Sunday 3rd February 2008

United Downs Raceway, St Day - Sunday 3rd February 2008
Only a small crowd braved the wintry conditions at the United Downs Raceway, St Day on Sunday afternoon, for the westcountry's final short oval race meeting of the winter closed season. Bad weather blighted the occasion, with regular heavy showers leaving the whole raceway soaked.
2-Litre Bangers Despite the low number of Bangers, honours were shared out amongst several drivers, with both 147 Phil Purdy and 383 Andre McLellan enjoying a good day. They each won a heat, but could not prevent 248 John Sparks from taking the final, in which 452 Anthony Sleeman (winner of the Best Presented prize) caused the crash of the day when he sent 55 James Ogborn scuttling around the pit bend fence. There was a competent track debut for 928 Michael McCraith. Stock Rods 49 Kev Lock won the main event for the non-contact Stock Rods. Without a victory for the whole of the 2007 season, Lock was a convincing winner of the Stock Rod final, ahead of 37 Barry Trickey and 221 James Southall. Although 125 Mike Hibberd took the opening race, that was as good as it got for the Points Champion. 27 Andy Thomas made his first appearance of the year, and finished as the runner-up to Trickey in the Grand National. Bangerstox The all-action Bangerstox broke their St Day car attendance record, with 44 drivers in attendance, and a couple more who failed the new rigorous scrutineering procedure. 941 Hannah Creed was presented with her prize as St Day Track Champion, and she also scooped a Best Presented award for her exquisitely finished new car, complete with silver roof. 120 Martyn James struck first, as he romped to victory in the opening heat of the afternoon. 804 Treve Wills was next to score a win, as he led home 479 Jamie Jenkin in heat two, a race which included a rollover by 50 Tracey Mandrupson. In the last chance consolation, 350 Wayne Hutchinson won for the very first time, and on his first visit to St Day, too. 717 Donna Cottrell, another track debutant, finished as the runner-up. A hectic final saw Jenkin improve upon the second place he scored in his heat, to win from 677 Glenn Nash and 242 Ben Ellacott. Following up a fourth place in the feature race, 326 Dan Masters took the Allcomers race to end the meeting, and with it, Masters duly finished the day as the leading points scorer. Ministox Cornish Champion 173 Jack Harrington made another hugely successful long trip west, as he won all three races for the youngsters in the Ministox. 999 David Spooner made his Ministox debut, and 925 Jordan Pattison did a lot of front-running, but the pick of the local youngsters was 960 Dale Moon, who finished as runner-up in the meeting final, whilst track debutant 164 Bradley Wainwright completed the top three. Results - see also 2-Litre Bangers H1 147, 383, 406, 452, 248, 55, 928 H2 383, 55, 147, 406, 928, 248, 452, 76, nof F 248, 147, 383 Best Presented 452 Stock Rods H1 125, 37, 49, 27, 193, 221, 181, 565, 34, 54 F 49, 37, 221, 125, 27, 181, 40, 565, 54, 193 GN 37, 27, 125, 40, 221, 550, 49, 181, 193, 34 Bangerstox H1 120, 451, 182, 131, 718, 78, 547, 172, 141, 817 H2 804, 479, 326, 677, 60, 369, 242, 415, 778, 477 C 350, 717, 153, 154, 351, 787, 941, nof F 479, 677, 242, 326, 787, 154, 78, 369, 941, 451 A 326, 131, 351, 451, 153, 154, 78, 242, 787, 804 Best Presented 941, 60, 150 Best In Grade W 120, 350, 717 Y 326, 451, 804 B 242, 787, 153 R 479, 677, 154 Ministox H1 173, 164, 930, 381, 925, 923, 971, 979, nof H2 173, 164, 170, 960, 930, 923, 381, 979, 999, nof F 173, 960, 164, 971, 381, 170, 930, 923, 925, 999

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