Report: Mark Paulson

Pics: Dave Bastock

The third round of this year’s BriSCA Formula One Shootout took place at the Adrian Flux Arena, King’s Lynn, on Saturday night (24 September). 318 Rob Speak closed the gap on the leaders with a consolation and final double, his second in eight days. But World Champion 1 Frankie Wainman Jr and 2 Paul Harrison are now joint leaders of the points after following Speak home in the final. Also in action were both classes of Saloon Stock Cars, with 499 David Aldous scooping the Bumper Trophy in the Two-Litre category, and 116 Diggy Smith scorching to a hat trick of successes in the 1300s.

BriSCA Formula One

The 42-car turnout, featuring all but one of the ‘Shooters’ was plenty for a full format meeting, which kicked off with a non-scoring race for white and yellow graded drivers. That was led by returnee 511 Jake Hall until 415 Russell Cooper passed him and held on to take the flag. Hall was second and 104 Paul Spooner third after 192 Luke Dennis had taken a very heavy bend one fencing but commendably sat tight to let the race run its course.

The top eight would qualify for the meeting final from each of the two heats which both fielded 20 cars, joined by the first 14 home in the consolation. After new World Champion 1 Frankie Wainman Jr had paraded the trophy, having taking part in a pre-meeting autograph session, 57 William Fenwick led away heat one as red tops 422 Ben Riley and 555 Frankie Wainman Jr Jr tangled. 84 Tom Harris stole a march on the other Shooters until he suffered at the hands of 53 John Lund, picked up a front puncture and was forced into retirement. After 43 Adam Bamford briefly led, yellow flags were called for with Fenwick back in front but he was demoted at the restart by Spooner and 215 Geoff Nickolls. 4 Dan Johnson and 150 Mick Sworder had taken over the mantle of leading runners amongst the Shootout drivers but when Johnson put Nickolls into the fence he delayed himself too, allowing Sworder into second. ‘Mr Box Office’ then chased down Spooner and took the lead with four laps to go. 212 Danny Wainman followed him past with just one circuit remaining. So Sworder took the win from Wainman, with Spooner holding onto a fine third.

A complete restart was required for heat two, when the white grade tangled on the home straight, almost blocking the track, leading to many others piling in. 231 Danny van Spijker was one of the casualties after being flicked into the air. 280 Colin Nairn led them away at the second attempt as 259 Paul Hines immediately started scything through the field as the leading red top, and 1 Frankie Wainman Jr was delayed at the back of the field. His big rival 318 Rob Speak retired with a puncture, and 16 Mat Newson and 445 Nigel Green were faring little better as they were delayed when 306 Ian Noden spun on bend four. Green would eventually retire and although Newson continued a lap down, he suffered an engine blow-up on the final lap. Up front, Hines took up the running when Nairn dropped out and went on to win from 2 Paul Harrison and 94 John Dowson Jr.

The 19-car consolation included Speak, Newson, Green and Harris and all would eventually qualify for the final as they made light work of the rest of the field and finished the race in that order. Cooper and Hall had both enjoyed spells in front in the early stages but Speak charged through to hit the front soon after half distance. As the race progressed, Harris also broke free and, once into second, starting making inroads until the race was neutralised to assist Fenwick and Hall who had crashed on bend four. The track watering at the stage – undoubtedly necessary on a very dusty evening – probably put paid to Harris’s chances and allowed Speak to pull clear for the win. Newson dived inside Harris on the final bend to take second.

All 30 qualifiers started the final. Sworder and Harris were both victims of the early skirmishes before a yellow flag period. Bamford led at the stoppage from 443 Richard Dickerson, Cooper and Dowson and it was the latter who quickly hit the front. Johnson, who was the leading Shooter, half-spun on bends one and two and was attacked by Speak as he did, delaying him further. He then tangled with Newson half a lap later, with both dropping back. Out front, Speak caught and passed Dowson with five laps to go, and FWJ followed through a couple of laps later. They finished in that order but then Dowson was penalised for jumping the restart and docked two places. That promoted Harrison to third after he passed Green late on.

Dowson clearly felt aggrieved but channelled his anger into a dominant performance in the grand national. He survived a late stoppage after 293 Eliot Smith rolled on the home straight, to win from Harris, FWJ and Harrison. Speak came through to 10^th from the lap handicap, and with Green only managing 12^th, it makes things very tight at the top of the Shootout standings. Frankie Wainman Jr and Harrison now jointly lead the way, just four points ahead of Speak, with Green a further six behind. Newson, eight further back, completes the top five who have started to pull clear from the rest.

Two-Litre Saloon Stock Cars

The Heavy Metal Brigade raised a 39-car entry a week after their World Final, with back-to-back title winner 6 Simon Welton enjoying a lap of honour with his trophy having joined the autograph session pre-meeting. A white and yellow grade opener preceded an all-in format for the rest of the meeting. 16-year-old 399 Cole Atkins dominated the W&Y race after early leader 537 Tom Alsop had spun. The next four crossed the line together after 131 Timmy Barnes put second placed man 321 Marcus Skeels into the wall on the final bend. Skeels just held on from Barnes, 30 Thomas Howard and 525 Wes Starmer.

Heat one proper was led away by 88 Lyndon Stark, driving the Banwell hire car as a prize for winning the Unlimited Banger World of Shale three weeks earlier. He was treated to a heavy fencing by 26 Tommy Barnes though, and Howard and 912 Andi Newman both enjoyed spells in front before a caution period. Newman appeared to jump the restart and continued to lead until another yellow flag after a massive pile-up on bend four, virtually blocking the track. It mostly cleared but 425 Tom Balls was left facing the traffic where he was hit head-on by Barnes. By this stage Welton had risen to second and he soon completed the job, going on to win from 218 Jacob Downey and Howard as Newman dropped out. Fourth place went to 730 Deane Mayes, in his 50^th meeting of the season – but unfortunately that was as good as it got for the champion-elect of the national points.

Track championship leader 349 Michael Allard extended his advantage with a win in heat, battling through the dust to relieve 220 Casey Englestone of the lead in the closing stages, with English Champion 217 Sid Madgwick placed third. Allard’s chances were boosted further when his main rival 499 David Aldous was removed in a combined assault by Tommy Barnes and his brother 131 Timmy Barnes which seemed somewhat over the top.

Aldous would have the last laugh, however, with a sublime display in the final. He dropped off the lead lap early on and was behind race-leader Alsop when yellow flags appeared. Aldous quickly got himself back on the lead lap and then was fortunate that another caution period came when 84 Carl Boswell was dumped into the empty 321 Marcus Skeels car at some pace. Allard was charging though and quickly worked his way into second before picking off Alsop. But Downey was keeping Allard honest and some hard racing eventually left Allard sidelined as Welton – still a contender for the track points too – joined the lead battle. He managed to spin Downey out to take the lead, while Aldous was scything his way through the field. As Welton’s car appeared to go off-song a little in the closing stages, Aldous – now up to second – kept coming, and when the world champion was slightly delayed by a backmarker on the final lap, he seized his chance. Aldous charged inside on the final bend to take the win and the Bumper Trophy, with Welton holding onto second and Madgwick again third. With Allard not finishing, the advantage swung back to Aldous. The seven-time track champion now holds a nine point lead over Welton, with Allard two further back, ahead of next month’s final round.

1300cc Stock Cars

Another strong entry of 38 smaller stock cars was topped by World Champion 333 Dan Weavers, who also enjoyed his own parade ahead of the first heat. Like their bigger cousins, the 1300s had a W&Y race before going all-in thereafter.

The opener was claimed by 780 Simon Sparrow from 681 Dan Moore who had led most of the way until held up by back markers. After that, it was the 116 Diggy Smith show as the veteran swept to an imperious hat trick. Amazingly, despite the formula’s competitiveness, the top two were the same in both heats and the final.

Lady racers 444 Natasha Street and 514 Sherrie Martin contested the lead of heat one for several laps. Martin gradually dropped back but Street held on until passed by Smith with three laps to go, and finally losing second to 149 Todd Payne through the latter’s last bend lunge.

Heat two had an untidy start which led to excessive bunching and 422 Martin Taylor rolling on the back straight. The restarted race was led by Martin until she also exited on the back straight, ending up broadside across the track which led to a caution period. Smith was third at that point and then shot straight into the lead, eventually followed home by Payne and 704 Stuart Henderson.

Smith was made to work harder for his win in the final, with 341 Austen Freestone fighting back when Diggy took the lead. Smith eventually found a way back past and was followed by Payne who then took the lead himself. After a caution period Smith retook the lead and although Payne managed to hang on, he could not find a way to challenge the veteran who completed his hat trick, while World of Shale Champion 216 Dan Booth headed Freestone for third.