LOCHGELLY RACEWAY

An epic weekend of racing at Lochgelly Raceway seen much of the titles head outwith Scotland, as the visiting drivers put in some brilliant performances across the weekend, writes Kevin McQueen.

The Micro Bangers World Cup took centre stage, with around 70 cars competing across the weekend – and the action was frantic from the start of the weekend with the last chance race, right through to the DD on the Sunday afternoon. The 1300cc banger class certainly lived up to expectations, with the large crowd superbly entertained throughout the weekend.

The main event seen Northern Ireland's David Gurney victorious in the World Cup race on the Saturday night, coming out on top in a 46 car field of cars. Darren Rae salvaged Scottish pride as he claimed the Scottish Championship on the Sunday afternoon. The DD at the end of the weekend seem some dramatic scenes, with a number of drivers certainly going for glory – Will Morphey and Jake Croft put on an epic showing as the last two running, whilst Ashley Bodenham found himself getting hot under the flames.

Matthew McKinstry of Northern Ireland took the best presented car award, whilst Ashley Bodenham took away the prize for entertainer of the weekend - although there were a number of contenders including Lee Clarke, Will Morphey and Freddie Crittenden.

The Junior Productions seen 27 cars take to the track across the weekend, with the Saturday night seeing a two thirds format adopted, with all cars contesting the meeting final with the Scottish Open up for grabs. British Champion, Jack Morrow took a couple of heat wins, with Scotlands Koddi Wright claiming the other. It would be Northern Irelands Jack Morrow that took the Scottish Open in the Saturday night however. The Sunday seen an all in format used, and there were some strong showings from the lower graded drivers – Abe Adams took a first win, whilst Candice Smart, Maia Thompson, Declan Dixon and Lewis Duffy all put in some stellar performances on the day. Northern Ireland's Callum Doak however, appeared to be the one to beat, racing from the blue grade. A heat and final double would see the youngster claim the Fife Championship in what was another brilliant showing from the Junior Productions.

The Junior Bangers, a guest formula, seen the English take the honours across the weekend, however, Koddi Wright was unfortunate to be taken out of the lead of the main race by a car running on opposite direction after say on the infield for a number of laps. Alfie Nottingham and Lexi Finney would take the main race wins across the weekend. It was great to see the strongest number of Scottish based drivers on track in the formula - six Scottish drivers taking to the track, with Rocco Trench and Koddi Wright taking wins for their efforts.

The 1300 Stock Cars were simply outstanding across the two days - with the Scottish drivers taking all the glory, though the visiting drivers were certainly in the mix on more than one occasion. Around 30 cars took to the track, and battled it out all weekend as they fought for the Lochgelly Masters. An excellent weekend for the formula it turned out to be – Danny Whyte took an opening race win, but that would be as good as it got for the local driver, as he got caught up in the majority of other races throughout the weekend. National Points Champion, Kyle Hegg was a man on a mission, and looked the quickest driver across the weekend, and he took a race win in the second heat on Saturday night, before Blair Robertson took a superb race win in the meeting final – just ahead of Jamie Stewart and Kyle Hegg with cars scattered around the track on the closing laps.

The Sunday seen a further two heats before the Lochgelly Masters, and just like the Saturday, they were action packed! James Ellis and Jamie Stewart would take the heat wins, before the points were calculated from across the two days of racing, to provide the Lochgelly Masters grid.

A proper Stock Car race ensued. From start to finish, the action was non stop, several lead changes, plenty of big hits, and plenty of drama – just what you look for in any stock car race. Jamie Stewart and Kyle Hegg looked to be the drivers to beat, as both fought for the race lead in the early stages of the race – an earlier confrontation with Luke Smith would however, come back to haunt Jamie Stewart though, with Hegg also getting caught up. Luke took his opportunity to get back at the 188 pilot, but in the process, took Kyle Hegg out of the race as well. This promoted the second pack of cars into the fold, with Fraser Clark, Billy Wilson, Scott Lindsell, Kyle Strachan, Jake Banwell and William Stawiarski battling it out for the lead of the race.

The majority of these drivers would find themselves in the thick of the action at some point in the closing laps, but it would be Fraser Clark that would come out on top - albeit by the narrowest of margins with the top three drivers crossing the line within half a second of each other - Stav and Kyle Strachan completing the top three!

The Ministox joined in on the action on Sunday, with race wins going the way of Charlie Hardie and Cole Ford – Ford taking a heat and final double. Eevie Ford took a confidence inspiring set of results away, as she battled bravely throughout each of the races, leading the way for long periods at a time.

We are back in action, this Saturday at Lochgelly Raceway, with the Ninja Karts, National Hot Rods, 2.0 Hot Rods, Superstox and Stock Rods all featuring. First race at 5.30pm.

COWDENBEATH RACEWALL

IT was a cold but dry Saturday evening at the Cowdenbeath Racewall but there was sufficient action on the track to keep the spectators attention, writes our Racewall scribe Jim Turner.

Emma Mellis debuted her new Formula II but there were a couple of shunts that had the drivers making quick repairs to their cars so they could make it back out for their next race.

Liam Rennie and Craig Wallace were carrying out tests on the proposed tyres for the 2023 season.

The opening Formula II race was the final of the white/yellow series which was won by Emma Mellis who capitalised when Kieran Howie spun Colin Forbes and rotated as well. In the end Forbes came through into second finishing ahead of Howie and Craig Reid .

Paul Reid led the opening heat for most of the time but lost out to Chris Burgoyne then Mika Millar, but on the closing lap Craig Reid slid into the turnstile bend wall and was then collected by Howie. Heat two was suspended after Howie's car shed a wheel and he ended up against the wall on the main straight. The field lined up behind P. Reid but he soon lost out as Chris Burgoyne went through to win from Moodie and Millar.

The final was fast and whilst P. Reid led for a few laps all eyes were on the dice between Moodie and C. Burgoyne, who ran nose to tail for most of the race. Towards the end Moodie eased away to win for his fourth successive Racewall final, from C. Burgoyne and Millar.

In the Grand National there was another Fife win, with P. Reid winning from Millar and Craig Wallace, with Moodie in fifth place, despite starting the race with a lap handicap.

There was another healthy turn out of ORCi Stock Rods with the racing being fast and close.

Michael Bethune went through to win heat one from Stewart Paterson and Chris Chance, although there was little to separate second and third throughout the race. Paterson made too good a start to heat two and spun as he entered the main straight sending Tam Tweedie’s car onto the grass and out of the race. Ironically Paterson was able to restart at the back of the grid. in the process. Chance led, survived a restart, only to lose out to Bethune who won from Gray and Cameron Doak.

Craig Tosh was an early spinner at the start to the final with Sean Devine leading but he received a black flag handing the lead to Paterson. Bethune’s chance of a hat trick disappeared as he slowed to retire and it was Doak who closed the gap to the leader before diving inside and taking the lead during the closing stages to win from Paterson and Chance.

The ORCi Ministox drivers turned out for their RGM Thistle Trophy with the drivers being paraded to the fans before the race. The Minis have been in exciting form this season and again they didn’t disappoint

Kerr Paterson was the early leader when the RGM trophy race started, with Cole Ford in second and it stayed that way for a few laps until Charlie Burgoyne appeared on the scene.

He made short work of getting through into the lead before easing away to win. Lewis Clark Burgoyne ended up as the runner up with Paterson third.

The Burgoynes then finished first and second in heat one with Lewis leading home Charlie with Bailey Millar in third. Nicole Allardyce led the cars away at the start to heat two but she was caught by a group of cars led by Rhys Anderson. The latter took the lead but lost out to C. Burgoyne who in turn was pushed wide as Sam Cavanagh took the lead and went through to win. Jay Carruthers snatched second finishing ahead of Anderson.

The Prostocks were a bit sparse with Scott Gardner leading heat one from start to finish - his first Racewall win - from Ian Christie and John Mason. Heat two went to Gardner who led home Christie and Mason, but Ryan Martin was spun when in second. Mason then won the final from Christie and Gardner.

Making her debut in the Micro F2s was Shelbie Paterson, from Kirkcaldy, in what was a big turn out of cars with six turning up from south of the Border. The trophies were sponsored by Team Rigby

The first heat was suspended after Lucas Bland spun on the pit bend.. The grid was reformed, with Evie McLellan going straight into the lead and on to win from Cruz Strachan and Jeorgie Honeyman. Heat two was suspended twice before Taylor Rigby went through to win from Cruz Strachan and McLellan.

McLellan made it a double success when she won heat three from Rigby and Strachan who also was the driver of the day.

This Saturday the 2 Litre Banger drivers will be in action with their Scottish Championship their goal. Backing them will be the BriSCA Formula IIs, the Saloons and Prostock Basics. The Saloon drivers will be racing for their white/yellow Challenge Final with the meeting starting at 6pm.