THE formula I drivers headed north on Saturday for their bi-annual pilgrimage to the Cowdenbeath Racewall but had to contend with mixed weather conditions and even when it was dry oil was dropped onto the track causing a major problem, writes our Racewall reporter Jim Turner.

The meeting was a joint venture between Startrax, who switched their meeting to the Racewall, and was run in conjunction with the GMP Organisation.

Robert Speak, who is the present World Champion, was sent crashing heavily into the pit bend wall and required assistance out of his car and once out was taken to the local hospital for a check-up.

The BriSCA ministox were in good form with Finn Sargent winning two races on his very first trip to Scotland whilst the stoxkarts buzzed like bees as they raced for their Scottish Championship,

Amongst the formula I drivers in action were Scottish drivers Stuart Shevill Jnr and Paul Ford whom most of the home supporters were rooting for, whilst they were joined in action by World Champion Speak, The British Champion Frankie Wainman Jnr whilst the defending Scottish and European Champion Tom Harris was back from a stint of racing sprint cars in America and just decided to head north for the meeting. Daniel van Spijker was the Dutch driver on the grid.

The opening heat saw Shevill Jnr retire with a misfire as Ford went through to win by a comfortable margin over Mat Newson and Wainman Jnr. Heat two ended with Mick Sworder, who had won at the Racewall when he drove a formula II, going through to win from Harris and Will Hunter. Stuart Smith Jnr recorded a comfortable win in the consolation race where he was ahead of Shevill Jnr and Michael Steward.

After a parade lap the grid for the Fife Engine Services sponsored Scottish Championship, which was also doubling up as a World Championship qualifying round, was formed.

The atmosphere was electric when the formula I drivers lined up for their final with the cars sitting there awaiting the famous racing command “gentlemen start your engine.” As soon as the command was given the stadium was filled with a crescendo of sound as the chevy engines burst into life! Once all the formalities had been completed the cars trundled off on their warm up lap.

As soon as the green flag dropped then the action started with Speak sending Danny Wainman wide towards the turnstile bend wall but in doing so got his car sideways and when contact was made, spun in a cloud of tyre smoke, restarting at the rear of the grid.

Jack France was the initial leader but in some early action Smith Jnr retired with a puncture and broken suspension and also sidelined were Newson and Ollie Ives after a brush with the wall and suspending the race.

On the re-start Shevill Jnr was about to force his way through into the lead when he clouted the wall on a patch of oil which was to cause havoc. Shevill Jnr slowed to retire, Ford hit the wall and he had to retire almost right behind Shevill’s car.

Speak got a help going into the pit bend and crashed heavily whilst Wainman Jnr was another to retire. Once the track was clear Steward led the cars away from Paul Harrison with Harris now third although within a couple of laps their positions changed. Harris began to reel in the leader and with six to run took over the lead.

Once there he eased away to record a successful defence of his title leading home Sworder who got ahead of Steward with only a handful of laps remaining. Amid scenes of joy Harris received his trophy before setting off on his lap of honour.

Shevill Jnr then rounded off an exciting meeting by winning the Grand National from Sworder and Lee Fairhurst with Harris in fourth place.

Amongst the formula II drivers in action were visitors Chevy Mills, Aaron Vaight, Mark Dews and Kyle Taylor whilst local interest centered around Paul and Craig Reid (Cowdenbeath), Simon Cranson (Cowdenbeath) and Gordon Moodie (Windygates).

P. Reid won the opening heat from Dennis Middler and Moodie. Moodie then won the second heat but was lying in second on the last lap until the leader Daniel Scrimgeour spun which allowed Moodie through to win from Jason Blacklock and Mark Dews and P. Reid in tenth place.

Holly Glen led the cars away when the final started but early on Robbie Dawson was forced wide and bounced along the wall before regaining the racing line. Craig Reid was ahead a couple of laps later but soon lost out as his brother Paul hit the front. Chris Burgoyne lost time which allowed Moodie to slip ahead. It didn’t take Moodie long to hit the front and once he did he eased away for an easy win over Burgoyne and Dews with P. Reid fifth.

Burgoyne then went through to win the Grand National from Dawson and Moodie.

There was another healthy field of saloons and as usual the drivers were in good form. The local drivers were Derek Duff (Cupar) and Dave Sturrock (Saline) although the latter struck problems and had to retire

The opening heat went to Luke Grief who was clear of Willie Mitchell and Duff. In heat two Graeme Shevill grabbed the win from Ross Graham and Grief with Duff in tenth place.

The final was fast with the white graders fighting over the lead early on but once Glen Heeps cleared them he pulled away. However, when Duff was sent bouncing off the wall on the main straight he was hit by Heeps who careered out of the race. This handed the race to Grief who was running clear of Graham and Shevill with Duff retiring.

The BriSCA National minis turned up in their numbers and produced some fast and exciting racing. Finn Sargent went on to win the opening heat from Ben Chalkley and

Jackson Whitehead.

In heat two it was again Sargent who claimed the honours this time he was ahead of Chalkley and Charlie Guinchard. In heat three it was Guinchard who took the win from Liam Gilbank and Harley Burns.

The final ended with Guinchard picking up his second win of the night from Burns and Tyrone Evans.

The stoxkarts had to contend with a wet track then a dry track within minutes of their races but they still coped with the conditions.

Their first heat saw Matthew Fenton go through to win from James Faultless and Rich Howarth. In heat two it was Andrew Duddy who won from Alaster Houghton and Danny Nunn. The third heat was won by Houghton who was clear of D. Nunn and Sara Royall. Heat four saw Kelvin Limb take the honours from Carl Nunn and Howarth

The final was for their Scottish Championship and ended with Limb going through to win from C. Nunn and Fenton.

The Racewall is going to be silent for three weeks with the next meeting being on the July 23. In between there are championship races down at Skegness and Northampton.

On Sunday at Barford Raceway in the North of England Gordon Moodie was again in dominant form taking his formula II car to a win in both heats. It was very wet when the final was run but despite that he was soon making up ground before going on to make it a hat trick of wins.

Despite having to concede a lap in the Grand national Moodie ended up in second place netting a 48 points scoring outing.