The August Bank Holiday Sunday fixture at the United Downs Raceway was hit hard by torrential rain in the lead up to start time, and that left the circuit soaked for the early races.

Saloon Stock Cars

A poor showing from several south west drivers left just a dozen for the Cornish Championship event.  There were as an early double spin in the first heat involving 870 Bert Farrell and 199 Phil Powell, before 314 Bryn Finch went around at the other end of the circuit.  84 Carl Boswell shot into the lead and charged a long way clear.  By halfway, 33 Pete Hollett had established himself in second, but he could not reel in Boswell who won by a distance.  Heat two began with plenty of squabbling amongst the yellow grade, but it was Boswell who clambered out of the group to hit the front.  759 Taylor Whitford and Phil Powell held on to Boswell for a short time, but eventually Boswell stamped his authority to win comfortably.  Finally, the Saloon Stock Cars had a dry circuit for the Kernow Chocolate sponsored Cornish Championship, and they responded with their best race of the day.  Again, it took Boswell a few laps in the opening phase to muscle his way past the fellow yellow tops and build a lead for himself.  However, defending title holder 720 Archie Brown had made a better start this time, swiftly getting to the front of the star grade.  European Champion 902 Junior Buster went spinning on the back straight, as he fell out of contention, in stark contrast to Brown who reeled in Boswell, to deny him a hat-trick of wins.  Brown took the flag to retain the Cornish title, Boswell was the runner-up and third went to 677 Warren Darby after he survived an ambitious last bend challenge from 151 Levi List.

Back 2 Basics Bangers

The opening heat was dominated by 232 Dave Thomas, but two laps from home he got caught up amongst backmarkers, and the lead passed to 255 Phil Killone, who led home 163 Ryan Fuller.  Heat two began with a three-car shunt on the start/finish line, as 687 Rob Toms, 412 Aaron Graham and 808 Daryl Bowden ground to a halt.  Out front 279 Liam Reed pursued 233 Liam Parkin.  However, Parkin threw away the lead when he inexplicably blasted 15 Tristan Barrett.  The race was halted with Barrett needing attention.  Killone led home the rest when the race resumed.  The final began with a spin by 308 Nick Blight.  The lead was contested between 115 Josh Pollard and Toms, but under pressure from Thomas they were both turned around on the home straight.  Thomas took up the running, and looked set for victory, but with just four laps remaining, Toms rolled on the exit of turn two, bringing about a stoppage.  Once the Toms car was righted and cleared away, the remaining laps ran without incident, Thomas winning from Killone and 412 Aaron Graham in third.  Five cars made it on track for the Destruction Derby, which came down to a head-to-head battle between Graham and 161 Anton Ferris; the latter finally landing the last decisive hit.

Cornish Caravan Chaos

A colourful collection of caravans was raced by 818 Terry Rowe, 308 Nick Blight, 280 Jordan Fitzpatrick, 666 Damien Wilcock and 166 Logan Sulsh.  Wilcock did not go far, before stopping at the end of the home straight. Sulsh wasted no time, and parked in the back of it, which left him a target for Blight, who duly lost his caravan.  Rowe was next into the wreckage, before Fitzpatrick shed most of his caravan by way of glancing blows to the heap.  Without anything to tow, Wilcock helped with the destruction, and as last driver into the growing pile, he was declared the winner.

Old Skool Bangers

All too predictably, the promise of 50 Old Skool Bangers on Bank Holiday Sunday failed to materialise, although fortunately, the drivers who were present chose to ignore the bizarre request of series organiser Jon Ayles who had asked for no spinning out of other cars in view of the wet track!  Even before the first green flag, there was a surprise moment when 452 Anthony Sleeman spun in the turnstile bend on his way to grid for the opening heat.  290 Jay Tomkins wrestled the early lead but could not repel the challenge from 220 Troy Cooper who hit the front before midway.  Cooper went on to win from 954 Jamie Beere and 786 Grant Harris.  A chaotic second heat saw early spins in unison for Sleeman and 390 Alfie Tomkins.  At the front, 162 Harry Ellacott and 290 Jay Tomkins disputed the lead, with the latter getting clear.  739 Jason Moore rose to second place, but the lead pair were the only ones making serious progress, as nearly every other driver was delayed at some point.  Tomkins won, Moore was second, and no other driver was on the lead lap.  Sixteen cars made it on track for the final, which Harris led from flag to flag, keeping a distance ahead of Beere who finished second, whilst Cooper charged up the order from near the back of the starting grid to complete the podium places.  The point of interest will now be to see how many of these drivers who have large, RWD Bangers, take the opportunity to race them in Judgement Day on 1 November.