Photos: 1 - 12 Dave Bastock, 13 - 24 Kevin Wickham, 25 - 31 Andy Wilkie, 32 - 43 Colin Casserley, 44 - 55 Ant Jenkins
Report: Mark Paulson
The weather gods smiled on West Norfolk once again as the sun shone down on the Adrian Flux Arena for the BriSCA Formula One stock cars' third visit of the season. #97 Ryan Harrison made a dream return from his spell on the sidelines by taking the main honours. Sharing the bill was the 2L Saloon Stock Car English Championship in which #349 Michael Allard successfully retained the title.
A strong entry of 44 cars contested a full-format meeting. Among them were British champion #97 Ryan Harrison, making his return from suspension at the wheel of a stunning new car, and #45 Nigel Harrhy, making his first appearance in a Harrison-Built car. Dutch brothers #410 Jelle and #418 Niels Tesselaar made the trip across the North Sea, while H54 Sierd de Vries was also present but would not take part in the meeting after blowing his engine the day before.
First up, as customary, was the race for white & yellow grade drivers, on this occasion for the Eric Graveling Memorial Trophy. The 17-car field was headed throughout in impressive fashion by #499 Marc Clayton, who took home £315 for his efforts. The leading yellow graders contrived to take each other out as first #372 Colin Goodswen spun across #544 Ben Howard, with #541 Willie Skoyles Jr cutting inside to take second place. But Skoyles then spun and was collected by Howard, which let #338 Chris Brocksopp into the position. He could do nothing about Clayton though, who on only his second appearance at Lynn was well clear. A brakeless #185 Lenny Smith was third, while #216 Jack France snatched third from Harrhy on the final bend. Following the race, #215 Geoff Nickolls was presented with a crystal trophy and commemorative cake to recognise his 45-year racing career.
Twenty-two cars contested heat one which proper produced a grandstand finish after a couple of cautions in the closing stages. Long-time leader Harrhy ran wide, letting Skoyles through, with #217 Lee Fairhurst and #346 Ashley England also shoving past Harrhy. #55 Craig Finnikin and #5 Charlie Sworder followed through after getting slightly delayed hooked up together. With three laps to, Fairhurst shoved past Skoyles to lead, with England following. But shale maestro Finnikin got inside them both and set about chasing Fairhurst down. As the leaders encountered spun backmarkers on the first turn of the final lap, Finnikin squeezed past on the inside. Fairhurst attempted to retaliate on the final bend, only to be spun out by Sworder. So it was Finnikin that won from Sworder and a quickly recovered Fairhurst. For #515 Frankie Wainman Jr, an engine blow-up signalled the end of his night.
The 21-car second heat ran flag to flag and was dominated by NAPA man #216 Jack France whose car was really hooked up on the outside line early on. The anticipated showdown between #84 Tom Harris and #97 Ryan Harrison didn't really happen as Harris flew through the field. He passed #544 Ben Howard for second before half-distance. But even the silver-top had no answer for France, who took a comprehensive win ahead of Harris, #326 Mark Sargent and #235 Mick Haworth. Harrison was next across the line but had been black-flagged for one of his new car's cab 'doors' hanging loose.
With 'doors' removed, Harrison came back to take a dominant victory in the consolation. As many of the yellow and blue graded drivers tangled early on, #368 Callum Thornton led from #415 Russell Cooper, with #335 Mark Woodhull quickly into third. Woodhull made the inside line work as he moved in front, but Harrison had also avoided the early trouble and was making rapid progress through the field. Harrison took second as Thornton got rattled around the wall. He then quickly caught Woodhull and took the lead just before half-distance before charging to victory. Meantime, Niels Tesselaar was picking up his pace as the track dried. The Dutchman nudged Woodhull wide for second with five laps to go, with the top three then unchanged to the flag.
The sport's leading names produced another grandstand finish to the 32-car final. France had just taken the lead from Clayton when yellow flags were required after a scoreboard bend pile-up, but then was unable to take the restart. So it was #185 Lenny Smith who put the pressure on Clayton and took the lead. Harris and Newson had been trading places as they powered through the field, with Finnikin in their wake and Harrison a little further behind. Harris managed to shake off Newson, with Finnikin also demoting Newson, while Harris nudged Smith wide to take the lead before half-distance. Finnikin made it into second with three laps to go, while Harrison put the bumper in on Smith to take third a lap later. Finnikin was gradually closing on Harris and was just within range for a last-bend lunge. Harris went in deep in anticipation, but Finnikin's lunge still made contact out wide, spinning Harris as both went into the fence. Harrison shot past to take the win, followed by Newson, Smith and Sworder before Finnikin could recover for fifth. Harris trailed home 12th. "I was quite bored, sat where I was, thinking 'I wish I was in striking distance,' then we'll all have gone in!" admitted Harrison.
Twenty-six cars returned for the grand national in which Harris finally took the chequered flag. #548 Daniel Brooke led the early laps until getting pushed back just before a yellow flag. That put Sargent ahead from Smith and charging superstars Newson and Harris. That pair quickly moved into second and third, with Newson then pushing past Sargent. But Sargent hit back and took both into the fence. So Harris came through to victory ahead of the impressive Smith. From the lap handicap, Harrison charged through to third but none of the top three were close enough for any last-bend lunges on this occasion.
2L Saloon Stock Cars
The English Championship for the hard-hitting Heavy Metal Brigade raised 42 cars for a two-from-three qualifying heat format before the main race.
The 26-car first heat was briefly led by #527 Ashton Armstrong before #48 Brad Dyer moved ahead, chased by #470 David Vaughan. Making a relatively rare appearance, #573 Marty Lake quickly made up ground from the yellow grade and was soon in front, from where he controlled the race, largely unchallenged. Lake's running mate #610 Trent Arthurton, at the wheel of the successful Daniel Parker car, followed him through for second, with Grimsby's #30 Thomas Howard completing the top three. Leading star home was #120 Luke Dorling in fifth.
Another big field of 27 cars contested heat two which came under early caution after #131 Timmy Barnes ended with the rear of his car sitting on elder brother #26 Tommy Barnes's bonnet. #333 Dan Weavers had got the break at the first attempt and did so again at the restart. But #570 Simon Venni was on the move, spinning #218 Jacob Downey from third, then passing #319 Richard Regan for second before closing in on Weavers. Venni got inside Weavers for the lead, but the one-time 1300cc world champion clung on for several laps. A couple of mistakes exiting Turn 2 let Venni clear for victory and allowed Regan to put the bumper in on Weavers on the final bend. Regan and defending English champion #349 Michael Allard both got past to complete the top three. Post-race Weavers picked up his Driver of the Day award for the previous meeting, and Allard was also presented with a framed picture from Keith Davies Fine Art for his fine service to the sport in general and Trackstar in particular.
Heat three came after the build-up of material on the outside line, shifted by the F1s, was cleared during an interval. It made little difference to Weavers who fought off #100 Cain Harding's early challenge to drive into the distance and secure pole position for the English Championship with victory. "Stock cars are a lot better than Bangers," said Weavers, whose most recent experience came in the full-contact formula, "but this is the hardest thing I've ever done." Further back, the constant exchange of bumpers helped Weavers escape, but it was Timmy Barnes who came through to second ahead of #350 Tommy Parrin and #116 Diggy Smith.
Amazingly, 41 returned for the English Championship final, with only Howard (who had qualified seventh) not able to take his place on the grid. Venni joined Weavers on the front row, with Lake and Regan on row two, and Arthurton and Timmy Barnes completing the front six. It was Venni who jumped straight into the lead and he, Weavers and Allard (from row four) pulled clear out front. They each managed to avoid trouble with backmarker #161 Billy Smith, who rejoined in front of them, and Allard used the bumper to pass Weavers for second. He then did the same on Venni but they ran side by side down the back straight while, behind them, backmarker Harding got turned into the wall in front of Weavers and rolled, bringing out red flags. Allard made a good restart as Weavers was spun out by fourth-placed Timmy Barnes, but with #329 Kegan Sampson facing the traffic, yellow flags were called for. Allard again made a good restart, while Barnes passed Venni for second. That helped Allard keep a margin as he raced to successful defence of his title. Venni went in with a last-bend lunge on Barnes and, as the pair ran side-by-side to the flag, #389 Ryan Santry got inside too. A three-way photo finish went the way of Barnes, ahead of Santry and Venni.
"The luck fell right," said Allard modestly. "I never expected to [successfully] defend it with the quality of the drivers we've got here."
Some 30 Ministox were in action, with heat one going the way of #425 Boden Murfin. #269 Freddie Rogers was the first superstar to break through, despite clobbering a marker tyre heavily, before losing out to Murfin. #223 Toby Partridge went in hard on Rogers on the final bend, but Rogers held a big sideways moment to keep the position.
Rogers was again flying in heat two, taking the lead from sister #270 Ella Rogers. When #213 Mia-Louise Rogers took second, she cut across the #270 car too soon and was turned heavily into the fence before being collected at speed by #216 Alife Key, leading to a caution period. Rogers fended off Partridge at the restart, only to be passed no the outside, but Murfin was quickly into third and got inside both in one go. A red-and-chequered finish resulted in the same top three as in heat one.
Murfin completed his hat-trick with an assured performance in the final. Ella Rogers led for several laps before she was tipped into a marker tyre by #155 Archie Grindey who took up the running. Grindey was demoted by Murfin and Partridge as yellow flags came out, which gave him a reprieve, but Boden got back inside for the lead with four to go. Grindey's last-bend lunge didn't quite make contact but he was still able to take second ahead of Freddie Rogers and Partridge.