News/ Results page

Welcome to the news and results section where you will find the latest news and results from this seasons race meetings.

       
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21/07/02

           The defending Stock Rod World Stock Rod Champion Alastair Calvin lost his crown to fellow Irish driver Alan Connolly at the Northampton International Raceway. Qualifying heats put Connolly on pole for the World final grid while Calvin was on the third row. Connolly completely dominated the race with Calvin losing out to Scotland’s Gillian Philp for the runner up spot. Calvin had to settle for an excellent third place.

18/07/02

            Davy McCall reclaimed the National Hot Rod Championship twelve years after his last shock victory in 1990 at the Foxhall Heath Raceway Ipswich.  Keith Martin had to settle for runner up to McCall in a carbon copy of the 1990 final.  Davy sent shockwaves around the stadium with a blistering 14.62 qualifying lap time knocking Keith Martin into second on the grid with his best time of 14.66.  European champion Mark Willis netted third spot with a time of 14.67 while the defending champion John Steward was pushed back to fourth on the grid with a time of 14.68.

            Cue the 2002 National Hot Rod World Final.  All the drivers got off to a clean start with McCall and Martin racing side by side over the first couple of laps.  Martin managed to slip in behind McCall and kept the pressure on.   It wasn’t long until McCall started to pull out a lead over Martin with Willis third and Steward fourth.  The race settled down with no real incidents but things livened up further down the placings.  Phil Spink who started in twenty ninth place was on a charge as he battled his way up into the top ten.   Gary Woolsey was in fifth but a race long battle with Carl Boardley ended in Boardley’s favour.  Tom Casey came good and held on in sixth.  At the front McCall was keeping a few car lengths ahead of Martin who in turn was a quarter of a lap ahead of Willis in third.  With eleven laps to go Woolsey was hassled by Casey who in turn was under pressure from Spinks.  With nine to go Spinks was past both and went all out after Steward, Boardley and Willis.  Steward later retired from the race while Spinks was still on a charge.  In all the excitement Spinks knocked into Willis who in turn got tangled with Boardley.  Boardley came out of the melee in front with Willis and Spinks next to go through.  As the laps ran out a jubilant McCall crossed the finish line to lift the World Crown for the second time.   Martin gave it his all to take another excellent runner up spot.  Boardley clinched third ahead of Willis.  Casey was placed fifth after Spinks was docked two places for his incident with Willis.  Woolsey, Dave Longhurst, Neville Stanley and Chris Haird completed the top ten.

            Stewart Doak and Wayne Woolsey had heat victories in the support races.   World Stock Rod Champion Alastair Calvin was runner up in the European Challenge Cup.  Calvin was in great form as he battled through to clinch runner up spot at the finish line.

            It was a fantastic weekend of racing with all the local drivers giving a good account of themselves.  McCall’s victory left the rest wondering what they have to do to beat the new world Champion.

                click here for National Hot Rod World Championship Results + Photos

07/07/02

           Four local National Hot Rod drivers will take on the best in the World Championship at Ipswich this weekend. Keith Martin jumps up the favourites ladder after his recent win in the Thunder 500 at the Foxhall Raceway driving his Ford Focus. Gary Woolsey is back in his Vauxhall Corsa along with Davy McCall in his Peugeot 206. Andrew Murray completes the quartet of qualifiers racing his Peugeot 206. There will be stiff opposition from the current World Champion John Steward, Mark Willis and Malcolm Blackman. The local men always go well at Ipswich and hopes are high that the title will come back home with one of them. Wayne McClure debuted his new Peugeot 206 on Saturday night and will go to Ipswich to take part in the National Hot Rod support races along with Stewart Doak, Ronnie McMillan, Norman and Wayne Woolsey. Clive Richardson will take delivery of his new Hot Rod in England, which will probably be a Mitsubishi Colt and will also take part in the support races. In the 2 Ltr Hot Rods Davy Hearst, Alvin Doak, Alan Wilson, John Murray, Davy Potter and Jeff Richardson will compete in the European Masters. In the Lightning Rods Stephen Emerson and Mark Madill will race for the Budweiser 500 Championship. Markethills World Stock Rod Champion Alastair Calvin and Alan Connolly will compete in the Stock Rod European Challenge Cup.  The twenty strong competitors are sure to serve up some excellent action for the hundreds of local fans that are making the annual trip to the Championships.

27/06/02

"Shorty" Davy Crossett won the Ramp Rollover Competition held at Nutts Corner Raceway.

24/06/02

Keith Martin won the Thunder 500 Championship for National Hot Rods at Ipswich at the weekend!!

20/06/02

Billy Batten proved to be the master once again with a superb drive to lift the FII Challenge Championship at Nutts Corner Raceway.  Sean Ward, Gary Beggs and Ian Thompson scooped wins in the heats before the big one.  The championship had barely started when young Craig McConnell hit the fence bringing out the reds.  At attempt two defending champion Bryan Tootell and George Fegan tangled, then Andy Stewart hit the fence, which again brought a halt to the proceedings.  Ward was first to hit the front at the off with Paddy McAtamney and Beggs in tow.  Down the pack there was high-speed action as Batten, World Champion Daz Kitson and the Kelly brothers Graham and Stuart all diced for places.  Kitson was thundering through like a rocket getting up to third when he some how careered out losing a wheel which brought the race to another halt.  Wards lead had now vanished as he led the pack away to another start.  Beggs and G Kelly were still holding on but the old master Batten was starting to pressurise the front men.  Beggs spun out Ward but lost out himself as Batten, G Kelly, Thompson and Jeff Minish rolled by.  The chequered flag was soon in sight for Batten as he romped home to a magnificent victory over G Kelly, Thompson, Minish, Gordon Moody, Barry Golden, Darren McKinstry and Trevor Moore.

         Kitson made amends in the Grand National with a great drive to win his first race in Ireland.   Thompson kept him in sight to finish second with Batten racing into a great third.

16/06/02

09/06/02

Double Formula II World Champion Daz Kitson heads a star studded line up of English and Scottish drivers who are expected at Nutts Corner Raceway to fight for Championship honours in the Formula II Challenge. The event takes place on Wednesday 19th June.

The action will continue at Ballymena Raceway on Friday 21st when the drivers will contest the Formula II Irish Open Championship.

26/05/02

A minutes silence was held at Shamrock Park on Saturday night for former oval racer Robert Hearst. Robert the brother of current racers David and Andy passed away on monday in Newry Hospital. Deepest Sympathy is extended to the Hearst family from all in the sport. 

Marcus Watt will enter an ex Davy Hearst car into the Stock Saloons soon.

Robert Cairns will soon be back in the Senior Productions after being out of racing for over a year.

Thanks to English Lightning Rod drivers Richard Boulton, Leyland Marsden and Dale Atkinson for making the trip to Shamrock Park to compete in the British Championship.

Colin Hamill has purchased Jason Winnings old FII and will return to action at Nutts Corner soon!!

19/05/02

Reigning British Lightning Rod champion Kenny Robinson will have a fight on his hands to hold onto his title this weekend. The big two day clash at Shamrock Park on Friday and Saturday night will see top class Lightning Rod action. Top English drivers will challenge the very strong local drivers. Action on both nights gets underway at 7.15pm.

Killylea Man Matthew Quinn will soon be out in his new Gordon Alexander built
Sierra Stock Saloon.

Winston Weir made a surprise return to the Stock Saloons at Shamrock Park on Saturday night when he competed in the British Masters Championship.

12/05/02

     World Champion Steve Santry leads a star-studded line up of Stock Saloon drivers from England and Scotland who will be taking part in the British Masters Championship.  Eleven overseas drivers are making the trip with local interest in the class at its highest level for years with over fifteen drivers now competing.  Can David Hearst or Stuart McCammon wrestle the title from Scottish ace and reigning Masters Champion Gordon Alexander?  McCammon was an excellent runner up in last years championship, can he go one better on Saturday?  A twenty six car grid is anticipated for the big contact formula showdown and it should not be missed!!!   Junior and Senior Productions, 2 Ltr Hot Rods, Lightning Rods and Bangers are also on the packed programme.  Racing kicks off at 7.15pm sharp.

05/05/02

Sole representative from N. Ireland at the British Stock Saloon Championship Stuart McCammon crashed out in practice damaging his ribs and putting him out of action for a couple of weeks.

Stock Saloon driver Brian Houston crashed into the fence at Shamrock Park and will also be out of action for a couple of weeks having damaged his back in the incident.

Davy Potter and Paul Creggan both debuted their new 2Ltr Hot Rods at Shamrock Park on Saturday night.

28/04/02

Newry man Geordie Smith was racing a Ford Ka 2Ltr Hot Rod at Shamrock Park on Saturday night. This is the first time one has been seen in Northern Ireland. the car is for sale if anyone is interested.

Stock Rod World Champion Alastair Calvin will return to action at Balltymena raceway on Friday 10th May.

26/04/02

Mark McKinstry returned to Nutts Corner Raceway in the Production Cars and brought the class back to life with a bang.

Ryan Abernethy will be out on 10th May @ Ballymena in his new state of the art Stock Rod.

All classes are expanding rapidly with loads of new cars and new drivers to swell the grids. Kells ace Ronnie McMillan debuts his new Mitsubishi Colt National Hot Rod this season. fans will have to wait for the other exciting addition to the class when Wayne McClure from Poyntzpass enters the fray in his new Peugeot 206.

      Ian Heatrick, David Grattan, Joe Best, Tony Loftus and Chris Foster are just some of the drivers moving into the ORC Lightning Rods for the new season.

      Davy McCall, Wayne McClure, Ronnie McMillan and Norman Woolsey will all race in both the National and 2Ltr Hot Rods this year.!!

      Thats all for now!!    Check Back soon!!

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