MEETING REVIEW

Friday 15th August '08

NATIONAL HOT-RODS #9 GLENN BELL WINS WQR 2 FINAL

The fine entry of seventeen cars for Round Two of the National Hot Rod World Qualifying Series included former British and National Champion Ian Thompson Jnr. His return only lasted a few laps into the opening heat before his Peugeot 206cc was forced up the wall in the melee to avoid the spun car of Thomas Dilly at the exit of Fisherwick bend. Thompson was out on the spot, but everyone else survived to have another go as Davy Gurney led the field away from pole. Gurney steadily opened up an ever increasing gap over the rest and his Ford Fiesta would be half a lap to the good as he crossed the line to take a very impressive maiden victory in the National class. An almighty scrap developed for second behind Stevie Williams with much of the pack involved. There was plenty of buffeting in evidence as this group jostled for positions and it finally all ended in tears at Fisherwick bend on the final lap. Cars scattered in all directions after Jonny Stevenson and Clive Richardson got together entering the turn, with Williams, Keith Martin and Ronnie McMillan amongst those to lose a good finishing position in the incident. With one win safely under his belt Gurney quickly added the second with another flag to flag win in heat two. Williams was also driving well in second and managed to pull a comfortable gap over Stevenson, who had his mirrors full of Alvin Christie, Richardson and Glenn Bell. With the track still slimy off line from the earlier rain the outside line was out of bounds for most, only Martin and John Christie gambling on some progress via that particular route. Bell on the other hand was finding some success on the inside and managed to dive under both Richardson and Alvin Christie by the finish to claim fourth.

A light drizzle draped the stadium before the start of the final to add another variable into the equation as Gurney led away, while the hard working Thompson crew had managed to get the #901 car back out for this one. Bell was catching the eye again in the early laps and one beautifully crafted manoeuvre saw him slide around the outside of Rab Forsythe before cutting back inside A. Christie at Suffolk bend to snatch third. Williams was the next target for Bell and the Stock Rod ace confidently eased around the outside of the number 32 car to begin the chase after Gurney. Following two lonely drives in the heats it must have been quite a surprise for the leader to see the number 9 Peugeot 206cc loom large in his mirrors and Gurney slipped wide on Suffolk bend to present Bell with an opportunity he accepted without delay. Once in front Bell never put a wheel out of place on his way to a very polished win, then promptly managed to spin out on the slow down lap! Gurney can take a lot of heart from his night’s work, as he held off McMillan to finish second and complete the evening as top points scorer.

BRISCA F2 STOCK-CARS #925 CRAIG McCONNELL COLLECTS

NORMAN CROMIE MEMORIAL TROPHY

Twelve cars took to the track for the start of the opening Formula Two Stock Car heat. Included in that line-up were Derek Hill, Geoff Alexander and Trevor Moore, all three making their first Raceway appearance of 2008. Davy McCrory quickly moved through from the blue grade to the front in this one with fellow blue grader Jonathan Stirling in hot pursuit. The pair chased each other all the way to the finish with McCrory still comfortably clear at the chequered flag to claim his first Raceway victory of 2008. The Grattan boys, Denver and Gary, joined the field for heat two and newcomer Richard Crossey almost got in on the action too. Unfortunately his car took one look at Raceway and decided to throw away its front wheel on the drive around to form the grid putting him out of action for the evening. In a role reversal from the opening race it was Stirling who made the running this time with McCrory in pursuit. It would prove an unsuccessful hunt as Stirling collected his first Raceway win of the season too, with Gavin Fegan the best of the star grade in third.

The annual Norman Cromie Memorial Trophy was up for grabs in the final which began in dramatic fashion for Gary Grattan and Sam McKay, who both ended in the wall at Fisherwick bend.  The blue grade starters were quickly overrun by the star names this time as Denver Grattan sprinted through into the lead followed by Ian Thompson Jnr. and Craig McConnell. As the race settled down Grattan seemed to have everything under control and was able to maintain a steady gap over his pursuers. A tangle with the back marking Hill would prove crucial however as it cost Grattan enough time to leave him open to attack from Thompson. Grattan did well to ride out the hits, but their battle had slowed them sufficiently to bring McConnell into the equation as well. A thrilling three way shootout looked set to unfold, but unfortunately Grattan’s car gave up the ghost at the vital moment. McConnell had the momentum now and eased Thompson wide at Suffolk bend to roar into the lead. Despite Thompson’s best efforts he could not get back on terms with McConnell who romped home to collect the coveted trophy, which was presented by former F2 racer Earl Cromie. Thompson was forced to settle for second with Fegan a solid third.

Gp2 LIGHTNING-RODS - FINE HAT-TRICK FOR #88 DAVID REYNOLDS

Another great turnout of twenty-eight cars took to the track for the Group Two races, but it all proved to be about one driver. White roof David Reynolds enjoyed a night to remember as the Ballymena driver raced to a faultless hat-trick of victories. Reynolds had to withstand a strong challenge from Ryan Foster to gain the win in heat one, but followed that up with a conclusive flag to flag victory in heat two. Come final time it was Nigel Doherty who offered the sternest challenge to Reynolds’s hat-trick hopes. The Garvagh driver was right on the leader’s bumper over the closing laps, but Reynolds coolly kept his nose in front to make it three wins out of three.

JUNIOR-RODS #65 CALEB HOWARD & #21 CURTIS GREER SHARE THE SPOILS

An excellent turnout of nineteen cars competed in the Junior Rod events and the big entry was lead away by the Metro of Curtis Greer. The Cullybackey lad was being chased down all the time by Caleb Howard and that pressure eventually paid off when the leader drifted wide on the final bend. Howard was on hand to take full advantage and steal his first win of the season ahead of Greer and Adam White. Greer set the pace in race two as well while a big battle raged for second between Tommy Millar, Howard, Jason Harkness and Marcus Morrell. Howard eventually broke clear of this group to try and hunt down the leader again, but ran out of laps on this occasion as twelve year old Greer held on for the win.

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