Congratulations to Incarace driver Frankie Cunningham (87) who will now be sporting the gold roof having won the 2012 Lightning Rod Championship of the World at Northampton International Raceway on 2nd September.

Frankie took the title following a 2 place docking for former World Champion, Northern Ireland's Stephen Emerson following an early race coming together with leader at the time Gordon McKee (947).

33 cars assembled with all promotions running Lightning Rods represented, the grid positions for heat one drawn out of the hat and that grid reversed for heat two with the top scorers starting at the front of the main race.

Heat one saw an early end for title holder 267 Gary Greenland’s hopes as a tangle with 416 Diggy Smith and 28 Phil Manning saw him spin across the back straight where he was collected heavily by 51 Andy King. It didn’t take Emerson long to burst past front row men 846 Lindsay Wilson and 730 Mike Daniels and from then on he was away and gone for a clear win, Cunningham starting well with third behind Daniels while McKee showed his potential right away with a charge through the field to fourth, other casualties being 346 Andy Brown and 924 Mervyn Emerson with engine failures and 67 Chas Farrer who crashed out although he and King repaired for heat two.

The second race saw former gold top 636 Lee Skoyles in dominant form and the Spedeworth man led home Irishmen 926 David Hearst and 917 Aaron Stewart who forced their way past 368 Steve Santry at mid-distance. McKee was in the top ten again and he secured pole for the big race with Emerson alongside with the Irish almost locking out the first three rows save for Skoyles and Cunningham, Diggy back on row seven of the 28-car grid.

McKee went into an early lead but after around five laps Emerson tapped the back of the 947 car and forced him wide exiting turn four to take up the running. 386 Marcus Gridley was the first retirement before Smith reacted to being spun out by 342 Ben Kerry by picking up his assailant and performing a Banger-style move on turn one, wrecking both cars and earning instant disqualification for the British champion.

Cunningham got past McKee for second on the restart but Emerson was already clear at this stage, while McKee dropped behind Skoyles but forced the Englishman wide to retake third and the Spedeworth driver dropped down the order. Emerson was already celebrating as he negotiated the last lap but his joy proved shortlived and Cunningham inherited the title to become the first Scottish Lightning Rod gold top, McKee and Hearst next after Emerson excluded himself from the result while top Englishman home was National champion 355 Mick Walker.

All cars have passed the post race scrutineering checks, so the result is confirmed.

So, well done to the much-travelled Frankie Cunningham, I am sure he will carry the gold roof with great pride.