AFTER a brief shower threatened to literally put a dampener on things; the weather cleared as drivers, teams and fans gathered in huge numbers for the final HRP Speed Weekend of 2016 at HRP Lochgelly Raceway.

The highlights of the weekend were the Stock Rods Best in Britain Championship and the 2016 National Micro Banger World Cup.

A colossal entry of Micro Bangers saw approximately 120 cars arrive to do battle with drivers and Banger teams from all over the UK represented. With some of the drivers secure in the knowledge that they had already qualified for the main event; the first two races of the weekend for the Micro Bangers would determine the final sixteen drivers that would join them.

The first race fielded around thirty cars and it was one of England’s top Banger stars who came through to take the win as Jack Reynolds claimed victory in his maiden race at HRP Lochgelly Raceway. The second last-chance race saw a familiar face in an unfamiliar car as former Superstox World Champion Colin Aylward secured his place in the big race as he took the win.

The World Cup race was up next and featured over sixty cars and these would be started in three-abreast formation. The grid made for a spectacular sight around the tight confines of HRP Lochgelly Raceway and the expected chaos ensued as soon as the green flag fell with cars going in all directions!!!

It must have been a nightmare for the lap-scorers to keep up with the action as the drivers got well and truly stuck in with the local Coalpower Team amid it all. Following stoppages to rescue stricken drivers, the race settled into a pattern and it was the highly experienced Steve ‘Cecil’Anscombe who used all of his craft to get to the front of the pack in time to claim the chequered flag and add the 2016 Micro Banger World Cup to his incredible racing CV. Fellow Englishmen Dougie George and Terry Boxell took the other podium positions with George making the long trip from Monte Carlo of all places very worthwhile – a fantastic effort!!!

With time marching on, a format change saw one all-comers race scheduled to enable all drivers to have one more chance to race on day one of the weekend and a colossal entry of around EIGHTY cars were on track for the three-abreast start. In a similar pattern to the World Cup race, Anscombe survived the early chaos to get into a lead that he would not relinquish as he held on to take his second win of the night.

The second day of the weekend saw unseasonably warm and sunny weather greet the sixty-plus drivers who had managed to keep their cars in racing condition from the night before who gathered to contest the 2016 Micro Banger Open Scottish Championship. Having lost his World Cup crown the previous evening; Speedway star Ed Kennett took some consolation as he survived numerous challenges as he took the spoils to claim the title of Open Scottish Champion for 2016 ahead of BriSCA F2 British and European Champion Chris Burgoyne and Pete Osborne.

The Stock Rods have had a season of ups and downs in Scotland this year but have been in great form of late with increasing car numbers with more on their way and a phenomenal 37 cars gathered to do battle for the final major title of 2016 as the Best in Britain Championship would be decided this past weekend at HRP Lochgelly Raceway. The local fans were pinning most of their hopes on National Points Champion Siobhan Martin, Scottish Champion Chris Lattka and an on-form Jonathan Lattka.

With so many cars in the pits; the field was split into three groups with each driver racing twice in three qualifying heats that would determine the Best in Britain starting grid.

The first of these was won by young English superstar Jack Grandon ahead of O’Dell and McMillan. Former multi-champion Gary Butler claimed the win in heat two for Northern Ireland ahead of England’s John Smith and Scotland’s John Venters while the third heat saw another English victory in the shape of Eric Walker.

Jonathan Lattka’s consistency saw him claim pole position for the big race ahead of McAllister with Grandon and Scottish National Points Champion Siobhan Martin making up the second row. As the green flag dropped, Lattka surged into the lead as a brilliant race ensued behind him with the drivers putting on an exhibition of non-contact racing with no quarter asked and none given.

As the 25 laps wound down, Lattka maintained a reasonable lead to take the chequered flag and secure the title of Best in Britain 2016 ahead of McAllister and Martin in a Scottish 1,2,3.

The 1300 Stock cars were on hand over the two days and their biggest race of the weekend was actually the very first of the Saturday evening as they contested the Bill Auld Fabrications Trophy Final. The local ranks were swelled by the return of some drivers including Fife trio Dean, Lee and Ryan McGill while English trio Fred Walker, Tommy Aylward and multi-champion Adam O’Dell also arrived to join the fray.

O’Dell used all of his experience and pedigree around the HRP tarmac to come through the chaos to secure the win ahead of Craig Haxton and Tommy Aylward with Scottish Champion Callum Barclay in fourth as he prepares for the defence of that title on October 15. East Wemyss’ Dean McGill took his borrowed car to victory lane in heat one of the evening while the second and final heat of the night saw O’Dell return to victory lane at a track that has been very good to him over the last few years.

Sunday saw the 1300s back in domestic action with most of the same drivers from night before still on track plus the debut of East Calder rookie James Ellis who had purchased the ex-Lee Buchan car. It was the stuff of dreams for Ellis in heat one as he managed to keep his head to scorch away to an excellent win ahead of Lee and Dean McGill.

Ellis looked quick again in heat two but a tyre issue meant he had to settle for second as fellow West Lothian driver Derek Slater maintained his recent form with a fine win. The feature final saw Ellis and Slater make most of the running as the McGills and Mathiesons got involved with each other as they had done throughout the day and it was Ellis who completed a dream debut by taking the feature final win ahead of Ryan McGill and Slater.

The Superstox were also in action and the track conditions were perfect for some fast open-wheel action. David Frame continued his recent purple patch in heat one as he took yet another win ahead of the Scottish Champion Bryan Forrest who had returned from holiday only hours before the event. David’s brother Colin made another welcome appearance this past Sunday and was rewarded with an excellent win in heat two ahead of an on-form Chris Miller. The feature final was yet another fast race with the bumpers used to full effect and it was David Frame who came through the field to claim a heat and final winning double ahead of Forrest and Miller to conclude another good day of Superstox action.

The Superstox top the bill this coming Saturday at HRP Lochgelly Raceway on October 8th with the 2.0 Hot Rods, ProStocks and Ninja Karts completing the four formula line-up with the action getting underway at 6pm.