Smeatharpe Stadium - Monday 5th April 2010

The busy Easter period drew to an exciting conclusion at Smeatharpe, where there was no shortage of action and excitement amidst a fourteen race programme.

BriSCA F2

A hectic weekend of racing over Easter had again taken its toll on numbers in the F2s, yet there were still 30 drivers on track to contest the second Smeatharpe fixture of the year.  Heat wins went to 676 Neil Hooper and 522 Chris Mikulla, and 76 Chris Rowe took the honours in the consolation.  A terrific battle brewed in the meeting final, with yellow graders 990 Paul Rice and 286 Todd Jones setting a fast pace out front.  The star men chased, but could not get on terms, and so Rice ran out the winner, to mark a successful second outing for his brand new car.  Mikulla completed the top three.  A thrilling GN completed the day, which saw cars spin and tangle, and a series of incidents around the circuit.  At times, the exit of turn four was like a slalom course, but that only added to the fun, and through it all came Hooper, to win from 315 Justin Fisher.

Saloon Stock Cars

There was a highly successful westcountry raid by 305 Nigel Parker, as the East Anglian swept impressively to a hat-trick of wins.  Parker used his yellow grade start to its full advantage, by charging to a trio of faultless victories.  30 Barry Hollett, 834 Dan Climo and 618 Stuart Shevill Jnr each took turns to be runner-up to Parker, yet none of them could quite get on terms to challenge him.

Bangers

In the season's second meeting for the Bangers, there was a second white top final winner of the season, as 333 Craig Partridge celebrated wildly at the end of the Easter Hop Trophy final.  Partridge showed the rest a clean pair of heels, when he carved a clear route through backmarkers and spun cars to take a fine victory.  He was followed home by 246 Ryan Sparks, who kept up his good early season form, and last year's Easter Hop winner, 113 Chris Jeanes.  There was further good news for Jeanes, when he and 156 Kev Gooding won a mesmerising Chained Pairs race for the Bangers.  Gooding and Jeanes took the lead when 910 Katie Dawe and 607 Gary Sillifant spun.  60 Andy Bulled and 172 Nick Crocker came to challenge Gooding and Jeanes in the late stages, but their pairing became separated and that forced their retirement.