Despite the absence of a Royal Box at Foxhall Stadium over the Diamond Jubilee weekend the regal performance of young Alex Meadows would surely have received royal approval had there been such was his majestic use of the front bumper which brought the house down writes Kevin Wegg.

It has already been a year full of gems for the Superstox with their mouth-watering gold roof shoot-out still to come on August 18 and heat one added yet another diamond to the seasons’ collection. With a superb thirty-four car entry there was always going to be action from the off with the new car of Dale Fewings the first of many in trouble. A battle royal soon developed up front with white top Chris Capon showing terrific pedigree to hold off Chris Pye who in turn was spun mercilessly by Meadows. The youngster was clearly on a mission quickly putting the bumper in to remove Capon only for former multi-champion Jason Cooper to loom large in his mirror. He gently nudged Meadows aside which ultimately proved his undoing as Meadows sensationally repaid the compliment twice as hard. With the crowd already on their feet Capon also showed tremendous gusto to stick the bumper in and hit the front. With Cooper now down in fourth the cars entered the last lap where Meadows showed nerves of steel to again remove Capon and cross the finish line punching the air frantically with deserved pride and sheer joy.

Engine problems thereafter could do nothing to wipe away his broad smile or those of the fans who were treated to another action-packed instalment in race two with brother James coming to grief in a spectacular spill that left Colin Aylward perched on his bonnet and the side iron of Steven Jackson. Another youngster, Sam Stacey, had already been on the receiving end of a four car pile-up as white top Ben Stacey showed terrific composure to lead the field until he spun himself after being passed by Cooper. The Thetford ace comfortably made it a brace in the final which also had Carl Pye literally performing a ‘wall of death’ as he slide sideways at high speed down the armco and previous Foxhall winner Ben Munford underwent a total reversal of fortunes when he completely snapped off his front bumper after hitting a spinning James Meadows. Almost mirroring Cooper, Ryan Eaton also calmly went about picking up a notable brace - albeit ‘seconds” - in both heat two and the final.

A synchronised spin-out fencewards by Carl Mann and Ed Kennett heralded the start of heat one for the Stock Rods which Blackman held on gamely to win as a large train formed behind, only to be spat out by the pack in heat two. A four car fall-out at the start of that one thankfully caused no major damage as Tyrone Goodchild limped out although Stuart Smyth almost rolled after clipping the kerb entering turn three following a tussle with David Gale which invited a black flag. Tristan Jackson took the win yet it was the fierce struggle going on behind him that caught the eye with Ted Symes just holding off star man Andy Sturt. Symes deservedly went one better in the final after muscling past Kevin Wareham.

Kieran Murphy’s efforts in the Banger Track Champion points battle with Michael Lane and Michael Allard suffered a big blow as too his new car which was totally wrecked in the opening race courtesy of Ashley Millward and Jason Thurlow. Scott Piggins led from the start only to be passed on the final lap by Allard but made no mistake to take the second which featured a four car train crash that Jamie Palmer then piled in to. Daniel Bullock was flying in the final until getting held up by backmarkers allowing Ben Warner to take it up briefly before Lane showed his points-chasing class.