The second Friday night Coventry session of the year and the first meeting since the Kings Lynn staged National Championship. 473 Chris Bracher and 42 Rob Barber both fitted new engines after doing damage at 'Lynn and 131 Kev Stuchbury appeared complete with Gold roof.
Heat 1 featured 23 cars with 251 Jimmy Bower, 237 Daz Parker and 370 Chris Melbourne electing to start from the rear. Bower is now in his 3rd meeting but Parker - son of #7 Nigel - was making his debut at the wheel of father Nigel's car and ex Buxton Rookie Rod Super Star Melbourne was making his debut in the old Chris Mellor machine. 363 Craig Brough and 269 Craig Bird led them off with 314 Steve Bowman and 9 Andy Hulse in pursuit from the yellows and 439 Jay Kellett making good early ground from his blue grade grid position. Among the reds were battling cousins Marc (149) and Carl (159) Radforth. From the Super Stars, 575 Darren Cottrill was going well with 131 Kev Stuchbury making a somewhat sluggish start. Back up front, 363 Brough spun out on turns 1 and 2 which put 269 Bird in the lead with Bowman and Hulse next in line. Cottrill had made it by most of the reds and tangled with Kellett momentarily which delayed both but neither lost any positions. Cottrill then made it by Marc Radforth then 314 Bowman as Stuchbury made ground up on the 575 car. Cottrill then passed Hulse and set off after Bird. Stuchbury passed Kellett and both then went by Bowman and Hulse with the 314 car being delayed and relegated down the order. I have to confess to not knowing what happened to the leading Bird but Cottrill brought his over heating car home in first with Stuchbury 2nd and Kellett a very good 3rd. Bird did make it home in 8th.

Heat 2 gridded 25 cars as team Bradley arrived and 186 Karl and 286 Dan took their places on the grid. 269 Bird led this one from start to finish to take his maiden Hotstox win and there's no greater place to win at than Coventry ! Cottrill and Kellet again featured and Stuchbury retired with problems..

The Final gridded 25 again with Melbourne starting off the front this time and it was Bird who led them off. Brough and 304 Chris Mellor both spun on the Coventry turn. 315 Rob Shackleton took it up with Melbourne in persuit. A tangle on the home straight claimed 42 Barber, 149 Radforth, 237 parker and 251 Jimmy Bower and the yellows with 149 Radforth giving the marshalls the thumbs down as his back end was in serious danger of getting clobbered. With the track cleared, Melbourne led them away with Shackleton running 2nd and 147 Colin Taylor in 3rd. Further back Cottrill was having a great battle with 159 Carl Radforth with Kellett and Stuchbury next in order. Cottrill made it by Radforth and Stuchbury weighed in on the 159 back bumper in an effort to keep in touch with the 575 car. Radforth went wide and tangled with Mellor on the Coventry turn getting delayed before rejoining. Stuchbury made it by Taylor as Cottrill lost places. Shackleton went missing to leave Melbourne clear up front with Stuchbury unable to catch the flying white top despite the panhard bar trailing behind the 370 car for the majority of the race. So it was that 370 Chris Melbourne took home the Colway Supreme title on his debut in V8 Hotstox. I asked Chris if he was going to be buying a car now ? "yes I probably will, I loved every minute of it and the car handled a treat." asked about the contact aspect, Chris replied "I didn't really have that much contact but it does take a bit of getting used to as I raced Rookie Rods at Buxton for four years and you can't hit people. I really enjoyed it though but we've got to get the car repaired for the next one now". Stuchbury brought his car home in 2nd despite his engine appearing to be lacking power with the impressive Colin Taylor a best Coventry ever of 3rd. 

23 for the Grand national with 370 Melbourne electing to take a lap handicap to lead them away. 304 Chris Mellor led nearly the entire race which was the quietest of a busy night. It came down to the final lap with 159 Radforth within striking distance on the final bend as Mellor lost quite a bit of ground over the final lap or two. Radforth made contact with Mellor who went wide and just scraped the fence. Radforth went on for the win with Mellor unable to make the finish line. Shackleton came home 2nd with blue grader Michael Boswell bringing the 328 car home for 3rd. Radforth was highly delighted with the win and commented on the line "I think Chris threw it away to be honest, he seemed to lose a lot of speed when I appeared behind him, I dont think I would've caught him but thats Stock Car Racing. I don't think he hit the fence and managed to get across the line ok".

A very good session once again at Coventry with a brand new name taking home a title on his debut. Roll on Coventry in 2 weeks time !