Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 6th April 2014

It was a miserable afternoon weather wise at Smeatharpe on April 6 which, as is understandably the case kept many would be racegoers at home, and probably one or two from the other side of the track too.  But, naturally the show went on with a good looking mix of BriSCA F2 Stock Cars, Saloon Stock Cars, Ministox, National Bangers and a demonstration from the Micro F2’s.  And ultimately it was to be a day of “firsts”, with no less than five first time winners and a first time Final winner.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

For the BriSCA F2 Stock Cars it was the annual “Remembering Rog” day, looking back at the life and career of a much missed friend of the sport ex-95 Roger Willcock, and, in a further sobering thought this was the fourth running of the event proving that nothing stops the march of time.  Once again the meeting brought in a good entry of cars with a total of 44 in attendance including visiting stars English Open Champion 38 Dave Polley from East Anglia and 768 Tom Adcroft from the northwest of England, joining the locals and regulars.  The first heat saw a convincing career first win for 206 Matt Brewer whilst heat two went the way of renowned wet weather expert 464 Matt Linfield, chased home by the likewise 254 Richard Beere, before the consolation went to 991 Ryan Hoskin.  The full 30 car line-up was on track for the feature Final in very slippery, rather than outright wet conditions.  With a lot of white and yellow graded drivers on track, even for a Final it always looked like it would be hard work for those further back to make significant progress and for much of the race were left battling for the minor places, spectacular as it was.  At the front of the pack white grade drivers 542 Steve Gilbert and 328 Andy Walker opened out a significant gap and whilst the latter was passed by 76 Chris Rowe and 935 Nathan Maidment by halfway, and 886 Chris Bradbury was making his characteristic late charge, Gilbert already looked by then to have an unassailable lead.  Unless there was a yellow flag, and that duly came on lap 18 when 979 Paul Moss found himself stranded across the track on the exit of turn four.  By then Bradbury had made it up to second and this set up the exciting prospect of a two lap dash re-start.  Gilbert did have the cushion of backmarker 438 Mike Rice between himself and Bradbury.  He understandably did not want to get in the way of the leading battle, but in his efforts to get out of the way he ended up playing a pivotal role in the outcome.  Gilbert was away at the flag but Bradbury was swiftly with him, pounced and made his move going up the back straight and took the chequered flag.  However, a Steward’s enquiry deemed that he passed Rice before the green flag had been shown.  Yes, the 438 car had ‘moved over’ for 886 but nevertheless he had passed him and therefore Gilbert was declared the winner for his career first Final win, which will see him move to yellow grade (at least) before what is now almost certainly going to be Superstar on May 1.  Maidment was promoted to second and whilst naturally very unhappy with the outcome, Bradbury again showed his sporting class by accepting the decision and was third.   The 32 car Grand National saw plenty of action and Bradbury came through to take the victory, with Maidment in the runner-up position again.

Saloon Stock Cars

The Saloon Stock Car numbers remain frustratingly low in the southwest, even with a later start to the season in the region this year.  It was also only the second non-shale meeting in England in 2014.  But all that said, there were new faces on the grid, with more to come and the much welcome travelling interest keeping the total to a respectable level.   The Saloon Stock Cars do struggle in the damp conditions at Smeatharpe, with some drivers coping better than others.   The first heat was to be a memorable first for East Anglian based newcomer 93 Stuart Sculthorpe.  It was the first time the ex-F2 and Lightning Rod driver had raced in both a Saloon Stock Car and at Smeatharpe and after he relieved 87 Paul Lawer of the early lead he never looked back and did something very few have ever done, and won his first race in the formula.  He accounted for himself with a spin in the second heat which saw 460 Cliff Friend go on to win by a distance but then in the Final it was all about Sculthorpe once again as he took the win convincingly.  Friend was second and 401 Steve Webster third.  Fingers crossed for at least better weather at Easter.

Ministox

15 Ministox were on hand which included a track debut for Arena Essex points champion 510 Daniel Newman.   For them it was to be a day of white grade domination.  The first heat saw 667 Tommy Farrell lead home 986 Sophie Fasey and 922 Joe Parker for his first oval race win.  The second saw the win go to 911 Harrison Bryant ahead of 917 Warren Darby and 907 Cameron Lawrence, after third across the line Fasey was docked two places for using avoidable contact on a newcomer ‘X’ carrying car.  The Final saw the white graded trio get clear and never looked like being caught with Darby crossing the line for his first Smeatharpe win, as Farrell and Bryant completed the top three.

Unlimited cc National Bangers Old Skool

The latest round of the Old Skool series for the National Bangers this time saw them in unlimited cc cars, and once again it showed that there is still plenty of interest in those wanting to compete in the bigger RWD cars with a 20 car entry which included the latest veteran returnee in 252 Lib James.  With lots of power and big cars, much in the same way as the Saloon Stock Cars, there was not a lot of grip to be found on the wet concrete and it was the experienced drivers who came to the fore.  207 Darren Bradford looked like being the winner in heat one until his engine went sick and this then put 654 Paul Soper into the lead and he went on to win.  The second heat saw 114 Nick Courtier win in his now absolutely Jurassic 2012 World Final car and then in the Final it was Bradford who once again pulled out a big lead.  It looked like it might be a case of déjà vu as though, as the engine in the green 207 didn’t sound too great in the second half of the race.  Undeterred this time though, he was able to hold on for the victory, ahead of Courtier and 293 Adrian Broadway.