Fisher Caught by Fence
with Mark Paulson
171 Adam O'Dell was crowned British Champion in the 1300cc Stock Cars on a spectacular night of action at Wimbledon on Sunday evening, 20 October. Trackstar-licenced World Champion 344 Ross Fisher looked to be the fastest driver and might have taken the title himself had things gone his way.
The big race was first up and saw Trackstar drivers Fisher and 653 Gemma Rainer draw sixth and 12th on the grid respectively. Pole sitter 288 Howard Glendenning was spun out before he even took the flag and in the first bend melee 663 Steve Ryan somehow managed to spin Fisher into the lead, the latter's car slewing across the bend and using others outside to straighten up. A lap later 121 Luke Morphey put Fisher into the fence where he was collected by a couple more and lost a couple of laps before he could recover - ironically just behind the leading Morphey. Any thoughts of him seeking revenge were soon dispelled as he cleanly passed the car ahead and proceeded to pull well clear of the lead battle. That was intense with a total of nine lead changes between five cars. 137 Curtis Tebbenham and 371 Mark Bloss enjoyed spells in front as well as O'Dell in what was a pulsating race. The latter eventually pulled clear to win from Bloss and 497 Alec Mortimer. The drama didn't end there though as while the leaders were rounding the final bend, Fisher was clipping the fence by the finish line, half ripping off a wheel in the process.
That mishap led to Fisher missing the next race, where Rainer also clipped a post but got away with it, before relieving 355 Brendon Herve of the lead. Bloss charged Rainer into the fence to move ahead but would eventually have to settle for second behind O'Dell once again, with Rainer coming home seventh.
Fisher managed to repair his car in time for the final heat race where Rainer was given another trip into the cable fence by a big push from the pack. When yellow flags came out to retrieve debris from Tebbenham's own incident with a post, the pacy Fisher had already made it up to fourth. On the restart, he hit the front within a lap and pulled well clear while those behind battled. But the eventful night wasn't going to have a happy ending for the young World Champion. He saved the biggest incident until last - like earlier he ran wide and clipped the fence, this time ripping off a wheel and other ancillaries and being launched into a roll. He climbed out none the worse for wear, just somewhat abashed. 71 Steve O'Dell led away the restart but a big last bend lunge from 713 Ian Beaumont took both wide and allowed
67 Dan Rosenthal to sneak through inside to take the win, while Rainer came home eighth. It was a fitting way to end a thrilling night's racing.
344 Ross Fisher
Meanwhile, Trackstar's Lady Banger drivers had been sent to Coventry the night before. An almighty downpour before their first appearance on track made conditions extremely difficult but 74 Caroline Garner reigned supreme, taking both heats with ease, the second after spinning 4 Steph Street from the lead. In the final however, the local white grade drivers proved a bit too difficult to catch, as 44 Courtney Weston took the win from 238 Anneka Cox. 369 Jane Allard was top Trackstar lady in third, ahead of 444 Natasha Street, sister 4 Steph and Garner in sixth.