Our man in the north east Andrew Hingley reports
"It was the best turnout for Barford so far this year with about 38 cars in the pits. No white tops but plenty of the superstars and red tops incluing the World Champ. Cars were split into 3 out 5 heats. Heat 1 had 783, 7 and 218 staring in this one. This heat needed a complete restart after all the red tops got a massive push from the superstars. Speaky was launched over Aldridge, 964 Fortune ended up perched on the fence. Speaky received a lot of damage, 3 corners needed fixing and athe use of another roof when he made it out for his next heat. The heat was restarted with Speaky and Aldridge missing. It was a great race with action everywhere. 560 was well away from the rest of the pack with blue tops 836 and 49 going well too. Things soon changed for 49, after been sent wide on turn 4, 578 Gibbs went past and squeezed him into the fence and ended up riding the fence until hitting a post and coming down hard ending up on the centre green with all missing him as he came down. 560 took the win with 7 2nd and 854 3rd.
Heat 2 next and another race full of action. 224 Dobson this time took to riding the fence, but this time ending up on his roof with 102 Draeger having to take avoiding action and he ended up rolling too, landing heavily on his wheels without even damaging the roof. Lots of bumper work in this one with 301 Whitfield holding off 401 Goldin until 3 Rennie caught up and nipped past them both to take the win, with 38 and 647 also getting past 301.
Heat 3. This was another good heat with 836 Pannet going well until his engine let go and took himself and 7 others out. Moodie won this one with 401 not too far behind.
Heat 4 was quieter. Speaky made it out, but started at the back with 49's roof on instead of his own as it was damaged in the first heat. Another win for 560 and good showing from 3 and 401 for 2nd and 3rd.
Heat 5. 7 took 3 out wide early on and on the next lap put 783 in a spin after he made contact with 187 just after turn 2. 915 was spun by 854 and managed to get going again soon after. 301 took the win with 7 2nd and a good finish for 725 in third.
The British was next and 31 drivers came out for the parade. 7 was on pole with 560 outside, 401 in third and 3 4th. We were all wondering how many starts would be needed and expected carnage on the first corner. It wasn't to be though, with moodie getting away from Goldin who was directly behind. In turns 1 and 2 there was a big push with 823 and 488 getting spun. 488 quickly recovered, but 823 ended up stuck on the concrete humps. 187 also had a tangle too. 301 and 647 quickly got past 560. The only stoppage happend at around lap 6 with 301 being stuck on the bottom corner. 7 led the restart from 401. 401 had a go at turn one but was just to far away on just about making contact, but spun to great cheers from the crowd. There was no stopping 7 after that and he basicly cruised to victory. 401 made it back into the top 10, he was really going well today. Scots filled the first 4 places at the end with 854 2nd, 647 3rd and 3 4th. The race with the biggest field of cars had the most finishers with only the one stoppage. That was quiet surprising. Next week we have the world qualifier. Let's hope they all turn up again."
So for Moodie, a second British title, surprising as he seems to have had a fair few titles. But certainly the form man round the tight ovals at the moment...
POINTS OF ORDER
Whilst the opportunity for a casual spectator of those tractors came about for the first time in 5 years, a real opportunity was missed by F2 to be part of the show. To show the visiting hoards just what the "hairdryers" are like in their more natural habitat would have been good.
The scheduling of the British on the Sunday furthermore meant that a lot of visiting drivers for Cowdie could have made a weekend for it.
Attendance for the British, whilst it was Barford's busiest meeting of the year, this meeting should attract 50 plus. A lack of a weekend made it unfeasible for many of the travellers, and might well have made the meeting run smoother. Perhaps WQ attendance points for the championships, say 10, would encourage a few more travellers, or perhaps the WCQR is the following weekend would have been tacked on to it?
And.......
Over the next couple of weeks we are shooting the 2015 Jho Calendar for Macmillan, so keep your eyes peeled in the pits, and come Skegness we shall have some good sneaky peakies for you the discerning reader....
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