The first national fixture of the new season saw over 120 competitors in action at Smeatharpe, on a bright, yet cold afternoon.
BriSCA F2 Stock Cars
Over 30 F2s contested the annual MDP Services sponsored event. Heat wins went the way of 676 Neil Hooper, who took his brand new car to victory in its first race and 522 Chris Mikulla, who enjoyed a close battle with 783 James Rygor. In the consolation, 886 Chris Bradbury was first over the line, but he was adjudged to have jumped the start and thus received a two place docking, which saw 76 Chris Rowe inherit the win.
Bradbury made amends in the final, as he chased down 438 Mike Rice, 31 Simon Bassett and 835 Matt Westaway. Bradbury moved ahead in the second half of the race, whilst Hooper made a strong late surge, and dumped Westaway on the last bend to steal second place. Mikulla completed the top three.
The Grand National finished in bizarre fashion, as many drivers crashed out in the west bend. Westaway, however, was not to be denied, and he became the day's fifth different race winner.
Saloon Stock Cars
Despite a small number of cancellations, there were still sufficient Saloon Stock Cars to make for a very lively day's action. In the opening heat, 100 Ian Govier just kept ahead of the closing 156 Darren Goudy to take the win. Heat two went to 30 Barry Hollett, with Goudy the runner-up once more. In the final, Govier, Hollett and 199 Phil Powell tripped over one another and that opened the door for English Champion Goudy to claim that elusive victory, ahead of National Champion 120 Shane Brown and National Points Champion 618 Stuart Shevill.
Bangers
In excess of 70 Bangers were present for their first Smeatharpe meeting of the new season. There were heat wins for 929 Sam Baker, 415 Sean Gillett and 281 Marc Chenery, before local star 117 Ollie Starr won a heavily populated consolation race. Much of the final was led by 34 Gook Ellacott, but a spirited late charge by 607 Gary Sillifant saw him surge to the chequered flag. 134 Jarrett Bond pipped Ellacott for second. Sillifant then went on to win again in the Allcomers race to book a return to the star grade.
Heat 1 |
676 |
31 |
830 |
254 |
835 |
935 |
14 |
290 |
first 8 |
to final |
Heat 2 |
522 |
783 |
605 |
126 |
162 |
223 |
438 |
464 |
first 8 |
to final |
Consolation |
76 |
954 |
886 |
441 |
302 |
992 |
785 |
116 |
167 |
797 |
Final |
886 |
676 |
522 |
783 |
605 |
302 |
167 |
254 |
76 |
830 |
Grand National |
835 |
676 |
315 |
783 |
522 |
605 |
167 |
886 |
76 |
302 |
Grade Awards |
W 162 |
Y 302 |
B 605 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Heat 1 |
100 |
156 |
120 |
618 |
30 |
240 |
48 |
512 |
290 |
401 |
Heat 2 |
30 |
156 |
100 |
995 |
65 |
512 |
120 |
618 |
360 |
48 |
Final |
156 |
120 |
618 |
512 |
995 |
77 |
199 |
118 |
360 |
290 |
Heat 1 |
929 |
242 |
332 |
113 |
134 |
379 |
78 |
74 |
132 |
60 |
Heat 2 |
415 |
22 |
246 |
143 |
526 |
133 |
154 |
458 |
441 |
183 |
Heat 3 |
281 |
194 |
28 |
677 |
475 |
369 |
145 |
333 |
158 |
282 |
Consolation |
117 |
34 |
406 |
607 |
first 4 |
to final |
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|
|
|
Final |
607 |
134 |
34 |
281 |
282 |
246 |
28 |
677 |
441 |
113 |
Allcomers |
607 |
183 |
194 |
282 |
154 |
78 |
379 |
785 |
438 |
941 |
Best Presented |
113 |
143 |
145 |
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|
|
|
|
Grade Awards |
W 34, 281, 332 |
Y 22, 28, 134 |
B 415, 607, 929 |
R 194, 246, 282 |
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