EXPO 2016 continued ….

The regular RTS classes all ended up on Saturday’s programme, with the exception of the Superstox, who raced on both days.

18 Superstox appeared, with 16 racing on Saturday and 15 on Sunday. The only white top starter, Ray Holloway, led the way in all three heats on Saturday before losing out in the closing stages. Sean Smith came out on top in the first two heats but was passed on the last lap in the third heat by another driver returning to RTS action, Nick Smith. The fourth heat, on Sunday, saw a full restart after Vince Foley came to a smoky stop; Stuart and Neil Moss emerged in front. Race five was the final, and unfortunately was run at a much reduced pace on a track left horribly greasy by the Bangers, Ray Holloway led all the way to take a well earned win, with yellow grader Darren Adams emerging in second from Stuart Moss, Dan Roots, Chris Berry, Steve Rickard and Richie Mead. The final race was an 8-lap “dash” although some confusion over the running order made some drivers think this was the final. More confusion followed as yellow came out, the two leaders spun under the yellows and the green was waved with Darren Adams well ahead of the pack, which was where he stayed.

The Stock Rods (no longer 1450 Hot Rods!) fielded a dozen cars and when RTS points champion Maison Waugh tried to line up at the back of the grid he found everyone else wanted to start behind him! Maison won the first heat but for the second heat and final the youngster closely followed Ricky Walker home. Ricky actually appeared to finish first and third in the final; we believe it was David Imber driving Ricky’s second car. Standlake regular Les Hatch took a very competitive fourth ahead of Helen Samways, Michael Benstead, Chris Tullett, returning to action in his Starlet, Calum Staines and another Standlake Prod A graduate, Justin Winfield, with John Smith and Mark Shirley completing the order.

The Euro Rods had a packed 26 car grid with several newcomers in the mix, and it wasn’t surprising that they never completed a race distance. The first heat was abandoned after two early stoppages with a large proportion of drivers not responding to the flags. Heat two was also red-flagged with Daniel Leathem awarded the win. The final ran non-stop, albeit over a reduced race distance as the day was running very late by this stage. Lee Hedger’s tidy new Peugeot 106 pulled out a big lead while John Morris came through to take second from Wesley Porter, while the rest of the star graders struggled to make much progress, Gary Thomas ending up eighth. Out of luck on their debut, but bound to make an impact on the class in future, were the eye-catching Corsas of Mark and Rob West, moving over from the 1450 Hot Rods.

The RTS Junior Hot Rods brought out a 15-car line-up, including a few visitors, although a couple of the visiting Spedeworth drivers were made to race with the grass cars instead. This was a meeting best forgotten for the Juniors as everything fell apart! The first heat was stopped and restarted with the leaders among the backmarkers; then Brian Stanney looked to be heading for victory but got spun out leaving Corben Lord to sidestep the chaos and win. The next two races were started in (apparently) Winter Series points order, which baffled most people, but heat two was flagged off after running more laps under yellows than green, with Corben in front all the way. The final was also interrupted by yellows and then stopped early but Steven chandler took the win from Coren Lord, with spedworth Micra driver Daniel Thompson in third from Brian Stanney, Harvey Hendy, Olly Turner, Sid Burton and Albert Webster, the Ninja Sprint ace making his car racing debut with a Citroen C2 and taking eighth ahead of Ben McGregor and Grayci-Lou Burbidge.

The Street Stox seem to be surrounded by controversy these days but turned out a respectable fifteen cars, including four newcomers. Trevor Drayner and Alex Martin won the heats and Alex led the shortened final all the way with Trevor second from Winter Series points leader Dan Rowson and Steve Austin. The two hire cars came in fifth and eighth with Matt McMahon and Dave Measday splitting them.

Replacing the regular classes on Sunday were Rookie Bangers and the Stansted Raceway Dirt Rods. The Banger racing can be summed up as fifty cars started the first race and by the end of the day only six made it out for the final! Heat wins went to Paul King in a Corsa and Lee Johnson in a Civic and the final to Jamie Vester in an Astra, while the field also included Invicta Class 2 regular Tristram Richardson in a Ka, who was one of the very last survivors. The Dirt Rods, which were much more Banger than Hot Rod in appearance, brought out 15 FWD cars, a mix of Fiestas, Escorts, Astras and a Civic, plus one RWD Granada Estate of Jack Deacon, who took the final win from Owen Charles’ Fiesta and Alec Hannay’s Astra.

Also joining in on Sunday were the “Euro Sprinters”, still racing in demo mode with former Class 8 man Bill Witherall among the four karts that have appeared so far.

Last but not least, the 420cc “Mini Super Two” Stock Cars were once more impressive with a well turned out 9-car field. Guest driver Matt Roach won the first race while regular Super Two contender Matt Clayton won heat two and the final, where he was closely followed by Courtney Smith, former V8 Late Model driver Kelvin Hassell, Matt Roach, Mark Saunders and Richard Stagg. The Super Twos now look set to become a welcome regular addition to the Rolling Thunder Show bill.