F1 Action Update
Kevin Gibson photo
The BriSCA Formula Ones were in action three times over the Easter period, drizzle at Skegness on Good Friday making for a greasy track, with an all-in format run. Tom Harris claimed heat 1 after a last bend hit on Lee Fairhurst, before taking heat 2 as well. Steve Reedman took an early lead in the Final, and was never headed to take his first ever Final, while Harris overhauled Mick Sworder in the second half of the race for second. Harris then made it a hattrick of wins by claiming the National after passing long time leader Gareth O’Beirne.
A 54 car turnout at Coventry on 7th April allowed for the first full format meeting of the season to be run. The big talking point was the new car of John Lund, his first in around five years. The first heat was for the white and yellow grades, with Rob Cowley riding over Geoff Nickolls on the town bend, as John Weldon claimed victory. Heat 2 was a thrilling race, with Murray Harrison soon taking the lead, as Sworder came up the places and bumpered past Nigel Whalley for second. Sworder then passed Harrison, before Harrison came back to bumper Sworder wide on the town bend, allowing Ed Neachell through for the lead. Neachell went on for the flag, while Sworder gave Harrison a big last bender to stuff him into the fence and claim second place. Heat 3 had a stoppage for a loose wheel, with Joshua Smith soon leading the restart, but he was passed in the closing stages by Dan Johnson for victory. Nickolls took the consolation after keeping M.Harrison at bay over the last few laps. Billy Johnson led a hectic Final in which Sworder was caught up in a pile up and Lund tangled with Scott Davids down the home straight. Nickolls then took over the lead, but he was passed by Craig Finnikin. However, he went wide round a spun car, for Harris to take over, Harris claiming the win, with Finnikin and Mal Brown following him over the line. Mark Woodhull claimed victory in the National.
Belle Vue on Easter Monday was another wet affair, and another all-in format meeting. Heat 1 saw a lot of spinning out, with Matt Newson taking the win, while a drier heat 2 was taken by Michael Scriven. Frankie Wainman Jnr arrived in time for the Final, having been at Buxton where son Frankie Jnr had been racing his Ministox, and it was Wainman who took victory in the Final with rain pouring down ahead of E.Neachell and Finnikin. Finnikin took the National, while Wainman got up to third from the lap handicap.
