GED'S OVERVIEW OF BELLE VUE 13th APRIL

Age : 55 Joined : 12 Feb 2007 Posts : 111

HI FOLKS!

Yet another excellent (and somewhat unusual in places) Startrax meeting at the Hyde Road Raceway.

Apart from a brief shower, the event was run in fine weather (yeah, I remember what fine weather was like).

Thirteen programmed races...that's some order at the best of times, but also on the menu was two "demo" races from the Modstox as members of the Swinton Car Project were in attendance.

So, fifteen races...and it was all done and dusted by 9.45pm. Great organisation from the crew, speedy recoveries and the pit fences didn't seem to take as long to put together as normal....is this the "new" method mentioned some time ago by the promotion?

The pits were full (well over 100 cars), a decent crowd and great racing in prospect as it was a WCQR for the Tooz and a WOS qualifier for the Wunz.
Several big names in attendance plus the "No Fear" Ministox brigade.

RACE 1
MODSTOX DEMO

9 cars gridded at 4.45pm (the unfortunate #93 not making it onto track in time).
The Reliant engined cars bore some resemblance to the Tooz, but obviously less power. However, they put on a good show, just needing more cars to make it a "proper" race. You can tell though that they could be very entertaining at a full blooded race meet.
#56 NEIL MACK had it all to himself really, overhauling the field within a few laps to take the win.

RESULT: 56,112,256,6,99,95,156,103,303
..................................................................................................

RACE 2
MINISTOX HEAT 1

I made it 26 on the track and the usual jousting prevailed. Yellows came out for #58 WILLIAM CLEMENT stalled on the straight. MITCHELL PEALL #324 stalled too and was collected, unfortunately, by the leader OLIVER HERTZOG #7. SAM JCKLIN #137 then found himself stradling a tractor tyre. The crowd were amused that on exiting his car, Sam was "not amused" and threw his neck brace at the car!!....don't think it was the car's fault somehow, Sam!
TOM BRADBURY #81 eventually took the win thro' all the carnage.

RESULT: 81,226,151,304,211,11,322,91,111,313
...................................................................................................

RACE 3
MODSTOX DEMO 2

#93 made it on track this time, but sadly retired very early in the race.
Another relatively easy win for Gold Top NEIL MACK #56 again. DAVE SHAW's #112 car was smoking very badly and finished further down the field this time, the remainder of the cars jostling for the minor positions.

RESULT: 56,256,156,95,12,6,112,103,303
..................................................................................................

RACE 4
F2 HEAT 1

Excellent opening race for the F2s with plenty of action which saw STEVE LAWRENCE #519 airborn over the tyres. Favourite BERT FINNIKIN #559 retired on the second lap. Little did we know that Bert's exit was to set the theme for most of the star graders at this meeting in all formulas...read on.
BRIAN HARRISON #89, who always goes well at the 'Vue, looked to have the race won, but was overtaken with just 2 laps remaining by BARRY GOLDIN #401, one of the very few star victors of the meeting.

RESULT: 401,89,70,431,347,13,905,802,225,494,728,236
..................................................................................................

RACE 5
F1 HEAT 1

You would have thought that with the numbers 515, 33, 260, 8 & 322 in amongst 20 cars, they would have figured high in the results, but as with the other F1 races it proved not the case.
Early in the race, FWJ #515 and BEZZ #260 hooked together and were badly delayed.
Waved yellows for #257 in the fence. At the restart, #411 and #212 were nose to tail for several laps until 411 fell behind and JUNIOR JUNIOR #212 found himself ramming the straight fence with JAMES NEACHELL #322.
SCOTT DAVIDS #462 then found himself in the lead and he held this to the flag hotly pursued by BRIAN WHALLEY #198. PAUL HINES #259 was the highest placed star man at 3rd.

RESULT: 462,198,259,152,515,352,212,260,411,142
.................................................................................................

RACE 6
F2 HEAT 2

ABSOLUTELY MENTAL!
32 CARS IN THIS ONE...TALK ABOUT "TOO MANY CARS ON TOO SMALL A TRACK"..absolute carnage ensued as drivers tried to drive through each other. #833 hit the fence, previous meeting's final winner CHRIS MITCHELL #219 was clobbered by GREG GODLEY #543.
A three car melee comprising #926, #299 and #597 tried "Strictly Come Dancing" which caused NEIL TURNER #926 to vault over a tractor tyre only to be prevented from overturning by the stationary MALCOLM DUCKETT #337 car on the infield. The #926 car propped itself up against the #337 car which was minding it's own business!
One of the best F2 races I've seen to date at the 'Vue...reminded me of "proper stock car racing" (sharp intake of breath)!!
Through all the warzone emerged DAVE BRENNAN #68 to take the win...another yellow grader. even GORDON MOODIE #7 found himself in bovver during the race.

RESULT: 68,606,348,554,440,241,975,7,362,224,702,599
..................................................................................................

RACE 7
MINISTOX HEAT 2

Another hectic outing for the youngsters, JACK ALDRIDGE #211 gaining a hat-trick during the evening as it would turn out (of 5th places!!)
Lots of bumper work yet again provided entertainment from the Mini brigade.

RESULT: 304,313,11,137,211,130,81,226,151,7
...................................................................................................

RACE 8
F1 HEAT 2

After the track was watered (yes, that's right!), the F1s raced their second session of their two-thirds format.
Again, no star victory, the laurels this time going to MARK POOLE #276, managing to keep ahead of STU SMITH #1 and FWJ #515.

RESULT: 276,1,515,192,152,493,257,84,265,249
.................................................................................................

RACE 9
F2 CONSOLATION

Another hectic affair from the Tooz. Race 9 and it's only 7 o'clock!!
Waved yellows for several stranded cars in precarious positions provided a good battle between #299 and #406 at the restart. It ended, unfortunately, after a few laps when #299 crunched the fence when trying to overtake the #406 machine...the latter car NOT giving way!
Good to see SIMON MAWDSLEY #406 back on track again after an injury sustained which had put him out of racing for some time. Simon was awarded with the heat win, chased (but not caught!) by TIM FARRELL #667 and BERT FINNIKIN #559.

RESULT: 406,667,559,369,662,748,600,101,145,977,233,735
.................................................................................................

RACE 10
F1 HEAT 3

A decent white top train comprising JUNIOR #212, LEE SMITH #76, and #411 spent the first few laps virtually nose to tail until #411 spun out, #212 met the fence (again) and #76 was black-flagged for a protruding bumper (ooh Matron!). Again, finding himself up front was yellow graded SCOTT DAVIDS #462 who held off JOFF GIBSON #249 seeking his second win in F1s at Belle Vue.

RESULT: 462,249,84,321,33,1,53,91,260,198
.................................................................................................

RACE 11
MINISTOX FINAL

Two bouts of waved yellows in this one..firstly for #324 starnded midtrack and secondly for KARL EMMETT #313 who thumped the fence and lost a wheel which went on the centre of the track.
Finding himself taking the chequered flag again for the second time in the meeting was JAMIE CONWAY #304, followed by a hard charging OLIVER HERTZOG #7.

RESULT: 304,7,226,11,211,151,136,91,46,80
.................................................................................................

RACE 12
F2 FINAL

I made it 37 cars on track (aagghh!) for this one and, yep, you've guessed it...complete bedlam. SIMON MAWDSLEY #406 once again held a decent lead until crashing out. DAVE HARLEY #362 will (not) like me mentioning he retired to the centre green on the first lap!...but there again, GORDON MOODIE #7 only lasted four more! BARRY GOLDIN #401 also became a casualty of the metal bending practices going on.
Sadly, DAVE BRENNAN #68 was thought to have won the race, but after much checking of the lap scoring, he was only found to have managed 6th.
At last a red top winner...all the way from Plymouth..TIM FARRELL #667.

RESULT: 667,440,478,224,600,68,559,406,599,241
..................................................................................................

RACE 13
F1 FINAL

Again a very hectic stock car race..many of the main protagonists falling by the wayside.
Sounds like the Aintree Grand National..
Out BEFORE the green flag #411 and #142
Eleven cars out by lap 3!
FWJ #515 out by lap 6!
Two sessions of waved yellows unfortunately seemed to spoil the race, although a late surge by STUART SMITH #1 trying to catch the leader added a bit of spice.
Oh, the leader? Well keeping a cool head until the chequered flag was a flying NIGEL WHALLEY #198 a very popular winner.

RESULT: 198,1,259,212,260,152,493,55,257,462
..................................................................................................

RACE 14
F2 GRAND NATIONAL

TIM FARRELL #667 took the lap handicap.
SIMON MAWDSLEY #406 again set off acting as the hare, being caught gradually by DAVE MASSEY #977 until fenced for his efforts by JON LAWRENCE #599.
Another good Tooz race, the win being gained by DAVE BRENNAN #68...shame about his previous race, otherwise it may well have been a hat-trick of wins.
Sorry, but only caught the first two in this one as the PA system started to falter (again).

RESULT: 68, 599....
.................................................................................................

RACE 15
F1 GRAND NATIONAL

After his efforts all night, he eventually did it! JOFF GIBSON #249 held off FWJ #515 to take another win at the 'Vue in his first season in the Big League. Along the way, though, he had to dispose of SCOTT DAVIDS #462 who was also looking for another winner's cheque, so fenceward Scott went to put him out with only two laps to go.
A good finish to the meeting..all done by 9.45pm.

RESULT: 249,515,55,192,1,152,259,84,260,321
.................................................................................................

So, another very enjoyable meeting at the 'Vue with some strange results along the way.
Plenty of action and good old stock car racinG.

Well done to the Startrax people again for providing the great entertainment in decent weather!

See you again soon!

Cheers,
GED

geek

Joined : 17 Nov 2007 Posts : 4

Ged,

F2 GN result was 599,559,667,13,101,348,662,494,748,365 68 did cross the line first but didnt start at back of grade

Subject: Re: GED'S OVERVIEW OF BELLE VUE 13th APRIL Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:44 pm

Age : 55 Joined : 12 Feb 2007 Posts : 111

Thanks for the updates guys.

Pity about #68...as I said the PA wasn't working at the time so I probably missed the result proper.

Sorry to hear about Dave, hope he's better soon and back on track entertaining us.

Cheers,
GED drunken

Subject: Re: GED'S OVERVIEW OF BELLE VUE 13th APRIL Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:00 am

Age : 47 Joined : 14 Feb 2007 Posts : 44

Great review again Ged and I have to agree that the meeting seemed to be run very slickly - even with the stoppages along the way.

Couple of points though - firstly reference to Danny Wainman as Junior Junior, come on mate he is young Franks brother, not his son and he is the only Daniel Wainman racing so he is Junior to no one - Just 212 Daniel Wainman in his own right.

As for 406 Simon Mawdsley making a comeback after a nasty injury, well I heard Gary make mention of this on Sunday over the P.A. as well, obviously Simon didn't make much of an impact last season on you guys but he did race at most of the Belle Vue meetings and at Sheffield too, he was laughing about Gary's comments in the pits on Sunday night LOL Very Happy

Age : 55 Joined : 12 Feb 2007 Posts : 111

HI!

Daniel Wainman it will be in future. I'm sure with more experience, he will soon be up there with t'other Wainman at the back of the grid.

I feel Daniel is trying a bit TOO hard at the moment and finds handling the V8 horses a little different to the Mini especially around the bends(!)....however it'll come in time. He certainly gets stuck in!

As for Simon in the F2s, I THOUGHT I had seen him at the 'Vue last year but assumed Gary knew more than I did...I'll get him at Buxton in November!

Missed Hayley #54 at the meeting...should be interesting when Georgia Neachell joins the F1s who will be the best laydee Wink

I MAY have to miss the next 'Vue as there's a clashing autograss fixture, but if the weather doesn't improve soon it may be cancelled so I could end up at the stox instead...watch this space.

Regards,
GED

jocolor

Subject: Re: GED'S OVERVIEW OF BELLE VUE 13th APRIL Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:54 pm

I have just noticed on the FTOOZ site the new gradings are on. Simon 406 has gone up to yellow now so GET THE YELLOW PAINT OUT bounce