IT was a night for hat tricks at the Cowdenbeath Racewall stock car meeting where the fans were treated to some exciting racing with plenty of thrills and spills.

Amongst those who suffered the spills was local formula II driver Paul Reid who tangled bumpers with Dennis Middler on the turnstile bend resulting in the Reid car inverting. Luckily the cars behind were able to miss his stranded car.

Newcomer Mika Millar was involved in a hefty shunt in his mini where he ended up being hit hard by another newcomer Keir Millar – no relation – after another two cars had tangled.

However, it was a night for hat tricks with Chris Burgoyne, Stuart Shevill Jnr and Euan Millar dominating their respective formulas whilst Gordon Brown lost his chance of a hat trick when he clipped the wall with his lightning rod and had to retire.

The BriSCA formula II drivers were back in town with the World Champion, George MacMillan Jnr, leading the challenge whilst David Polley, Martin Ford and Mark Dews were the visitors from down south. Colin Thomson was having his first race since outgrowing the minis, Peter Henderson his first since switching from the stock rods, whilst Paul Munro and Jason McDonald were down from Crimond. The local drivers on the grid were Gregor Turner (Dunfermline) and Paul Reid (Cowdenbeath).

Prior to the start of the meeting there was a minute’s applause in memory of formula II driver, Steve Green Jnr, who sadly passed away after an illness.

The opening heat saw Dews spin right at the start and then a couple of laps later Middler was clipped and spun on the back straight, suspending the race. Reid was another who retired with an electrical fault.

Thomson led on the restart but within a few laps Gregor Turner was ahead of Ford but making up ground quickly was Chris Burgoyne and with only a handful of laps remaining took the lead. Burgoyne went on to win but whilst Turner crossed the line in second, he was penalised and dropped to fourth whilst Liam Rennie who was third, suffered the same fate! Robbie Dawson who was fourth home was elevated to second with Craig Wallace in third place.

Pete Davidson and Liam Rennie loaded up after encountering mechanical troubles whilst MacMillan Jnr blew an engine head gasket and quickly installed the one that Polley had used in heat one.

Heat two saw Thomson again lead only to be caught and overtaken by Turner. During the closing stages of the race Turner encountered problems and dropped down the order as Burgoyne went on for his second win of the night over Wallace and Dawson with Turner down in ninth place.

The start to the final was eventful with Reid rolling after getting hooked up with Middler. On the restart Brian Hogg Jnr led as Thomson spun but within a couple of laps Turner was through into the lead but had Ford in close order. Burgoyne made short work of the red grade drivers as he set off after the leading cars. Turner was still ahead at the half distance but Ford was in close order whilst Burgoyne was within striking distance. Turner slowed and in a flash Burgoyne was through into the lead going on to make it a hat trick of wins with Wallace in second and MacMillan Jnr third with Turner again dropping back to ninth place.

The Grand National ended with Wallace going through to win from MacMillan Jnr and Garry Sime with Burgoyne fourth after having started from a lap handicap.

Ross Graham had taken out a day licence and was having a run in Stuart Shevill Jnr’s spare car. Ross Watters brought out his new saloon and whilst it was quick he suffered a few minor teething troubles. Chris Carey was at the track minus his car – after blowing the engine whilst loading it onto the trailer. Local drivers were Alex Cunningham (Leven) and Ross Watters (Leven).

Addison Weir led the cars away when the green flag dropped for the opening heat but soon Alex Cunningham and Scott Mitchell caught him to move ahead. Barry Russell took the lead around half distance but was sent wide during the closing stages as Stuart Shevill Jnr went through to win from Graeme Shevill with Russell in third.

Heat two was again led off by Weir and whilst S. Mitchell did lead for a couple of laps he was moved over as Russell took over at the front of the pack. However, once S. Shevill Jnr moved into second the gap to Russell closed quickly with the lead changing hands with a couple of laps remaining before going on to win from G. Shevill and I. McLaughlin with Watters in eighth spot.

Weir led the cars away when the final started but then quickly lost out to Cunningham. However, he lost the lead to Russell a couple of laps later but making up ground quickly were the Shevill brothers with Stuart forcing his way ahead of Graeme. However, the latter’s car shed a wheel bringing the race into suspension. S. Shevill Jnr led the field away with Cunningham in second and holding on from Wright.

Having their first run at the Racewall in the minis were Mika Millar and Keir Millar with their opening race being the Let the Sparks Fly Trophy. The only local driver in action wass John Crawford (Cowdenbeath).

K. Millar led the cars away with Crawford soon closing up but it took him a few laps to get into the lead. However, there was no stopping Euan Millar who drove around them into the lead but when cars got involved in a shunt on the top bend involving K. and M. Millar and suspending the race. On the restart E. Millar made a break winning from Steven Burgoyne and Crawford.

Charlie Folan led for a good part of heat one but was sent wide on the last lap as E. Millar went on to win although Folan was in close order as they crossed the finish line with Burgoyne third.

Heat two was just as hectic as the first with Burgoyne going into the lead but once there found E. Millar closing him down. Again with only a couple of laps remaining E. Millar moved ahead and on to a hat trick of wins from Burgoyne, Folan and Crawford.

Chrissy Dearn Jnr brought out his father’s car to help set it up in the lightning rods but it was Gordon Brown (Leven) who went on to win both heats.

Brown was ahead when the final started but drifted wide clipped the wall and had to retire allowing Alex Rogan through to win.

This Saturday the saloons top the bill and are joined in the fray with the 1300cc saloons, prostox, 2 litre bangers and the micro F2s. The meeting gets underway at 6pm as usual.