The season’s second fixture at Smeatharpe was a hugely ambitious and packed programme, brought about by the strong numbers in most of the formulas on duty.
National Bangers
Although still a relatively modest amount, the number of big Bangers was a marked increase on the last time such an event was run by Autospeed at Smeatharpe. The action was in short supply, but the racing itself was compelling with a lot of evenly matched drivers battling for results as opposed to heavy crashing. The draw for the World Championship Wild Card race was favourable to 555 Harry Gelsthorp, and from pole position he set about building a decent lead. As the laps ticked by, Gelsthorp looked set for victory, but when 282 Zak Heckford and 59 Mike Hamley tangled, he was briefly delayed and fell into the clutches of 739 Jason Moore and 62 Harvey Webb. Eventually, the outcome was decided on the final bend. Webb dived at Moore who was already committed to an attack on Gelsthorp. All three drivers ran wide, but in the mad scramble to the line, Moore got there by half a car’s length from Webb, leaving Gelsthorp to reflect on what might have been as he was relegated to third. There was to be another runner-up finish for Webb in the next race, which was for the BHD Trophy, in memory of the late Beryl Dugay. However, this time Webb was too far away from race leader 670 Max Eaton to attempt any last bend challenge. Eaton thus won at Smeatharpe for the first time, whilst 246 Ryan Sparks completed the top three. The Allcomers race to finish finally brought Webb a victory as he overcame early leader 838 Jamie Peters, whilst bonuses were awarded to long distance traveller Gelsthorp, 166 Luke Gillbard for a particularly smart car and 911 Toby Wilson as Top Trier.
Stock Rods
The season’s second outing for the non-contact Stock Rods raised 28 drivers, although the luckless 220 Richard Short failed to grid after encountering mechanical issues in practice. On his debut, stalwart racer 787 Dave Cottrell swiftly established a lead in heat one. 79 Brian Edmond and 154 Joe Odhams clashed in their battle for second, which allowed Cottrell to stride further clear. The race was illuminated by some terrific outside line driving by 914 Callum Faulconbridge and 909 Justin Washer, but they only rose as high as fifth and seventh, with Cottrell a distant winner. Heat two brought damage for 779 Ross Sweetland and 235 Paul Harris. Sweetland was spun in the pits bend after a nudge by 911 Harrison Bryant, and Harris inadvertently collected the stranded car. 913 Ben Faulconbridge was already in the lead at the time the race was suspended, and he stormed away to win when the race restarted. There was an untidy edge to heat three, with Bryant and Odhams growing increasingly frustrated behind wayward leader Cottrell. Bryant then retired with a puncture, and Edmond took advantage when Cottrell ran wide to grab the lead and the win, with 617 Christina Sillifant the runner-up. The Sidmouth Arms sponsored final was full of drama. Bryant emerged in the lead and looked a certain winner. However, Odhams ground to a halt and drifted over the kerb and seemingly out of harm’s way in turn four. Surprisingly, Bryant then clipped the Odhams car and ran one third of the home straight on two wheels in a hugely spectacular incident. When Bryant bounced back down, he came to a halt which necessitated a caution period. During the clear-up, 286 Martin Walker Jnr’s car let off steam on the back straight, and he was another retirement. The race then resumed, but water from the Walker Jnr car saw some drivers struggle with their entry to the pits bend. Another bout of yellow flags was called, but in the confusion Edmond and 103 Chris Horwell were slow to react. As they tangled, Horwell clouted the wall in the pits bend, and incurred damage, which was to force him out of the restart, despite being sat in second place. An incensed Horwell revealed his displeasure in Edmond’s direction as his stricken car was recovered. Ben Faulconbridge led away the single file restart and racked up a second successive heat and final double. Edmond was the runner-up and 522 Chris Mikulla took third.
Back 2 Basics Bangers
Just shy of 40 drivers made for a busy track in each race. 333 Craig Partridge was a distant winner of heat one which came to a shuddering halt on the start line just after the chequered fell when 491 Charlie Fulbrook marked his return to racing by rolling on to his side. After 328 Mike Parry had initially led, it was young gun 460 Ed Reynolds who drove a neat and tidy race to take the honours in heat two. The final had a devastating climax. 562 Jayden James was in control and set for victory. However, starting the final lap, he spun 7 Michael Palmer into the parked car of 404 Jake Stevens before grabbing hold of 662 Jared Roe and running both cars up the fence in turns one and two. The Palmer car lost a wheel, which brought out the red flags, and with James out of the race, Parry inherited the win, with Fulbrook and Reynolds placed second and third. More than a dozen drivers took to the track for the Destruction Derby. Debutant 69 Henry James needed assistance after he, 114 Ryan Northcott, 788 Darren Morgan and 18 Corey Karkeek crashed out in turn one. The entertaining contest resumed and was finally won by Partridge.
Ministox
Another fine showing from the youngsters saw numbers rise to 21 which included a track debut for 99 Jayden Roff and 313 Charlie Weston, although the latter was to endure a baptism of fire in a lively opening heat. Weston tangled with Roff and 505 Louie Herzig, and then clobbered an infield marker tyre, which led to more damage than was able to be repaired on the day. From the white grade, 710 Louie Stuckey settled into the lead, and he scored a maiden win, from Herzig and 511 Lexi Crosbie after second-over-the-line 475 Mason Sealy was docked for contact on a novice driver. Heat two had to be suspended when 575 Caden Clark was left stranded and facing the wrong way on the exit of turn four. Stuckey led the restart, but another caution period was imposed when Roff needed to be recovered from turn two. Sealy won convincingly from 550 Callum Herzig and the feuding pair of Crosbie and 242 Amy Williams were warned for their unsporting tactics against one another. As Stuckey and Roff contested the lead in the final, Stuckey spun Roff the wrong way, which led to him being disqualified. 176 Jack Jones muscled his way to the front, and he survived a last bend charge by Sealy to hold on for the win, with Crosbie completing the top three.