United Downs Raceway - Sunday 30th May 2010

Despite the threat of bad weather, the annual Bus & Coach racing day only suffered light rain at the end of the afternoon, by which time a large Bank Holiday crowd had been regally entertained.

Saloon Stock Cars

Numbers increased in the Saloon Stock Cars since their Easter appearance at St Day, and their day started spectacularly, when 120 Shane Brown punted backmarker 198 John Metcalf into race leader 103 Chris Horwell.  That spun Horwell and Brown took the victory, his fourth in succession at St Day.  In the second heat, Horwell made sure he wasn't caught, as he sped to a rare St Day win, with Scotsman 618 Stuart Shevill the runner-up.  Horwell doubled up his race win tally in the final, leaving star men Brown and Shevill to complete the top three. 

Buses & Coaches

A record showing of seven buses and coaches made for some incredible action.  141 Toby Tiddy and 707 Jeremy Moss maintained their ever-present sequence, and they were joined by Bus & Coach day regular 998 Martin Knowles, 225 Richy Edmonds and a trio of newcomers to the day – 372 Jay Matthews, 851 John Harland and 901 Jon Stoneman.  Moss and Stoneman won the two speed races, and a very long battle in the DD, eventually went the way of Knowles.

Ministox

The opening heat for Ministox was led home by 986 Sophie Fasey on her debut, but mid-race she spun aside 949 Dylan Rundle, who was wearing a Novice cross on his car.  Consequently, Fasey was docked two places for the inappropriate contact, and that promoted 932 Sam Moore as a first time winner.  In heat two, Moore and 989 Joe Marquand disputed the lead, with Marquand just getting back in front at the right time to take the chequered.  As he did, 935 James Flint crashed in the fourth bend, and there was a lengthy delay as he had to be helped from his car.  Heat three was a very protracted affair.  994 Kirstin Stone rolled spectacularly in the pits bend, and when the race resumed, 966 Rich Crowther suffered a knockabout spell on the exit of turn four.  Crowther was shaken up in the incident, and in order to extricate him from his car, the roof of the 966 car had to be removed.  Just six cars were left for the restart, which brought a first win of the day for 991 Ryan Hoskin.  After the dramas of heat three, the Final was far more orderly, as Hoskin swept to another fine win, ahead of fellow stars 945 Ashley Prisk, 315 Tristan Claydon and 942 Steven Gilbert.

National Bangers

Only a small number of National Bangers contested their trio of races, despite the lure of World Championship points.  In both heats, 239 Steve Carter led home 55 James Ogborn and 190 Steve Bailey.  World Champion Bailey took top honours in the final, though, to win from 162 Brett Ellacott and 452 Anthony Sleeman.