The Skegness weekend attracts both formula II and saloon drivers from all over Britain and the Continent for two days of high speed action but with meetings on the Thursday prior to and after the weekend’s exertions, it comes as no surprise that quite a few drivers take a two week holiday break, writes Jim Turner.

The main finals take place on Sunday afternoon where the points the drivers accrue during qualifying on Saturday night and Sunday dictate their grid position.

Anyway the Cowdenbeath Racewall based drivers may not have won too many races but on Sunday Gordon Moodie (Windygates) won the formula II UK Challenge and Luke Grief (Stenhousemuir) the saloon UK Challenge trophies.

On the Thursday prior to the weekend Chris Burgoyne (Airth) debuted his new chassis whilst the newly crowned European Champion Adam Rubery (Newton Abbot) was having his second outing since winning the title.

In heat one Gordon Moodie (Windygates) brought his car home in third spot and then in fourth place in heat two, Justin Fisher (Newton Abbot) won the final with Moodie in third place. The Grand National ended with Moodie picking up his first win of the weekend.

The saloon racing was exciting with plenty of contact, spinning cars although Scott Jamieson (Peterhead) left the stadium with the back end of his car wrecked. Mind you it was fixed back at the caravan site in time for the weekend!

Kyle Hegg (Leslie) was tenth in heat three but Luke Grief (Stenhousemuir) went on to win the final.

On Saturday the formula II drivers included Moodie and Paul Reid (Cowdenbeath) amongst the 90 strong field. However, the English drivers dominated the proceedings winning all the races although Moodie picked up a second and a third in his heats whilst Reid collected a ninth place.

The Gus Woolner Memorial final was fast with local driver James Riggall (Skegness) holding off Moodie’s challenge to win with Fisher in third Although Grief won the opening saloon heat, after that the English drivers took over winning the next four heats.

On Sunday, in the formula IIs the UK Championship was the feature formula II race and after the points were totalled Jak Marshall (Skegness) was on pole with Ben Lockwood (Huddersfield) alongside, whilst Fisher and Moodie shared row 2. Moodie quickly got ahead of the two front row cars and just managed to get in front of Wim Peeters (Holland) early on and led. However, after a shunt the race was suspended allowing the field to close up. On the restart Moodie survived a late challenge from Riggall but then with a dominating drive came through to retain his title crossing the line clear of Kelvyn Marshall (Macclesfield) and Peeters.

On Sunday, whilst Ross Watters (Leven) won the saloon consolation heat it was Grief who won the saloon UK Challenge from Dean Mayes (Diss) and Simon Welton (Norwich).

The Raymond Gunn Trophy went to Welton who finished head of Daniel Parker (Norwich) and Stuart Shevill Jnr (Motherwell).

Moodie has an important date on Sunday 19th July when he heads to Northampton where he hopes to successfully defend his European Championship.

Qualifying for the formula II World Championship qualifying rounds is now down to the nitty gritty with only one round, at Skegness, remaining.

As it stands MacMillan Jnr and Andrew Palmer share front row in semi 1 with Burgoyne on the outside of row 2, Wallace outside row 6, Moodie outside 7, Dennis Middler (Carnoustie) inside row 8, Marc Fortune (Edinburgh) outside row 12 with Foster right behind. Semi-final two has David Polley (Manea) and Rob Speak (Manchester) sharing the front row with Scottish drivers Dawson on the outside of row 11 with Jason McDonald (Turriff) right behind.

For those on the last few rows if they don’t go to Skegness then there will be a few nervous moments as they wait for the results to appear.

The Racewall re-opens it doors this Saturday for the second-half of what looks to be more than an interesting programme of events.

One of the most important takes place on August 15th when GMP will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of stock car racing at the Cowdenbeath Racewall. Coupled to that it is Scottish Legends day 2 and there are a whole host of drivers from past years who have intimated that they will be at the track to celebrate the occasion. More of that to follow.

The first week back brings the saloons into action along with the National Hot rods as they start their World Championship qualifying rounds whilst the minis will contest the Colin Scott Memorial Trophy. The following week the Lightning Rods have their UK Challenge but on the beginning of August we have the postponed Siamese Banger event.

On the 8th August the formula II drivers have the final of the Take the High Road and then on the 22nd August the micro bangers have their UK Scottish Supreme championship.

The BriSCA heritage cars are scheduled to appear on 29th August.

The stock rods top the bill over the weekend of the 5/6th September when the ORCi World Championship will be staged accompanied by the ORCi ministox British Championship and the 1300cc saloons Open Scottish Championship.

The prostox World Cup takes place on the 19th along with the Lightning rod Scottish Championship. The following week it’s banger time with the Unlimited Scottish Championship whilst at the beginning of October the saloons and ORCi stock rod drivers have their Scottish Championships to decide. That is going to be some meeting!

The final of the white/yellow formula IIs is on 19th October with the saloon version the following week.

The season finale over the weekend of the 24/25th October is again along the usual format with the formula IIs racing for their Champion of Champions race whilst there will be another big turn out of saloons for the Superbowl. On the Sunday the Gordon Barclay Memorial Trophy is the principal race of the afternoon.

However, the Racewall has been chosen as one of the track to stage an out of season meeting and on the 27th December they will stage a Festive meeting where the formula IIs, minis, prostox and Big Van bangers will be on the bill.