AFTER heavy rain was threatened during the day, a couple of small showers were all that greeted drivers, teams and fans as they gathered at HRP Lochgelly Raceway this past Friday night for the latest slice of stock car action presented by Hardie Race Promotions, writes raceway scribe Les Waller.

Four great formulas were on the bill with a punchy show delivering twelve races in around two and a half hours!

First on track were the 2.0 Hot Rods with Colin Seath and Ryan Adamson returning to action in the white grade while European, National and British Champion William Hardie returned after overseeing son Charlie’s victory in the Ninja Karts National Championship last weekend.

Heat One got underway with Seath and Adamson battling for the lead before Adamson dropped back. As Seath continued to lead past the halfway point; it was clear that a flying Jim Pitcaithly was catching the Seath machine and duly passed him with around 8 laps to go to complete his first victory in the formula. Colin Seath led from the beginning of heat two but it was that man Pitcaithly, his engine troubles appearing to be a thing of the past, who surged ahead to take his second race win in the formula. Many on the terraces would have been discussing the possibility of a Pitcaithly hat-trick but, unfortunately, those engine gremlins raised their heads once more and Pitcaithly did not grid for the feature final.

Seath and Adamson swapped first and second place between them during the early laps; but a rapid Billy Bonnar had brought his car into contention in the very early stages of the race and took the lead before the halfway point of the 25-lap race. Bonnar held on to the lead all the way to the chequered flag with Gerry Hendry and William Hardie completing the podium after a night of close action in the 2.0 Hot Rods.

The Superstox were next on track and it was good to see Mark Brady back out after his car took some damage last time out while Trevor Harris also made his 2018 debut. Raffaele Donofrio led the early stages of the race before an arguably under-graded Kenny McKenzie took over at the front after starting the yellow grade.

Kenny has one of the quickest cars on track but has not had the results he would have desired of late; but he began the process of putting that to rights as he held on to take an excellent and morale-boosting win ahead of Zak Gilmour and Scottish Champion Bryan Forrest.

Mark Brady quickly overhauled Donofrio for the lead of heat two and held that lead for the majority of the race but Forrest was on a tear through the pack and the Scottish Champion took the lead with just two laps to go to take the win with Brady in second and Gilmour posting another podium finish as he continues to improve in the formula.

The feature final was another excellent race with the Superstox continuing their great form of 2018. In terms of leaders, Donofrio was quickly overtaken by Brady once again and the yellow top continued in the lead for the majority of the 25-lap feature; but it was that man Forrest who arrived on the scene in the closing stages to deny Brady a victory as he relegated Brady to second once more with Aaron Riddell claiming third spot.

The ProStocks have had a busy time of late and it is full credit to those drivers and teams that gridded this past Friday for another evening of mayhem!

Darren Rae made most of the running in heat one but National points Champion Paul Barron has been on somewhat of a tear lately and continued that streak as he passed Rae to take the first heat of the night.

Grumm Fleming briefly led heat two before Rae took up the running but Barron had sliced his way through the field quickly and took up the running on lap 6 to complete a comprehensive victory. Barron duly completed his hat-trick in the feature final after taking the lead from Grumm Fleming before the halfway stage of the race with current National Points leader Ian Christie coming home in second and recent final winner Andrew Webster third.

The final formula on show had a busy three days ahead of them as the Ministox took to the trac for the first of three meetings in three days in Scotland. A good number of English visitors had made the trip including multi-champion Charlie Santry from Cambridgeshire, Aaron Richards from the Midlands plus a plethora of West Country visitors including Warren Darby, Danny Elbourn, Charlie Lobb, Owen Robbins and Gemma Robbins.

When the English have visited in the past, they have shown their liking for the HRP circuit and heat one was no different as Aaron Richards took the first race of the night after Kai Gilmour and Owen Robbins had led the early stages of the race with Charlie Santry completing an English one-two while Ciaran Adams was the first of the home drivers in third.

Heat Two was another fantastic race as HRP Lochgelly Raceway often shows the Ministox at their very best but it was that man Richards who took his second win of the night as part of an all-English podium with Santry again in second and Danny Elbourn in third.

The feature final for the Ministox was the last race of the evening and the youngsters lived up to that headlining role as they delivered another awesome race. 2018 Rookie Kai Gilmour led the early laps once again; but Owen Robbins took over at the front in short order. However, Robbins’ lead only lasted three laps as that man Richards stormed through to take the lead and hold on until the chequered flag to take a fantastic hat-trick of wins with Owen Robbins taking an excellent second place ahead of Charlie Santry to round off a great night of action.

FOR WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE!!!

This weekend sees HRP Lochgelly Raceway host its second Speed Weekend of the season and what a weekend it promises to be as some major championships and top-name drivers descend on HRP Lochgelly Raceway for two amazing days of racing.

Saturday June 9 sees the Stock Rods contesting their European Championship with HRP’s own Chris Lattka defending the title he won a year ago at Ipswich. The 1300 Stock Cars benefit from extra support from ASD Welding Services as Will Morphey defends his British title with the home drivers looking to break the English stranglehold on major races at Scotland’s premier stock car venue. The Rebel racers will be in Scottish Championship qualifying action while the Classic Hot Rods complete a great-looking line-up for this Saturday from 5pm.

Sunday June 10th sees the 1300 Stock Cars battling for the ASD Welding Services Open Scottish Championship while the Stock Rods will also compete for their version of that coveted title. The Rebels will conclude their Scottish Championship with Rob Jones looking to hold on to his title while the Ministox will be back at HRP for their Fife Championship with the action getting underway at 1pm.

It promises to be a cracker this weekend at HRP Lochgelly Raceway!