Mixed fortunes at Skeggy
Skegness Raceway played host to the NJ Site Services Brisca V8 stockcars National Pairs Championship last weekend, with a two day meeting held on Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday with Newark driver Dave Sharp competing on both days.
Spectators were treated to some entertaining racing from 2ltr saloon cars, GT hotrods, F2 heritage stock cars and the Brisca V8 stock Cars with double decker bangers added for good measure.
For the V8 Pairs Championship higher grade drivers are paired with lower grade drivers in order that the experienced driver will give the lower grader some advice and guidance, which will help them to improve and thus increasing their chances of the title. Organisers allocate the pairings and drivers are unaware who they are teamed with until a few days before the Championship.
Due to Dave’s recent upgrade to blue roof stock car 63 was teamed with stock car 490 and driver Craig Thompson from Scunthorpe.
Sunday dawned with bright sunshine and it was hoped dry racing conditions. Due to the large entry organisers decided on a two thirds race format. In true British Bank Holiday tradition, the rain showers came in and drivers were faced with the decision either to set the car up for a dry race with slick tyres or a wet race with tyres with tread. Most chose intermediates which proved successful as a dry racing line soon emerged on the tarmac track due to the changeable weather.
Heat one and Dave started on the outside of the Blue grades and on an ever drying track the racing was very fast Dave and the other blue grades along with the higher grade reds worked their way through the yellow and white grades. with much jostling and pushing for places it was difficult to keep track of who was where, the race was won by 498 Ollie Spencer with 69 Matt Barnard two red grade drivers. Dave Sharp 63 fought through to be 7th.
Heat two saw Dave and his partner in the same race. Dave drawn outside on the first row of the blue grades and Craig on the inside second row. On a dry track it didn’t take long for the higher-grade drives to catch and overtake the lower grades. Both 63 and 490 narrowly missed hitting a stationary car stalled on the seaside turn and the race had to be stopped for safety reasons to remove it. This then closed the pack up when racing commenced with Craig in 10th place and Dave in 12th. Both drivers fought their way through to finish well in the points 490 Craig Thompson in 5th and 63 Dave Sharp in 9th place. The winner was 298 Tom Spencer brother of Olly and second was 131 Kev Stuchbury both highly regarded red grade drivers.
As the points were added together for each pairing and result published the racing became more intense.
In Heat three the pace was fast as Craig Thompson racing without his partner battled through to gain more points. Heat three was won by number 8 Catherine Harris a Blue grade driver, second was 498 Ollie Spencer, Craig Thompson finished in a creditable 6th place to add to the pairs points tally.
All eyes were then on the days final which was an all-in formula. With over 26 cars lined up racing was always going to be spectacular. Craig was drawn on the outside second row of the blue grades with Dave directly behind him third row. Part way into the race a six car crash caught Dave and several other drivers who all managed to re-join the race before it was stopped for safety reasons but he had lost several places. More thrills and spills and the winner of the final for the day was car 498 Ollie Spencer followed by 298 Tom Spencer and 485 Steve Thompson third. Dave and Craig both finished but just out of the points.
Back to the Pits to repair the cars ready for the next round on Sunday. Unfortunately, Dave and Craig didn’t have as much luck.
There was a lot of damage and crashes in all 4 races as over 26 cars jostled and battled for places meaning a busy week for the pit crew.
Tomorrow evening will see Dave at the World Championship qualifying meeting at Stoke Raceway on the shale.
