Standlake F2 - 1/12/19

A fantastic showing of 22 cars were in the pits for the non-points season finale.  There were several Grimley visitors in the shape of 52 Jay Andrews, 681 Ollie Holford and 756 Ryan Mulley - the latter making his first visit of the season.  321 Maisie Emms made her debut in the ex Ben Farebrother car; there was a first Standlake appearance for 416 Dave Muckian, while H2 Don Pugh was in the hire car.  623 Rob Dobie also deserves a mention for being the only driver to attend every Standlake meeting in 2019.

All 22 cars were on track for heat 1, although 138 Kevin Goldup pulled off before the start.  185 Jess Webb (using father Andy’s car) beat fellow pole-sitter 137 Steve Goldup into turn 1, as further back 776 James Trigg made a strong start from blue grade.  521 Phil Trigg passed Steve Goldup for 2^nd as Dave Muckian spun on turn 1 – quickly followed by Pugh.

James Trigg reeled in the group of Dobie, 509 Jordan Butcher, Goldup and Mulley in quick succession to take up 3^rd place, with Dobie and 563 Keith Walding now behind.  The latter moved underneath Dobie as Goldup spun, before passing first James and then shortly after, Phil Trigg into turn 1 for 2^nd place.

Jess Webb’s lead was soon snatched away as Walding made a move into turn 3 nudging the 185 car wide.  James Trigg also came through into 2^nd as he too got past Webb.  The red top pack of 797 Dan Moss, 105 Louis Williams and 155 Carl Lewis were giving chase behind - having carved their way through from the back - they passed Webb and Phil Trigg to run 3^rd to 5^th respectively.

As the lap boards came out, the trio passed James Trigg while Dobie spun on turn 3.  Moss then managed to get a slight break on the pair behind and caught Walding into turn 3 to take the lead with 4 laps remaining.  Williams snatched 2^nd from Walding moments later but couldn’t close the gap to Moss, who came through for the win.

Result: 797, 105, 563, 155, 185, 776, 82

21 cars were back out for heat 2, with 416 Dave Muckian out for the rest of the day.  Jess Webb again led the field into the first bend with Mulley passing 26 Steve Turner for 2^nd.

Emms spun onto the infield on the home straight and was collected by fellow spinner Steve Goldup.  Walding passed Dobie and Butcher to claim 4^th while 52 Jay Andrews slammed into the pit gate – slowing his progress, before being black flagged shortly after.  Walding then made a move on Phil Trigg on turn 3, before passing Mulley into the next bend to take 2^nd place.  Butcher looked to also get past Trigg, but spun to the infield to halt his chances.

A couple of laps later and Walding hit the front, passing Webb into turn 1.  82 Keith Richens had made a strong start from the back of the blue grade and both he and Moss passed Phil Trigg for 4^th before Moss spun on the exit of turn 4 ending his race – Williams inheriting 5^th in his place.

The latter overtook Richens and Mulley on turn 4 a lap later.  Mulley then clipped a marker tyre a short while later which cost him a strong finish.  Up front Walding had a length-of-the-straight lead over Webb and Williams and it was to stay like this until the final 3 laps when Williams gained 2^nd, but was unable to quite reel in the 563 car; Walding coming through for his 2^nd win of the season.

Result: 563, 105, 185, 82, 155, 53, 521, 681, 509, 776

The final again saw 21 cars on track with Jess Webb getting the lead into turn 1 ahead of Kevin Goldup, although the latter was passed by Mulley as the cars exited turn 2.  James Trigg had made an uncharacteristically slow start from the front of the blue grade and this had allowed Walding and Richens to break away from the rest and move past Butcher and Dobie.  Mulley was spun by Phil Trigg a short while later and this saw Walding inherit 2^nd place ahead of Richens and Dobie, with Moss making good progress through the traffic to run 6^th after just a few laps.

As the race settled down slightly, Webb held a big lead out front as Moss and Williams passed Dobie, with the former of the pair then making a move on Richens out of turn 2 to claim 3^rd place.  A lap later he also passed Walding and set about reeling in the leader.

Further down the order, Holford passed Dobie for 6^th, with the latter then also losing out to Lewis.  Williams moved Walding wide into turn 1 in the battle for 3^rd as Richens also got through before the end of the lap.  With Moss having closed the gap between himself and Webb considerably, Webb was slowed by back-marking traffic and this allowed the 797 car through for the lead.

Richens’ quest for the podium was halted as he spun coming out of turn 4, allowing Williams to take up the running in 3^rd with Walding and Lewis now completing the top 5.  With 5 laps remaining Lewis passed Walding into turn 1 and Webb was passed by Williams a lap later.

As it looked as though this is how it would finish, Lewis made a late charge for 3^rd and managed to hit Webb wide as the pair started the last lap, sneaking up the inside and holding on the claim 3^rd behind Williams and eventual comfortable winner Moss, taking his 2^nd Standlake final win in succession.

Result: 797, 105, 155, 185, 563, 681, 716, 352, 521, 776

The final race of the season was run as a Whites, Yellows and Mechanics race and raised 14 cars.  Jess Webb led the field away but was reeled in after a few laps by (105) Aaron Charles.  He moved into a comfortable lead that he was never to relinquish. 

421 Josh Mayo in the 52 Jay Andrews car was another who showed a good turn of pace and made his way up into 2^nd after passing Webb several laps in, as further back (797) Jeremy Moss made progress through the pack and eventually finished 4^th after not being able to find a way past Webb.

Result: 105, 52, 185, 797, 623