  The dust was worse than the Mendip mist at times but on the plus side I enjoyed the track restaurant carvery and resonably price bar and air/con on a hot day.


Cheers for that Dave, he'll have a report from the first Speedweekend of the year!