THE stock car season got underway at the Cowdenbeath Racewall last Satruday slightly later than usual after the visit of the Glasgow Rangers football team, however, once the ground was cleared the stock car organisation took over and the cars began to roll in.

Some of the drivers were delayed in getting to the track due to the road works but they all made it, just!

The one surprising fact was that despite the predicted weather forecast, it didn’t rain, although it was windy whilst the sky was black and heavy.

Newcomer Scott Mitchell was introduced to the wall in no uncertain fashion when he clashed with Ryan Muirhead, but just as they slid to the wall they were collected by Willie Mitchell with Scott requiring assistance to get out of his car.

The saloon drivers topped the bill and amongst those in action was newcomer Scott Mitchell whilst Chrissy Dearn had swapped his lightning rod for a saloon. Ian McLaughlin returned with his new car after missing last year. Local drivers were Ross Watters (Leven) and Alex Cunningham (Leven).

The opening heat saw Stuart Shevill Jnr go through to win from Watters and Willie Mitchell, but for much of the race Cunningham had been in the top three only to be sent spinning. However, he restarted and ended up in tenth place.

When heat two started S. Mitchell was the first to show but when he crashed heavily the race was suspended and restarted once he was out of the car. On the restart Muirhead led but within a few laps Alex Cunningham was ahead, although he had Dearn in close order. G. Shevill was edged wide bounced off a marker tyre sending the water that had been trapped in it showering into the air. Shevill Jnr was making up ground, dived inside Barry Russell before going on to win from Russell and Cunningham, with Watters finishing in fifth place.

When the final started Muirhead led the field away but was being chased by Cunningham and Dearn. On lap three Cunningham was the new leader but Dearn was glued to his back bumper although Russell was edging closer. G. Shevill was running strongly and began to close on the leaders whilst Russell slowed as his car misfired. G. Shevill made short work of the leading cars and when he hit the front pulled away quickly before picking up his first win of the season. S. Shevill Jnr snatched second from Cunningham during the closing stages from a very sprightly yellow grader with Watters again ending up in fifth place.

Amongst the stock rods in action was newcomer Cameron Doak whilst there were new cars from Derek Conner, John McAllister and Steven Alexander. Chris Chance was another on the grid having travelled from Tyne and Wear.

Local drivers were Michael Bethune (Kirkcaldy), James Matson (Glenrothes), David Dignan (Leven) and Steven Archibald (Leslie). However, both Dignan and Archibald were to encounter problems and didn’t figure in the results.

The opening heat saw newcomer Doak lead the field away but soon he had Craig Millar closing. Once the lead had changed hands Millar drove away to record an easy win over Doak with Bethune in third and Matson sixth.

Not long after heat two had started Chance’s car stopped on the back straight suspending the race.

Doak led on the restart but was caught as Millar and Matson overtook. There then followed an intriguing dice between this duo for the lead and whilst Millar held on until the closing stages, Matson slipped through. Whilst he crossed the line first he was penalised and dropped to third as Conner was declared the winner from Doak and Matson, but Bethune had to retire after clipping the wall.

When the final started Doak went straight into the lead with Millar running ahead of Chic Davidson whilst Matson was leading the blue graders chase. Millar began to reel in Doak whilst Matson was third just ahead of Bethune, whilst just behind Conner was ahead of McAllister and Alexander. However, there was a tangle on the top bend which left McAllister and Alexander against the wall with the cars slowing to line up behind Doak. On the restart Doak made a good start and pulled out a couple of car lengths over Millar but within a couple of laps there were seven cars in contention. However, try as he might Millar just couldn’t find the line to get ahead and it was a delighted Doak who ended up winning the Jane Burt Memorial trophy from Millar and Bethune but this time it was Matson who retired.

Amongst the prostox in action were local drivers Steve Gold (Cowdenbeath), Kev Aitken (Cowdenbeath), Callum McIvor (Inverkeithing), Raymond Brown (Kelty) and Ricky White (Thornton) whilst Conor McElmeel from Northern Ireland was a welcome visitor.

McIvor led the opening heat from start to finish to record a comfortable win over Brown, Scott Ramsay and White. In heat two McIvor repeated the feat this time winning from Tam Melrose and Ally McDonald.

After his double heat win McIvor was upgraded to a yellow grader but when the final started he was the first to show although McElmeel was in second and closing. During the closing stages McElmeel moved ahead but then McIvor was sent wide hit the wall and retired whilst next time around McElmeel hit the oil slick, hit the wall and veered across the track and out of the race. This left Tam Melrose in the lead and he just held on to win from White and McDonald.

The 1300cc saloons made their debut with the local drivers being Dale Burt (Lochgelly) and Aaron Hastie (Ceres). Graham Swan won the opening heat from Brian Allan and Burt. Swan then won heat two from Burt and Allan.

Allan was soon on the sidelines when the final started with Burt fending off a late challenge from Swan to win with Hastie third.

The micro F2s were in good form with Charlie Auchterlonie (Auchtermuchty) dominating the heats winning both easily.

However, the final saw Hannah Borthwick make a good start to lead but all the while Auchterlonie was reeling her in. With two laps to win Auchterlonie took the lead going on to win from Borthwick and Jamie Dawson.

This Saturday the formula II drivers have their first outing at the Racewall this season and they are joined on the grid by the 2 litre saloons, lightning rods and minis. The minis are racing for the “Let the Sparks Fly Trophy so look out for fireworks.

There is another football match on and whilst the promotion are aiming for a 6pm start there might be a slight delay.