WELL the season is over at the Cowdenbeath Racewall but one of the more successful formulae this year has been the ministox who have excited the fans continuously, writes our Racewall scribe Jim Turner.

For most of the time the top drivers were Steven Burgoyne and Euan Millar and some of the races between then had to be seen to be believed.

They nudged each other to get ahead but new that they were going to get the same treatment within the next lap or so!

Millar reached the age limit in September and whilst he always scored heavily he hadn’t opened up a big enough lead to win all the track points titles.

Millar has since chosen to race formula IIs and he is definitely heading to be one of the stars in that formula next year.

Burgoyne, on the other hand, looks to be the one that they are all going to have to beat in 2017 and there are a few drivers that could step up to the challenge.

The minis also lost Lisa Freebairn during the season and she could well be heading to the 1300 saloons for next year.

However, the season's racing proved to be yet another one of close and fast racing, some surprises and a few hefty shunts and rollovers. The main thing was the driver’s safety and it didn’t seem to matter how hard a scrape they got into they generally came out a bit shaken but alright.

One of the highlights of the season was the inaugural running of the Keir Millar Memorial Trophy, with youngsters from all over Britain on the grid to pay their respects to a talented driver who sadly was taken from us just over a year ago.

A lone piper led the ministox drivers around the track on their parade lap with Keir’s brother Euan at the front of the parade. Once the cars were in their grid positions there was a “meet the driver” session where the fans were able to come onto the track to meet up with the ministox drivers.

The race itself turned into a good one with Ethan Pope leading but when Robyn Bruce was sent wide on the pit bend she tangled with Luke Dorling and a few others resulting with the Dorling car ending up on its side. When the race restarted Pope was under pressure from Dan Santry, Burgoyne and E. Millar and next time around Santry was ahead from Burgoyne and Pope.

The leading group circulated in this order until lap ten when there was another stoppage with Santry again leading the cars away. Over the closing laps Santry eased away slightly from Burgoyne to win with Pope in third and to receive a spectacular trophy in the form of an inscribed racing helmet.

Whilst over the season Burgoyne and Millar were the top drivers they didn’t always get things their own way and there were some really spirited drives from the likes of Bryan Lindsay and Gary Paterson (Saline). Michael Mitchell (Lochgelly) had another good season and despite having to start from the rear of the grid picked up some good results.

Paterson could be the one that gives Burgoyne the sternest challenge this year and whilst Lindsay will give both a run for their money he will be retiring from the minis mid way through the year. Look out for the girls though with T. Borthwick and Teri Linden not afraid to use the bumper to gain a place or two!

Jack and Luke McCallum were others in their first season who have made an impression although at times they tended to get in each others way resulting in at least one of them spinning out.

The ministox drivers were presented with their awards at the ministox disco, at Hill of Beath, by formula II star Chris Burgoyne and whilst all the drivers received a trophy there were a few other awards handed out.

Steven Burgoyne left with a handful of silverware walking away with the Ministox Disco Award, The National Points at Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath plus the track points title at the Racewall.

Ross McWilliam won the Crimond National Points; Euan Millar won the Crimond track points; Robyn Bruce won the Crimond Ladies track points; and The Lochgelly track points went to Sean Naismith.

The other awards went to Gary Paterson - the drivers driver of the year whilst Jack McCallum won the Novice of the Year Trophy. The lower grade driver who showed the most improvement was Ryan Borthwick whilst Mitch Gold (Leven) received the dedicated award. The most improved male driver was Logan Bruce whilst the female award went to Lauren Ford. David Sinclair received the carry on regardless award whilst the entertainer of the year went to Teri Linden.

The microf2 drivers have had another good season with the numbers generally on the increase although Hannah Borthwick will be heading to the minis in 2017.

Without doubt the stand out drivers are Jamie Dawson and Lewis Burgoyne with both grabbing a good haul of wins over the year and generally there wasn’t too much between them. Todd Anderson, in his first year, managed to roll his car but stepped out of the car unhurt and not fazed by the fuss that everyone was making!

Over the last weekend of the season there were 35 microf2s at the track to contest their Scottish Cup with visiting drivers from Northern Ireland and England swelling the ranks. There was plenty of close and exciting racing with quite a few bumps and shunts along the way and on one Todd Anderson bent his front bumper in true formula II style. After a cracking two days racing J. Dawson won the Scottish Cup from Burgoyne and Sam Stewart.

Newcomer Ross McLaughlin soon got stuck in and he is certainly going to be one to watch along with Billie Dawson who grabbed her first win at the last meeting of the year.

The Walkers, Callan and Lewis are getting quicker each time they race whilst Leon Muir (Thornton) is now getting to grips with his new car.

Rebecca Reid (Cowdenbeath) is now back on form after suffering a leg injury and getting good results whilst Jack Ethan Gemmell, another newcomer is growing in confidence each time he races.

Ben McCallum has only had a couple of outings and is getting used to the racing and he will be joined on the grid by Kara Russell and Kyle Rogerson and at least a couple of others when the season begins.

The microf2 driver’s awards went to Most improved driver was Callan Walker and the best newcomer was Ross McLaughlin. Hannah Borthwick received the Parent’s driver of the year and the Drivers’ driver of the year was Lewis Burgoyne. Lewis also received the Disco Award.

* Gordon Moodie (Windygates) was racing his formula Ii down at Skegness where he had already sewn up the track points championship. Moodie brought his car home in second place in the opening heat before going through to win heat two as well as the final.