Drivers, teams and fans gathered at HRP Lochgelly Raceway on Saturday for the latest slice of stock car action presented by Hardie Race Promotions.

A five formula, 15-race programme got underway with the Ninja Karts.

The powers that govern the formula had issued a controversial rule during the week which decreed that the direction in which races would be run would be decided by the toss of the coin immediately prior to each race!

The intention is to ensure that kart chassis remain symmetrical as per the rulebook and, while some parents were not amused by the prospect, the vast majority of 6-11 year-old pilots seemed nonplussed by it all.

The first race was the traditional whites and yellows race and this was won by Ratho Station’s Harry Robertson, who has been in great form of late.

Midlothian’s Evie Black and Lochgelly’s own Callum Brown rounded out the podium positions.

The first heat saw a win for West Lothian’s Ethan Doull, who has been a model of consistency this season, with Robertson posting a fine second place and Robbie Armit taking third.

Polmont’s Charlie Hardie took what has become his customary win in heat two with heat one winner Doull in second and Armit taking another excellent third place.

The final heat saw the coin toss produce the first ever clockwise Ninja Kart race in Scotland and the youngsters adapted brilliantly.

It was European champion Declan Honeyman who came from the rear of the grid to take the historic win with Doull and Armit claiming the minor podium places, while all drivers showed maturity and awareness that belied their tender years.

The CC Rods were back on track for their second fixture in as many weeks at Lochgelly and another excellent turnout was enhanced by the return of Arbroath’s Colin Elliot and Kirkcaldy’s Kevin Hutchison.

Having managed to take victory in heat one seven days previously, Methil’s Ian Walle Sr managed to repeat the feat as he fended off the challenge of Bonnyrigg’s Jamie Brown and Lanarkshire’s Ian Donaldson.

The latter has been in consistent form throughout the year and took another fine victory in heat two with David McFarlane from Midlothian and Methil’s Ian Walle Jr rounding out the top three.

The feature final was stopped almost as soon as it began with Methil pilot Michael Byers stranded on the entrance to turn three.

It was Walle Jr who claimed his second final win in a week as he headed Donaldson and Kirkcaldy’s Emma Kirk to round off another great night of CC Rod racing.

With the Stock Rods continuing to struggle for numbers due to drivers readying cars etc; the decision was taken to run two races.

The first of these was won by Chris Lattka while the second was claimed by Jonathan Lattka in the final meeting of the national points season for the formula at Lochgelly.

The ProStocks were back and, once again, numbers increased to mid-teens as the formula continues to grow slowly.

However, it was one of the stars of 2016 who claimed the first win of the night as Thornton’s Ricky White finished ahead of Dalkeith’s Tam Melrose and Stirling’s Jordan Cassie.

Cassie has struggled since switching from a Ford Escort to a Vauxhall Astra in the close-season but he put those struggles behind him in heat two as he took an excellent win.

Melrose again took second second spot and White had to settle for third.

The feature final was another frenetic race but it was White who maintained his status as top points scorer with an excellent win ahead of Melrose, who took a hat-trick of runners-up finishes, and Leslie’s Ryan Harrow.

The final formula on show were the Superstox and they have been in excellent form this season.

Indeed, seven Scottish drivers headed south to race at Northampton last weekend and, with the European Championship just a fortnight away, it was no surprise that one or two drivers elected to have a rest.

That included Stuart Gilchrist who has dominated the race wins so far in 2016.

The drivers got well and truly stuck in from the off although Mark Brady, who took the first race last time out, would have been disappointed as his challenge ended before the race really got going.

Forfar’s Adam Low made most of the running in this race but was overhauled in the latter stages and it was Peebleshire driver Kenny McKenzie who came through the chaos to claim the win, despite several attempts to remove him from eventual second place finisher Bryan Forrest from Musselburgh and Dundee’s Dino Bruce.

The second heat saw Forrest even the score as he managed to take his first win of the evening ahead of McKenzie with Carronshore’s Tony Lattka finishing in third place. The feature final was the last race of an entertaining session and the drivers battled at every turn as they jostled for position.

Following his disappointment in heat one and a lowly eighth in heat two; it was Gartcosh’s Mark Brady who kept his head from the yellow grade to claim an excellent win ahead of fellow yellow grader Steven Ballantine from Larbert and the blue graded Lattka.

This Saturday sees a huge event at HRP Lochgelly Raceway as drivers, teams and fans will gather to remember young Keir Millar, who was tragically taken from us following a racing accident.

The National Micro Bangers, 1300 Stock Cars, Ministox and Ninja Karts will all be in action as HRP pay tribute to a much-missed young man. The action gets underway at 5.30pm.