Raceweek 3- Steady Eddie, Webbo Wonderous, Birkin Brilliant and George Gorge

The third weekend sees a start for Scotland and Buxton, with the shalers playing at an early Coventry and a second trip to Skeggy. For me, it was meeting ex Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock in front of us in Tesco, and me doing Marlon Brando impressions as I became godfather to my nephew Jake!

BURGOYNE BRILLIANT AT COWDIE

For many this was a barometer meeting. A Barometer to see which of the young guns was going to rise to the challenge of the Cowdie track championship, a barometer for the Zetec engine and also a barometer for the ridiculous clash between the Wall and Lochgelly. However, despite the Scottish young guns being the future, it was an "older" gun (not old - the guys only just gone past 30!) who dominated proceedings. Chris Burgoyne (647) took both heats and the final, boosting score to the top. However, Craig Wallace (16) took the GN, and rose to the top of the national points.

WEBSTER IS BRANDON BEST

A third shale meeting brought the highest turnout so far of 55, and with it a familiar feel to the condemned Coventry track, on nights like this, its such a shame. However, progress is much, and we'll enjoy it while we can. It was a faultless heat and final double for Billy Webster (226). There was a heat win for Colin Eardley (589) and the massively undergraded David Tomlinson (885) took the consolation. Mark Gibbs (578) continued his charge towards a red top with GN victory.

GEORGE GORGES AT SKEG

So a second showing at the Funcoast, and despite many of the regulars being on top of the Peak District a showing of 19 cars included plenty of Scots. It was world champ George Macmillan (1) who took top honours now wearing a more comfier pair of shoes than last week with a faultless triple of victories by taking both heats and the final - his first wins of the season, and cemented his place at the top of the points. Andrew Palmer (606) took a rare win on the tarmac, quiz question when his last tarmac win?

BIRKIN BEATS BUXTON BOYS

So to Buxton and the highest point of Briscaland, and certainly the highpoint of attendance for the tarmac boys this weekend as Nik Eastwood takes up the story
With 28 cars in attendance for the Buxton opener a three Heat format was the order of the day on a dry track and in the bitter cold.

Heat 1 242 Ben Bate from yellow pulled out a lead over second placed 55 Courtney Finnikin, Courtney rode up over Bens back wheel and both cars spun into turn 3, Courtney getting away and finishing the race but Ben suffering tyre and wheel damage and retired, meanwhile it was business as usual for 101 Kelvyn Marshall aka Whalley who excelled on a dry track to take the win ahead of 761 Richard Bowyer and 59 Lee Dimmick.

Heat 2 94 and 55 tangled on turn 1, both cars tractored off, leader 242 from 821 Gary Walker, Gary took a spin on the restart while 242 continued to lead up to lap 11, when 768 Tom Adcroft became the leader to finish in 1st place from 59 Dimmick and 761 Bowyer.

Heat 3 was a fairly straightforward race with 604 Jamie Conway gaining a lead from yellow after around 5 laps, to which he would hold on to take the win followed by 319 Sheldon Wadsworth and 101 Kelvyn Marshall.

Onto the Final then and it really was a race for the Buxton locals 132 Dan Birkin and 94 Charlie Marriott, both drivers racing away to the flag , it looked like Charlie might have chanced a last bend lunge but perhaps didnt want to risk it so it was 132 Dan Birkin, 94 Charlie Marriott and we wont be forgetting another local driver 604 Jamie Conway from Glossop who secured third.

In the Grand National Birkin took his lap handicap but the car seemed to fluff on the start which held up the pack as the green went down, Birkins race was over before it started as he pulled to the infield, meanwhile 604 Jamie Conway got away, mid race the yellow flags had to be called due to 768 Tom Adcroft and 297 Paul Bailey got tangled against the turn 2 fence, back under way and taking the winners spot was 604 Conway followed by local 101 Kelvyn Marshall and third was 59 Lee Dimmick.


POINTS OF ORDER

1-5 in the Buxton Final was all KMorWR Car, or whatever is the correct parlance, these cars certainly are flavour of the month. And certainly not an RCE....

Cowdenbeath beat Lochgelly on footfall and car numbers in the first real test of the silly clash. Try spinning that one....

And.....4 drivers have led the national points so far - thats more than the last 3 seasons put together!!!

Right must get me posing right, photocall on Sunday... cheeeessee