The Madman Writes - 11th July 2009
If you have been having missing your weekly fix of stock car action here at the Racewall, then you need wait no longer because we are back after our summer break. Stock Rods, Saloons, and Ministox are on tonight’s bill as we look forward to some great action over the new few months. Some drivers have been busy racing away over the break especially the F2’s who are still on their travels this weekend down at the European at Northampton. The turn of July marked the return to racing of former F2 World champion, Gordon Moodie, who has been making up for lost time with wins at Buxton, St Columb, Taunton, and Skegness so far. Scottish fans will get the opportunity to see him in action this coming Wednesday at Knockhill.
I ventured down to Ipswich for the National Hot Rod World during the break which was won easily by Carl Boardley for the 4th time in a row. The sole Scottish representative, William Hardie, posted the third quickest time in the lap times and looked on course for a podium finish before he got a puncture with only a handful of laps left. It was a great effort from the team who won the best turned out award as they were all bedecked in kilts when going round on the parade lap. The new Merc that they raced had never turned a wheel in a race before then so it all bodes well for William for the future although everyone will need to find that little bit extra if they are to have any chance of competing with the current champion. One man who was missing from the team was Tam McGarva who was at home convalescing after an illness. Best wishes go out to him for a good recovery.
There was a large contingent of Stock Rods racing for the Euro Cup with Scottish Champion, David Philp, looking every bit a quick as the Irish duo of Shane Murray and Alistair Calvin. This was the most closely fought races of the weekend with none of the trio giving an inch. Calvin was first across the line but was deemed to have forced his way past David which dropped him to third and handed to win to Murray with Philpy sharing the podium with the duo. It all bodes well for the World championship here in September. The title will go undefended as Glenn Bell said that he is concentrating all his efforts into his National Hot Rod. That is hardly a surprise given that he finished second in the World at his first attempt. The formula has a busy time ahead with action tonight before they head up north to Crimond tomorrow before having their third outing in five days at Knockhill on Wednesday.
The Saloons should be back here in good numbers and are here a lot more regularly in the second half of the season only missing a couple of dates next month when they are away racing for their European at Taunton and World at King’s Lynn. Robbie Burgoyne looks far more at home in a Saloon that in the Hot Rod he campaigned in the earlier part of the season and took and the final at the last meeting before the break. He also had some good placings down at Skegness to supplement that success and could be the man to beat tonight. One interesting point at the last meeting was the fact that British Champion was trying out Hoosier tyres on his car. He didn’t look that much slower than he did on the Avon tyre which all the top drivers have to run. It would certainly cut down costs a bit although how the tyre, which is acknowledged to have a softer compound that the Avon would stand up to long term racing, remains to be seen. The drivers in the National Hot Rods were not too complimentary about them when they were first introduced to them but have now got used to them and have adapted their cars accordingly. I am all for anything that helps cut the cost to drivers.
The Ministox are the third formula on the track here tonight and it will feature the star of the show last time out Cameron McGowan. Cameron is barely tall enough to see over the steering wheel but drove a confident race to win at the last meeting much to the delight of all his friends and family. He then went on to repeat the feat down at Barford the following week. It was one of those magic moments that the Racewall has become famous for.
As I mentioned during this article, the action comes thick and fast this week with Crimond racing tomorrow at 1pm whilst the Wednesday evening series continues over at Knockhill with a 6pm start time. If you can’t make any of those dates then back here at the Racewall next Saturday night when we have the return of the mighty Bangers. Now sit back and let the action commence.