Perthshire drivers in action at Cowdenbeath Racewall

May 28 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ANYONE expecting stock car drivers in the Saloon category at Cowdenbeath Racewall to ease up ahead of their European championship were sadly mistaken.

In the Saloons, Stuart Shevill returned to the action using his son’s vehicle, only for it to burst into flames during one of the heats.

The small blaze was quickly extinguished by officials when the car eventually came to a standstill.

Then Chris Lattka and David Aldous tangled, with Lattka’s car ending-up stranded on top of the infield gate.

In the Formula IIs, Robbie Dawson rolled after hitting the wall and, at the start of their final, there was contact galore, resulting in the race having to be stopped with quite a few drivers sidelined.

On Saturday night, the first day of a two-day weekend showpiece, there were 23 Formula IIs in action, with Garry Sime (Newtyle) and Holly Glen (Inchture) amongst the field.

The opening heat saw Chris Burgoyne go through to win from Gordon Moodie and Sime, Burgoyne won the second heat from Sime and George MacMillan.

After a couple of attempts to get the final going, Moodie charged through the field to win from MacMillan, Dawson and Sime – with Glen in ninth place.

In the Grand National, Dawson rolled his car before Jon Palmer went through to win from MacMillan and Tom Adcroft – Glen finished in ninth once more.

The Ministox drivers were on top form and entertained throughout.

The Saloons were split into four groups, with each driver racing three times.

Local interest centred around Ian and Neil McLaughlin (Auchterarder).

Heat one went to Stevie Honeyman, who led home Shane Brown and Luke Grief with N McLaughlin in eighth place.

The second installment went to Brown, who was followed home by Craig Barnett, Stuart Shevill Jnr and I McLaughlin.

Willie Skoyles crossed the line to win heat three, ahead of I McLaughlin and C Barnett.

The fourth and final race ended with the Lang Toon’s I McLaughlin winning from David Aldous and Brown, with Russell in tenth place.

The grid for Sunday’s European championship had Brown and I McLaughlin sharing the front row. Aldous triumphed in the showpiece occasion from Lattka and Brown – I McLaughlin crossed the line in fifth and N McLaughlin in ninth.

The Raymond Gunn tribute race ended with victory for Stevie Honeyman.

The ‘dash for the cash’ had a total prize fund of over £1000 and this time Brown dominated the race to win, while Kyle Hegg ended-up winning the white/yellow prize.

On Saturday (May 29) the Formula IIs and the Minis compete for their respective Scottish Championships, and the lightning Rods, as well as the and two-litre Bangers are also in action.

The Cowdenbeath meeting starts at 6pm.