The Madman Writes - 28th March 2009
Last week I started this column with the phrase “I hate Bangers”. Having seen the behaviour of some of the drivers on the track last week nothing has changed my opinion. The vans which were on last week tend to have more of a novelty tag attached to them and there were certainly plenty of them. However, the antics of some drivers in the second heat of the night were deplorable. Driving into stationary vans under yellow flag conditions is not on. The steward decided that enough was enough for that race and it was abandoned after only a couple of laps. The people who paid good money to come into the stadium to watch them were the losers. Ban the eejits who were to blame for life. Better having a dozen or so drivers who are going to race firm but fair than bigger fields where a small minority spoil it for everyone else. Having said all that they were some good legal hits on the night with one in particular in the home straight where a van sped up and went flat out into the back of the 56 van of David McLuskey. Both drivers emerged none the worse from their ordeal in what was the hit of the night. When the DD took place, James Dillon, shown that size does matter when it comes down to vans with his big camper able to withstand the hits coming from all angles and come out victorious on the night. I walked out of the stadium behind a couple of families who seemed to enjoy the spectacle although one person reckoned there was less than 10 laps racing in total on the night. By my reckoning there were 17 but it was enough to prove that the vans were a hit in every sense of the word as far as providing entertainment was concerned. The next time that the Bangers are back in action is on April 25th when every top driver in the UK will be here to contest the World Cup.
It was very much business as usual in the F2’s with Chris Burgoyne, Paul Ford, and Barry Folan all back in the winners circle for the second week on a trot. The only different winner was Stewart Mitchell who had a few anxious moments after crossing the line as his transponder which sends the signal to the computerised lap scoring circuit stopped working but, after a check, the officials were satisfied that it was not the fault of the driver and he breathed a sigh of relief as he enjoyed his first lap of honour of the season. Spare a thought though for George Macmillan who had a terminal problem with the car before racing commenced and had to be a reluctant spectator on the night.
An old friend of the Racewall, Dave Richardson, was there last Saturday. Indeed he was in Scotland all weekend as he was putting together some footage for a programme which it is hoped will be aired on the satellite channel Motors TV in the future. Apart from the stuff at the track, Dave was going to do an interview with the currently banned F2 driver, Gordon Moodie, and with Saloon ace Lindsay Wilson before heading up to Knockhill on Monday where Real Radio DJ, Paul Harper, was going to have a shot in a Hot Rod. Real Radio, like the Racewall is very much involved at raising money for CHAS (The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland). Dave will be back at the Hot Rod two seater night in August and as we announced over the PA last week, if someone can find overalls, helmets and seats, and a car big enough to take both of us then I agreed, after Dave twisted my arm behind my back, to let him drive me round the track in a Hot Rod. I have put in print so there is no going back.
There was a funny moment when Dave was getting picked up to come to the Racewall last Saturday as the new GMP promotions vehicle, a Volkswagen Beetle, turned up at the front of his posh hotel and got the receptionist to ring his room and announce that his limo was waiting for him. Any credibility he had up to that point gone completely out of the window and he was still a quivering wreck when I met him at the track.
Tonight sees my favourite formula, The Hot Rods, back on track where the numbers should be higher than last meeting as there is no clash with the National Hot Rod fixtures down South which many Scots like to be involved in. I am saying nothing this week about the races being uneventful and quick to run given the carnage at the last meeting. Me and my big mouth. Until next week sit back and let the action commence.