Cowdenbeath Racewall: Drivers defy tricky track surface

The track was wet and greasy with the drivers having to try to find the line that would give them the most grip. That line was close to the wall and as a result, quite a few drivers got too close and spun!

John Hogg had double wins in the Formula IIs, whilst Oakley Grief won both heats in the Micro F2s.

Amongst those racing in the Formula IIs were Matt Linfield, Paul Moffat and Greig Rooney, the latter duo having their first outing of the year. The last time that Rooney raced was way back in 1994!

The opening Formula II race of the evening was the final of the white/yellow grade series with only seven cars racing. Cameron McDonald was the early leader from Richard Walden and Brian Hogg Jnr on the slippery track surface.

Rooney had a spin as the leading group bunched. Walden moved ahead followed closely by Hogg Jnr.

McDonald spun and collected Charlie Faichney. As the laps dwindled Hogg Jnr got ahead of Walden before going on to win from Walden and Craig Reid.

The opening heat was suspended almost right away after Charlie Faichney was eased wide, hit the pit bend wall, and was promptly collected by the pack. Kieran Howie and Emma Mellis were also caught in the shunt but whilst Mellis was able to restart, Howie wasn’t.

The grid reformed with McDonald going into the lead but within a few laps, Hogg Jnr was ahead. John Hogg was making his way quickly through the field although he had Euan Murray in close order. It didn't take long for Hogg to take the lead and once there he went on to win from Hogg Jnr and Millar.

Heat two was suspended after Hogg Jnr and C. Reid tangled on the turnstile bend. The field lined up behind Walden for the restart but he ended up against the pit bend wall after being eased wide, suspending the race in the process.

Euan Millar was the new leader on the restart but he had Hogg and Craig Wallace in close order, and they ran nose-to-tail until the closing stages of the race. With two to run, Wallace got the better drive to move from third into the lead and on to win. Millar held on to second with Hogg in third.

At the start of the final Hogg Jnr slid into the wall with the race being suspended as a result. Walden led the field away only to lose out to Paul Reid but then Emma Mellis went wide and hit the pit bend wall.

Graeme Leckie and Millar locked bumpers while P. Reid led the field away only to lose out to Ryan McGill. Hogg was soon on his tail and after the half distance he closed down McGill before taking the lead with Moodie in third.

Wallace was dicing with P. Reid and McIntosh for fourth and in the end, Hogg went on to win from McGill and Moodie.

Wallace rounded off a cracking night's racing when he won the Grand National from Moodie and McGill.

The Saloons were back in action after the third round of their National Points Series where Stuart Shevill Jnr now tops the chart by just over 40 points from Ross Watters, although neither were racing.

Shevill Jnr was mechanic for his son in the Minis whilst Watters was doing likewise for his son in the Micro F2s.

Back in action were Michael Mitchell and Ian McLaughlin, the latter had missed the meeting last week.

Raymond Dick was the initial leader when heat one got underway but the next time around, Kalin Bryson was ahead. Andrew Mathieson was sent spinning on the main straight and when Gary Paterson caught the leader, they both spun on the pit bend.

Dale Robertson then took over at the head of the pack before going on to win from Ian McLaughlin and Derek Duff. The start to heat two was stopped to clear a pit gate problem but the restart was hectic with three cars spinning out as they crossed the start line.

Bryson led with Barry Glen in second and Derek Duff third. Bryson's car started to misfire allowing Duff to take the lead. As the laps dwindled Gary Paterson closed in on Duff before sending him spinning. Paterson then reeled off the remaining laps to win from Robertson and Zak Gilmour.

Gary Paterson from Saline, the heat two saloon winner.  (Image: Supplied) The final was dominated by McLaughlin who picked up his first win of the night. Mitchell led the final for a couple of laps then lost out to Raymond Dick. However, McLaughlin was flying and he made short work of catching and then passing those ahead. Once he took the lead, he went on to win from Gilmour with Paterson in third.

The Ministox drivers were again full of action despite the conditions with the East of Scotland Champion David Philp Jnr Jnr in action whilst the Farrell twins, Austin and Bert, were up from the South West

Lana Middler led the field away but a couple of laps later, she had Caitlin Mitchell, Rhys Anderson and Ollie Sime in close order. Anderson moved ahead as Shaun Boyle spun. Sime took over the lead with David Philp Jnr Jnr behind him.

The race was suspended after Mason Howe and Anderson tangled. On the restart, Sime led from Philp Jnr Jnr but the next time around they had swapped places.

Philp Jnr Jnr then went through to win the Scrutineers Challenge from Sime with Kyle Rogerson third.

Middler led the pack away when heat two started but next time around Owen Marshall was the new leader. Mitchell was spun out on the back straight with Sime moving into second.

The first two were well clear and while Rogerson was third, he was leading a group of four others soon to be joined by Philp Jnr Jnr.  Marshall went on to win easily from Sime who in turn was well ahead of third placed Philp Jnr Jnr.

Anderson led the cars away when the final got underway but after a couple of laps, Marshall was ahead. Mitchell was sent spinning as Sime closed in on the leaders. Sime then dived inside to lead with Mason Howe following through. Sime began to ease away to win from Howe with A. Farrell in third.

Despite the conditions, the youngsters in their Micro F2s were in good form, although some struggled a bit in the conditions.

Iona Sibbald was the early leader but then lost out to Jaxson Watters. Closing quickly were Corey Mathers and Oakley Grief and soon there was a three-car dice for the lead. Watters and Mathers tangled then spun as Grief went on to win from a recovered Mathers, with Sam Forster third.

Rogan Richards was the first to show when heat two started, with Watters moving into second but making progress were Grief and Mathers, although the latter was to spin. Richards retired as Grief moved into the lead and then on to win from Watters and Forster.

Richards led the final for a few laps but Mathers was flying and he carved his way through the field to win from Watters and Forster.

This Saturday the Stock Rods will share top billing with the Micro Bangers.  The Stock Rods are racing for their Scottish Championship whilst the Micro Bangers have their Supreme Championship up for grabs.

Backing them are the Saloons and the Ministox in what should be a night of action. The meeting starts, as usual, at 6 pm.