The Madman Writes - 11th April 2009

Sometimes people tell you things that make you chuckle. Take last Saturday for instance. I was mooching about in the pits when someone, who shall remain nameless, came up to me and said that Irish F2 driver Ian Thompson was racing but did not want it announced that he was the World Champion. Sometimes statements like that would be like a red rag to a bull but in this instance that was not the case. The fact is, whether Ian likes it or not, he is the recognised Brisca F2 champion of the World at present and rightly should be billed as such at every track that he races at until the 2009 race is decided at Buxton in September. For those who do not know the full story, Ian crossed the line in second place behind Gordon Moodie in the 2008 race. However, post race scrutineering subsequently found that Gordon’s car was illegal and that Ian was awarded the victory. He was pictured a few days later with his car painted gold and happily posed for pictures at the time. Why the change of heart? You would need to ask Ian that one. He was not the first and I am sure he won’t be the last driver to win a major title without crossing the line first. Fellow countryman, Craig McConnell, wore the European crown with pride a couple of years ago having only finished 4th in the race after the first three home “misinterpreted the rules”. I could fill the rest of this column with race after race where this has happened. If Ian wants to tell his side of the story, I am more than willing to listen and put into print his reasoning. Until the Brisca board advise otherwise, Ian IS the World champion. Just a footnote to all the drivers who qualify for the race at Buxton this year. If you are sitting second on the final lap and in the event that the winner is disqualified and you do not want to accept the trophy, please pull off onto the centre green as there are plenty of drivers who will.

One driver who could achieve the status of World champion one day is Alan Kirkcaldy who has probably spent more on paint that anything else this season. He followed up his final win here a couple of weeks ago with another one at Crimond last Sunday which means that the blue paint will have to be splashed on the aerofoil before tonight. Depending on how results go over the next couple of weeks, he could even find himself a red roof in May as the first grading period comes to an end on the 20th of this month. Other winners up there were Chris Burgoyne who had a heat and Grand National double, whilst the other heat went the way of Iain McLean who had yet to make his Racewall debut this year.

The Ministox were in action as well with Lyndsay Clyne and Ross Watters having some great battles with two wins for Lyndsay and one for Ross on the day. There were one or two strange cars on display with Hot Rod star Eddie Schrader bringing out a Merc bodied car which was on the pace right away as he won a heat in some classic close racing. Neil Buchan won the other two races as he was able to break away from the battles behind. F2 Superstar, Robbie Dawson had a new car out which did not have an aerofoil on it. The team have built the car themselves and at the moment will be used solely for Crimond until it is sorted properly. I am a bit of a cynic when drivers try anything new as English champion, Barry Goldin, races one down south and seems to struggle when it is dry. I will reserve judgement until it does a few more meetings and it will be interesting to see if any more drivers go this way over the next few months.

Mickey Brennan was a welcome visitor in the F2’s at both tracks over the weekend and picked up points at both venues whilst, further a field, National points champion, Chris Bradbury, won the World qualifier down at Arena Essex in his bid for gold.

I could not close this column with congratulating Dean Alexander on his first win at the Racewall in the Saloons. His dad, Gordon, looked delighted for him as he looks to emulate his success. British Champion, Luke Grief, was runner up but got some valuable practise before the defence of his title here at the end of May. Come back and see us next week for some more great action before the Banger World cup takes pride of place two weeks tonight. Meantime sit back and let the action commence.