CRAIG Reid returned to the formula II scene at the Cowdenbeath Racewall in 2015 after around a 10 year absence, writes our Cowdenbeath Racewall reporter Jim Turner.

He told me “I retired from racing when Rebecca was born and whilst I used to come and watch or mechanic for by brother, Paul Reid, I believed that I had retired for good.

“Rebecca used to come to watch from time to time and when the microf2 category was introduced she certainly was interested.”

Both Craig and Rebecca come from Cowdenbeath where Rebecca is a pupil at Cowdenbeath Primary School but moves up to the High School this year.

Rebecca then told me: “I did like watching the racing and when we found out that the microf2 cars were going to be racing I told dad that I wanted one.”

The microf2 cars are like scaled down formula II cars but contact is not allowed although to be fair it sometimes happens.

The cars are powered by a 7hp petrol engine and are chain driven and over the years have turned out to be an ideal starting formula. The age group is between 7 and 11 years and once you come to 11 then you have to retire.

Rebecca added: “When I first started in 2015 I found that the cars were fast and it was great fun being out there racing. There were only around seven cars but at the end of last season there were often fields of over 25 cars.

"Passing other drivers can be a bit difficult. We are not allowed to use the bumper so you have to try to find a way around.

“It is even more difficult when you are trying to overtake someone who has just started racing and they are sitting in the middle of the track. If you don’t get round them quickly then you are likely to be caught up with some of the faster drivers.

“I got hurt when Kara Russell spun in front of me and I crashed into her. I finished the race but my leg was hurting and my dad took me to hospital. They found out that I had a buckle fracture in my left tibia. I was frightened that they wouldn’t let me race any more but luckily that didn’t happen. I missed a couple of meetings before I was allowed back to race.

“After getting a couple of wins I had to start further back on the grid and it makes it harder to get through the field. The fastest drivers last year were Jamie Dawson and Lewis Clark Burgoyne but I was able to beat them a few times.”

Rebecca went on: “My dad took me to a few tracks and up at Crimond and I quite liked it although the track was a bit bumpy. Dad was worried about the tyre wall but I wasn’t. I remember one meeting where I won all three races.

“We quite often go down to Barford in the north of England. It was hard to drive the car there, the track was bumpy and the car bounced a lot. There were always a lot of cars there and there were a few crashes.

“We also went down to Skegness to race. I liked the track. It was like Cowdenbeath. I won my first race there but didn’t get a trophy as it was an exhibition race.

“I don’t think that I will be getting a ministox although I would like one.

“My dad is my mechanic and I get sponsorship from Movin’ Sound Disco, Northfield Service Centre, Glendale Plastics, Jock Wilson Window and Door Repairs and Pearson Signs.”

Turning to Craig he said “I returned to racing in 2015 with a car that my brother Paul had built. Originally my number was 417 but had to change to 217.

“I had a bit of an eventful couple of seasons. I had a bit of a fall out with Robbie Dawson and he ended up having a few digs at me. It seemed to start when he passed me going into the pit bend but I managed to get alongside of him coming out of the bend and I almost clambered all over him. It got a bit exciting after that over the next two laps before we both pulled out.

“Last year it was David Polley who I got tangled up with. Again he got ahead of me going into the pit bend but I got inside of him and was alongside of him coming out of the bend. Our front and rear bumpers locked up and we both spun across the track. He got going again but my car wouldn’t start so I had to sit and wait until the race finished. We were both out for the Grand National but nothing happened.

“I picked up a win last year but Rebecca wasn’t there to see it. I was leading but about to be passed by Euan Millar but then he slowed and pulled off and I went on to win.

“I intend to race this year although I haven’t even looked at my car. I am a Toolroom Supervisor at Glendale plastics who are one of my sponsors along with Movin’ Sounds Party Bus, J. Wilson Door and Window Repairs, Malcolm Lumsden Videos and Meadowbank Motors.

The Racewall burst back into life on Sunday 7th January, weather permitting for the running of the annual holiday meeting and it has all the makings of an exciting programme.

The Van bangers will take the headlines once again and at this early stage it looks as if there will be a healthy turn out of vans.

Last year Holly Glen (Inchture) won the final then promptly sold her van. Earlier her brother Barry (Dundee) had won the opening heat but then got wrecked in the second heat so it was left to Holly to uphold the family name and after spinning out the leader mid way through the race, Holly went on to win and incidentally the only van driver to finish.

Look for a big field of microbangers turning up and it is rumoured that there will be a field of around 10 drivers heading up from the Barford track to take on the Scottish drivers.

There will be quite a few drivers heading down from Crimond and when you add the Mayfield Mob to the equation then almost any thing is likely and probably will happen.

The wrecking will probably start almost right away and there could well be a lot of very sorry looking cars trundling out for some of the later races.

The Junior banger drivers will turn up for their Cock of the North trophy and again there may not be too many healthy cars at the end of the meeting.

The fast growing prostock basic formula make up the format and whilst contact is permitted it is only light contact and not what goes on in the bangers. This formula has introduced quite a lot of new faces into the sport, the cars are cheap and very little alterations are needed to be carried out to get out racing.

Already one of the prostock basic drivers has moved up to a senior formula but with the number of enquiries about this formula it is almost certain that the fields will continue to expand over the opening weeks of the season.

The meeting, weather permitting will start at 1.00pm so come along to see some extraordinary action to whet the appetite for the new season.