THE second of the practice sessions at the Cowdenbeath Racewall attracted a big field of cars, almost 80, and this time the drivers were able to test their cars on a dry track surface. Mind you it was cold but it stayed dry, writes our Racewall reporter Jim Turner.

There were a few new faces at the track with Peter Watt (Kirriemuir) coming out in a formula II, Ian Sutherland (Stirling) and Stewart MacDonald (Stirling) in saloons, Nicole Russell (Longridge) in a prostock basic whilst Lyla Lovett (Aberdeen), Lennon Cuthill (Glenrothes), Owen Marshall (Blackridge), Bobbie Brandon (Falkirk), Nicole Allardyce (Anstruther) and Ben McLellan (Ratho) were out in the microf2s,

Cameron McGowan (Tullibody) was back in action with a prostock whilst Michael Bethune (Kirkcaldy) was back out with his ORCi stock rod, but his practice was curtailed when an engine didn’t want to play! Out practicing in his stock rod was Chris Lattka (Carronshore) and he soon showed that he hadn’t lost any of his Racewall knowledge and was soon knocking out some very quick laps.

The track points and British Champion Craig Wallace (Tranent) was having his first practice of the season and he was soon lapping very quickly and then spent the remainder of the meeting on racing set up.

Ryan Walker (Dunfermline) was out in Gregor Turner’s car and he spent most of the time on racing set up although he did have two runs with the new control tyre in place. It was quite noticeable that there was quite a squeal coming from the tyre so there is certainly going to be a different “noise” from the formula II cars!

Emma Mellis (Gorebridge) was going well in her car whilst Brian Hogg Jnr (Arbroath) was getting to grips with his. Pete Davidson (Perth) looks to have got his car running strongly whilst Josh Walton (Newcastle) was back up from the north of England for another practice session. He was certainly going quicker with each session he took part in.

Wallace will be hoping to get his season off to a flyer as he looks to defend his track points title. However, to defend his British title Wallace will need to head down to the shale at Mildenhall, a surface that he doesn’t have much experience on.

The World Championship this year is at Bristol, where he won his British title, and we can expect to see him and a host of other Scottish drivers on the grid,

The 2 litre National saloon drivers again turned up in good numbers with newcomers Stewart MacDonald and Ian Sutherland making their debuts. Both have very nicely turned out cars and had reasonably pleasing sessions, although MacDonald’s was cut short with a mechanical problem.

With Jason Secker (Denny) running into problems as he tried to get his car ready and with at least another two drivers to come, it looks as if we could be in for a cracking year in the saloons.

Holly Glen (Inchture) was another to run into problems with her engine over-heating towards the end of the meeting.

Greg Honeyman (Larbert) posted the quickest time but he was only marginally ahead of Eck Cunningham (Leven) and Barry Glen (Dundee). Robin Copland (Dunbar) had a good session whilst Barry Russell (Brechin) and Marc Honeyman (Larbert) were not that far off the pace.

Chris Carey (Edinburgh) lost out on a session after he bounced his car off the wall but Ross Forrest (Livingston) and Neil Linden (Crimond) had good outings.

The saloon World Final is on shale this year, at King’s Lynn, and whilst it is a surface that the Scottish drivers don’t race on too often there may well be a good turn out of drivers at that meeting and maybe a surprise or two. Look for the Dutch drivers making an impression in the saloons with quite a lot of cars heading across the water to their new owners.

The ORCi stock rod drivers were in good form although Bethune will be busy in his workshop during the week replacing the engine in his car. Lattka was quick but so too were James Gray (Bo’ness) and Martin Rankine (Bathgate). Kevin Forrester (Livingston) had a promising session but Paul Prentice (Selkirk) struggled with a misfire eventually getting it cleared almost at the end of the meeting.

In the 1300 saloons Grant McGowan (Grangemouth) and James Ellis (Cowdenbeath) were the quickest drivers but there was a good session from Aaron Hastie (Ceres) which bodes well for the season ahead.

“Fabby” Stu McCaig (Edinburgh), Lee Wilson (Comrie) and Gordon Myers (Dunfermline) had a good session but Michael Moyes (Cowdenbeath) loaded up early after running into a mechanical problem.

Without doubt the two promising drivers newcomers in the minis were Lewis Clark Burgoyne (Airth) and Jamie Dawson (Balmedie) although neither will be racing over the first two months due to the age limit.

Fastest and one of the favourites to win the track points championship was Taylor Borthwick (Armadale) but she was only marginally quicker than Burgoyne. Declan Honeyman (South Alloa) is going to pick up a lot of wins this season, it’s only his second, and he is certainly a hot prospect. Jay Paterson (Saline) had another promising outing, only the second time in the car, but he ended up as the seventh fastest of the ministox drivers.

Scott Allardyce (Anstruther) had a solid practice session and should be moving up the grades along with Barry Scott (Lenzie) and Brandon Morton (Falkirk).

The minis were in good form over the past season and whilst some of the drivers have or about to leave due to age, with the influx of new faces it promises to be another action packed season from the youngsters.

There were only three prostock basic drivers at the track including newcomer Russell. All looked to be good prospects although Harry Adams (Livingston) had his a session cut short when his car bounced hard off the wall and he needed assistance out of his.

It was good to see Camie McGowan back racing in a prostock which was won in a raffle! McGowan hasn’t raced for a few years but was soon showing that he knew his way around the Racewall.

Paul Barron (Cowdenbeath) clocked the fastest time but wasn’t that far ahead of John Mason (Edinburgh).

The microf2 drivers again turned up in their numbers with Jamie Dawson also having a run in his car. Ross McLaughlin (Bridge of Earn), Dawson, Dean Heeps (Falkirk) and Kyle Rogerson (Drem) were amongst the fastest but with Charlie Burgoyne (Airth), David Philp Jnr (East Calder) and Rhys Anderson (Brechin) just a shade slower, it is going to be an exciting year.

Conor St Aubyn (Glenrothes) has changed his paint scheme and wasn’t hanging about whilst Kara Russell (Kirriemuir) and Ben McLellan had a shunt, both were soon back racing. Nicole Allardyce (Anstruther), Bobbie Brandon and Lennon Cuthill and Lyla Lovett had good first outings and were left with big smiles on their faces.

This Sunday sees the last of the practice sessions with the microf2s running between 12 and 1.00pm whilst after that it is an open session finishing at 4.00pm.