Stock Rods 2010 UK Masters Championship Stock Rods

Raymond Harper continued his fantastic record in 2010 by adding the UK Masters title to his collection at Ballymena Raceway. The Nutts Corner driver started the season with victories in both the Yokohama and Irish Open Championships at Easter and beat the best in the UK to claim the Masters title. European Champion Robert McDonald from Scotland and his fellow countryman Kerr Patterson, the current British Champion, joined the best from the province at Raceway for the four qualifying heats, two on Friday evening followed by two more on Saturday. The first set of qualifiers brought wins for McDonald and Lee Johnston, with McDonald also claiming a win on Saturday along with Raymond Harper. A non finish in race three however proved costly for McDonald as four consistent finishes earned Micky McFall pole position for the Wm. Moody & Son Car Sales backed UK final. Harper joined McFall on the front row, with McAfee and Johnston on row two and Scottish stars McDonald and Patterson occupying row three. McFall led the early laps, but the pressure was certainly on as the first six ran nose to nail in a high speed battle. The leader could not shake off the attention of the pack and eventually a change of leadership ensued as Harper took over the hot seat out front. McAfee tracked the new leader’s every move followed closely by McDonald and Frankie Lynn, with now McFall demoted to fifth. As the laps clicked down Harper managed to keep them all at bay to clinch yet another title, with McAfee forced to settle for second. Lynn snatched third on the final corner from McDonald with a disappointed McFall fifth, while teenager Carl Sloan finished a very creditable sixth in his first international event.

Classic Hot Rods 2010 Irish Open Championship

Like the Stock Rod class the Classics also enjoyed four qualifying heats to determine the grids position for their championship final. Chris Selleck, Dean Hunt and Daz Owen made the journey over from the mainland, but unfortunately Owen’s Ford Escort Mk. 1 suffered engine problems in practice and was forced to withdraw from the event. Defending Irish Open champion Desie Howard was in dominant form, winning three of the four qualifiers, with the other race going to English visitor Selleck in his Ford Escort Mk. 1. Howard quickly slotted into the lead of the Wm. Moody & Son / SHP Automotive Engineering backed final too, but was challenged strongly by Stephen Nevin in the early stages. Nevin eventually dropped down to fifth however as Howard clinically controlled the pace from the front to successfully retain the title for another season. Runner-up Hunt from Croydon was the best of the visitors in his Ford Anglia, with Kenny Wilson moving through into third. Caleb Howard, Nevin, Paraic McCormack and Robin Morrow completed the finishers.  

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars Tom Swann Memorial Trophy

Gary Grattan was in top form in the F2 Stock Car class to clinch the Tom Swann Memorial Trophy. Gary Blair opened proceedings with a win in a rain effected opening heat, the Antrim man leading home Craig McConnell, the Irish Champion out in his new car for the first time at Raceway. Ryan McCrory eased ahead of Ian Denning and Conor Hughes to secure victory in heat two, but it was Gary Grattan who made all the right moves in the final. Grattan simply powered through the pack and was delighted to receive the trophy in memory of former Raceway favourite Tom Swann. It was a good evening for the Grattan Racing Team as Gary’s brother Denver followed him home in the final with Hughes in third.  There was also a special award for the first white or yellow roof driver home in the memorial race and this went to Matthew McCreight. 

National Hot Rods Wash 'n' Dash World Series 2010/11 WQR 4

Wayne Woolsey made a sensational return to the National Hot Rods by winning the final at World Qualifying Round 4. The Portadown flyer, a double World Champion in the 2-Litre Hot Rod class, raced his brother Gary’s Mercedes SLK at Raceway on Friday evening and showed what a threat he will be to the big names by racing away with the silverware. Northern Ireland Champion John Christie took a hard earned victory in the opening heat after a great battle with Woolsey and Mark Heatrick, while the second heat went to Irish Open Champion Keith Martin.

ORC Lightning Rods 2010 Yokohama Tyres Cup

The ORC spec Lightning Rods made their first appearance at Raceway since 2007 and two reverse grid qualifying heats determined the grid positions for the Racemart backed Yokohama Cup. Mervyn Emerson got off to a great start by winning the first heat ahead of Dane Ferry before Gordon McKee took a flag to flag win in the second qualifier. The heat winners shared the front of the grid for the final and it was McKee who quickly established himself out front and steadily pulled clear of the pack for a dominant win. Emerson showed well again to finish as runner-up, with Ben McKee the final podium finisher.

Group Two Lightning Rods

It was a busy weekend for the Group Two drivers with six races over the two meetings and once again the race wins were evenly distributed in this competitive class. Brian Alexander opening things with a win on Friday before David Wilson was first to the chequered flag in heat two. Kenny Greer snatched a dramatic victory in Friday’s final with Arthur Roxborough and former Junior Rod Irish Champion Jason Harkness his place men on this occasion. Rodney Stewart recorded his first ever victory at Raceway in the opening heat on Saturday, before Gareth McCrory rounded out proceedings with a double success in the second heat and Saturday final.

Junior Rods

Bradley McKinstry had a Raceway debut to remember on Friday evening by leaving with the final silverware. The Nutts Corner lad showed he meant business by taking the honours in the first heat ahead of James Steele and Calvin Blake. Daniel Shannon continues to improve steadily and took another win in heat two, but McKinstry’s Vauxhall Nova was soon on the pace again in the final, which was interrupted by a caution period after a rollover for Jamie McCurdy’s Nissan Micra. On the restart McKinstry nipped ahead of Steele and powered away for his second win of the evening. Steele held onto second, with star name Dean McCrory forced to settle for third on this occasion.