BURGOYNE TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE AT COWDIE
Again, another poor showing at Cowdenbeath, why is this. There is certainly no world final bounce yet, and with a few big name drivers yet to show in season 2014. Heat 1 went the way of His Gordyness (7) proof that he is near on untouchable with a usual faultless display. In Heat 2, he failed to double up as plucky blue top, John "Boss" Hogg (92) held off the Moodster to take the maximum 10 points. Final time, and it was apparent that Moodie was not going to have it his own way, as Wullie Draeger (102) led the early laps, Liam Rennie (3) sped away, until about halfway when Moodie swooped on the plucky teenager, curtailing his race. Meanwhile Chris Burgoyne (647) tracked Moodie's rear and waiting for the decisive last opportunity to take his second final win of the season. Robbie Dawson (854) took the GN.
GILBERT GRABS A GLUTTON BUT BRADDERS BEST AT BRUM
A lower than expected entry of BriSCA F2s at a cold Birmingham saw the format changed to all-in, heat one seeing white grader Steve Gilbert (542) lead all the way for the latest victory of his debut season while Ben Bate (242) tangled with Martin Bussey (547) as they fought for the minor places. Gilbert passed Brett Constable (91) to take the lead of heat two and held on for his second win, holding off Tim Bailey (817) and Chris Bradbury (886) in the closing laps while Bate’s tough night continued as he spun into the banking. Any hopes young Gilbert was harbouring of a hat-trick evaporated right at the start of the Final as he spun avoiding Keith Walding (563) on the first bend, Constable and then Bailey leading but Bradbury was finally up to speed and at his Birmingham best and he came through for his first Final win of the season, Bailey and yellow top Ryan Morgan (48) his placemen. Bradbury could only make it up to 11th from the handicap in the GN however and it was a white grade one-two with Gilbert making it three out of four ahead of Constable. Mike Green (115) meanwhile was black flagged twice for mischevious loose wheelguards leading to a post meeting dummy spit in race control and Aaron Williamson (411) received a pringle while placing outside the top ten. Dave Goddard
MANIC MILDO IS SHOWN THE WRIGHT WAY
Although they have been told by a bunch of nimbys with a couple of wig wearers in their pocket to be quiet, it was time to bring the noise for season 2014 for the F2's at Mildenhall. The semi finals are held there this and whilst a few of the usual regulars were missing, it was just under 50 cars taking to the under threat Suffolk shaleway. George Turrucki (186) took the first heat and yellow top Graham Mole (145) the second. The Bradbuilt car of Sam Wagner (823) took the consi, but it was yellow top John Wright (448) who held off the charge of the more stellar names on the loose stuff to take the final, continuing a trend of different final winners at Mildenhall. The GN was rounded out by Turrucki, Mostly, though, the talk was of their petition to go to the House of Commons for a change in the law which would give security to all legitimate meetings.
GORDON GRABS GLUT AT BARFORD
Andrew Hingley reports in from Barford...
"It was a good meeting with a good amount of action. Gordon Moodie (7) won the heat and final, Mickey Brennan (968) and Craig Wallace (16) had a coming together in heat 2 which john Broatch (722) won. Moodie had got stuck on Paul Prest (49) early on in the heat and was last from that point. If there wasn't the yellow flag for Liam Rennie (3) stuck on the pit bend then he wouldn't have got to up to third. In the final 968 got his revenge on 16 early on and 7 won. Peter Macullum (187) did really well keeping up with 7 after he got past, but unable to have a go back at him. In the GN John Hogg (92) was flying as the track dried, 722,968 and 64 were fighting for second place and it all went wrong....
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| This is what happens when you take the Micky.... |
At the beginning of the week, it was announced on the Rob Speak Facebook Group, that the 2013 Belle Vue track champion had been denied a booking. Cue howls of derision and criticism of the bookings restrictions (the fact that the opening F1 meeting and some novelty banger meeting took preference kind of puts the formula in its status with this promotion). After solutions were sort (and after realising that Speaky would draw a crowd from the tractor fans also) Speak got his booking. The 2 out of 3 format was deployed and after a win for Daz Shaw (377) and Andrew Palmer (606), Speak saw out the meeting by taking the last heat and romping home in the final, proving that he still deserves a booking.
NO SPINNY CHAIR AS TEAM TOM TAKES THE VOICE (OF AUTOSPEED)
So after all the other tracks, it was time for God's own country to get in on the act, as I descended through the "Valley Of Windmills", stopping at my usual spot of Kingsley Village only to find to my absolute horror, that the excellent food hall has been closed down. Cue not at all happy Jonny. But that frown was turned upside down as the threatening rain showers which planned to put a dampener on the day failed to materialize. Heat 1 got underway with the young gun Steve Gilbert (542) storming away. However his lead was eradicated by a yellow flag brought about by the meeting of last season's kings of crashing, Simon Edwards (430) and Gary Sillifant (627). Edwards had the 627 sideways and kept going all the way down the back straight. This allowed world champ James Rygor (783) to catch the Doublebois youngster, and take the first heat. The second heat saw Tom Clark (575) lead them away along with Ryan Hoskin (991) and Chris Rowe (76). All three lead until Hoskin took over, but pursued by Clark, sought after him and crucially passed the 991 car. Clark took the win from Rowe, then Hoskin. Behind them saw a last bend move which crucially did not pay off for Neil Hooper (676) as both him and Nathan "Angry Child" Maidment (935) indulged in some off piste action as all finished behind them, leaving them in 9th and 10th and missing out on the qualification spots (Top 8's again.... grrrrr). So needless to say, the consolation was won at a canter by Neil Hooper (676) from Maidment, with Marc Rowe (526) still getting so close to a maiden win he can smell it! Final time and it was no surprise that Gilbert led them away, with Marc Rowe and Matt Brewer (206) hitching along for the ride. Behind, Clark broke away from the pack and was starting to persue Gilbert as once again, Edwards and Sillifant clashed, and crashed! As the laps descended down Sillifant was left adrift at the exit of turn 4 and Gilbert took the high road, and Clark the low road, which got the Lostwithiel based driver a foothold away. Meanwhile more bedlam was occurring down the back straight as more comings together happened, which brought a caution with 2 laps remaining. Clark led from Rygor, Maidment and Gilbert. Enter Madame Starter Sam Bunt, holding the number 2 board and displaying it to everyone like she was auditioning for a "ring girl" role. Ding, ding, seconds out round 2, and the start caught everyone out bar Gilbert, who jumped from 4th to Clark's back bumper in the process. However, Gilbert's blistering start only stopped Rygor in his pursuit of Clark and with it his chances, as the 542 motor was then swallowed up by the pack. So, a second final win for Tom Clark, adding to the Alan Benson Trophy he won on World Final night, Rygor took second, and an excellent third for Maidment. I spoke in a windy pits to a fairly shy Tom, who lets his brother do the talking normally!
The grand national was yet another teasy affair as a bit of line dancing took place with Maidment pummeling Hoskin round the Tip Bend, but it was a GN for Rygor. He was happy with his points haul even discussing the finer points of shiny roofs and points with a certain G J Moodie esq. on Twitter later that evening....
UT OH>>>>POINTS OF ORDER!!!!
PA's. Both Belle Vue and Mildenhall suffered from complaints from not being able to hear the full results. It's nice for drivers and spectators to receive who comes where. Mildenhall it's probably understandable, who require dulcet tones to keep the Nimbys happy. If Ted Lowe was still alive, he'd be pitching up at West Row. "And, for those watching in black n white, you need to turn your contrast up"... Or maybe give the gig to Whispering John....
Clear and paced results, not rushed, which is something that the best commentators do, not garbled and rushed, and doesn't distract from the meeting flow. In our immediate society where we live in now, results are accessible. I'm seen as a conduit of information flowing through, either by text, tweets or web, the amount of people in a meeting who ask me "what's happening at Barford!"
Tom Clark's aerofoil only had yellow tape around it, and was told by the steward to have a bit more yellow around it. A temporary solution! Indeed, I added, with the aid of an infamous implement of Ben Fund Do Hi Jinx, the Sharpie, a spot of additional signage!
Both myself and Jim Brewer, Autospeed's Clerk of the Course had become so blase about Steve Gilbert's winning streak, that we both stopped the rolling lap because we thought Gilbert wasn't at the usual race winners postion of his back of grade. Indeed, it was the first meeting without a win for the Cornishman!!! Oops...
I swear my memory gets worse you know.... Memory of a goldfish....
I swear my memory gets worse you know.... Memory of a goldfish....
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers n gone!
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