Report by Duncan Wallis

The first ever BriSCA F2 Stock Car meeting at Grimley Oval Raceway ran in front of a large crowd that assembled to see 39 F2s, 14 Saloons and 9 unlimited cc Old Skool Bangers.  On a hot and muggy day all thirteen races were completed in under three hours with the consensus that the day was a great success. The venue was in top condition as Paul Adams and the team continue to improve the facilities and hopefully there will be a return visit from Autospeed in 2027.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

The final tally of 39 F2s was slightly disappointing when numbers had been approaching 50 midweek, but several late cancellations reduced the entry to a point that the prospects of a three heat format evaporated. Nevertheless 7 Gordon Moodie and 288 Paul Ford made long journeys from Scotland with 206 Matt Brewer, 27 Kieren Bradford, 980 Charlie Lobb and 979 Paul Moss clocking over 200 miles each way from Cornwall.  Heat one saw 346 Ashley England make some great progress from the reds as 543 Connor Blake and 359 Gary Wrench led the early laps.  Wrench led for a while before Paul Ford took it up, but the latter couldn't hold off England who came through for the historic first ever BriSCA F2 win.  Gary Wrench impressed with third just ahead of 213 Tom Bennett and 186 Kasey Jones who both used the bumper well.  Heat two was led for some time by 239 Michael Johnston though yellow graders 315 Charlie Fisher, 235 Alfie Brimble and 605 Richard Andrews were battling away just behind him and overwhelmed Johnston to take the lead places around halfway.  844 Jack Prosser had also been involved until he slowed with engine problems which unfortunately finished his day.  980 Charlie Lobb was quick and used the bumper well to move the three squabbling yellows but lost a bit of time doing so well.  560 Luke Wrench was on a mission and got to Lobb for a decent win which he was overjoyed about.  The three yellows held on behind Lobb with 183 Charlie Guinchard struggling by his usual standards for eighth.  The consolation saw Moss away quickly from the blue graders as 262 Charlie Cocks led early on.  Moss was in the lead before halfway and though 127 Matt Stoneman hit every car he saw he couldn't close the gap over the last few laps with 27 Kieren Bradford right on his tail.  The final was superb with a packed grid of 30 cars, The Nostalgia Trophy up for grabs and bumperwork galore.  Luke Wrench was spat out by the pack of reds early on as Lobb got the drop from the blues to chase down early leader Gary Wrench.  A stoppage was called for Andrews stranded on the home straight and that closed the pack up before Lobb hit the front.  The drive of the race came from Stoneman who scythed through the field for second with Ford an impressive third.  Also worthy of mention were a fine fourth for Brimble and Gary Wrench in seventh.  Great drives in a field where thirteen drivers were star graders or higher.  The Grand National had 27 starters, all eagerly eyeing the remarkable £1000 first prize generously donated by the Friends of Worcestershire Racing.  The race was cautioned early on after the dead 189 Nathan Harper was hit by 736 Josh Weare, with Bennett having used 8 Jimi Marshall as a cue ball to bury the hapless Weare.  England was the man on the move as he charged through the front.  Guinchard got up to second as the lap boards came out but couldn't close the gap with Bradford third.  Lobb came back to seventh from the handicap with Bennett and 880 Jack Witts having a superb battle for ninth.  It was that sort of day.  For me, BriSCA F2 is in great health at the moment with the competition being so high and so many drivers capable of taking the win.  As an example, Bennett was quick, used the bumper well and raced superbly and got a fourth and two ninths.  Feedback from those I spoke to was only positive and F2's showed themselves to be so well suited to the track.

Saloon Stock Cars

The entry included 661 Graeme Shevill and 694 Grady Ross from Scotland and well as three East Anglians and lone Cornishman 759 Taylor Whitford.  Lone white grader 28 Ian Govier led them away in heat one and held sway for a few laps until 178 Kieran Bowman came blasting past.  Bowman held off fellow Anglian blue top and travelling partner 370 Rowan Venni for a fine win.  902 Junior Buster held off the Darby brothers for third as Govier pulled off after halfway.  A ninth in this one was the only place for Ross, and that was a long way from Fife for that.  Govier led again in heat two before 199 Phil Powell took over for a while before Venni relieved him of the lead.  277 Jack Grandon was well involved to beat Junior Buster for second.  525 Wes Starmer got up to second at one point before slipping back as he struggled for speed exiting the corners.  Shevill ended the race in style by burying Govier, in a continuation of their long-standing feud.  The final saw Shevill break down before the start.  Venni get to the front after a few laps with Grandon and Junior Buster grabbing the podium positions.  720 Archie Brown managed a fourth after being unlucky in the heats.   Twelve cars came back for an additional Allcomers race as Powell got the drop and was never headed.  577 Harry Darby had his best run of the day in second with Brown a solid third from Starmer and Venni.  Whist only for lowly places, there was much to enjoy from the battle between Bowman, 759 Taylor Whitford and 111 Thomas Ruby for tenth.  As a Grimley regular I was surprised how well suited the Saloon Stock Car were to the track, and speaking to a driver afterwards he said 14 cars was more than enough round there.  I can't begin to imagine what 30 cars would be like but hopefully we will find out someday.

Old Skool Bangers

Just the nine drivers raced, with a curious lack of interest from the Autospeed regulars despite the Wild Card on offer for the Championship of the World.  739 Jason Moore and 220 Troy Cooper were the only two visitors there and won a heat each with 154 Joe Odhams second in each.  249 Ryan Salt span out in both heats and 747 Brad Dee tried to get in the way with his battered Yank.  He had changed an engine overnight after Mildenhall and managed two races before the back axle seized.  Odhams won the final from Moore and 214 Shane Rawlins before four cars came back for an allcomers won by Rawlins.  Plenty of close racing and nudging but it's unfortunate that more drivers didn't take the opportunity to race in front of a decent crowd on a track which seems well suited to the format.

In closing, a decent day out at a track which hopefully will have inspired enough enthusiasm for more of the same. Please.