2001

1st April, Alwalton, Ace Communications Shield

Mark Hodges took 2 wins at the Midgets first meeting of the season; Rob Sayell winning heat two and denying him a repeat of last year's opening meeting hat trick.. This pair shared first and second places in each of the three races. Andrew Hinch third in both of the heats and 17 year old Chris Phillips seeing off the rest of the field for third in the Ace Communications final. Hinch led for 14 of the 15 lap first heat stretching out a huge two thirds of a lap lead by lap 7 but Hodges and Sayell broke free from the pack to catch and pass the unsuspecting Hinch on the final lap.Heat two followed a similar pattern but Sayell got the better of Hodges on lap 9 catching up and passing Hinch as he met up with back markers on lap 13. Hodges further demoting Hinch to third on the last lap. The final saw Hinch retire with a broken drive shaft on lap one with young Phillips taking up the lead on lap 2. Sayell again passed Hodges early but Hodges squeezed through on the inside four laps later. Both passed Phillips to hit the front at mid distance the remaining 10 laps seeing numerous but ultimately unsuccessful attempts by Sayell to pass Hodges all the way to the flag. Phillips drove a storming race to finish well ahead of Neil Clarke, Gary Jones and Andrew Bilby (driving the ex Harry Sayell VW for the first time). Hodges leads the Image Wheels Series by 2 points from Sayell with Clarke third and Phillips and Hinch equal 4th. Andrew Bilby had mixed feelings about his debut in the ex Sayell VW, Andy Collins had persistent misfiring problems with the ex Scheepens Fireball making the grid in two of the three races but achieving less than a lap in each. Barry Goldsby made a respectable return after a 4 year layoff but Peter Bourn's luck was out with engine probs leading to retirement from heat one and no more racing for the rest of the day.

Heat One: 1st Mark Hodges, 2nd Rob Sayell, 3rd Andrew Hinch, 4th Neil Clarke, 5th Steve Piggins, 6th Chris Phillips, 7th Gary Jones, 8th Andrew Bilby, 9th Barry Goldsby, 10th Ben Pashley