HRP Lochgelly Raceway opened its doors for what was arguably the biggest fixture in the Scottish stock car racing calendar. The high speed action from the Dechmont Forklift Trucks Speed Weekend featured the National Hot Rod European Championship and the Superstox British Championship with both the 1300 Stock Cars and 2.0 Hot Rods in support.

By early Saturday afternoon the pits were at bursting point as the drivers, teams and fans gathered to watch some of the top names in short oval motorsport at their local track.

A record crowd for HRP Lochgelly Raceway made their way to the track by the start of the meeting and a grand parade allowed fans the opportunity to welcome all drivers before the action got underway.

First on track were the National Hot Rods and an entry of 24 cars including drivers from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Germany. It fast and furious in the first heat and West Lothian’s Robert McDonald took victory from Northern Ireland’s Derek Martin and England’s Jason Kew.

The second heat went the way of Ireland’s David Casey with Northern Ireland’s Adam Hylands claiming second and Ireland’s Shane Murphy third.

The final heat was won by England’s Kym Weaver with Northern Irish duo Andrew Murray and Stuart Doak rounding out the podium places. The grid for the Dechmont Forklift Trucks European Championship saw Hylands on pole with Casey on his outside and McDonald on the inside of the second row alongside Murphy.

The race got underway with the drivers charging into the corners and displaying incredible speed and car control as they diced for position. McDonald managed to squeeze ahead of Casey and began the task of overhauling the lead Hylands had built up.

McDonald was soon on Hylands’ rear bumper and got his nose to the inside of the 54 machine before dropping back.

Hylands, in only his third meeting, crossed the line to take the title of Dechmont Forklift Trucks European Champion 2015 to add to the 2.0 Hot Rod European he won at the same venue the year before. A fantastic drive from Murray saw him take second while Doak was third.

In the Superstox, Englishman Dale Fewings started from pole position with Northern Irishman Kyle Beattie on his outside.

With 32 cars on the track, it was not long before the bumpers came into use and several cars dispatched to the fence, resulting in a caution period and a number of damaged cars!

The race got back underway and World Champion Steven Jackson from Norfolk was in no mood to lose the big race as he took the lead.

Scotland’s Barry Stephen ended Chris Bradbury’s challenge as he battered the back bumper of the 886 machine which saw Bradbury hit the fence with huge force.

A lengthy caution period followed as staff tended to the driver, who suffered no major injuries. At the resumption, Jackson managed to fend off the challenge of Stephen to open up a healthy lead which he would not relinquish.

He added the title of 2015 Dechmont Forklift Trucks British Champion to his incredible list of achievements.

Stephen was second while English National Points Champion Jason Cooper took third. Two heats for the Superstox followed and both featured in excess of 30 cars.

Jackson made his way from the rear of the grid in heat one to claim his second victory of the day while Jason Cooper claimed the win in the second heat.

The 2.0 Hot Rods saw a huge entry of 25 cars despite there being no championship up for grabs. Scotland’s William Hill took a fine win in heat one before Francis Rafferty claimed the trophy for heat two for Northern Ireland. The feature final was a fast-paced race which saw a resurgent Kenny Purdie take victory ahead of compatriots Graeme Callander and Gill Anderson.

The amazing 1300 Stock Cars were also in action and Kai McNulty claimed his first victory of 2015 in heat one before Fife’s own Kevin Baird took the spoils in heat two. The final was hard-hitting from the start and Zak Gilmour managed to carve his way from the rear of the 30-plus car grid to claim victory with Eddie Corr and Craig Haxton claiming the other podium spots.

On Sunday, it was the National Hot Rods competing for the Scottish Open Championship and Malcolm Chesher Memorial Trophy. British and National Champion Glenn Bell claimed victory in heat one while newly-crowned European Champion Adam Hylands took the chequered flag in heat two. Bell’s sixth place finish in that race guaranteed him pole position and he made a great start to the Scottish Open final.

Robert McDonald was defending the title and as the laps wound down, he was right on Bell’s bumper but was unable to get past.

Bell claimed the title of Scottish Open Champion 2015 as well as the Malcom Chesher Memorial Shield.

Stuart Doak claimed another third place.

The Superstox were also competing for their Scottish Open title and after taking second in the British Chamionship, Barry Stephen was determined not to let this title slip from his grasp.

The Elgin pilot discpatched Jason Cooper and battled hard to stay ahead of Scotland’s David Frame before a late caution saw Frame eliminated just as the yellow flags came out.

Cooper’s challenge also evaporated quickly and while Ben Marjoram made progress, he could not deny Stephen his first title in Superstox. Chris Roots of England was third.

Norfolk’s lady racer Sarah Cooper took an excellent win in heat one while Scotland’s Iain Bruce claimed his first win of 2015 in the last race of the day.

The 2.0 Hot Rods were competing for the GA Autos trophy and it was Northern Ireland’s Mark Madill who took the win in heat one from World Champion Shane Murray and European Champion Adam Hylands. Another Northern Irish driver, Derek McMillan, took the spoils in heat two ahead of Kenny Purdie and Francis Rafferty. The GA Autos Trophy Final saw Kerr Paterson re-establish Scottish honour as he took the win from Hylands and Purdie to round off a great weekend of hot rod racing. The 2.0 Hot Rods will contest their World Championship at HRP Lochgelly Raceway on August 15th.

The 1300 Stock Cars saw most of Saturday night’s drivers back in action and they picked up where they left off with some frenetic action. Fife’s Lee Buchan took the win in heat one while Lochgelly’s Andrew Mathieson took the second heat trophy home. The final also stayed in Fife as Callum Barclay stormed to victory ahead of Saturday’s final winner Zak Gilmour and Bobby Gold.

The action returns to HRP Lochgelly Raceway this Friday night with the 1300 Stock Cars, Stock Rods, Ministox and ProStocks all in action from 7pm.