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Race Reports
2009
Speedworth Meeting: Wimbledon 6th.Dec 2009 - London MiniStox Open Championship
Big event and many miles to travel. We went up Saturday afternoon without the aid of SatNav ! We got lost trying to find our accommodation which was about an hour outside London. Pouring with rain again. Sunday morning we found Wimbledon but got stuck in Christmas shoppers traffic and without SatNav again - got lost. The meeting was impressive and started at 6.30pm. We were thinking we should be back home getting ready for school instead of just starting a meeting! Top drivers from all over the country turned out and everywhere we looked were MiniStox champs, points champs, Scottish champs, South Eastern Champs etc. so we weren't expecting too much. Thats exactly it - the racing was ferocious with Andrew and the other Autospeed drivers taking a battering. The Championship Final saw Andrew forced wide coming out of a bend and hitting a stranded Ashley and on spinning collected Adam O'Dell. The race was stopped to clear the wreckage and a very busy repair session began. Thanks to Garrys dad for lots of welding to the front of Andrews car helped Andrew get out for the consolation race. (Due to an accident in one of the other races this didn't start until about 10.20pm with some of the Autospeed drivers travelling back for work and school the next day!!) Again the race was fierce and Andrew again was hit and left stranded in a very dodgy position for the rest of the race. So we returned home with lots of damage to repair over Christmas.
ps. Dads thinking of having a SatNav for Christmas!
Autospeed Meeting: Taunton: 29th.Nov 2009
Twenty cars assembled for the last MiniStox meeting of the year for Autospeed with a few visiting drivers coming along for a last thrash as the season closes. In Heat 1 visitor Ollie Skeels 124 took the flag but was docked a place for a jumped start. Similar happened in Heat 2 with both Parker and Claydon both jumping starts and the eventual winner being 156 Geaorge Boult. The Final went to Ollie Skeels taking the track championship with Boult runner up and Dale third. This was a meeting to forget as far as weather - it rained and rained and rained ----------------.
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 1st.Nov 2009 - Bonfire meeting
No pre-race practice due to extensive flooding on the back straight. The track staff worked very hard to clear it up just in time for 1.00pm start - WELL DONE! Heat 1 went to Josh Davy - a debut win at St.Day. followed home by Paul and Hannah. Heat 2 was a win for Dale Moon 960 with Andrew runner-up. The Final went again to Dale with 995 Ben Goddard following in second and Andrew close third. I'm still having serious problems with my spare engine and it looks like more work for Dad over the next few weeks.
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 18th.Oct 2009
Heat 1 again to Ashley Rice with Andrew 8th. Heat 2 went to a good friend Paul Moss 979 with Andrew improving in seventh place. Unfortunately my engine decided to start rattling in a big way and this meant loading up for some work back at home. The Final went again to Ashley with Sam Mathews in my old car second and garry Sillifant third.
Re-grading for the remainder of the year is as follows: 938 Ashley Rice up to red, 907 Ben Sillifant and 979 Paul Moss up to blue and Sam Mathews up to yellow top - all Well Done!
Autospeed meeting: Taunton: 11th.Oct 2009
This was the penultimate meeting for MiniStox at Taunton for 2009. As Andrew has lost a bit of steam over the past few meetings he's been down graded to blue top and for the first time we both start the same postions on the grid! Heat wins for 991 Ryan Hoskin and 938 Ashley Rice and a brilliant Final win for Ashley again, who's going very well late in the season.
Autospeed Meeting: Taunton: 31st.Aug 2009 - Devon MiniStox Championship
Without any break it was up to Taunton the following day for the Devon MiniStox Championship. Good job Mom was at home holding the fort! This meeting went to the visiting drivers BIG-TIME! 104 Joe Parker took Heats 1 & 2 with Ollie Skeels 124 taking the Championship Final. Sad note - last meeting for local driver Jason Cox 971 from Hayle due to upper age limit (reaching 16 years old).
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 30th.Aug 2009 - Cornish MiniStox Championship
After a seven week break (fortunately following a busy period on the holiday park) we were looking forward to this big meeting. Running alongside the BLOCKBUSTA National Bangers it makes a great afternoon and attracted a big crowd. Lots of drivers from up country came down to challenge the locals and as expected went away with the silver. Heat 1 went to 149 Todd Payne and Heat 2 going to local Ashley Prisk. The Championship final went to 167 James Meadows with runner-up 171 Adam O'Dell and local 971 Jason Cox finishing third.
Autospeed Meeting: Westworld - St.Columb: 7th.July 2009 - Tuesday 7.30pm
This was an evening event we were all looking forward to. Even Ben (Goddard) living at Burnham on Sea turned up! We were supporting act for the big night of Bangers and F2 stockcars but what a lot of fun. Heat1 went to Amy who showed an instant liking for the track. Heat 2 went to Ashley Prisk - a local driver but new to MiniStox.The best race was the Final under track lighting and started late in the evening - yes it was a big occasion. It started with a bit of pushing and shoving under the yellow flag and was re-started. Andrew got spun by Dale - the eventual winner, leaving him stranded middle of track coming out of the corner. Poor Hannah was unsighted and a heavy collision resulted. I think Andrew came of worse with a shattered clutch housing although they were both removed from the track on suspended tow. In the re-start I got a bit carried away and cut one corner a bit tight ripping off the exhaust. With all the noise I decided to pull in just in case. Westworld is a great track - seems a pity its going to be lost to developers later this year. By the way, Ben got home sometime about 2.30am and then school next day! (well - what else would he do?)
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 5th.July 2009 - Fancy Dress Parade for MiniStox drivers
Today all the fun was getting ready for the Fancy Dress Parade. On the left below we have Cap'n Hannah with cut-throat Garry who won the first two heats in his new (and need I say very quick) car! Below right is the Real STIG ! posing as Dale Moon with Andrew - a naughty school kid and me as strict teacher following. Winning the Final and completing the Sillifant hat-trick was Garry's younger bruv - Ben, on his debut at St.Day.
 
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 24th.May 2009 - Bank Holiday Sunday
We were all here to see the coach racing today! Lovely sunshine made a change from last meet. First heat went to Dale with lewis 2nd, me (Adam) 3rd and Andrew 4th almost pushing me over the line. Lewis was back in his old car after last weeks disaster in Vicky Butchers old car - just couldn't get it to work at all - must only like lady drivers! Heat 2 went to Ashley with me coming in 6th and Andrew got lost - took the wrong turn I think! The Final was re-started a couple of times. Firstly because the red tops thought it a good idea to pass all the blue tops under yellow flag! Then about second lap Garry was spun and Ashley ripped a wheel off trying to avoid him. Dale captured the winning trophy with me 4th and Andrew finding his way home in 6th place. Then there was the coach final with Hannah's dad nearly clinching a win from Paul's dad who won it last year as well I think??
Autospeed Meeting: Taunton: 17th.May 2009
Don't ask about the weather! Wet, wet and more wet! We enjoy this track in the dry but 'it' don't like us in the rain. Anyway - Heat1 started with 11 cars and was won by Ryan with Dale taking second and Hannah joining the fun in 3rd place.(we finished - somewhere!) Still in the pouring rain Heat 2 got under way and saw Ashley (938) take a fine win. A very pleasing 2nd for Dan 'the man' Quartley 926 and Garry taking 3rd spot. The Final started with no rain but still very slippery track. Drivers control was astonishing under such conditions but you might guess a mix up on the finish straight saw a stranded Lewis clobbered further by speedy Dale who had no where to go. Fortunately no injuries and the race restarted with Hannah in the lead from Garry, Ben, Paul, Dan and Andrew. Andrew spun out at first corner leaving a runnaway Hannah taking the win. Behind her a great race between Ben and Garry to the last bend when Ben slid wide and let Dale through to pinch a very close 3rd spot.
At the end of the second re-grading period new roof colours were announced. Up to red go Jason, Ben and Andrew. Down to blue go Garry, Hannah and me (Adam).
Autospeed Meeting: Taunton: 4th.May 2009
Practice was lousy for Andrew causing Dad more work by checking the engine. We found the throttle fouling and was only opening half way! It dawned on us Andrew had raced yesterday with this problem! This was fixed a bit quick and Andrew found the pace he'd been lacking. First two places in heat 1 went to visiting drivers with Jason just making third on the line, albeit spinning, by a nudge from Andrew who was fourth. Andrew broke free from the pack in heat 2 but was caught and passed by a visiting red top. Meanwhile I was getting the feel for the track and matching speed with some of the quicker drivers. Andrew finished second. The Final had Andrew and Lewis lock horns early on. Andrew continued at the back of the pack but Lewis lost drive and was out. While I was having my own battle with Hannah and Garry, Andrew caught and passed us. I tagged on behind him and we finished 7th. and 8th. which was a good comeback for Andrew. Jason won with Ben and Ashley second and third. Dads now got more work on Andrews car which took a hard knock in the rear from someone??
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 3rd.May 2009
At last Dad managed to finish the long awaited new car for me - see pic. A couple of London drivers here today who are expected to move on to Smeatharpe for tomorrows meeting. In heat 1 Andrew charged off in front looking likely to win. Lewis had different ideas and from nowhere passed him on the back straight to hold for the flag. This was Lewis' first win in MiniStox! Heat 2 looked similar to the first heat but after taking the flag the scrutineers decended on the top three places. After a long wait they decided that Lewis' car was lower than allowed and was disqualified. It must have been a hard decision for them to make as accident damage interferred with the measuring point. We all felt so sorry for Lewis. The disqualification elevated Ryan for the win with Andrew 2nd and an excellent 3rd for 'white top' Phil Chapman. The Final saw Andrew eased out of contention and into the fence suffering a locked front wheel. I battled on with Hannah who was flying today but the win went to Ryan with Jason 2nd and Lewis 3rd. This was a real good meeting for Lewis despite the heat 2 saga.
Autospeed Meeting: St.Day: 12th.April 2009
Heat 1 gave a bit of advantage to Andrew starting towards the front under yellow roof. He took the lead quite early but the charging Ryan Hoskin soon caught up and spun him out in lap 6. Ryan went on to win followed by Paul Moss and Dale Moon. Heat 2 Andrew took the lead again and this time built up a good lead to safely take the flag with Ryan and Lewis 2nd and 3rd. Andrew lost time getting past Lewis in the Final giving Amy a chance to catch them up. She took the lead to win with Andrew close 2nd and Ryan 3rd. The three new red tops (me included) certainly found things a bit different at the back now! |
