Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 7th August 2011

In the continuing dreary summer weather, there was a mixed bag of sunshine and showers at Smeatharpe, which brought about difficult and changeable track conditions for the drivers.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

None other than the legendary Roy Goodman hailed F2 final winner 921 Jack Aldridge as, "...a future World Champion" after the sixteen year old starlet scored a feature race win at Smeatharpe for the first time.  The win in the meeting final netted Aldridge the prestigious Roy Goodman Perpetual Challenge Trophy, and it was during the post-race presentation, that Goodman heaped high praise on the youngster.
886 Chris Bradbury reeled in 162 Richard Swales to take the opening heat, and 464 Matt Linfield looked very much at home on the wet track that the heat two runners faced.  A typically spirited drive by 438 Mike Rice saw him win the consolation, as he collected his first chequered flag of the year.
The final began with heavy crashing on the exit of turn four, after 14 Mike Priddle had helped 127 Matt Stoneman into a spin.  Former National Points Champion Bradbury was amongst those who fell by the wayside during the incident which came early in the race.  Aldridge produced a fine drive of pace and control, to speed to victory, as he led home 276 Murray Jones and 676 Neil Hooper.
Jones was first over the line in the GN, but he was docked two places for a jumped start during one of the restarts in the race, and that handed the win to 990 Paul Rice.

Saloon Stock Cars

120 Shane Brown regained the Devon Championship, but only after a compelling cat and mouse battle with last year's winner, 698 Danny Colliver.  Brown and Colliver produced a thrilling contest, on a soaking wet track.  As they manfully struggled for grip, they traded blows, and repeatedly swapped places during the most exciting racing laps of the whole afternoon.  Colliver's wild lunge at Brown in the closing stages actually cost him second place, when 199 Phil Powell nipped by to steal the runner-up slot.
Colliver then won the first of two Allcomers races, and 240 Tony Gould notched his first win of the season in the second Allcomers race.

Bangers

Just under 70 Bangers ensured another bumper turnout from the nudge and spin brigade.
The three heats brought wins for British Champion 242 Ben Ellacott, 46 Dennis Richards and Supreme Champion 246 Ryan Sparks.
The consolation was full of incident, as is often the case with such a heavily populated grid.  183 Martin Horn secured the victory.
511 Dan Crosbie produced arguably his best ever drive at Smeatharpe, as he stormed his way to the chequered flag in the final.  60 Andy Bulled and 175 Gary Hunt completed the top three.
247 Richard Sparks won the Allcomers race, to end a lively day of race action.