Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 2nd October 2011

An emotional day at Smeatharpe saw many racegoers pay tribute to Dave Weare, who had tragically been killed seven days earlier.  In glorious Autumn sunshine, the circuit and stadium in fine fettle after the tremendous effort from assorted volunteers, who worked tirelessly to rectify the damage caused by the previous weekend's vandalism.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

24 Jon Palmer scored a heat and final double, to record his first ever Smeatharpe feature race victory.
302 Dale Moon took the other heat, whilst the consolation saw 38 Dave Polley take full advantage of a late race suspension to close in on long time leader 602 James Horwell.
The final came down to a four-lap shoot out, which also had a false start for added drama.  Palmer was at the head of the single file, with 676 Neil Hooper right behind him, and 921 Jack Aldridge was lurking in third.  Palmer shot clear, Hooper gave pursuit, and Aldridge swiftly retired with a mechanical fault.  The lead duo appeared evenly matched, and whilst Hooper kept Palmer in his sights, he was never quite close enough to mount a telling challenge.  Polley completed the top three.
315 Justin Fisher rounded off the afternoon with a win in the Grand National.

Saloon Stock Cars

65 Ian Willis took the honours in the White & Yellow grade final, after 995 Ben Goddard had made much of the running.  Teenager Goddard held on for second place, whilst 2 Paul Tuppen completed the top three.
Whilst that race had been good, the rest of the day's action for the Saloon Stock Cars was truly superb.  Indeed, with four drivers on their debut, and the prospect of the World Championship returning to Smeatharpe next August, it all looks very promising on the Saloon Stock Car horizon.
World Champion 1 Eddie Darby won the first heat, but he could not quite reel in Willis in heat two.
The final saw 30 Barry Hollett send Darby sideways, and 120 Shane Brown into a spin.  With the stars delayed, 199 Phil Powell took full advantage, and when teenagers 315 Tristan Claydon and 56 Georgie Boult lost time contesting the lead, Powell swooped, to land the Club 21 annual trophy.  Darby recovered for second, and 100 Ian Govier was third to end a sensational day from the Saloon Stock Cars.

Bangers

Over 70 Bangers were present for their first outing in almost two months.
There were heat wins for 668 Paul Mortimer, 46 Dennis Richards and 246 Ryan Sparks, and then debutant 185 Richard Coaker took the consolation.  Early on in the final, 100 Alec Jenner built up a huge lead, and although Supreme Champion Sparks closed rapidly in the latter stages, Jenner held firm at the front, to clinch the win.  Third went to 715 Chris Langmaid, who piled on 30 points during the day, to earn a promotion to the star grade.
Sparks rounded off a lively afternoon from the Bangers with a win in the Allcomers.