Barford Bound.

With the world final qualifiers reaching a dramatic climax, it was rather surprising that the penultimate round was the only round so far not to run a full format. Even Hednesford and Crimond run a consolation and double point final this year. Yet, even with a few extra visitors our westcountryman in the North Country, Dave Crossman, reported in from a sunny Barfbados...

Cheers n gone! Rowe is all go go go

Micky finds Rennie hard to swallow

Twas a warm and sunny day as the Scots invaded Wimbledon , so we set off to Barford with some strawberries and a pot of smuggled in Rodda's (clotted cream) only to find half of the Scots stopped at Barford , and some south west regulars forsaking taunton .

With just under 30 cars in the pits we had a 2 from 3 format and all in final so Heat 1 included the longest traveler of the day, "Merlin" lookalike Liam Rowe (605), Clive Buckton (244) had a early spin as Dave Tagell (20) lead the way from Luke Loveland (12) with Garry Sime (480) making good progress from the very back ,part way through 120 pulls off with 5 to go 836 dave pannett leads from 49 paul prest and the under graded 641 dennis middler  and 480 in 4th and thats the way it stayed in an uneventful race 

heat 2 and with not whites in heat 1 and only 1 superstar we had 3 whites and 4 superstars !!

the green flag fell with only a 3rd of a lap between first and last ( Andy Chant would never allow that ) we had an early tangle for red tops 163 Craig Wallace and 184 Arron Vaight , 979 PJ Moss got the jump from 20 and 299 Steve Smith with 921 Jack Aldridge the first star to show but soon overtaken by 1 Micky Brennan as 49 took the lead from 299 and 20 , at halfway 49 leads from 299  1 836  and 3 but the stars were finding there way past 299 onto the last lap 49 had a good lead as 3 tried to pass 1 on the 2nd bend and spins him only for 1 to reverse and clamp the 3 car against the plating and they continued like that till they came to a stop at the begining of the start finish straight , so 836 took 2nd and 921 3rd.

Heat 3 and eyes were on 3 and 1 wondering if could be a start of a feud. 979 led the way from 120 and 224 , after a few laps 120 takes over the lead from 596 Richie Mead and 641 storming through to take the lead from 596 and 780 Chris Utley but at halfway 641 slows and pulls off  and 625 Michael Robson , in the end 3 takes the win from 1 and 596 

Onto the final and the 605 car was on the way home. They said they had the points they wanted and early starts at work on Monday, but I reckon Mother Rowe had them on a curfew. As they lined up 321 Holly Glen had a problem and is a non starter soon to be followed by 641 on the pace lap , as the very closely group pack approached the flag the green flag was not waved and the reds tangled at the first bend with 480 964 and 3 involed leaving 3 a non starter and 480 joining him on the pace lap 

as the race starts 120 span as 224 led from 694. Dawson and 163 made the break from the reds 3rd distance and 224 leads from 299 49 and 163 but 224 gets knocked into the back straight fence and is out .

With 3 to go 163 passed 49 for the lead and took the win with 836 taking 3rd 

Onto the GN and 866 Bobby Griffin spins early and 480 spins 1 out of the race as 299 leads from 596 and 49 who gets past the 596 car and the 3 car gets past the 596 late on 

So a good day for the jocks.  Roll on next weekend and the main speed week end of the year the reporting head will not be on as I enjoy the social side of the weekend....

Dave