Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 17th March 2013

Unexpected bright spring sunshine greeted the fair-size crowd arriving for Smeatharpe's opening Stock Car meeting of 2013. With maiden wins for some drivers and new cars and some fast, furious and sometimes spectacular racing, it was the perfect start to the new season - and 2 Litre National Bangers were on the 14 race programme too..........

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

As is the norm for the opening BriSCA Stock Car meeting of the season, there was much interest in the Smeatharpe pit-area with several new cars on show among the 39 car entry and a handful of new faces among the driver line-up - though the unexpected appearance of a not-so-new (but still ever youthful !) face that belonged to none other than 7 Gordon Moodie, fresh from a heat win at Birmingham the previous night, just made the eagerly anticipated racing even more of a mouthwatering prospect. Also in attendance were 886 Chris Bradbury and 921 Jack Aldridge and a whole host of local stars which should, at least, have meant that the Scottish super-duper-star was not going to have everything his own way. Hmmmmmm !

19 cars assembled for heat 1, including 886 Bradbury and 921 Aldridge who had been fastest in pre-race practise, but it was novice driver 602 James Horwell that was the star of this one, taking a flag-to-flag victory from his front row start among the white grade. Not only did the young man from Langport have the honour of winning the first F2 race of the 2013 Smeathrape season - it was also his maiden win in the formula. 886 Bradbury though was very impressive too, carving his way through the field with the precision of a surgeon, but could only manage runner-up behind the flying Horwell. 20 cars started heat 2 which was nothing more than a lesson in how to get around the tight Smeatharpe oval in the quickest time for 16 consecutive laps - given by Headmaster Mr G. Moodie (!) as the 'Flying Scotsman' was in a class of his own. The race began with 575 Tom Clark spinning on turn 1 almost as the green flag waved, unfortunately this kind of luck was going to plague the talented white grade 'new-boy' throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile 7 Moodie had cleared the red grade and was up amongst the blues - and this was only lap 1 ! By half-distance he had relieved the black-crossed 830 Andrew Bennett of the lead and that was that, the 'race' was going to be about who would finish 2nd - and that went the way of local star man 676 Neil Hooper, which unfortunately was his best race finish of the whole afternoon. 700 Adam Rubery took 3rd, a good result as the Brierly Hill man only arrived at the track minutes before start time. The consolation saw 17 cars on track and had an early stoppage after 529 Paul Barker had come to a halt on turn 3. Just after the field got away again and 575 Tom Clark hit the front there was a further stoppage, this time for 328 Andy Walker and 979 Paul Moss who had a coming together on turn 2. 575 Clark led away the remaining cars once more but sole red grader 605 Liam Rowe had benefitted most from the two yellow flag incidents and before long it was the Cornish star that led and went on to take the win from the hard-charging 352 Dave Sansom. The annual 'MDP Services' sponsored 30 car final was an excellent race. 575 Tom Clark had once again made the early running but after building up a useful lead a tangle involving 797 Dan Moss and 596 Ritchie Mead on the start/finish straight was clipped by a passing 700 Adam Rubery which resulted in the star man's car slamming into the pit-gate backwards at an alarming rate of knots - which brought out instant waved yellow flags. Thankfully, after a lengthy delay, Adam emerged from his car unaided and was able to walk to the St John’s post for a quick once-over. With his lead and advantage now, and not for the first time in the afternoon, all but gone it was again 575 Clark that led the field away from 430 Simon Edwards but 7 Moodie had already worked his way up into 15th - with 886 Bradbury two cars behind him. Surprisingly though 575 Clark did manage to keep his persuers at bay for several laps, including 352 Dave Sansom who had taken over 2nd place and at half-distance it was 575 Clark, 352 Sansom, 430 Edwards and 783 James Rygor - but behind him was 7 Moodie and in the blink of an eye he were gone..... Next, just as 352 Sansom had passed 575 Clark to take it up, another yellow flag incident, this time for 835 Matt Westaway who had come to grief on turn 3, closed the field up once more and as Sansom prepared to lead the remaining F2s off for the further re-start the car looming large in the 352 rear-view mirror was the silver machine bearing the No.7...... Okay, the lapped 935 car of defending 'MDP Services' Champion Nathan Maidment was then slotted in between the two front cars but this was really not going to hold up the inevitable. The battle for 2nd though was entertaining, after being passed by 7 Moodie, 352 Sansom then gave way to 430 Edwards, before 886 Bradbury arrived and passed the pair of them - only for the two battling yellow graders to re-pass the superstar, briefly, followed by 783 James Rygor who was then joined by 315 Justin Fisher. 886 Bradbury then regained his composure and as 315 Fisher had an encounter with the turn 4 fence the Winnersh man was again up into 2nd but then further dramatic action saw Nathan Maidment punted into the infield marker tyres on the entry to turn 1 at speed which ended with the 935 car sideways across the track on the bend and although he got going again almost immediately the call was already made and the waved yellows came out for a third time - as the last lap board was about to be shown. 7 Moodie easily took the one-lap-dash to the flag, after 886 Bradbury was surprisingly caught napping - with the ever impressive 783 James Rygor a worthy 3rd. A timely reminder then, from the man from North-of-the-border, of what to expect come World Final time in September at Smeatharpe - and on today’s form who would bet against him ? An excellent 29 car field for the afternoon's Grand National and what a cracking race it was. 7 Moodie was aiming for the 50 point bonus for a hat-trick of wins from his one-lap handicap starting position - and with so many cars out on track at least one yellow flag stoppage looked a distinct possibility and would probably do the trick. A four-car pile-up on turn 4 at the start almost brought this about but miraculously all those involved managed to get going again as once more it was the impressive 575 Clark that led the pack. Just a lap later though the 979 car of rookie Paul Moss ended up facing the wrong way on turn 4 and the yellow flags did indeed come out and everyone's heart began beating just a little bit faster.... With re-start starting experience now comprehensively added to his F2 CV (!) 575 Clark once again led away the field - seventeen places behind him though was the mean-and-Moodie No.7 machine. 352 Sansom was again quickly on the pace and looking menacingly at the 575 rear bumper as the green flag waved but 886 Bradbury was quicker still and already up to 4th by the following lap. 7 Moodie meanwhile had passed 676 Neil Hooper (who had been in 6th place) and looked unstoppable while out front 575 Clark was still holding off the advances of 352 Sansom in a fine display of driving in the ex' Jason Phillips car. 476 Ryan Wadling's back axle looked to have collapsed on turn 2 bringing him to a halt and suddenly another waved yellow flag situation looked to be threatening which would have really spoilt things - particularly as 886 Bradbury had moved into 3rd and 7 Moodie into 4th. 430 Simon Edwards then collides with the stationary 476 car and once more the crowd hold their breath but the race is allowed to continue, thank God, and with 5 to go it is still 575 Clark that leads from 352 Sansom. Next lap and 886 Bradbury passes both 352 and 575 through turns 1 and 2, followed several car lengths behind by 7 Moodie and the atmosphere in the stadium is electric. All of a sudden there seems to be cars spinning off at both ends of the track but still the race goes on as the last lap board is shown to leader Bradbury. It really doesn't look as if the flying Moodie is close enough to strike and as the two cars go down the main straight there is at least a six car gap between them but as 886 slows for the final corner 7 Moodie doesn't and in goes the bumper in a stonking move that would probably have taken many an experienced driver not only into but probably through the steel plate fence but somehow Bradbury manages to hold on and with better traction out of the corner it is just a matter of inches that separates the two cars at the line, with 886 Bradbury taking the win, but boy was it close ! So, no 50 point bonus for 7 Moodie but a hundred point award surely to the track Steward for allowing the race to continue and giving the watching crowd one of the most exciting starts to an F2 season at Smeatharpe for many a year.

Saloon Stock Cars

This was the first meeting for the mighty Saloon Stock Cars of the new season in the South-West and there were a fair few new machines among the slightly disappointing 15 car entry. World Champion Eddie Darby's car was good, very, very good, but the 'show stopping' Mondeo of 460 Cliff Friend was just sexy - and he knew it! There were two visiting Scotsmen among the entry, 620 Aaryn Triggs and National Points Champ' 618 Stuart Shevill, but also clocking up the miles was World Champ' Darby, the quiet and unassuming star (!) travelling down from the North after racing at Cowdenbeath the night before, stopping only for a kebab. But if you thought tiredness was going to take its toll, think again. Proving that the 460 car went as well as it looked, it was Friend that led away heat 1 but not going at all well in this opening race was the Vectra of 698 Danny Colliver, the engine blowing-up big-style on lap 2 depositing generous amounts of the black slippery stuff all along the main straight and turns 3 and 4 bringing out the waved yellows - which in effect scuppered the 460 driver's hopes of a maiden win for the new car as the field closed up for the re-start. After the green a good battle raged between leader Friend and surprising back-marker 995 Ben Goddard, which allowed 1 Darby to close and eventually pass the pair of them - as did Sheffield based star 402 Shaun Webster - but although the chequered flag fell on the gold roofed car the World Champion was docked 2 places for jumping the re-start, thus handing the win to Webster. Scottish star 618 Shevill was promoted to the runner-up spot after 460 Friend had been docked 2 places for jumping the original start. All 15 cars out again for heat 2 - and I mean ALL 15 as the Colliver crew had somehow managed to replace the engine in the 698 car between races, a superb effort from the Surrey outfit. At the green, which was difficult to see for the amount of blue smoke pouring from the 698 Colliver machine, it was again 460 Cliff Friend that hit the front whilst further back World Champion Darby had once again made a blinding start, even giving sponsor 618 Stuart Shevill a friendly 'tap' into turn 3 on his way through the field - or maybe he was just making sure he was awake after his long journey West ! At the front 460 Friend was attempting to put as much space between himself and the rapidly approaching threat that was Eddie Derby, a feat that was going well as at half-distance he was a whole straight ahead of 2nd place man 20 Craig Rowe - who was driving brilliantly in only his second Saloon Stock Car race after making his debut in heat 1. There was a fair amount of pushing-and-shoving throughout the field before the chequered flag eventually fell on 460 Friend but the likeable ex-Banger driver had done enough to finish comfortably ahead of the World Champion. Another ex-Banger man, 158 Shane Davies, did well to finish in 3rd after several bruising encounters. 14 made it out for the afternoon's Grand Final and this time nothing was going to stop the hard-charging Eddie Darby from getting his hands on the silverware though once again it was the immaculate blue Mondeo of 460 Cliff Friend that made the early running. 158 Shane Davies held 2nd for a while after passing 20 Craig Rowe but 1 Darby was really on a mission and by half-distance was past Davies and within striking distance of the leader. With 3 to go the World Champion breezed past the 460 car, going on to secure the victory and the first win for his super-smart 3 door Sierra bodied car. 460 Friend easily held on for 2nd, with the always entertaining 995 Ben Goddard finishing a good 3rd ahead of 402 Shaun Webster

ORCi Stock Rods

This was the 3rd South-West meeting of the new season for the Stock Rods, with the 21 car entry including the late addition of Spedeworth registered 171 Dean O'Dell, the current English Champion deciding to get some early practise in for when he defends his title at Smeatharpe on 14 April. All cars out for heat 1, which included 778 Dave Horwell who had somehow managed to repair his car after a big crash at St Day a fortnight ago. 441 Tom Major, in only his second Stock Rod meeting at Smeatharpe, took a flag-to-flag victory in this one, his maiden win, even surviving a re-start after 778 Horwell had come to a stop on the back straight, though the impressive 825 Josh Davey was never far behind and finished an excellent 2nd. All 21 starters again out for their second race which was the Stock Rod final and once more it was a battle between 441 Major and 825 Davey at the front after 71 Andrew Harvey had made a mistake going into turn 4 on the opening lap. 825 Davey led past half-distance and into the last lap but just as it seemed the Truro youngster was going to win his second final in as many meetings he encountered a problem passing back-marker 83 Adam Ignaczak which allowed the flying Vauxhall Nova of 441 Major to pass and take his second win of the afternoon - and with 778 Dave Horwell finishing some way back in 3rd it was a white grade clean-sweep. 19 lined up for the Grand National and with 441 Tom Major on a lap handicap it certainly looked good for 825 Josh Davey but at the green it was 778 Dave Horwell that made the initial running. Unfortunately though someone on the Horwell crew had forgotten (!) to put all the securing clips on the bonnet and with it flapping about and certianly hindering the driver's view it was not long before 825 Davey took over at the front. Keeping the leader company though was 286 Rich Crowther, and close company it was too, with a good battle between the two young drivers keeping the crowd entertained. Also going very well was 475 Ben Sealy and just after half-distance he'd split the two leaders, while further back 364 Nathan Olden, who had spent by far the majority of his afternoon trying to find a way past the 222 car of Mike Belcher had eventually succeeded - only to be spun aside for his efforts by a train of drivers with 222 the innocent party at the front of them, doing his once immaculate late-model Corsa no good at all. At the front, it was really not going to be 825 Davey's day for a win as on the last lap 475 Sealy went through on the inside on turn 3 to take the lead and the win, with 825 Davey making it a hat-trick of 2nd places - with 286 Crowther finishing 3rd, just ahead of 778 Horwell.  Olden sought retribution on Belcher after the red flags, and further penalties are sure to follow.

2 Litre National Bangers

With various clashing dates only 19 National Bangers arrived to battle for World Championship qualifying points. Only real car of interest among the mostly Ford Mondeo entry was the fresh Ford Cougar of DWO man 162 Brett Ellacott - which he put to good use one way or another throughout the afternoon. Heat 1 began with Ellacott burying 50 Neil Rogers hard into the fence on turn 3, where he remained, being joined by 215 Craig Fisher the following lap - again at the hands of the Cougar driver. Next to feel the force of the 162 bumper was 781 Shaun O'Donnell - with 311 Simon Rogers a lap later also then ending up in the 'Bad Boy' scrap yard that was beginning to form on turn 3. Apart from the antics of Mr Ellacott the race was rather a tame affair with 114 Nick Courtier taking an untroubled win from Smeatharpe regular 282 Lee Treasurer - with 162 Ellacott still managing to finish 4th in the now a little race-worn Cougar. 14 made it out for heat 2 with 452 Anthony Sleeman making the best of his front row start to take the early lead as 162 Ellacott carried on from where he left off in heat 1 by spinning earlier race winner 114 Courtier. Also in a destructive mood was 47 Marcus A'Lee, putting in leader 452 'Lurch' on turn 3, to the delight of the crowd, before taking a big portion himself from 714 Paul 'No Show' Smaldon. 162 Ellacott carried on spinning almost everyone he came across on his way to an untroubled win - then sportingly gave away his winner's trophy to a young lad on the back straight who was celebrating his birthday. Top bloke ! 74 Adam 'Scratchy' Hitchcock was a deserved runner-up. The last race of the day was the Banger final and fielded just 11 cars with 452 Sleeman piling in hard on the stationary 642 car of Nigel Thomas on turn 4 at the start. After this I fell asleep and woke up just in time to see the chequered flag come down on winner 162 Brett Ellacott. Apparently I didn't miss anything much...........!