Track and facilities improvements continue at pace

It has been a remarkable 10 years at Lochgelly with the track starting off as an independent track in it’s opening season before it joined the ORCi in Association with Spedeworth Motorsports.

A lot of credit must go to Kenzie Law and Wullie Peters, who were the two people behind the original Lochgelly Raceway, before Hardie Race Promotions took over the running a few years later.

Since 2010, the track has developed continuously with a number of improvements taking place at the venue year upon year.

From the tarring of the pits, to the scrutineering shed and the building of a bar and shower block for overnight campers. Over the last year, further developments have taken place at the track with the demolition of one of the old stands with a replacement being built to accommodate more people, offering more panoramic and unobstructed views of the raceway, as well as being more enclosed ensuring that an upturn in atmosphere is had at the stadium. The new grandstand is set to incorporate an all new set of toilets and see a re-location of the track shop once complete.

As soon as the 2019 season ended, the team at Lochgelly Raceway started working on FURTHER improvements at the stadium with a first in the United Kingdom since the demise of Wimbledon, a tunnel into the raceway!!

This isn’t just any tunnel, however, it stretches the full length of the pit lane and is sure to be appreciated by the drivers come major events! The tunnel will only be used for cars entering the track, with a lane available in the pit lane for cars exiting the track as well. How good will the National Hot Rods sound in April as they compete for their European Championship, or even the BriSCA F1 Stock Cars in June?

A new plan has been executed with a view of gaining further recognition for sponsors and advertisers at Lochgelly Raceway! We want to make the 10th anniversary year of Lochgelly Raceway great! Not just for racing, but for spectators, sponsors and advertisers. There is no better time to get involved with the team at Lochgelly. Let us help you get your brand noticed!

It has been a busy winter with a lot of things going on behind the scenes including negotiations with GMP around 1300 Stock Cars and 2.0 Saloon Stock Cars, which unfortunately didn’t come to the result that we had all hoped for. The 1300 Stock Cars, however, will only be racing at Lochgelly in the 2020 season and with an influx of drivers returning to the 1300 Stock Car Association, it looks set to be an excellent year for the formula, topped off with the HRP hosting 1300 World Championship in September!

Early signs for a number of formula are certainly positive with an uptake in licence applications for the Superstox, National Bangers, Junior Productions and 1300 Stock Cars compared to previous seasons. A handful of new drivers joining the Superstox ranks will add to an already healthy field of cars, and it won’t be unusual to see 20+ cars take to the track throughout the season. The bumper happy open class formula are no stranger to action at Lochgelly Raceway and with more cars on track, the racing looks set to be better than ever!!

The Junior Production formula has seen a large number of newcomers come into the formula, with several new licence applications already being submitted, with more anticipated given the huge amount of interest in the formula over the winter months. It is anticipated that the Junior Production class may well see 20+ registered drivers for the first time which can be seen as a roaring success for a formula that is only a couple of years old in Scotland.

The 1300 Stock Cars as already alluded to, will likely see grids of cars that we seen several years ago before numbers fell away. 20+ cars on track will be a regular feature in 2020, with the potential for 30+ cars for some domestic meetings. The bumper brigade will be out in force and will be looking to become the formula they once were in terms of action, and being the formula everyone loves to watch!

The National Bangers had a great year at Lochgelly in 2019, and with many great meetings lined up, we hope that 2020 will see the National Banger class continue to grow in stature. A sponsorship deal is in the pipeline for the Track Championship which we hope to be in a position to announce very soon!

The 2020 season kicks-off on February 29 with the much sought after Shaun Walsh Memorial Event for the National Big Van Bangers where a large turnout of vans are expected to descend upon the venue to battle it out for the title.

Neil Naismith has won the event in each of the previous two years, can he make it 3 in a row or can the likes of Chris Thomson or James Dillon take the honours this time around? The 1300 Stock Cars, Junior Productions, Stock Rods and Ministox will all be in action at our season opener.

April will see the crem-de-la-crem of non-contact oval racing grace Lochgelly Raceway as the National Hot Rods battle it out for their European Championship across the weekend of April 25/26. Jason Kew will be looking to retain the title that he longed for in 2019, though will be hard pressed if Shane Bland is in the form that he was last year!

The Classic Hot Rods, Stock Rods and Superstox all feature on the Saturday and Sunday, with the Ministox joining in on the fun on the Sunday.

May will see the excellent Ninja Karts (Sponsored by UKMC Massage Chairs for the 2020 season) battle it out for their European Championship. The Ninja Karts formula has certainly blossomed in Scotland in recent years, with a huge amount of on track success. Toby Tyson will lead the Scottish (registered) charge for the title, though the likes of Kenzie Bell and Lewis Duffy will be hoping to hit the ground running in the lead up to this event.

June looks set to be an excellent month of racing, with lots of excellent meetings – June 6 and 7 will see the Stock Rods battle it out for their 2020 British Championship, whilst the 2.0 Hot Rods and Rebels Racing formula will also be racing for their own European Championships. The following weekend, Saturday June 13 will see our annual Caravan Carnage Demolition Derby event take place, before the first half of the season ends with the mighty BriSCA F1 Stock Cars racing in a WQR event on Sunday June 28!

July will see an ‘extra’ speed weekend on the agenda at Lochgelly Raceway as the venue celebrates 10 years in operation. The weekend is being sponsored by Rogerson Coach Travel, and the two days - July 25 and 26 will see the majority of formula that race at Lochgelly in action across the two days.

Saturday will be headlined by the Unlimited Banger SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP, with the Ministox also racing for their own SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP. The Sunday will see the Rookie Bangers return after missing out in 2019, racing for their Scottish Championship which will see the Scottish Champion gain a place in the Rookie Banger World Final. The Ministox will race for their Fife Championship and we are also planning on hosting a CAR JUMP COMPETITION. Mark this date in your diary and join us in our celebration weekend!

The 1300 Stock Cars will battle it out for their World Championship on the weekend of September 5 and 6 where we may see almost 40 cars on track for that event! The Superstox will also battle it out for their own British Championship, whilst the Oval Track Legends (TBC) will be hoping to battle it out for their annual European Championship!

October will see the season near its conclusion, however, there will be no slowing down of the action! The National Micro Bangers will battle it out for the World Cup – an event that seen 100 cars in attendance in 2019 (across the two days). The Northern Irish Junior Productions will make the trip over again as they race for their Open Scottish Championship whilst the ProStocks will be battling it out for their World Cup!

The Mr Gunn Memorial takes place in October for the 1300 Stock Cars on Friday 23, whilst the annual charity meeting rounds off the month on the 31st, where the Michelle Freck Memorial will be competed for by the Micro Bangers! A ladies race for 1300 Stock Cars and Passenger Experiences will again be on the agenda.

The season will round off on Saturday 7th November with the Van Banger Scottish Championship and Firework Finale!

For a full schedule of events, visit our website at hardieracepromotions.co.uk