IRISH eyes were certainly smiling after a hectic Prostox World Cup Championship race at the Cowdenbeath Racewall on Saturday night when 22 cars started the race, but only three were running at the end!

In the formula IIs Gordon Moodie dominated the races, winning two heats as well as the final but in the race for the National Points George MacMillan Jnr slightly extended his lead after Chris Burgoyne hit problems on a restart during the Grand National and had to retire.

In the saloons Joey Palmer was back up from Essex and made it a clean sweep only to upset the steward and was penalised for an indiscretion in the opening heat whilst Paul Honeyman, Scott Mitchell and a marker tyre came together on the main straight with amazing results.

The Honeyman car went high in the air as it clambered over the tyre but somehow managed to drop back down onto all four wheels before driving back into the race!

Dougie Kidd became the lightning rod Scottish Champion with a strong drive but his chances of a World Cup double were dashed during his second heat when he had to retire with damage.

There was another good turn out of formula IIs which saw Brett Constable and Dan Moss up from the south west, Craig Reid returned using his brother’s old chassis, whilst Chris Davidson had bought a chassis from down south.

Local drivers on the grid were Paul and Craig Reid (Cowdenbeath), Simon Cranson (Cowdenbeath), Kieran Howie (Dunfermline) and Gordon Moodie (Windygates).

The opening heat saw Moodie go through to win from Chris Burgoyne and Dennis Middler with P. Reid in eighth. In heat two Moodie chalked up his second win of the night this time leading home Middler and George MacMillan Jnr with P. Reid again in eighth.

C. Reid led the cars away when the final started but within a couple of laps Colin Thomson was the new leader although Middler soon appeared in second.

Moodie was running just behind Burgoyne and ahead of MacMillan Jnr and this trio were making their way through the pack.

Middler was ahead by the half distance but was quickly relegated to third as Burgoyne and Moodie swept through. However with only a couple of laps remaining Burgoyne was delayed by a back marker and this allowed Moodie through for his third win of the night with Burgoyne a couple of laps adrift and Middler in third.

The Grand National went to Middler who led home Moodie and Craig Wallace.

Greg Honeyman made his appearance in his new chassis whilst Danny Colliver and Joey Palmer were up from down south. Locals in the saloons were Kyle Hegg (Leslie), Kyle Irvine (Glenrothes), Ross Watters (Leven) and Alex Cunningham (Leven).

Palmer was first across the line in heat one but dropped to fourth handing the win to Colliver who led home David Hughes and Ian McLaughlin with Irvine in ninth after being spun. Palmer then won heat two easily where he was clear of Luke Grief and Irvine when the chequer dropped with Cunningham in eighth.

Palmer went straight into the lead when the final started and began to pull away. Irvine was soon through into second but wasn’t making too much inroads into Palmer’s lead. Grief snatched second away from Irvine but was too far adrift of Palmer and had to settle for second just clear of Irvine with Watters in eighth and Cunningham in ninth.

The opening lightning rod race was for their Scottish Championship and the draw paired Chrissy Dearn Jnr on pole with his brother Ormond alongside, and when the race started it was Chrissy Dearn Jnr who led but Alex Rogan slotted into second whilst within another lap Dougie Kidd was in third.

However, Gordon Brown (Leven) had to retire with a misfire. The first three cars were running nose to tail and whilst Rogan briefly led C. Dearn Jnr was back ahead.

However, a gap appeared and Kidd slotted into second and then the lead. Kidd began to ease away as Rogan had Dearn Jnr in close order. Kidd then reeled off the remaining laps to become the Scottish Champion leading home Rogan and Dearn Jnr but Sean Farrell 9Glenrothes) had to retire during the closing stages of the race.

There were 27 Prostox drivers at the track for their World Cup including the defending champion Stuart Agnew and the British Champion Steven Haugh, both from Northern Ireland.

The field was split into three groups with each driver racing twice and the points scored would determine their grid start for the World Cup.

Local drivers on the grid included Ricky White (Thornton), Paul McNulty Jnr (Lochgelly), Grady Ross (Lochgelly), Billy Wilson (Lochgelly), Steve Gold (Leven), Ian Wilko (Kirkcaldy), Ian Christie (Kirkcaldy), Craig Watson (Leven), Ryan Harrow (Leslie), Gavin Waugh (Cowdenbeath) and Callum McIvor (Inverkeithing).

The heat winners were Dan Shannon, Grady Ross and Raymond Gurney but amongst those who had to line up at the back of the grid were McNulty Jnr, Ally McDonald and Gold.

After the points were added Gurney was on pole with Ross alongside whilst on row 2 were McShane and Haugh. There was drama on the parade lap when Gold’s car came to a halt with a brief fire. This was quickly extinguished, and repairs made with Gold able to take up his place on the grid.

Gurney went straight into the lead when the race started from Ross but next time around Ross was ahead. Scott Ramsay retired after a brush with the wall but Ross was to be sent spinning on the main straight as Gurney retook the lead. Exiting the back straight there was a shunt which saw Craig Watson and Shannon tangle with their cars left in a dangerous position and the race was suspended. Also out were the defending champion Agnew, Ryan Harrow, Gold and Gavin Waugh.

On the restart Haugh led from Conor McElmeel and Boyd but when James Letford was shunted into the wall the race was again suspended.

Haugh again led on the restart but White was spun out of fourth as Tam Melrose began to make up ground. Within successive laps Melrose moved from fourth to second and then closed right onto the tail of Haugh then dived inside to take the lead.

McDonald slowed to retire, John Mason was spun out by Billy Wilson before the latter delayed Melrose allowing Haugh back into the lead. With the Wilson car stranded on the track the race was again suspended. There were only six cars remaining but that quickly dropped to five when Paul McNulty’s car had a fire under the bonnet.

Haugh again led from McElmeel and Melrose but Jordan Cassie bounced off the wall and retired. Haugh reeled off the remaining laps to win the World Cup from McElmeel and Melrose.

This week the Unlimited Banger drivers contest their Scottish Championship and are joined in the fray by the BriSCA formula II cars, the 2 litre saloons and ministox drivers with the last two formulae contesting their Turner trophy. As usual it is a 6.00pm start.