THE sun was out last Sunday at HRP Lochgelly Raceway and, judging by the size of the crowd and the throng of people in the pits, so was everyone else!, writes Les Waller.

A tremendous five formula line-up was the order of the day, and what a day it turned out to be.

The first formula on track was the Ninja Karts, as the tiny terrors returned for their second meeting in seven days. An incredible TWENTY-FIVE karts took to the track for heat one and what an amazing sight they were.

Last week’s dominant driver picked up where he left off as Mitchell Gold took two fine heat wins but it was the final that had those on the terraces talking; as the laps ticked off towards the chequered flag, a tremendous battle ensued between Gold and one of 2013’s top drivers, Keir Millar.

The crowd were thrilled as these two great little pilots sliced and diced their way through the field and it boiled down to the two young men with Millar edging out Gold by only a few metres – amazing stuff from the youngsters with another on-form driver, Taylor Borthwick, coming home in third.

The CC Rods were back in action and, following his dominant performance last time out, the question was could anyone stop Lochgelly’s own Johnny Bell?

The answer was an emphatic ‘no’ in the first heat as Bell made it four wins from four races to start off the season but he had to settle for second in heat two as Craig Mason took that trophy home to Dunfermline.

Bell made amends in the final by taking another fine win with Mason surely delighted with a win and two second place finishes on the day.

The CC Rods put on some great action this past Sunday and numbers seem set to grow for Hardie Race Promotions’ own low budget non-contact class.

The Superstox were back on track and, while slightly lower on numbers than hoped, put on a good display. National Points and Scottish Champion, Stuart Gilchrist, picked up where he left off last time as he took the first two wins of the day but a broken half-shaft robbed the Carnwath driver of the chance for a hat-trick.

What followed Gilchrist’s demise, however, was a great battle between the first meeting’s star man Chris Miller, and young Mark Brady, as they fought over the bragging rights with young Brady taking a great win to get his 2014 campaign off and running.

The 2.0 Hot Rods were back at HRP Lochgelly Raceway having had a rather controversial last outing when some drivers apparently forgot that the formula is a non-contact class! HRP had held a meeting with drivers and it certainly seemed to have an effect as the drivers put on a simply fantastic display of close non-contact racing.

Former National Hot Rod pilot, Graeme Callander, brought his Saxo home in first place in heat one but the rest of the day belonged to former Stock Rod multi-champion, Kerr Paterson, from Dundee, who skilfully piloted his way to victory in heat two and the final – the final being particularly of note as he rapidly reeled in long-time leader Callander in the closing stages.

Two wins on the same day sees Paterson elevated to red grade for the next meeting for the hot rods but this is unlikely to deter one of the stars of the formula.

The final formula on show was the National Saloon Stock Cars who were making their first of four appearances at HRP Lochgelly Raceway during 2014. The grid was boosted by some long distance visitors in the shape of Northern Irish Champion Ryan Wright, as well as no less than five English drivers in the form of Ryan Santry, Deane Mayes, former World Champion Steven Webster, English Champion Daniel Parker and European Champion Georgie Boult Jnr – a great effort by these drivers and teams to be on the track so far from home.

The HRP Lochgelly Raceway layout seems to have suited the saloons in the past and on Sunday’s evidence that has not changed as bumpers flew in on every corner! Graeme Shevill continued his great start to the 2014 season with victory in heat one and heat two – a great effort by the Carluke driver. Many expected Graeme to go on and complete the hat trick but he was caught out in the early laps and to add, insult to injury, he was then spun by his own brother Stuart! World Champion, Stuart Shevill Jnr, had also been caught out early on and found himself at the end of the line up as the cars restarted after a caution flag.

Stuart Shevill Jnr blitzed his way to the front as the action continued all the way to the chequered flag with Shevill Jnr amazingly crossing the line first! The dream finish for the World Champion was not to be as he was docked to third place for jumping the restart and this elevated Barry Glen to first place with Luke Grief taking a hard-earned second place in his new car which is now starting to perform as Grief would wish. The Saloons really did show their best around the tight confines of HRP Lochgelly Raceway and rounded off a fifteen race programme that was completed in just three and a half hours.

Racing this week takes place on Sunday March 30th and features 1300 Stock Cars, Stock Rods, ProStocks, Ministox and Rookie Bangers. The action gets underway at 2pm, for up to date information on this or any other HRP events; please check out the website: www.hardieracepromotions.