Cars roll at Cowdenbeath after holiday break

Jul 22 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE first meeting back after the holiday break proved to be quite a hectic one at the Cowdenbeath Racewall where two cars rolled.

First to go was Alan Ainslie in his saloon after he clashed with Chris Lattka and as his car veered across the track he was hit by Frankie Cunningham.

The other rollover came during the stock rod heats when Simon Lynch clipped a tyre and rolled going into the pit bend.

Gordon Alexander was spectating after being injured in a saloon shunt at Skegness whilst formula II driver Ally Noble was a worried spectator with Bryan Forrest behind the wheel after he too recovers from the injuries he suffered at Skegness.

There was only 20 formula IIs at the track with visitors Jack Brown and Sam Wagner in attendance. Local drivers included Garry Sime (Newtyle), Gavin Millar (Blairgowrie), Steve Donavan (Perth) and Holly Glen (Inchture).

Heat one saw George MacMillan go through to win from Kevin Smart and Paul Reid with Glen seventh and Sime in eighth place. Gordon Moodie then went through to win heat two leading home Robbie Dawson and Dennis Middler with Donavan in sixth and Glen in eighth.

The final saw Derek Gilchrist force his way into the lead on lap two with Middler taking over second the following lap.

Moodie got ahead of MacMillan but it was Dawson charging through the field. With six laps to run Gilchrist was under pressure from Dawson and when forced wide, dropped to third.

The final ended with Cunningham winning from Steve Webster whilst Shaun Webster was a few car lengths adrift.

Heat one saw Wightman go through to win from Karl Price and Ian Donaldson. In heat two Wightman crossed the finish line well clear of Price and Stuart Carter. In the final, Wightman picked up his third win from Carter and James Jamieson.

There was a good turn out of stock rods including the British Champion Stuart Fox and local drivers Craig Tosh (Perth), Andy Russell (Glenfarg) and Kerr Paterson (Gauldry).

Heat one ended with David Frame winning from David Philp and James Halkett with Paterson in fourth place. Fox then came home clear of Robert McDonald and Stewart Armit to win heat two with Paterson finishing in fifth place. Heat three ended with Ian Ostler going through to win from Philp and Martin McLean with Russell in tenth place.

The final ended up with Frame being challenged by Ostler for most of the time and when the chequer appeared Frame was still clear of Ostler by a small margin with Philp third to win the Jane Burt Memorial trophy with Paterson a close fourth.

This Saturday the formula II drivers are contesting their Scottish Championship with the defending champion John Fortune looking to retain his title.

However, he is going to have to be at his best if he is to do so as he fends off challenges from Chris Burgoyne, Gary Coffey, Robbie Dawson and George MacMillan.

The twos are backed up by the saloons and the prostox with the meeting starting at 6pm as usual.