Chris Haird emphatically staked his claim for a second world championship title by thoroughly thrashing the opposition in the prestigious ‘Thunder 500’ event sponsored by Cattermoles of Ipswich writes Kevin Wegg. This customary ‘warm-up’ for the Spede Weekend once again attracted most of the top Irish contenders and hence serves as a useful barometer of form. Although Matt Simpson chose not to race and Malcolm Blackman is currently serving a two meeting ban it can still be taken as ‘read’ that they will both be on the pace come July 7/8, however for many of the other contenders the on-track evidence was mixed.

Jason Kew certainly underlined his credentials with an opening heat win from row two and a third place in the fifty lap final. Ricky Hunn was campaigning his ‘old skool’ Peugeot 205 in the opener which was propelled fencewards snaring Winnie Holtmanns and Steve Burrows in the process. Willie Hardie was another to boost his confidence with second place followed by fifth in his second heat to secure pole position for the final. Heat two was their pick-of-the-night with Scotsman Billy Bonnar from the front row winning a frantic sprint for the line just holding off Gavin Murray who had impressed with an outside pass on David Brooks but then couldn’t quite make the same move stick with Bonnar. Haird excelled with a fine fifth from way down the grid which he improved on by three places in heat three which again went to the front row starter, this time Irishman John Christie. He convincingly won by the length of a straight surprisingly lapping Bonnar in the process, however he was to be overtaken by a few cars before retiring in the final. Fellow Irishmen Gary Woolsey was noticeably quiet all evening while David Casey was perhaps the pick with some good places throughout.

Hardie and Haird shot off from the flag in the feature race and never looked likely to be caught with Haird showing his previous world title winning form with a high-speed outside pass to take it up. From there on in it was something of a commanding demonstration with Kew joining the top three as huge gaps opened up between each of the first three places and in turn the chasing pack. David Brooks spun which led to Robert McDonald, Sam Holland and Shane Brereton coming to grief then much later David Garrett blew up with just two laps to go which claimed Colin Gomm and Carl Waller-Barrett. The latter needed two breakdowns in what proved to be a less-than-ideal warm-up.

Both the Rods and the Brisca F1 Stock Cars carried yellow tributes to Steve Newman, the Stock Saloon Car driver who tragically passed away just over a week ago and a minutes’ applause for both him and former Hot Rod star Steve Skitmore - who passed away from natural causes recently - rang out proudly before events got under away.

Despite a disappointing turnout of just seventeen Brisca F1 Stock Cars the sight and sound of these powerful V8 cars remains an awesome spectacle around what is for them one of the fastest tracks in the country. White top Nigel Harrhy who celebrated his birthday only the day before took the opening heat and recalled afterwards how he’d last raced at Ipswich twenty-five years ago on a speedway bike when riding for Stoke! Mick Sworder used the bumper effectively to claim second place and quickly went one better in heat two after only a handle of laps. TV star Frankie Wainman Jnr. wasn’t quite so accomplished with the front end when putting away Micky Randell on the last bend, losing out in the drag to the line for second place to Will Yarrow. These two also featured in another dramatic last lapper this time in the final. Odds-on favourite Sworder dramatically crashed out on lap one after t-boning Joshua Smith with other big names also falling by the wayside including Matt Newson and Craig Finnikin. Former Spedeworth star Colin Goodswen was having his best race so far in third until Wainman pushed him wide with three laps to go. Harrhy and Yarrow seemingly had the race sewn up between them until Wainman received an early Christmas present on the last lap when first Harrhy anticipated moves by both Yarrow and backmarker Rob Harrad that never materialised and then Yarrow’s car dramatically developed mechanical problems. All this handed the win on a plate to a delighted Wainman who smoked his tyres in time-honoured fashion as he crossed the line. Sworder’s victory burn-up was even more impressive after his commanding win in the Grand National event and a repeat next year with a few more cars to battle it out will be a ‘must-see’!