Despite widespread fears of poor weather, the rain stayed away from the Practice Event at the United Downs Raceway, St Day, and despite a winter's chill in the air, over 50 drivers covering no fewer than ten different formulas, enjoyed some valuable track time ahead of the start of the new national Stock Car racing season.
There were fourteen BriSCA F2 Stock Cars on track, with former National Hot Rod star 86 Leon Fasey taking full advantage of the opportunity to get behind the wheel, as he managed over 100 laps. The in-house contest to record the day's fastest lap saw the honour swing between 24 Jon Palmer and 105 Ross Rowe. Palmer, who remarked, "What a track! Of the tracks I have been on, that is the hardest to drive." set a 13.691 seconds in his last session, and was at the top of the chart when he departed for home. However, Rowe responded with the day's best, of 13.673 seconds, on the very last lap of the 63 had did for the day.
935 Nathan Maidment, 737 Neil Lampshire and 785 Liam Deeble put their brand new cars through their paces and 797 Dan Moss continued his preparations, ahead of his planned career debut at Smeatharpe on 7 March.
There were a dozen youngsters in the Ministox, a couple of Stock Rods, and assorted Bangers and National Bangers, along with a single entriy from each of the following formulas: Historic Stock Cars, Rebels, BriSCA Heritage, Saloon Stock Cars and 1300 Stock Cars.