whistlinjacksmith Hot Rod Racing
National Championship results Stars of the past event
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 1 ISSUE 10: AUGUST 2012
Quick at both the World and National Championship Shane Murphy suffered in the wet conditions, he could do with a dry race in England
WJS EDITORIAL After a wet Spedeweekend there wasnʹt many people that thought the National Championship would also be wet, then again it is Britain, rain is always a possibility. Well done to Glenn Bell for another championship success in those conditions but you have to feel sorry for Gary Woolsey who was dominating the race. On the front page of this issue are the Classic replica cars of George Polley and Barry Lee which raced at the National Championship event with those legendary drivers behind the wheel— the event didn’t exactly go to plan but it certainly got the nostalgic fans excited. PAUL BALLARD All pictures in this issue taken by Peter Ballard unless stated
2 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Contents ISSUE 10: AUGUST 2012
4
NHR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Glenn Bell won the World Championship in wet conditions, although he wasn’t one of the favourites it wasn’t a complete shock – jump forward a month and it happened again.
8
STOCK ROD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
4
Smyth led off from pole while behind him everyone seemed to collide with each other in a race laden with caution periods and damaged cars
10
LIGHTNING ROD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Definitely against the form book as blue top Mick Walker eased home for his first title
12
STARS OF THE PAST & BILL MORRIS MEM.
15
NHR QUALIFYING RETURNS
8 10
ISSUE 10:
12
AUGUST 2012
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 3
Bell wins another wet Championship One month ago 9 Glenn Bell won the World Championship in wet conditions, although he wasn’t one of the FORMULA
National Hot Rods
EVENT
National Championship
FIRST HELD
1964
VENUE
Hednesford Hills
DATE
5th August 2012
4 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
favourites it wasn’t a complete shock – jump forward a month and it happened again. 115 Chris Haird qualified on pole during dry conditions, the race becomes wet and Glenn Bell takes the chequers.
Preview
In the last 12 months of racing at Hednesford (including last year’s National Championship) there had been 67 drivers with recorded lap times. Their best times range from 13.503s at best
to 14.209s, averaging 13.884s. Shane Murphy was the quickest year and without his puncture he would have won that title. It should be noted that the times were achieved at different meetings, conditions and times within a race – even with those factors included it is a good indication of form at this track. The National Championship for National Hot Rods is the oldest title (first held in 1964) in hot rodding history, the first three titles were a points based championship before becoming a stand-alone race in 1967. Although some may consider Ormond Christie as the greatest hot rodder ever he never won the National championship, finishing on the podium four times. The title has been won 4 times by John Steward and Carl Boardley.
Best lap times 970 Shane Murphy
13.503
996 Stewart Doak
13.768
60 Mark Paffey
13.545
117 Rob McDonald
13.772
115 Chris Haird
13.607
174 Jason Kew
13.778
940 Gary Woolsey
13.625
31 Dick Hillard
13.779
911 Malcolm Blackman
13.625
219 Russell Wilcox
13.784
303 MaI Simpson
13.658
482 Jason Cooper
13.793
9 Glenn Bell
13.676
777 Les Compelli
13.8
962 John Christie
13.676
844 Billy Bonnar
13.807
994 Keith Martin
13.678
6 John Holtby
13.815
961 Tom Casey
13.687
14 Phil Spinks
13.815
95 Gavin Murray
13.721
92 Jack Blood
13.833
14 Phil Spinks
13.724
76 Adam Maxwell
13.835
209 Kym Weaver
13.735
72 Willie Hardie
13.844
261 David Casey
13.74
491 Colin Smith
13.851
67 David Brooks
13.761
66 John Van den Bosch
13.852
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 5
Sunday
A quality field assembled, which probably
The qualifying heats on the Saturday were won by Mur-
surprised the whingers that thought the
phy, Bell, 348 Shane Brereton, Boardley, 117 Rob
formula was over after a few drivers moved on after the
McDonald (his first in the class) and 174 Jason Kew.
World Final. 911 Malcolm Blackman is banned, 303 MaI Once the points were tallied up Haird would start from Simpson is racing on the circuits and 72 Willie Hardie is
the front of the 32 car grid. Winnie Holtmanns didn’t
giving stock cars a go, barring those the big names were
take his place on the grid so first reserve Chris Stockton
at Hednesford. 962 John Christie didn’t get beyond Fri-
(from BTCC) would start the race.
day practice after blowing his engine. Practice times were heading by 970 Shane Murphy followed by 41 Carl Boardley who was geIing back to grips with the hot
Heat 4: 41, 940, 115, 960, 970, 491, 39, 162, 74, 271
down, two of those being returnees 85 Stu Carter and 976 Clive Richardson.
Heat 5: 117, 115, 41, 95, 970, 162, 76, 9, 871, 339 Heat 6: 174, 994, 67, 960, 940, 996, 348, 39, 10, 271
115 970
95
41
174 996 162 117 994
9
Heat 2: 9, 961, 209, 174, 271, 444, 95, 28, 67, 940 Heat 3: 348, 95, 9, 615, 76, 31, 278, 996, 961, 66
rods. A few late cancellations did bring the numbers
Grid
Heat 1: 970, 115, 996, 162, 278, 41, 100, 66, 117, 261
940 348 960 278 961 271 76
67
66
39
615 261 629
100
10
871
31
39
963
444 209
28
The cars lined up and starting their five warming up laps as dark grey clouds formed above, Mother Nature done her best at electrifying the atmosphere but the thunder and lightning brought rain to the track. The grid was all set to start racing when the first drops fell, on the back straight the pack stopped behind the control car and all cars were given ten minutes to change to wet tyres - if they wanted! There was a mixture of all wets, all slicks or two or each. All wets was the correct option! The race was cut down to 70 laps as another five warming laps was completed (although stated over the P.A this is the longest race of the year, that drop in laps makes the World a longer race based on distance travelled). From the off Haird put his nose ahead but the wide line was adopted by Boardley who spent a lap in front until Kew cut inside on turn 1. Even in these difficult conditions no one went spinning out but there were visible differences in speed, most notably 940 Gary Woolsey who charged into the lead and pulled clear. Bell was expected to do well in these conditions; he took third place as the other fancied front runners fell back struggling on the wrong tyres. Coming from the back and taking up fourth, fifth and sixth on the road were 271 Neil Stimson, 66 John V.D Bosch and 209 Kym Weaver. Weaver had started on the
6 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
penultimate row and through the traffic he nicked fourth
off him and missed his demise. Woolsey ploughed
place, V.D Bosch moved back past him before Weaver
straight on at turn 3 when a tyre popped, was it self-
retook that place. As the mid point closed the rain had
inflicted from clipping a wall or just an unavoidable
stopped but no dry line formed.
puncture? Whatever the reason the silver Tigra scrapped round the bend at high speed and was stopped by the
Ahead of the that and significantly further up the track
retired car of Murphy that was clouted head-on, it was
Bell had moved by Kew for second place but Woolsey
estimated that 83 cars were overtaken by Woolsey in the
had put a half a lap between his nearest rival. With 50
race! Bell was in prime position to take the lead and it
laps completed and 25 to run he lapped Haird for the sec- was a healthy margin he had over Kew; Weaver and V.D ond time. The gap between Woolsey and Bell remained
Bosch who were now back on the lead lap.
preIy constant at half a lap but at one stage there were 13 back-markers between them. Woolsey was in another
Bell took his second major championship this season and
league, although his father and brother had tasted suc-
for the 12th time the World-National double has been
cess in England Gary had never won a championship
achieved. Kew took his first podium in a major champi-
(probably a record for the most appearances from an Irish onship followed by Weaver and V.D Bosch – easily the driver to never land a championship in England – esti-
best performance in the modern era of a continental driv-
mated 20+). Woolsey easily lapped V.D Bosch and Weav-
er. Other noticeable places was Sammy Shudall’s seventh
er who were baIling for fourth place.
from 28th and Terry Maxwell in ninth from the back of the grid one place ahead of pole siIer Haird.
Languishing in about tenth place Murphy got caught up
1st
9 Glenn Bell
up against the Armco while Casey was in the middle of
2nd
174 Jason Kew
the track broadside to the traffic. There was a line to get
3rd
209 Kym Weaver
through on the inside, though Boardley who had using
4th
66 John V.D Bosch
5th
271 Neil Stimson
6th
162 Carl Waller-BarreI
self to safety and the race continued with no need for yel-
7th
444 Sam Shudall
lows.
8th
41 Carl Boardley
9th
963 Terry Maxwell
10th
115 Chris Haird
with 261 David Casey, Murphy spun around and rested
the wider line on the wet track seemed like he would hit Casey squeezed through, Mark Heatrick was the only driver to drive around the back of Casey. Casey got him-
With the track clear it seemed Woolsey could coast home, so far ahead he was that most people had taken their eyes
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 7
Smyth’s third National title Smyth led o from pole while behind him everyone seemed to collide with each other in a race laden with caution periods and damaged cars.
Qualifying heats on Saturday Heat 1: 894, 95, 28, 3, 755, 658, 75, 197, 669, 172 Heat 2: 447, 192, 647, 41, 823, 83, 74, 97, 92, 171 Heat 3: 876, 168, 394, 75, 8, 658, 669, 755, 227, 251 Heat 4: 288, 211, 57, 900, 879, 730, 647, 192, 447, 74 Heat 5: 669, 829, 172, 168, 8, 876, 101, 136, 116, 75 Heat 6: 447, 25, 171, 83, 41, 151, 57, 647, 730, 74
Grid
FORMULA
Stock Rods
EVENT
National Championship
FIRST HELD
1977
VENUE
Hednesford Hills
DATE
5th August 2012
447
168
647
192
75
83
288
211
171
658
755
394
74
900
823
101
97
136
669
876
57
41
894
8
25
829
172
95
28
3
730
151
879
197
227
92
447 Stuart Smyth led away the championship as the pack dy Trofer and 876 Lewis Clark to run wide at the turn 1 spat out 647 Jonathan LaIka on the back straight, he shot and the pack to go inside. The pack did bunch up as they over the winners ramp backwards to damage his car.
exited the turn and 75 Carl Sloan was tapped into a spin, he completed a complete rotation and carried on. No one
A few laps in the bumpers went in causing both 669 Ed-
8 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
hit him as he spun but cars did scaIer and wall on the
back straight definitely deflected a few cars back onto the his car to spear across the track and claIer Daly who had racing line.
now charged around Collison mid-way down the back straight. Daly slowed going into turn 3 and clipped by
Possibly a spring detached during this incident (maybe
Sloan who was launched into the air, Sloan nose-dived
211 Grant McGowan) and started a journey of its own
into the wall which wrecked his car. Yellows came out
bouncing dangerously from the back straight around
with 10 laps to run.
turns 3 and 4. This caused yellows to be aired around the track but before the cars slowed the debris had moved to
The running order for the final few laps was Smyth, Har-
safety so the track was safe to race on.
per, LaIka, O’Donovan, Trofer, Clark and 755 Mark Barber. Smyth moved clear as LaIka tried the outside line
Smyth and 168 Andy Sturt had edged clear while the big
for second place but that opened up the door to O’Dono-
baIle was for positions four to seven, 25 Siobhan Martin
van. LaIka tried the line again and now Barber was able
was somehow spun out halfway down the back straight
to prosper, going into the final corner LaIka had nosed
and clouted the inner banking. The yellows came out,
ahead of Barber but a small nudge hampered him allow-
Martin’s car was seriously damaged and she took a few
ing Barber to take fourth place.
minutes to catch her breath before leaving the wreckage. Smyth’s win means he is the first driver to win three The race restarted with Smyth leading Sturt, 192 Bill
Stock Rod National Championships at Hednesford. Irish-
Daly, 57 Raymond Harper, 8 John O’Donovan, 894 Colm
man John O’Donovan was lucky to get through both inci-
O’Sullivan and Trofer. Smyth put a few car lengths as the dents and take a podium place in his 16th aIempt at this following drivers closed up. Harper really applied the
race!
pressure onto Daly but he unexpectedly put a move on Sturt to take second with Harper on his tail following through. Sturt seemed to now struggle falling back to sixth a few laps, 658 Chris LaIka took this position and he was really flying from the back. Sturt lost a few more places before pulling off to the centre of the track.
1st
447 Stuart Smyth
2nd
57 Raymond Harper
3rd
8 John OʹDonovan
4th
755 Mark Barber
5th
658 Chris LaIka
Harper took second place from Daly and had O’Donovan 6th
876 Lewis Clarke
challenging him as the pack moved in and out of the
7th
3 Micky McFall
8th
394 Mike De Paiva
9th
172 Derek Connor
10th
151 Luke Oliver
traffic. When lapping 74 Tyler Collison he ran moved out to the outside line as Daly tried that line, O’Donovan cut back to the inside exiting turn 2 but there probably wasnʹt the space and he tagged the front of Collison that caused
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 9
Walker walks off with title Definitely against the form
FORMULA
Lightning Rods
EVENT
National Championship
FIRST HELD
1990
VENUE
Hednesford Hills
DATE
5th August 2012
book as blue top Mick Walker eased home for his first title Grid 355 926
87
368 781 962 730 314 974 339
633 937 924 923 240
51
22
9
78
After quickest lap times in Friday practice, Walker also scored the most points to secure pole position. The cars raced off but only made it to turn 4 when 923 Steve Emerson touched the back of 87 Frankie Cunningham spinning to the outside of the track, this created a huge pileup that blocked the track leaving only the front six cars free.
92
67
947 346
992 259
84
24 271
823 526 8
ham followed through the same gap. Cunningham took third place off Morrow and set after McKee. Cunningham did catch McKee and was fortunate to take second place as McKee was clipped by the spinning car of 8 Steven Clark. Cunningham dived to the inside of the melee that took out 84 Alan Conroy and 346 Andy Brown.
The race was restarted but without Emerson, 730 Mike Daniels, 22 Mark Cooper Jnr, 314 Wayne Farrer and 526 Paul Strawson who all collected damage in the pile-up.
Cunningham had moved into second place but was never going to catch Walker who was the length of a straight clear by the end of the 35 lap race. Ben McKee was strugOn take two 633 Rob Gamble stuck to the outside of gling and fellow countrymen Hearst, 947 Gordon McKee Walker, he couldn’t pass and had 937 Ben McKee take and 924 Mervyn Emerson all homed with eyes on the another place off him before he brushed the wall. Gamble final podium place – Ben McKee held onto that place. quickly fell back to about tenth place before retiring. The Walker lapped up to ninth place with 18 cars making the front two pulled clear while 926 Davy Hearst had to fend distance. off 240 Lee Morrow. Morrow moved up and Cunning1st
355 Mick Walker
2nd
87 Frankie Cunningham
3rd
937 Ben McKee
gratulations to Mick Walker on winning his first championship after many
4th
926 Davy Heasrt
years in the formula. Probably the first time a blue grader has won this title,
5th
947 Gordon McKee
6th
924 Mervyn Emerson
ampton – where the World Championship will be held on the 2nd Septem-
7th
240 Lee Morrow
ber.
8th
368 Steve Santry
9th
781 Neil Wollington
10th
974 Gary Beggs
Overall the Lightning Rods final was quiet – no penalties handed out, con-
si$ing 15th in the Spedeworth points it is unlikely he qualify for the World Championship. Walker was second quickest in the last meeting at North-
It is alarming that the class that should be the cheapest rod formula to race (at the National weekend) had the lowest numbers and only three heats on the Saturday. Not sure how each driver can be in 3 heats because that means driver A will start ahead of driver B twice, while driver B will start
Heat 1: 368, 781, 87, 937, 926, 355, 51, 730, 962, 633
ahead of driver A once. Or driver A starts on the inside for 2 heats and the
Heat 2: 923, 926, 355, 633, 937, 314, 87, 974, 730, 962
outside for 1 heat, or vice-versa. Not an entirely fair mechanism for grid-
Heat 3: 924, 240, 633, 355, 22, 962, 51, 78, 730, 781
ding cars at such a prestigious championship event.
10 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Grand Nationals National Hot Rods Although the race was called the Grand National the top 3 didn’t start with a lap handicap nor was the race a reverse grid of those in the National Championship. The
finish the car off. This stoppage closed up the pack, 974 Gary Beggs now had 730 Mike Daniels and Gordon McKee on his tail. McKee quickly took up the lead and raced clear.
track had started to dry out but the rain was back on cue for the start of this race. Haird got himself in front of V.D
Res: 947, 22, 923, 730, 781, 240, 974, 355, 51, 526
Bosch at the start and those two pulled clear in a quiet end to the meeting. Grand National: 115, 66, 39, 95, 217, 996, 74, 41, 963, 629 Lightning Rods If 24 Daniel King hadnʹt damaged his car enough in the main event crashing on the back straight was enough to
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 11
Classics at the National Championship
12 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Before the meeting started the proposed drivers were as below, but barring those 16 that have made the intention to race there were plenty of other names knocking about that could be in the frame by this weekend: Mick Shepperd, Neil Facey, Ronnie McKenzie, Pete Stevens, Norman Woolsey, Phil White and Steve Burgess. Star
History
Car
Usual driver
Bryan Wright
43. Hot Rods 1970ʹs
Anglia
6 Graham Fulker
Escort mk2
8 Darren Owen
Anglia
16 Patrick Smith Jnr
Escort mk1
20 Dave Fry
Escort mk1
24 Roger Wright
3rd World 1975 Ricky Hunn
639. National Hot Rods 1986 - present World Champion 1994
Bill Smith
16. Super Rods 1980ʹs World Champion 1987
Pete Winstone
128/ 428. Hot Rods 1975 - 1988. European Champion 1976 and 1977 9. Super Rods 1980ʹs World Champion 1986
Roger Wright
Stock Rods
John Aylward
167. Hot Rods 1970’s
Escort mk1
29 Stu Donald
Colin Hall
66. National Hot Rods 1980/90ʹs
Escort mk2
32 Glen Moore
Escort mk2
44 Richard Lowe
Escort mk1
57 Mike Oliver
Escort mk1
88 David Owen
Escort mk2
144 Tim Foxlow
2nd National 1991 Martin Morris
00. Hot Rods 1960/70ʹs
Keith Martin
994. National Hot Rods 1985 - present
National Champion 1964 and 1967 World Champion 2005 994. 1600 Hot Rods 1994 - 97 World Champion 1996 Paul Grimer
8. Hot Rods 1972 - 1990 3rd English 1984, 85 and 88
Deane Wood
302/ 305. National Hot Rods 1987 - 89 2. 1600 Hot Rods 1991 Spedeworth promoter
Kevin Hunt
391. 1600 Hot Rods 1993-94
Escort mk2
153 Sam Mitchell
Hughie Weaver
210. Stock Rods 1997 - 2000
Viva
210 Lee Wood
Anglia
306 George Polley
Escort mk2
351 Lee Wood
A40
445 Graham Boyd
Anglia
924 Stuart Wright
210. 2L Hot Rods 1999 - 2003 George Polley
207. Hot Rods 1970’s 306. National Hot Rods 1970 - 1990 World Champion 1976 and 1987
Barry Lee
351. National Hot Rods 1971 - 1988 World Champion 1973, 74, 77 and 78
Steve Dance
6. National Hot Rods 1980ʹs 1/ 6. Super Rods 1980ʹs English Champion 1986 and 1989
Mike Chapman
876. Stock Rods 1985 - 2002
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 13
The stars of the past race Chris Kew was a late replacement for Ricky Hunn in the Daz Owen car and took the chequers flag. Sadly the first ever winner of the National Championship Martin Morris was unable to race as his car didn’t arrive.
After a big crash at Ipswich a few weeks ago 16 Pat Smith Jnr was all repaired and he led the start of the race. Wood spun out early on turn 3, to avoid this 275 Chris Caton and 10 Paul Bowring dived to the inside but clashed and had to retire. This spin was possibly caused by 27 Daz Green who was dumping fluid on the track as he smoked his way around.
Unfortunately the race was real mess and a lot of the borrowed cars ended being damaged that took the shine off Although the fans like to see more cars or track it is inevithe event. table that damage will happen, the clash between 247 Graham McCabe and Peacock was probably caused by Res: 8 (74), 20 (128), 57 (994), 153 (391), 16, 351, 24, 88 (8), the huge difference in speed but the damage wouldn’t 445 (16) Star drivers in brackets happened if the winners ramp wasn’t there. The second incident was probably avoidable when the leaders caught Bill Morris Memorial up with 31 Stephen Gooding, there was contact as going into the corner as the leaders became inpatient. That wasn’t the only contact as wheels collided exiting turn 2 that A drawn grid still had newcomers at the back on the back flicked Gooding into the fence head-on, 172 Colin Hitch these being: 11 Colin Peacock in the all-white mini that and Smith had to limp off allowing 161 Dan Holden to had only raced at Wimbledon, 445 Graham Boyd in an win his second race of the day (he also won the Legends A40, 244 Fil Gambone Escort mk1 (possibly ex-John Hen- National Championship). dy) and 222 Shane Taylor in a yellow Escort mk1. George Polley made his second appearance of the day in the Pol- Res: 161, 8, 6, 20, 924, 30, 153, 445, 144 ley replica while Lee Wood was back in the Barry Lee liveried Escort. Just to make things a liIle more confusing Bill Morris revenge the Mike Oliver car was being driven by Stuart Wright whose Anglia was damaged in the stars of the past race. The allcomers race was cancelled due to time restrictions 23 cars made it the biggest field ever and the repainted leaving just two races for the regular Classic drivers but car of 29 Stu Donald was still stuck in the pits, while after the damage for the previous race they probably Wright’s Anglia sat on the infield all meeting. The deliv- need anymore. A quiet race that Wright led until Dave ery of white Anglia meant there was 26 cars at the raceFry passed. way. Res: 20, 924, 6, 8, 30, 37, 445, 88, 244, 153
14 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Qualifying returns With the two major championships out of the way its back to business National Hot Rods with their qualifying series for the 2013 World Final in England finally underway. For many oval fans they consider the best racing comes from these meetings with the traditional set-up of fastest drivers at the back. The format for the qualifying has been amended slightly as an average for the whole series will be used instead of the last three rounds.
During the off-season the internet has been full of negative messages of the sport disintegrating since the World Final. Yes it true MaI Simpson has moved to the long cicruits, Malcolm Blackman has a year ban (his cars are for sale) and Willie Hardie is trying Brisca F2 but the others are still in the class. So three bigger names have moved on to pastures new, there is still another 100-odd driver that still want to race a National Hot Rod. Reigning points champion 115 Chris Haird headed the field that included 304 Danny Fiske who would start from the back of the field in his ex-Luscombe/Boardley Tigra. For those that didn’t know the World Championship winning Tigra of Boardley is now in Northern Ireland being raced by Andy Stewart. Back on the qualifying trail this year were 192 Tony Moss, 444 Sammy Shudall and 111 Mark Baines all racing the same cars they did previously. 317 Alan Evans was now armed with a Tigra while the driver that took over his number 217 BreI Walter had now completed enough races to start from the front. Also starting in their correct grid positions were 160 Frank West and 44 Dave GarreI. Then add onto that 467 Winnie Holtmanns and 871 Graeme Callender as non-scoring drivers. 34 cars in total raced during the evening. Heat 1 Once the pack navigated the first corner at the back Callender was tapped into a spin by 28 Chris Stockton, that caused enough damage for Callender to pull off and earnt Stockton the black flag. At the front pole-siIer West pulled clear as 152 Shaun Taylor struggled. West built up
a handy lead of a straight before Taylor pulled off with a smokey engine, at the same point 174 Jason Kew spun out on turn 4 and returned in front of the leader. With Taylor out 491 Colin Smith took over second place and reeled in West, moving to the outside he easily took up first at the race passed the half stage. West was set for a decent finish but with five laps to go Holtmanns, 209 Kym Weaver and 44 Dave GarreI all went out on turn 3. 339 Danny Hunn did pass West under the yellows and this was corrected before the restart, however when the race got up to speed on the rolling lap Hunn ducked inside him passing before the green flag. West was stuck on the outside and after a few laps got himself sideways on turn 2, as he tried to correct the oversteer by powering through the slide he was caught by 92 Jack Blood that pin-balled him into the fence hard head-on. With 2 to run the race was ended early. On a brighter news Colin Smith’s win was a great news considering how he almost quit the sport after bans and crashes. He was literally jumping for joy when he exited the car. Res: 491, 339, 192, 271, 74, 348, 116, 95, 92, 117 Heat 2 219 Russell Wilcox quickly moved past Walter into first with Danny Hunn following. The messiest race of the day had Evans spin out on turn 3 on the outside of the track and Moss spin on the inside. There was still sufficient room for the pack to pass. On the other side of the track several laps later and baIling for fourth place Walter, GarreI and 555 Gavin Taber all went for a space that wasn’t there entering the back straight. Walter’s door flew high into the sky and into safety but he bounced off the wall, GarreI spun while Taber carried on. Ahead of this 39 Terry Hunn was easily let through to second by brother Danny and Smith also past him. Moving into the final half of the race Taber was struggling to hold the pack at bay but did the right thing by holding a tight line, 271 Neil Stimson was the first beyond him on the outside but that did take several laps. Next up was 348 Shane Brereton who had moved by Haird who was boxed on the inside line. As the final laps
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 15
approached Haird was unusually hot-headed as WallerBarreI also looked like taking a place off him and slammed into the back of Taber running into turn 1. Taber held onto this but running off line he lost a few places, Haird was unpunished for this and Stimson was the only driver to take a black cross.
Further down the pack Stimson tipped 28 Chris Stockton into a spin that also caused 116 Steve Burrows and Blood to claIer into the wall on turn 2. As Wilcox slowed through this corner with cars liIering the track Shuddall took the opportunity to dive inside exiting the bend and into first place.
Res: 219, 39, 491, 339, 348, 115, 271 (x-2), 162, 31, 304
Stockton got himself back into the race but spinning the car around but almost took out third placed Danny Heat 3 Hunn. Stimson now the same thing a lap later in front of After missing his first heat 734 Ralph Sanders was back in the two leaders, they easily passed and Shuddall moved action this time in a Peugeot 206cc with impressive a length clear. With five laps to run whilst lapping Evans, winged doors. Shuddall appeared to slam into the side of him to push him further off line. All this done was help out Wilcox Walter led away this race before Shuddall moved onto who closed and tried the outside for the final few tours the outside, he took several laps to pass and it was a great but didn’t have the speed to go all the way around him. piece of driving to take up position 1. These two had established a decent lead over the rest; 316 Paul Frost and Res: 444, 219, 339, 117, 27, 491, 174, 209 (x-2), 115, 39 (x-2) Evans were next on the road before the main pack raced for fifth place. This pack almost had a big crash on the Finishing each race proved to be the key as Danny Hunn back straight with 100 Dick Burtenshaw spinning, hiIing takes an early lead in the points on 58 ahead of race winthe wall. His nose glanced off and he simply raced on ners Smith 56, Shuddall 50 and Wilcox 48. after completing a 360. The contact seemed to be lower in this meeting than preHaird was back to his usual self in this race and moved vious qualifying rounds but the penalties being dished onto the outside line for some clean passes on Taber, 27 out still seem to be inconsistent. As an example - West Mikey Godfrey, Frost, Terry Hunn, Evans and Walter for had his best meeting in years and sadly the car was desecond place. stroyed with bars of the frame completely shearing. It may have a been a racing incident that caused the crash Res: 444, 115, 217, 317, 39, 27, 92, 31, 117, 174 but West would have not be on the difficult outside line if he was not overtaken before the green. Step back to the Final Spedeweekend of 2010 there was a similar situation when Baines had missed his heats and returned to action in the Chris Harvey was adjusted to have jumped a restart final from the back of the grid. The race had an early when in second place, he was half a car length behind the stoppage when Blood spun on turn 2, Fiske was also fac- leader and on the inside line when crossing the start line; ing the wrong way. Both drivers received outside assishe was subsequently docked 2 places in the result. Durtance to get back into the race and raced from the back ing the opening heat at Northampton Danny Hunn had just ahead of Waller-BarreI who was also given a push clearly moved inside and ahead of West before the start start. Walter led the restart from Wilcox, Shuddall and line but received no penalties. The drivers that have Frost. Walter lost his led as he slowed dramatically whilst moved away from the sport have done so because they lapping cars, the front two pulled away. The other heat feel ill-treated due to inconsistent punishments. Come on winner Smith was now into 8th place but had a lot of NHRPA rule this season with the same standards. ground to make up.
whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
16 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk