IT was a night where the sport’s upcoming drivers took the plaudits as both the Ninja Karts and Ministox competitors provided excellent racing with race wins going the way of some of the lesser experienced drivers, writes our Raceway writer, Kevin McQueen.

The CC Rods, Classic Hot Rods and Superstox, all provided great racing, with John Buchan and Aaron Riddell claiming hat-tricks in their respective formula, whilst the CC Rods saw three different race winners!

The Ninja Karts started off their night with a whites and yellows race – a race that gives the chance to some of the less confident and less experienced drivers to find some valuable track time, with an opportunity to grow their confidence with podium places.

For the second successive meeting, it was 63, Ryan Love, that took the victory. After a tough last 12 months or so, Ryan looks to have found his confidence and pace, with the youngster putting in some great lap times, and opening up the gap to those behind as the race wore on.

Jamie Balfour was the closest challenger, with Alfie Shevill completing the top three after a sterling drive, having been caught up a couple of times previously in the eight-lap race!

The first main heat of the night saw the introduction of the blue and red graded drivers, however, Alfie Shevill and Ryan Love would take the top two places on the podium with Rory Wilson coming home in third.

Heat two saw Love once more fly clear in the early stages of the race, however, would find himself spinning around and dropping down the order. Jayden Jeffrey took the race win ahead of Jamie Balfour and Layton Cairns.

The meeting final would see some very close and hard-fought racing as the kids showcased their talents. In the closing stages a fantastic race ensued, with around six karts all fighting it out in close contention. Blair Innes, Rayah Burns, Rory Wilson, Christopher Lattka and Jayden Jeffrey, amongst others, were all racing for the win.

The places chopped and changed as the race ran on, and eventually, it was Christopher Lattka that took the win ahead of Jayden Jeffrey and Blair Innes – though, a couple of penalties saw the result differ as to how they crossed the line, with Innes and Burns being awarded second and third behind Lattka.

The Ministox were out in force with around 20 cars on track for each of the races, and this provided a lot of hard fought action with plenty of pushing and shoving going on. Heat one went from flag to flag without any stoppages, with Shay Page coming out on top ahead of Kerr Paterson and Shaun Boyle.

Heat two was a very lively race, with a lot of hits going in and, ultimately, a coming together on turn four involving numerous drivers – Halle Wishart, Ollie Sime, Owen Marshall and Caden Abernethy - were all caught up, with Abernethy stranded over the track, the yellow flags were called for.

Just as the yellows were called, runaway leader Stuart Shevill came round and clattered the Abernethy car, with the 52 car of Abernethy rolling over onto its side. All drivers were out of their car quickly once they race was stopped, and soon afterwards, the race got back underway.

Dougie Kidd added yet another race win to his tally, as he claimed the win ahead of Kerr Paterson and Shay Page.

The meeting final saw a few less cars on track following on from the hectic couple of races prior. Stuart Shevill – who had been incredibly unlucky in the meeting so far, took a deserving victory in the final with Page and Oliver Heron completing the top three. There were some sterling drives throughout the night, with Rhys Anderson showing great pace, whilst William Hunn didn’t look out of place as he made his debut in the formula.

The Classic Hot Rods were with us and it was good to see a few more Scottish drivers on track. The formula is always a joy to watch as the cars on track aren’t something you see on the roads very often these days. The Escorts, Imps etc are a joy to watch on the ovals, with the drivers racing with a lot of care and respect.

Keith Chesher made an outing in the Davie Low car, whilst Aundry Adams made his debut in the class. Graeme Calendar completed the first race of the night in second place, however, slowed in the closing stages with an issue which put him out the rest of the evening.

There was some great racing throughout the night, with Zak Murdoch and Cameron Willacy having some close battles throughout each of the races. Chesher got quicker as the night went on in the Low car, though was forced into retirement in the meeting final. Matt MacPherson had an good night too – showing progress in his car, and battling it out for long periods during each of the races. John Buchan would take the win in each of the three races.

The CC Rods saw a good turnout of cars, with some great close racing as a result. It has been pleasing to see the progress being made by a lot of the drivers – Baillie Glencross, Brooke McMullan and Graham Pow for example – all showing good pace and the ability to be front runners in the formula with a little good fortune along the way.

Craig Mason took the opening heat win, but found an issue, with his engine soon after the race which resulted in his night cut short much to his annoyance. Lee Scott and Baillie Glencross completed the top three in the opening heat.

Heat two would see the lower graded drivers dominate proceedings, with Garry Roberts taking a race win after a run of bad luck, whilst Brooke McMullan and Graham Pow completed the top three.

The meeting final would see Gregor Whyte run away with the victory, with Alec Cunningham coming through to finish second and Kevin Hutchison third.

The Superstox were the final formula in action, after a gruelling World Championship last weekend at Hednesford where a couple of our drivers were in the thick of the action!

A few drivers were missing on Saturday which opened up the field somewhat, however, it gave some of the drivers some great experience of fighting for the top points positions – Dom Currie, Josh Duff and David Lumsden all had some fantastic races.

There would be no stopping Aaron Riddell on the night though, as he raced to a hat-trick of victories. Dean Johnston looked to have the pace to challenge him in the final, but after a push from Riddell to move by, Johnston dropped back a little and Riddell made use of the clear track in front of him to push on.

Jordan Black took a hat-trick of runners-up spots – his best set of results since making a return a few meetings ago.

This weekend at Lochgelly Raceway, it’s the big one – the U-Pull-It 1300 Stock Cars Championship of the World, the Stock Rods Spedeworth TV European Championship and more, on Saturday and Sunday.

For full event information, visit www.hardieracepromotions.co.uk.