Drivers, teams and fans gathered at HRP Lochgelly Raceway last Saturday for the latest slice of stock car action.

A five formula, 16 race meeting was scheduled and the green flag dropped 30 minutes late after a delay due to the roadworks on the A92.

The Ninja Karts were back in action for the first time since the LJN Designs European Championship and new champ Declan Honeyman showed off his title with a newly painted aerofoil.

Honeyman would have to wait until the first heat proper to show off his wing as the white and yellow graded drivers took to the track first for their traditional opener.

One driver who has been on form is Ratho Station’s Harry Robertson and he underlined that in the race as he took the chequered flag ahead of Megan Murray and Kelty’s Mirran Adams.

Megan had travelled over from Northern Ireland for what was her penultimate meeting in the formula prior to “retirement” at the ripe old age of 11!

The first heat of the night saw a win for the newly-crowned Honeyman following a post-meeting video review which resulted in the disqualification of original winner Robertson for overtaking cars under the yellow flag.

Adams took an excellent second place with Robbie Armit claiming the final trophy and podium position. Heat two saw Polmont’s Charlie Hardie take another win in what is proving to be a good season for him while Saline’s Jay Paterson announced his return to form with a superb runners-up finish ahead of Armit. The final heat of the evening was as chaotic as ever but it was Robertson who came through the chaos to make up for the disappointment of heat one by taking the last victory of the evening with West Lothian’s Ethan Doull and Alloa’s Honeyman rounding out the other podium spots on another night of action from the tiny terrors.

The Stock Rods were back on track this past Saturday and, sadly, with a number of drivers waiting on the final touches on their cars plus the loss of Brian Keir during practice and the absence of Chris Lattka due to personal reasons; the turnout of cars can only be described as poor. However, it was great to see Cowdenbeath’s Garry Gilfillan back on track in a stunning Vauxhall Nova for his first meeting of the year. The first heat saw a victory for Kelty’s Darren McAlpine as he held off the challenge of both Jonathan Lattka and Siobhan Martin. The second heat was essentially a carbon copy of the first as the top three claimed the same places as they had done in the previous race. The feature final was a fast-paced race where McAlpine, Martin and Lattka diced with each other for position in a great display of controlled driving – it was Jonathan Lattka who came through to be at the head of the pack at the chequered flag with McAlpine taking second and Martin third.

In stark contrast to the Stock Rods, the CC Rods have been in great health in the early part of 2016 with good grids and some great racing. Another good grid of cars arrived to do battle this past Saturday with Kirkcaldy’s Emma Kirk making her first appearance of the year after repossessing her car from partner Kevin Hutchison. The first heat saw a great race won by Methil’s Ian Walle Sr who managed to hold off the challenge of a fast-moving Ian Donaldson who made his way from the rear of the grid for second place with Kelty’s Colin Wotherspoon claiming a fine third place. The second heat saw Lanarkshire’s Donaldson go one better as he took the win ahead of fellow Lanarkshire pilot Derek Campbell with heat one winner Walle’s son, Ian Walle Jr, in third. The feature final saw chaos reign at the start as Wotherspoon’s Fiesta came to rest between turns one and two with front end damage; following the restart a fast-moving Ian Walle Jr came through the pack to take another win home to Methil in a season where he has made a habit of winning at HRP Lochgelly Raceway. Ian was joined on the lap of honour by second place Paul Muir of Stirling and his dad Ian Walle Sr who rounded off an excellent evening personally with a fine third place.

The 2.0 Hot Rods were back on track for their second outing in as many meetings. Lochore’s Billy Bonnar would be competing from red roof following two wins last time out while it was also good to see Kelty’s Kinzie Law back out on track after missing the last meeting. With Andrew Denholm and Iain Bruce still finding their feet from the rear of the grid, the blue grade was at the head of the grid for the start of heat one and it was Dunfermline’s Gerry Hendry who duly took advantage of this to claim another win in 2016 despite the close attentions of Bonnar and Falkirk’s Robbie Burgoyne. Heat Two saw Hendry make another quick getaway but he was eventually overhauled by Bonnar who went on to take a fine win ahead of Burgoyne and Hendry. The feature final was another fast-paced race with some great racing action throughout the grid but it was Hendry who claimed a heat and final winning double to secure a return to red grade for May with Bonnar taking another second place ahead of Falkirk’s Alex Wilson who has started to show some of his 2015 form.

The final formula on show were the HRP 1300 Stock Cars and, as always, they did not disappoint! It was good to see National Points Champion Zak Gilmour back on track in his new Vauxhall Tigra B – a car that, to my knowledge, has never been used in the formula before now. East Wemyss driver Dean McGill took the first win of the night ahead of fellow Fifer Callum Barclay and Johnstone’s Kevin Morrison. The second heat saw another Fife win as Stevie Gold took an excellent win ahead of a fast-moving Fraser Clark and Anstruther’s Paul Beaton. The 1300 Stock Cars have been in great form in 2016 and the night’s chaos continued into the last race of the night as the feature final saw the bumpers flying in at every opportunity but it was Falkirk’s Fraser Clark in only the third meeting for his new GRP Vauxhall Corsa, that took a tremendous win ahead of Bonnyrigg’s Kai McNulty who was displaying some of his 2015 pace that got him to superstar and Beaton to round off a great night of action in the 1300 Stock Cars.

Sixteen races and all concluded in around three and a half hours; this Saturday sees more of the same as HRP continues to deliver great value for money. This Saturday April 30th sees the incredible Superstox return to HRP Lochgelly Raceway with the Stock Rods, CC Rods, ProStocks and Ninja Karts completing a five formula, sixteen race programme with the action scheduled to get underway at 6pm.