RTS Swaffham 25 October 2025

ROLLING THUNDER SHOW ROUND 15

Swaffham Raceway

Saturday 25 October 2025

The penultimate meeting of the Rolling Thunder Show season brought out all the regular classes for the Saturday evening session. Although Swaffham Raceway was hosting a Sunday meeting as well, this time there was no crossover between the two days, apart from a few cars that raced as non-contact “Screamers” on Saturday and Bangers on Sunday! Although a threatening black cloud hung over the stadium, the rain held off apart from a few spots. The clocks were to go back that night, but the very dull skies meant darkness came early, and all the finals were held under the floodlights.

The main, and first, race of the evening was the Gold Roof Championship for the NINJA KARTS, with the thirteen starters lined up in qualifying points order in a stagged 1-1 formation grid. From pole position the reigning title holder Freddie Taber led away from Alfie Cole, who was already sporting the gold roof from the “other” Swaffham promotion. When they caught the first of the backmarkers, Riley Lynn took second from Alfie, with Freddie having a fair lead by that stage. Riley steadily closed in and, with around 7 of the 20 laps left, looked in a threatening position, but as they hit more traffic Freddie pulled away again and came home to claim a record equalling tenth championship in his Ninja Kart career. Riley chased him home in second, with Kian Waller Barrett taking third from Alfie Cole. Next up were Frankie Read and Alfie Bradford, with Daisy Mace also on the lead lap. Just lapped by the leaders at the end, Oakley Mace took eighth ahead of Tyrus Read, Charlie Sealy, Macie Dixon and Freddie Sealy, while Harry Plaice was the only retirement.

The second heat, back to a graded start, was led initially by Macie Dixon before Charlie Sealy took over and despite being caught going into the last lap, Charlie held on for a good win over Alfie Bradford, Oakley Mace and Harry Plaice, with Tyrus Read also in the lead bunch. This time the two gold roof drivers struggled to get through the traffic, Alfie Cole ending up seventh and Freddie Taber ninth, while Riley Lynn was flagged off as one of his wing sideplates came adrift. The final was another fast clean race, with every deriver deserving credit for a virtually incident-free meeting for the Ninjas. This time Macie Dixon held the lead for quite a while, but Alfie Bradford made it to the front and took a close win from Tyler Read, Harry Paice and Oakley Mace. Macie took fifth, just ahead of the battling Riley Lynn, Kian Waller-Barrett, Alfie Cole and Freddie Taber, while another close battle for tenth went to Daisy Mace from Charlie dealy, Logan Dixon, Frankie Read and Freddie Sealy.

The Junior 1 LITRE HOT RODS have gained a lot of support since the small grids earlier in the year, with support coming from as far afield as Hastings, Kent and Shropshire and this time eight cars turned out, including local newcomer Tommy Wilson in what looked like the ex-Riley Shackleford Micra, and regular Smallfield racer Mackenzie Lee Peters, having his first taste of hard surface racing. Starting up front were three more Smallfield regulars, who have been front runners in the 10-12 year old group at the Surrey dirt track, but have also been making their way regularly to Swaffham, Ritchie and Denny Murrell and Blake Pearson. Ritchie got away to lead the first heat all the way, while Blake in second was caught by Jack Hesmer, Issac Hanks and Harley Sagon. A chaotic finish resulted as they all came up to lap the two newcomers on the last corner; Jack just took second from Harley, Issac and Blake, while Tommy Wilson came off worst and had to retire for the day.

Next time out it was Blake Pearson who led them off and he built up a good lead as Issac, Jack and Harley caught the Murrell brothers. Jack took second with a lap to go and led Issac, Harley, Ritchie and Dennie over the line, with Mackenzie still on the lead lap after starting at the back. The final followed a similar pattern, with Blake building himself a safe lead as everyone else converged on second place. Ritchie Murrell had to pull off though, as did Harley Sagon after glancing off the armco, and Jack Hesmer took another second place from Dennie Murrell and Issac Hanks, with McKenzie Lee Peters in fifth.

The JUNIOR SCREAMERS, basically non-contact Junior Bangers, now regularly produce good grids and nine cars lined up, out of the total of 27 seen over the year. One newcomer joined the fray, Mathew Skinner in a 107/C1/Aygo, and was to have an “interesting” first outing. The Corsas of Logan Wick and Connor Broomfield took first and second in the first heat while Buddy Morphy’s Micra squeezed past Emily Gould’s similar car for third on the last corner. Second time out there was an aborted start as Mathew Skinner’s car struggled to get under way, but then Logan Wick and Connor Broomfield again battled for the win, with Logan holding off Connor and Buddy Morphy, before Connor livened the finish up with the popular Swaffham move of flicking the car over the inside kerb to put himself on his roof!

The final saw Buddy Morphy leading away, while Mathew Skinner had a spin in the first corner. Buddy pulled away for a clear win, with Connor holding off Loga Wick and Reuben Cunningham’s Micra for second. William Eve’s Corsa came next from Jaxon Skoyles, whose Micra was off its normal pace and Emily Gould, with Lacie Cunningham’s Micra retiring. Mathew Skinner was heading for a finish when he hit the kerb in the last corner and rolled across into the outside armco, emerging unscathed!

Only three LIGHTNING RODS appeared, and Nathan Tupper’s Sapphire pulled away in the first heat from a battle between Mark Collins’ Sierra and David Hearst, in the first BMW to appear in the class at Swaffham. Second time out Mark held off the others until, with three laps to go, he spun on the back straight. David took over to win as Nathan and Mark both made it slowly to the finish. Nathan pulled off on the first lap of the final and, aftrer a few side-by-side laps, David pulled away from Mark to win.

The MONDEO RODS have picked up support in the second half of the season, with three relative newcomers having already got themselves upgraded to yellow, where they were chasing first timer Jodie Rasburn, out in the Swampy hire car. Two of the Essex-based new boys, Shaye Hunter and Scott Wilson, in well turned out Mk2 Mondeos, pulled away from the other newcomers, Darrel Smith and Jodie, while most of the ten car field climbed over each other trying to dislodge Rodney Thurgill from fifth. By the end most of the field were fighting for third, with Shaye and Scott nearly a lap ahead. Darrel Smith held off Colin Gilbert, with Jodie Rasburn, Luke Holdsworth, Les Clarke (Swampy), Rodney Thurgill and Pirate Pete Barnes all together, while Julian Buck had pulled his misfiring car off the grid.

The second race was missing Shaye Hunter and Darrel Smith and this time Scott Wilson pulled away on his own to take the win. Luke Holdsworth was the first of the red graders to escape their usual traffic jam, and took second from Colin Gilbert, with Jodie holding fourth from Pirate Pete, Rodney and Swampy, with Julian Barnes finishing in a still very sick car.

Everyone except Julian made the final and Scott Wilson soon passed Jodie for the lead, then pulling out a big gap so that, once more, he was right behind the third place battle at the finish. His big lead didn’t count, though; Scott had been penalised two places for a jump start Shaye Hunter was awarded the win, with Luke Holdsworth promoted to second after just beating Colin Gilbert, Swampy and Pete Barnes. Jodie Rasburn was next and Rodney Thurgill brought up the rear after tangling with Darrel Smith in the closing stages, only just being missed by the race leader.

It was the last meeting of the year for the FWD HOT RODS, whose impressive points championship trophies were presented on track after their final. Just the four most regular contenders from this year lined up, but they still provided plenty of side-by-side racing. Tom Sagon, setting up the ex-Scott Davies Corsa that’s intended for Harley to use on his graduation from Juniors next year, led the first heat, coming under pressure from Chris Head and Chris Cole, until Chris Head finally got clear with four laps to go as Tom held off Chris Cole, with Ron Merrett struggling on the slippery track as the rain arrived.

In the second race Chris H and Chris C swapped places; it was Chris Cole who was first to pass Tom and he pulled away to win, with Tom holding off Chris Cole. The final saw the third winner of the day, as Tom held off Chris Cole all the way. Ron Merrett went well to fend off chris Head most of the way, with Chris eventually demoting the young Micra driver to fourth. The championship trophies saw Chris Cole taking first, Chris Head second and Ron Merrett a fine third in his first senior season.

Racing finished as usual with the SCRAPYARD SCREAMERS, with five cars turning out. The experienced Julian Meakins, in a Fiesta, ran away with the first heat as the Broomfield team’s four cars battled among themselves, Elise Broomfield’s Corsa taking second from Martin Broomfield’s Corsa, Colin Cator’s 106 and Kerry Thurgill’s Nissan Note. Julian was sent to the back for the second heat, catching the leaders towards the end but settling for third as Elise beat Colin for the win. In the final Colin’s Peugeot came out on top, chased by Julian, Elise, Kerry and Martin.