AN autumnal feel was in the air as drivers, teams and fans gathered at HRP Lochgelly Raceway this past Saturday for the latest slice of stock car action presented by Hardie Race Promotions, writes our Raceway scribe Les Waller.

It was another five formula event with fifteen races scheduled offering fans plenty of value for money with a unique blend of formulas.

Championship Fever continued apace at the well-appointed HRP Lochgelly venue as the tiny terrors took centre stage as the Ninja Karts Scottish Championship (sponsored by Festival Travel) headlined the event.

2016 has been a vintage year for Ninja Karts with all but one of the major titles heading to Scotland and the Scottish Championship was bound to be hotly contested by all of the participants.

Despite what has been a very busy time for the formula, another good grid of cars arrived to do battle with all of the usual contenders in attendance. The first heat saw victory for British Champion Charlie Hardie who took the spoils ahead of European and National Champion Declan Honeyman and Bailey Millar.

The second heat, which was formed in reverse grid order from heat one, saw Ethan Doull maintain his excellent recent form with victory ahead Scott Allardyce and Jay Paterson.

The race was run in heavy rain which saw many karts spinning out and it was as chaotic a race as you will ever see!!! The grid was then formed in points order with Hardie and Allardyce locking out the front row and Honeyman lining up on the inside of row 2 alongside Ethan Doull. With the track remaining wet, the youngsters put on a great display of car control and determination belying their tender years much to the thrill of the large crowd in attendance. Having performed well in the heats, Hardie was not to be denied as he led from the front all the way to the chequered flag to claim the title of Ninja Kart Scottish Champion 2016 as he headed Ethan Doull and Declan Honeyman to the finish in a great race from the tiny terrors.

The CC Rods were back in action and it was good to see another good-sized grid for the low-budget class. Recently, driving standards have dropped in the formula but credit to all drivers this past Saturday who put on a great show in the difficult conditions to remind people how good the formula can be. Having taken a hat-trick of wins several weeks ago to be upgraded to yellow; Glenrothes’ Bob Martin started in fine fashion with a storming win in heat one ahead of Colin Wotherspoon and Scottish Champion Ian Donaldson. Martin then doubled up in heat two as he romped home ahead of Kirkcaldy duo Emma Kirk and Brandon Gourlay which guaranteed that Martin would start the feature final and the rest of September from the blue grade.

The feature final was another excellent race with drivers jockeying for position throughout but it was Methil’s Bob Cairns who took the win in his Corsa ahead of Kirk and Gourlay to round off a great evening of CC Rods racing action.

The 1300 Stock Cars have had a busy time of late and this came home to roost as a depleted field arrived to do battle at HRP Lochgelly Raceway. Lochgelly’s own Euan Mathieson took victory in heat one ahead of Grangemouth’s John Whyte and Kirkintilloch’s Zak Gilmour. Gilmour went one better in heat two as he continued his recent good form by edging out Whyte and Andrew Mathieson for the win.

The feature final saw Whyte take an excellent first win as he held off Gilmour and the Mathieson brothers to take his Toyota Starlet to victory lane. The 1300 Stock Cars now have a month off which has come at exactly the right time for a formula that definitely needs some time to get back to its best.

The Ministox were back at HRP Lochgelly Raceway for what was an additional fixture which is just reward for the formula which has been fantastic wherever they have raced throughout 2016.

Another good grid of cars arrived to do battle with Tom Gresinger the only English visitor from his Midlands base. However, it was Scottish drivers who came to the fore with Airth’s Steven Burgoyne claiming victory in heat one ahead of arch-rival Euan Millar and Glasgow’s David Sinclair.

Millar went one better in heat two as he edged out Burgoyne for the win with Terri linden taking a fine third place.

The drivers had put on a fantastic show in the heats and that continued in the feature final as the drivers used their bumpers to full effect as they flew around the tight confines of HRP Lochgelly Raceway. Millar went on to take the spoils as he took the feature final ahead of Terri Linden and Steven Burgoyne.

The final formula on show was the Bangers who returned to HRP Lochgelly Raceway for the second of two Ramp Racing events of 2016!

Full credit must go to all of the banger drivers and teams who have had a busy season but managed to bring a very decent number of cars to HRP Lochgelly Raceway for battle. The ramp was situated on the back straight with marker tyres forcing drivers to take that “leap of faith” as their cars took to the air in the battle for victory.

Craig Lindsay claimed the first win of the night in a race with only five finishers with Douglas McConnachie taking a fine win in another race with only a handful of finishers.

The feature final saw even more airborne chaos with Scott Gardner eventually coming through to take victory ahead of McConnachie who was the only other finisher on a thrilling night of Banger Ramp Racing at HRP Lochgelly Raceway.

A good night of action with something for everyone. The next slice of stock car action comes to HRP Lochgelly Raceway this Saturday September 10. Championship Fever continues as the Stock Rods will contest their Scottish Championship while the Ninja Karts, 2.0 Hot Rods and Superstox provide the support in the only stock car racing event in Fife this weekend which will get underway at HRP Lochgelly Raceway at 6pm on Saturday.