United Downs Raceway - Sunday 5th July 2015

Despite the odd rogue thundery shower, it was bright and breezy for the biggest BriSCA F2 Stock Car meeting of the season in Cornwall as St Day hosted its World Championship qualifying round, which saw drivers from literally all four corners of country converge on the one and only five cornered track.  They were backed up the 2 Litre National Bangers, themselves in a World Championship qualifying round, Stock Rods and the first visit in seven years to St Day for the BriSCA Heritage Junior/FII cars.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

The entry of F2 Stock Cars was certainly enhanced with the travelling interest, but all in all, it was a highly disappointing showing from the southwest, not least those from Cornwall.   The 35 car total featured a trio from Scotland with World Champion 1 George MacMillan on a track debut, likewise a first time at St Day for Teen Sensations Champion 3 Liam Rennie and they were joined by 7 Gordon Moodie, on his late start to his quest for gold owing to his suspension in the first part of the season.  The opening heat was not a trend setter for the day, as it went all the way without a race suspension and 676 Neil Hooper came from the back to the front to win.  Heat two, however, was with no less than three yellow flags.  This eased Moodie’s charge to the front for a win that never the less looked inevitable in any case as even a one lap dash re-start couldn’t thwart him.  315 Justin Fisher won the consolation.  The thirteenth running of the Neil Truran Motorsport Trophy got off to a very bad start.  In fact, it didn’t get started at all.  The front of the yellow grade appeared to jump and the upshot was that 572 James Lindsay collected the lone white grade starter, which happened to be his dad 663 Bryan Lindsay, and with those behind all following it triggered a big pile up involving no less than 14 cars of the 29 starters in one way or another.  Having been hit every which way, James Lindsay also required assistance from his car.  As the green flag had not been shown, the decision was made to allow those damaged a chance to repair and the Stock Rod Final was thus moved forward.  In due course, the field reconvened and impressively only three of those involved in the crash were not able to take part.  It also gave British Champion 700 Adam Rubery a second chance as his car had failed on him at the first start.  It was also a case of déjà vu for take two as there was a false start but when they did get going it was 528 Shane Hector who led them off and the yellow grade had a good early lead.  However, this was whittled to nothing with an early yellow flag after 189 Paul Butcher was collected on turns three and four by Fisher.  There were somewhat tardy scenes at the re-start with the drivers all managing to confuse each other and when they did take the re-start rolling lap, at the drop of the flag Moodie appeared to be the only one paying attention and he shot from 13^th to second in next to no time, to give chase to Hector.  More drama behind as 575 Tom Clark collected the plating hard on the exit of turn four to bring out another yellow flag.  Amazingly only four laps had been completed at this stage, and after another delay following a power failure around the raceway it was Hector who again headed them off, but very soon lost out to Moodie.  As is often the case, yellow flags breed more and a coming together between 476 Ryan Wadling and 526 Marc Rowe brought out another set.   At the next re-start, with Moodie having a clear track ahead of him he proceeded to disappear off into the distance.  Hector tangled with back marker 527 James Riggall and there was lots going on around the track, with the minor places coming and going.  But it was to be a Moodie Masterclass at the front with a maximum World qualifying score.  All Hooper could do was make second and MacMillan made third.  Understandably there was a depleted field for the Grand National which saw Hector take the win.

2 Litre National Bangers

The entry for the 2 Litre National Bangers was low, as it seems that whilst drivers are keen for the ‘Old Skool’ format, anything else – including World Championship qualifying points – is almost immaterial.  Thus there were a trio of quiet races with minimal action.  133 Terry Hill took the first heat and 452 Anthony Sleeman the second.  The Final saw 74 Adam Hitchcock get into the lead and go on to win, which was actually a rare chequered flag for ‘Scratchy’ and will stand him in good stead for later on in the season.  Hill was second and 648 Jamie Smith third.

Stock Rods

The Stock Rod grades appear to have gone awry from those currently active as the 13 car entry was all either blue or star graded.   On a drying track 22 Wayne Belcher took the heat race before the Final saw a flag to flag win for 555 Greg Radmore with Belcher second and 9 Chris Drake third.   Drake then took his first race win since his British Championship victory 12 months prior at Smeatharpe in the Grand National.

BriSCA Heritage Juniors

Much like their modern day BriSCA F2 equivalents, the Heritage FII drivers had come from far and wide to travel to Cornwall.   They had the only real wet race of the afternoon in the first heat and it was 536 John-Paul Ferguson who took the victory, speeding away from the front of the grid, to win convincingly.  The rules of the class dictate he moved further back for his heat two starting position and it was 728 Graham Bunter who rolled back the years to take the win.  The Final was for the Cornish Open Championship and after 107 Dan Chiplen had led the way he was caught and passed by 773 Nick Whitney who went on to win.  Chiplen held on for second, just keeping 763 Andy Bateman at bay.