Smeatharpe Stadium - Saturday 1st May 2010

Amidst some damp and miserable conditions, the first Speedweekend of the season saw a lively night of action at Smeatharpe, featuring Saloon Stock Cars, BriSCA F2 Stock Cars, and the 2-litre National Bangers in their inaugural Spring Open Championship.

Saloon Stock Cars

The Saloon Stock Cars served up four entertaining qualifying heats for their English Championship.  The entry of 30 cars was the best of the season at a tarmac venue, and using a three frorm four format, there were always plenty of drivers in action in each heat.
On his first home track appearance of the season, 120 Shane Brown hauled in 512 Darren Barnett to take the first heat.  Heat two was the one which Brown was programmed to miss, and this time Barnett made no mistake as he cruised to the flag.  In heat three, 641 Willie Skoyles led home fellow blue top, 428 Lee Sampson for an East Anglian one-two.  Heat four was the pick of the night, with drivers frantically trying to add to their points tallies.  It was 156 Darren Goudy who got to the line first, to win from 65 Ian Willis, and in an exciting last bend sort out, 511 Craig Barnett sent Brown wide, to grab fourth.  That also knocked Brown off pole position, leaving Darren Barnett as the top scorer for the evening.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

Almost 50 F2s were in action, and it was Cornish racer 830 Andrew Bennett who won the feature final - his first such victory, and a result which earns him a first ever promotion to the star grade.
The opening heat was won by 467 Rob Batten, and 954 Jamie Beere came out on top in a thrilling second heat, which featured a three-way yellow top battle involving Beere, 116 Ashley Rundle and 783 James Rygor.  From a packed grid of 24 cars, 14 Mike Priddle sped impressively to the chequered flag in the consolation.
Priddle and Beere tangled early on in the final, and were excluded from the re-run, in which Bennett swiftly emerged with a commanding lead.  511 Martin Coles gave chase, but could not reel him in, and 24 Jon Palmer was the first of the star men home, in third.
A full grid of 29 cars contested the Grand National, in which 990 Paul Rice led home 286 Todd Jones.

National Bangers

Only a small number of 2-litre National Bangers were present, to contest the first ever Spring Open Championship.
Best Presented awards went to 252 Steve Bugler, 248 Jon Sparks on his first appearance of the season, and 943 Paul Golden on his track debut.
Former World Champion 162 Brett Ellacott continued his superb form at the start of the 2010 season, as he swept to a heat and final double.
Current gold top 190 Steve Bailey was the night's other heat winner, and he took the runner-up place in the title race, with 614 Chris Hide completing the top three.
452 Anthony Sleeman saw off the rest in the DD, to take the last victory of the evening.