Spring Bank Holiday Monday brought another large crowd to Smeatharpe, attracted by the prospect of destruction and devastation in the end of meeting Caravan Chaos event.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

A decent showing of 35 drivers contested the season’s third fixture at Smeatharpe, running to a full format.  The entry included 137 Matt Peters making his return to racing and 935 Nathan Maidment in a stunning brand new car.  24 Jon Palmer marked his first tarmac track appearance in the UK for this season, by winning the opening heat after he reeled in 844 Jack Prosser.  Heat two was led initially by 262 Charlie Cocks, who eventually came home third after 405 Josh Hamstead and 980 Charlie Lobb reeled him in, with Lobb then overhauling Hamstead very late on.  However, the feature of the race was the multi-car scrap for lower order places as 27 Kieren Bradford, 194 Luke Johnson, 83 Sy Harraway, 736 Josh Weare and 468 Sam Weston produced an enthralling battle over many laps.  In the consolation, teenager 207 Alfie Flecken kept sufficiently clear of 979 Paul Moss to take the win, after they had each hunted down 895 Ben Goddard.  Ahead of the feature final, co-promoter Crispen Rosevear again paid tribute to the much-missed Duncan Pike, before drivers set off in pursuit of the Five Star To Five Jobs Trophy.  The race settled into a pattern that saw 315 Charlie Fisher and 569 Adam Langridge break clear as the race leaders.  Palmer charged up the order from the star grade, but as the race moved into its final quarter, and Palmer climbed to second place, he seemed to stall in his attempts to challenge Fisher.  The gap between them remained relatively constant, but two and a half laps from home, Palmer edged closer, to set up a probable grandstand finish.  Sure enough, Fisher led the last lap, but Palmer had him in his sights and exacted a text book last bend finish.  Palmer sent Fisher wide, and grabbed the lead less than 50 metres from the finish line.  As Fisher scrambled back from the wide outside line, Langridge was able to sneak past to grab second.  There was a caution period in the Grand National when 710 Louie Stuckey clattered into the spun 95 Joe Willcock, and 66 Ryan Hall also got caught up in the melee.  When the race resumed, Weare was swiftly into a commanding lead, whilst the yellow flag spell helped final winner Palmer return from his one lap handicap to place fourth.

Bangers

A sprinkling of no-shows left the expected mammoth entry at a more manageable level of 48 cars.  There was a lively start to heat one, as 238 Jake Hughes rolled over right at the start.  At the second time of asking, the race proved to be easy pickings for experienced racer 71 James Sowden who was uncatchable from the front of the grid.  Heat two included a pile-up on the exit of turn four, amongst which 96 Craig Cornelius lost a wheel after riding up on to two wheels as he flew past the pit gate.  Supreme Champion 662 Jared Roe looked set for victory, but 31 Liam Shipway had other ideas, and edged Roe wide on the last bend.  The consolation brought a first win for 421 Brayden Hawkins as he led home 919 Oscar Berry.  At the start of the final, 7 Luke Yelland got into the lead, and proceeded to increase his advantage with each passing lap.  Behind him, there was some frantic action, but that only served to help Yelland stay well, well clear out front.  Yelland clinched victory, with a late run by star grader 451 Nigel Belfield earning him second place, with 242 Alfie Ellacott third.  The Allcomers included another rollover, as 6 Danny Greening tipped slowly on to his side in the pits bend.  303 Josh Jones ran out the race winner, his first victory of the season.

Ministox

With an abundance of novice drivers amongst the Ministox entry, a two from three format was adopted.  Silver top 475 Mason Sealy scored a dramatic last bend win in the first heat, as he successfully overcame long time leader 114 Charlie Lomas.  In heat two, Lomas was first over the line, but was docked two places for a jump start, and that saw Sealy inherit the win.  Heat three saw 990 Billy Rice storm to a maiden win from the front of the grid.  511 Lexi Crosbie got closest to him but was not in range to mount a challenge.  Sealy completed a hat-trick of wins, when he successfully defended the Reg Thomas Shield in the final.  313 Charlie Weston and 522 Jacob Mikulla completed the top three.

Caravan Chaos