The Madman Writes - 29th August 2009
Welcome to the Racewall for the second biggest Banger meeting of the season, the unlimited Scottish Championship. The event usually sees a large contingent of cars from down South, not as many as the World cup but usually enough to make sure it is a fair England/Scotland battle. No doubt the editor and Jim Turner will have more to comment on about the main event. May I just say may the best person win. A BIG thank you must go to everyone who help raised over £4,000.00 for CHAS between the disco and at the track. The final figure is like
ly to be considerably more once the monies the drivers and officials donated is added. Special thanks to F2 drivers George Macmillan and Dennis Middler who took their helmets round the stadium to take a collection which alone raised almost a grand. It might have exceeded that total had they not had to keep stopping to talk to their groupies on the way round!!! The two seater events were immensely popular with the Prostox looking the most interesting to be in by virtue of the fact that the cars leaned somewhat towards the wall when going round the bends. Jimmy ‘The Legend’Pitcaithly and James Matson were great in the Stock Rods as they were only two of them on the track but they went round side by side lap after lap making things exciting for the passengers inside. James is one of the drivers who always makes sure that I am kept up to date with his achievements, the latest of which was lifting the English title for the second year in a row in his class down at Barford as well as being on course to win the track championship. He may still have to ensure his qualification for the World final here in three weeks time as will a few drivers bordering on the brink. A large number of cars are likely to travel North tomorrow to the final points scoring meeting up at Crimond. The British for the formula was held over in Northern Ireland last weekend with veteran Frankie Lynn lifting the crown. Robert McDonald was the best of the Scots in fourth place.
A large contingent of Scots headed down South after the meeting last Saturday for the Brisca F2 semi finals at Taunton on Sunday afternoon. There was mixed fortune for the Scottish drivers on the grid with Gordon Moodie and Chris Bradbury winning their respective semis but the cars behind are the ones of most interest. Multi champion, Robert Speak right behind Gordon. Robert knows he way round Buxton probably better than any other driver and took a final win there back in July. Robbie Dawson was runner up behind Bradders in the other semi to show he marked improvement as a driver in 2009. He bypassed Cowdie last week opting for Birmingham en route to Taunton and won the Grand National. He is also in the running for the track championships at Knockhill, Crimond and here at Cowdenbeath and could well be a dark horse when the race for Gold comes to is conclusion in three weeks time. With a lot of the big boys playing away, it gave a chance for the white graders to shine her last week. Will Lindsay took both heats with consummate ease in a car that was only finished less than 24 hours earlier. Fraser McLennan won his second ever race in the formula with an excellent final win and with it the Ian Chapman trophy. They were seem gingerly carrying the silverware back to their van after Fraser’s’ fine win.
The Saloon races all went the way of the lower grade drivers with Stu Drobinski looking exceptionally quick in the first heat. The Milky Bar Kid (as my fellow commentator Scott Keith calls him), Paul Honeyman won the second one impressively whilst Neil McLaughlin made the most of the battle between Stevie Honeyman and Robbie Burgoyne to take the final just hanging on ahead of the battling duo.
Finally, remember that Crimond is in action tomorrow afternoon before we return here next week with those most prestigious pieces of Silverware, the Turner Trophies, put up by my fellow scribe and family. Now sit back and let the action commence.