Stuchbury steps it up

Very pleasant Easter weather greeted the 20 race teams in the pits at Standlake Arena. The only changes to the expected bookings was an additional 42 Rob Barber and a missing 9 Andy Hulse whose car wasn't quite ready.  Very respectable for the season opener at a track that the Hotstockers seem to like.

Heat 1

All 20 made the start after a couple of trouble free practice sessions. 179 Richard Arrowsmith quickly got his race head on and lept into an early lead. Further back 149 Marc Radforth was making very good progress from the reds in the borrowed Lee Summers car but he had 313 Andy Craven for company. Up front 473 Chris Bracher - sporting a Frank Wainman style orange and blue new paint scheme - was gaining on Arrowsmith who was stepping the back end out in spectacular fashion. Craven clipped a back marker and slowed with a puncture although continued to circulate. Arrowsmith was finally overhauled when he somewhat unluckily came across a backmarker at the wrong place and wrong time. He was slowed considerably and was forced around the outside as Bracher seized his opportunity and raced off for the win. Nigel Parker in the brand new No. 7 motor took a trip across the centre after a half spin then 210 Matt Smith and 161 Mark Allen tangled on turns 3 and 4 with Allen perched atop the 210 car. It looked at one stage as if Mark would be toppled over but the pair seperated and scrambled across the line. They both had lost places but the lapscorers had lost their way in all the chaos and had little choice but to call it from the previous completed lap. A great opening race with a delighted Bracher the worthy winner.

Heat 2

Darren Cottril failed to grid, the reason being a blown engine in the 575 machine. The green dropped and it was again Arrowsmith who carved out a decent lead but this time he had company in the shape of 328 Michael Boswell. Kevin Stuchbury was making progress after dropping out of heat 1 whilst Radforth again looked impressive. The bumpers were flying in with 313, 161 and 210 all involved. Boswell took over up front as Arrowsmith pulled off and went on to take a deserved win. Stuchbury finished 2nd with Radforth 3rd.

The Final

19 for the final which began with the obligatory Arrowsmith lead. Radforth and Craven crossed swords and swapped placings with Craven being sent wide. Allen seemed to be on a mission as was Stuchbury. Bracher overhauled Arrowsmith earlier than expected thanks in part to a yellow flag caused when 314 Steve Bowman hit the stationary 160 Nick Blach along the homestraight fence. Both emerged winded but unhurt. The closed up single file grid gave Kec Stuchbury all the incentive he needed as he made short work of nudging Bracher wide to take it up with Radforth very nearly getting by also but Bracher managed to out drag Marc. 161 Allen then appeared on the scene along with 12 Michael Scriven and as Stuchbury then Bracher took the chequered, Allen bumpered Radforth into a half spin which saw Marc cross the line backwards. Amidst the melee Scriven had nipped past the pair of them around the outside and secured 3rd place which had to be confirmed by video evidence. A superb finish to the feature.

The Grand National

Stuchbury started with a lap handicap but really was impressively fast. He seemed to be getting immense drive out of the turns and really carved his way through the field. Bracher wrapped up a good afternoon with another fine win with Mark Allen in 2nd and the aforementioned Stuchbury returning for a superb 3rd without the need of a race stoppage and I certainly wouldn't have bet against him winning this one had there been a caution period.

I know it has been said before but, Standlake seems to produce some very good racing from the Hotstox. Some terrific perfromances from quite a few with a special mention for father and son Matt and Reg Smith who I am told managed to fence one another during the day, keep it in the family !