There was drama aplenty before the green flag fell and after the red had fallen as the Lightning Rod English Championship thundered in to town. First – to quote Carol from ‘Little Britain’ – problems with the computerised lap-scoring transponder system meant we were treated to a chorus of “the computer says no” thus meaning the grid had to be worked out manually resulting in a lengthy delay to form the starting grid. Then just to add more drama once the dust had settled the runner-up refused to accept his second-place trophy, writes KEVIN WEGG.

With a very full grid featuring thirty-two drivers from across the country all eager to get their hands on the title a multi-car pile-up or two was highly likely but the formula was largely on best behaviour in the heats at least with drawn grid positions for race one reversed for the second. Defending champion Steve Santry got off to a perfect start in the first by blasting off from row two and was already in front after just one lap after which there was no stopping him. It all happened behind him on the last lap mind as second-placed Ian Atkinson drifted wide to give up his position and then on the very last bend both Mike Daniels and Warren Farazamand spun.

Diggy Smith was a little too purposeful and picked up a black cross for helping Andy King on to the shale prior to Mick Walker losing it coming out of the bend in heat two. He promptly collected Richard Warner along the way who in turn snared Lee Skoyles, resulting in all three crabbing along the back-straight together at one point. Midlands driver Lee Parsons took a flag-to-flag win from pole and that was also his starting place in the all-important title race after the grid was finally formed following a lengthy delay caused by a computerised lap-scoring failure. Santry was on the outside - of an event that had to be reduced to just twenty laps due to the time loss – which was always likely to be no man’s land with Diggy on row two inside. Sure enough he was quickly relegated to fourth as Parsons hit the front with Diggy in second. Santry was not giving up easily though as he slipped up the inside of Neil Wollington to re-take third place. The defining moment came within the first five laps as a gap suddenly appeared on the inside of Parsons on turn three which Diggy grabbed with both hands and slowly pulled away from the field for a comfortable win. It was less than comfortable at the presentation ceremony mind with Parsons adamant that Diggy had helped him in to the corner however the Race Steward was unmoved and Parsons refused to accept not only his second place but also post-race scrutineering, thus promoting Santry up to second.

Monster hits were a feature of the opening two Banger races with thankfully both drivers walking away shaken but thankfully not too stirred. Calum Jacobs was on the receiving end of a particularly heavy and worrying hit for a while from Steve Saw which required first aid treatment then a long-running battle erupted in the second race when first Team Simple driver Sean Parratt gave James Bailey a large portion only for fellow team-mate Jason Thurlow to jack the stranded Bailey at full chat. Steve Anscombe gave a car spinning masterclass in the third heat having already fallen out of the leading places as Michael Lane took the flag, going one better than race two where he finished behind Simon Berry, Jake Stewart having taken the first. Top honours though went to Daniel Harvey in the final who led from start to finish.

With a damp outside line catching out many drivers, the first race for the Rebel Racers were hugely entertaining with spills galore. Mark Burroughs might not have been quite so enthralled though when he lost it and was smashed in to by Dave Morley. In a thrilling display of bumperwork, first Matt Hyde used the cold steel effectively to remove race leader Shane Geary only to be a victim himself as Kevin Wilton performed the same move. Stu Moss took it up only for Wilton to fight back gamely but without success. Robert Jones threw away a good lead in heat two when he drifted wide, with Wilton gaining some reward for his earlier efforts with victory in this one. Mark Rodgers got the jump on world champion Steve Straw in the final and both he and Moss were away. With two laps to go Straw was finally past Rodgers and in a text book move pushed Moss wide on the opening bend of the final lap to record a fine win.