IT was a smooth dry night at Lochgelly Raceway with an efficient turnaround of races and some excellent racing as well, with all formula providing enjoyable races, writes our Raceway scribe Kevin McQueen.

The Ninja Karts were out in force with just under 30 of them in attendance including visiting driver Alfie Hosey in the number 80 kart.

It was a night to remember for young Jack Baird who scooped a hat trick of race victories that will no doubt propel him up the grades come the next grading period. Jack dominated each of his races and didn’t look like being caught, although Connie Anderson tried her hardest in the Whites and Yellows race at the beginning of the night, getting to within a few karts lengths of Jack.

The first main heat of the night was won by Bailey Millar, who was racing an unfamiliar kart with the European Championship being raced for at Aldershot the very next day. Rachel Kidd and Kenzie Bell were the next two in line, whilst 900 Kaitlyn Smart came home in a respectable 4th position.

Heat 2 of the night for the Ninja Karts saw the lower graded drivers take the plaudits as Jack Baird scooped his 2nd win of the evening, with Kaitlyn Smart finishing 2nd, with Rachel Kidd in 3rd place. The 3rd heat of the night saw ‘The Mob’ Junior drivers have a bit of a time of it, with Kenzie Kopacz spinning around and going backwards into the wall for the 2nd meeting in succession, whilst at the same corner Lewis Linton went for a flight over the infield kerbs and ending up beached on the kerb! The race was again won by Jack Baird.

A very big well done must go to our Scottish drivers that raced at Aldershot on the Sunday with three of the top four places going to Scottish based drivers, Bailey Millar finishing in 1st place to be crowned the 2019 European Champion, Rachel Kidd in 3rd place and Charlie Hardie finishing 4th.

The Junior Productions were in action for the second week in succession and again had a decent amount of cars. Koddi Wright was in top form as he raced from the back of the grid in the opening race of the night to overcome early pace setter Jensen Bell with around 5 laps remaining and take the race win.

Jack Beresford put a challenge on Jensen Bell in the closing laps but was unable to find away passed, with Jensen holding on for 2nd place with Jack Beresford finishing in 3rd. Heat 2 of the night saw Jensen Bell run into a spot of bother, first tangling with another driver on turn 2, dropping him back the order and losing a lap. That wasn’t the end of his trouble though as he crossed the line with smoke pouring from his car and upon stopping the car, had a small engine fire. Koddi Wright and Harvey Sneddon were the top 2 in this race. The final race of the evening for the Junior Productions seen Koddi complete a hat trick of race wins despite his car jumping out of gear at one stage allowing Harvey Sneddon to close the gap, with Jensen Bell rounding up the top 3 after some work in the pits to get the car back out on track!!

The Stock Rods saw a couple of new cars join in on the action, Gary Nicholls debuted his long awaited new car with a loan of an engine whilst he awaits his own engine getting built, and Pete Thomson also brought out his new car for the first time this season. Heat 1 was won by 248 David Crichton in what is his first race win of 2019, with Siobhan Martin finishing 2nd and Stewart Paterson in 3rd. The 2nd race of the night for the Stock Rods saw a fantastic battle for the lead with John Lee Green defending a solid inside line, resulting in eight cars racing bumper to bumper and 2 abreast around the track as they battled with each other and to try and overcome the lead car. John Lee Green held his nerve though and took a fine race win. Siobhan Martin took the final win, her 4th final win in successive meetings at Lochgelly Raceway, with Lattka finishing in 2nd and Ricky White 3rd.

The 2.0 Hot Rods as has become the norm for 2019, provided nail biting door to door action throughout the night. Newly promoted Brian Wilson showed his speed from the off and raced to a fine opening heat win. Brian Wilson ran into trouble in heat 2 after catching the fencing midway through the race resulting in a damaged front corner putting him out of the race. Ryan Adamson took a fine race win ahead of Kevin Stewart and Gary Black. The meeting final saw Kevin Stewart go one better and claim the race win in the final ahead of John Campbell and Gerry Hendry.

The Superstox saw which was arguably their best meeting of the season take place with no shortage of excellent racing. Allan Gibson brought out his reworked car for the first time in 2019 and seemed to have it on the pace reasonable quickly, scoring a few good positions throughout the night. Chris Miller was back in action after suffering an engine failure last weekend although missed the first race of the night. Adam Low was quick in the first heat and despite the European Champion Stuart Gilchrist getting through the pack quite quickly, was unable to make serious inroads into Adam's lead. Adam took the opening race win of the night in his Zetec powered car. Bryan Forrest made amends in the 2nd heat of the night though, after getting passed in the early stages of the race by Stuart Gilchrist, fought his way back through the pack to challenge Gilchrist and move into the lead of the race to take the win. The meeting final saw Bryan Forrest try to make the most of things in the early stages but saw a move go wrong which dropped him to the back of the grid somewhat behind the leading cars. Bryan swiftly fought his way back through the field, however, to finish in 3rd place, with only Gilchrist and Mark Dews finishing ahead of him.

This week we see a SPECIAL EVENT take place at Lochgelly Raceway, the 2019 staging of the Keir Millar Memorial and what a night it looks set to be. To start the day off with smiles, laughter and memories made forever, we have for the first time in Scotland the staging of a PUSH CAR RACE! Yes, a PUSH car race where the adults / older children get to push their smaller brothers, sisters, cousins, friends around the track in a 1 lap race around the quarter mile raceway. Due to the HUGE popularity of the event, we have had to split them into 2 races with almost 70 teams entering the event!! The grand parade for the push car race will take place between 1530 and 1555 with the first of the 2 shootout races taking place at 1600!! Ensure you are there sharp to witness this event!! Following on from that, the serious racing will commence as the Ministox race for the final of the Keir Millar Memorial Event with the winner being presented with the prestigious trophy that they all want to win. We have over 30 cars booked in for the Ministox so its going to be a lively event as it is the title that every driver will want to win.