Standlake F2 - 26/08/19

The final bank holiday meeting of the year raised an impressive 18 cars, with a visiting entry of 4 from Grimley that included 53 Jamie Robson making his first appearance of the season, while in the Butcher hire car there was a debut for H2 Jon Robson.

With all cars on track for heat 1, 45 Will Adams took the lead into turn 1 as 109 Stuart Biddle taking 2^nd from 38 Gavin Busby.  53 Robson made a good start from yellow and by lap 2 he passed Busby for 3^rd into turn 1.  A couple of laps later and Biddle took the lead from Adams, with Robson following him through as further back 155 Carl Lewis was making rapid progress through the field and by half way had already found himself up into 4^th.

Lewis’ main challenge from red was looking to be 421 Gary Webb, as he reeled in 82 Keith Richens and 776 James Trigg to move into 6^th place.  Lewis dived under Adams on turn 1 as later in the same lap Gary Webb passed Jackson and as the cars took the 5 lap board, the 155 car moved Robson wide on turn 4 to sit in 2^nd.  Despite making a slower start than his fellow reds, 856 Paul Webb was now on the move as he moved Trigg wide before the pair caught and passed Adams to sit 5^th an 6^th respectively.  Up front Biddle went wide at turn 1 and this allowed Lewis and the chasing pack through – Biddle retiring with a broken Panhard rod.  With only a couple of laps left, no one was going to catch the flying Lewis and he came through for his 11^th win of the season.

Result: 155, 421, 53, 856, 776, 115, 299, 82, 45, 105

A full grid again for heat 2 and this time it was Biddle who lead into the first turn ahead of Busby.  Trigg had made a quick start from blue and passed Jackson and 138 Kev Goldup on the back straight to move into 4^th behind Adams.  The latter then spun on the exit of turn 2 and dropped out of the running.

Biddle opened up a ¼ lap lead upfront, while Farebrother was another making the charge behind him, putting the bumper in on Gary Webb and Jamie Robson on turn 3 although both held their positions.  Trigg was reeled in and passed by the chasing red pack, as Webb and Farebrother both got through, followed by Lewis.

With just 3 laps left, 509 Jordan Butcher spun on turn 3 and in attempting to recover to safety collided with Gary Webb sending the latter into the fence and causing 623 Rob Dobie and Goldup to also get caught up.  The melee allowed Lewis through into 2^nd and he took the lead shortly after, surviving a last bend attempt from Biddle to take his 2^nd win of the day.

Result: 155, 109, 115, 856, 776, 261, 299, 563, 38, 623

After a lot of work in the pits on the 421 car and despite the damage others received, all 18 cars were out again for the final.  Busby lead Biddle into turn 1 as 563 Keith Walding made the quickest start from red and passed 261 Roger Mountney as Richens spun out on turn 2.  By lap 3 Biddle took the lead shortly before the red flags came out for Dobie who was stranded on the back straight.

On the restart Jackson passed Busby for 2^nd as Walding also came through on the latter having already passed Adams.  Farebrother took Trigg for 5^th with Gary Webb slotting in behind.  Richens spun again on the exit of turn 4; Adams also spinning to leave the track partially blocked.  As the cars swerved to avoid them, Mountney collided with the pit gate bringing out the reds again and ending the race for all 3.

After 1 failed restart attempt, the green flag dropped as Farebrother spun on turn 4 allowing the leading trio of Biddle, Jackson and Walding to build a small gap.  The slippery track proved difficult as the latter pair both hit the turn 3 armco on the following lap, dropping Walding back to 6^th and forcing Jackson to retire, as Lewis avoided the carnage to move up into 2^nd.

With 5 to go Walding was able to regain 3^rd, passing Jamie Robson and Gary Webb.  Lewis took the lead from Biddle the next lap as behind them Walding and Webb exchanged positions almost every bend in the battle for the final podium spot.  Lewis came through for his hat-trick as Biddle just held off Walding for 2^nd.

Result: 155, 109, 563, 421, 53, 105, 38, H2, NOF

The heavy damage in the final took its toll as only 12 cars made it out for the Grand National, which was run on a slippery track after the van banger final.  With no white tops out, Jamie Robson took the early lead.  Trigg got the better of Richens and Mountney for 3^rd, although the former dropped back shortly after as both Gary Webb and Farebrother got through.  Jackson spun out on turn 1 as Walding passed Jon Robson and the loudly misfiring Paul Webb. 

A battle had developed between Trigg and Mountney and ended a few laps in as the 261 car was spun onto the infield and out of the race.  Despite starting from the handicap, Lewis was on the move and passed Richens and Trigg on turn 3 to move into 4^th.  Farebrother put the bumper in on Jamie Robson but ended up spinning himself on turn 1; re-joining behind Walding in 8^th.

Jackson lost out to both Walding and Farebrother as Gary Webb battled with Jamie Robson ahead of them for the lead - although the former of the pair came off worse – a puncture ending his race.  This left Robson with a clear lead ahead of Lewis who had inherited 2^nd place after Webb’s retirement.  A quiet last couple of laps saw no further changes, Robson taking his first win of the year as Richens completed the top 3.

Result: 53, 155, 82, 563, 115, 776, 109, H2, 856, NOF