Depending on how you like your NATIONAL HOT ROD racing you either left Foxhall feeling like it had been a cracker for sheer thrills & spills or alternatively you could have been forgiven for asking the question “Are you Superstox in disguise?” writes Kevin Wegg.
There is no doubt the crowd had their money’s worth in terms of drama & excitement with another excellent entry. Russell Wilcox took an accomplished win in the first with Dick Hillard having the first of two particularly impressive drives to come home second. Danny Fiske’s third place was equally memorable although his approach was to be later questioned in what was set to become an explosive final.
Ben Taylor was undoubtedly looking ballistic when be crossed the line first to seemingly win heat two by nearly half a lap however the second of what looked like two Superstox-style taps on leader Paul Frost cost him dear, not to mention poor Frost who was shuffled right down the pack. Second-placed Colin Gomm’s impersonation of a V8 Stock Car as a result of a problematic silencer half-way round was surprisingly rewarded with the win rather than a technical disqualification although again, that takes nothing away from a determined effort around the outside of Tommy Maxwell to set up the possibility in the first place. Gavin Taber was another laying out his credentials with his second heat victory at Foxhall in as many meetings during heat three. Danny Fiske entertained with his attempts at passing Jack Blood on the outside and he appeared to have nailed it only to slide wide.
Chris Haird was an early retiree in the final soon to be joined by Gomm after a race-stopping shunt, but all eyes were on Terry Hunn who had roared across and stopped at an angle in front of Fiske. He jumped out to remonstrate, outlining how unhappy he was about Danny apparently tapping him throughout the evening. From the restart Taylor was again like lightning and never looked like being caught only for Maxwell to spin and create a mid–track blockage with Shane Bereton and Jason Kew for which Kym Weaver was disqualified. Just fifteen cars were left on track, Taylor this time keeping the win with Hillard right on the money again in second and Paul Frost third.
The LADIES did themselves proud in the first such BANGER event for many years. Cassie Smith was good value throughout spinning all and sundry to take the lead in the first before Emma Mancini turned the tables only to then perish herself. Melissa Berry went on to take a notable win on her first appearance for eight years! Race two will be forever remembered as the time the abandoned car of Mancini was punted towards the Pace Car on the centre green, thankfully missing it by inches but entangling itself at speed with the speedway water truck! Lois Elms had been the unfortunate driver to instigate the bizarre chain of events after a high-speed tangle. Tracey Griggs took full advantage to take a classy, debut-making win much to the delight of her assembled fan club! In her last-ever race after many years on the ovals Caroline ‘Dizzy’ Tillett fulfilled her dream of winning at Foxhall much to the delight of young banner-waving race fans in the Grandstand, whilst Mancini took some consolation for her earlier efforts with second and Sarah Taylor third place.
A tight finish in heat one for the 2.0 HOT RODS saw Martin Codling take it with Mark Willis in his typical no-nonsense style muscling his way up to second with Kevin Randell in third. Randell had the last laugh in the final though quickly catching the leading pairing of heat two winner Dan Payne and Daniel Bennett. Tommy Miller found himself heading toward the armco at speed after a clash with Daniel Smith down the back straight which both snared and looked costly for Ben Murray. Bennett appeared to be caught napping at the restart allowing Randell to easily slip past on the inside as the cars crossed the line and he was away, whilst further behind second-placed Willis netted a black cross as did Dale Atkins for helping Bennett in to the corner to leave the eventual 1-2-3 as Randell, Codling and Ian Sutton.