Despite the “for sale” tag on Jason Cooper’s car the former Superstox world champion was in no mood to take a back seat at Foxhall Stadium last weekend as he stamped his authority on proceedings and again underlined his determination to claim the title once again when the open-wheelers next return for their gold roof shoot-out in October, writes Kevin Wegg.
Whether that is in the same car remains to be seen but what is certain is the comfortable victory he took in the meeting final, however he didn’t have things all his own way. Alex Meadows was in a feisty mood all evening and twice nibbled the Cooper bumper yet the Norfolk egg producer was in no mood to be scrambled and quickly sliced through the field as plucky yellow grader Paul Langridge just made it home in time. Newcomer Michael Robinson (yes he of Noddy heritage!) was certainly not over-awed by the impressive thirty-five car entry as he made his Foxhall debut in the ex-Lisa Kerry car and neither was a positively delighted Jordan Aylward who deservedly secured his first-ever win in the formula. For the second meeting running Gary Sparkes was given a very rough ride and he flew over the wheels of Steve Hamilton which ultimately turned in to a display not too dissimilar to the red arrows with a long smoke trail billowing behind as the damaged chassis snagged on the rear tyre. There was to be no repeat in the final for Aylward as he spun out after previously leading where Meadows was again lively, only to bite off more than he could chew when Dave Miles Jnr. repaid the compliment on the very next bend to end his race. Current world champion Ben Marjoram was t-boned down the back straight by Bobby Davies Jnr to complete a barren evening as champion-elect Cooper pushed his way past Langridge to a convincing victory.

The main event for the visiting Legends formula (21 cars) was their British title event which saw Michael Walmsley put up a spirited effort to pass early pace-setter Branson Poyner but just couldn’t quite get past. A legend of a different kind - former 60’s Superstox star Skid Parish – was on hand to present the trophies and could only watch and wince as his old sparring partner Stu Blyth crashed out of heat one after Derek Hales spun and got collected by the pack although it was John Hudson who came off worst. Russell Ball was a class apart in this one winning by half a lap however an infringement during the earlier incident meant victory was handed to Poyner – it was clearly going to be his night. Their second heat saw a flag-to-flag victory for Walmsley to set up that title showdown but it was an altogether different sort of ‘down’ for Hales who after a stunning outside drive in the battle for third just clipped Barry Randall and spun.

Last-lap bumperwork sorted out the top three in the first Historic Stock Car heat featuring twenty-six cars which netted Ian Hall the win before Mark Whybra struck one lap earlier in the second to improve on his previous third place by grabbing the win. Their best action was reserved for the final with an early four car pile-up involving Hall and Dave Madgwick, with the latter particularly lively all race, later spinning long-distance Edinburgh visitor James Smith and Dave Marsh who he snared on one bend and then finished off on the next!