After a somewhat lacklustre start to 2008, Sheffield needed a good turnout to inject a bit of pace into the season, and what an awesome response from the Hotstox.

29 cars in the pits for a sunny and warm bank holiday Monday meeting. Pre meeting pit talk centred around the need for running a 2/3rds format with such a strong entry but requests fell upon deaf ears as time restraints preventing the required extra race. So, an all in format meant a big field of V8's on the super fast but tight Sheffield shaleway.

Heat 1 gridded 27 cars - 42 Rob Barber and 187 Craig Smith didn't make it in time and 281 Lee Summers pulled onto the infield with engine gremlins. 395 Adam Squance set the early pace but 275 Trevor Hawkins took over before 159 Carl Radforth hit a post on the back stretch and was left stranded, facing the oncoming traffic. Inevitably, Radforth was struck as the yellow flags were a bit slow in being shown. Radforth showed his displeasure by jumping from his car and running after 286 Dave Bradley who had unfortunately run into the stricken 159 car. With Carl calm and the 159 removed, the race restarted with Hawkins in the lead. Howver, the race was barely 2 more laps old when 128 Adrian Davies more or less chose the exact same spot to perform the season's first roll, duly destroying the once pristine Taylormade shale wing on his brother's loaned machine. Adrian emerged unhurt and the wreck was cleared. Once again the race restarted but once again, barely a lap passed when 314 Steve Bowman and 370 Chris Melbourne tangled and Bowman impacted the same post that Radforth copped earlier only this time the ensuing pack was right on Bowman and he was hit at full race speed by 315 Rob Shackleton who simply had nowhere to go. The hit was hard and Bowman looked in trouble immediately but once again the flags were slow to be shown for a driver slumped in his car. After some time Steve exited his car under his own steam but was obviously in some distress. The Ambulance whisked the unlucky Bowman to Sheffield Hospital.

After the fence crew repaired the damaged fence, the race resumed with Hawkins leading them away. 237 Daz Parker muscled by but could do little to hold off a very fast 149 Marc Radforth who romped away to take the win. 439 Jay kellett and 575 Darren Cottrill both made it by Parker but the yellow top came home a strong 4th.

Heat 2 with 24 cars on track and 395 Squance took it up with Hawkins then leading before Squance once again led the field. 575 Cottrill punctured and then found the Football ground bend fence and retirement. 328 Michael Boswell then had his turn up front as 355 Bryan Andrew and 147 Colin Taylor tangled and went fence bound. By now, 149 Radforth was pressuring Boswell and eventually made it by to take the lead. Boswell was delayed by 42 Rob Barber who's car was pushing very badly and 439 Kellett and 131 Kevin Stuchbury passed him for 2nd. Radforth secured his 2nd win from Kellett, Stuchbury and Boswell with another good finish from Parker in 5th.

The Final was run in front of a sparse crowd as most had left to dash across to Belle Vue for the F1 meeting. Those that left missed a cracking race. 23 cars contested the last event with Hawkins again in the lead only this time he managed to shake off the attentions of Squance who was spun out of contention by 281 Summers who ran 2nd. The Superstars were on the move in this race and 131 Stuchy and 575 Cotty were amongst the top 5 within 5 laps having dealt with pre race favourite 149 Marc Radforth and 355 Andrew. Summers was relegated to 4th as 131 and 575 got by. 161 Mark Allen and 81 Matt Smith (in the very smart revamped ex Carl Radforth car) closed in on Summers and he was spun by Allen. As Allen caught Cottrill Smith put in a telling blow which fenced both Cottrill and Allen. Allen rejoined but Cottrill retired. Up front Stuchbury was pressuring Hawkins and eventually edged by the plucky white grader and went on to take the win. Hawkins took a very good 2nd with 81 Matt Smith a deserved 3rd. 117 Rob Scriven had a great battle with 159 Carl Radforth and came home 4th with Radders 5th. 179 Richard Arrowsmith did a whole heap of no good to his car when he clattered into the home straight fence - but he did at least pass the flagman to record 8th place.

The Hotstox really shone with plenty of action and bumperwork all day long. Several comments have been passed on how good the Hotstox were, a taste of things to come, the season has finally started !

Unfortunately, the day was marred by Steve Bowman's injuries. Steve spent two nights in Sheffield Hospital and was diagnosed with two hairline fractures in his vertebrae but the Doctors have said that they should heal nicely. Their main concern was with Steve's internals but thankfully scans have revealed some severe bruising rather than anything more serious. Steve left hospital but will be back in locally for checkups and the all clear with any luck. He's still hopeful of being out at Skegness !