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10th May, Ringwood,
Casa Challenge Cup
Alan Buckland won a
chaotic, yet exciting midget final at Ringwood on Saturday
10th May taking the Case Challenge Cup from previous holder
Daz Rycroft, writes Steve Terry. Thirteen cars turned up for
the first race at Ringwood of the 2003 season. Amongst these
were the three white top drivers of Brian Gough, Evan Stone
and Steve Terry, which is the most white grade cars seen for
about a year! With the track getting progressively damper
as the night went on and with some oil also being laid down
it made for some interesting racing, conditions which seemed
to suit Alan Buckland and Mark Hodges!
The first race was
won by Andrew Bilby, who on a brand new set of slicks ripped
away from the front of the blues and into the lead by about
the fourth lap. Daz Rycroft also went well from the blues
finishing 3 car lengths behind Andrew Bilby for second, with
Alan Buckland coming third rounding off a blue grade 1, 2,
3.
The second heat saw
Steve Terry take an early lead from the whites. Evan Stone
and Peter Bourn spun on lap 2 due to slippery track conditions,
and a collision between John Salter and Peter Bourn left John
stranded in the middle of track, causing the yellow flags
to be brought out. A quick restart from Alan Buckland allowed
him to take the lead and the race win closely followed by
Gary Bonner and Andrew Bilby.
The Casa Challenge
Cup final saw Steve Terry take the early lead once again,
until being passed on lap 3 by a quick Neil Clarke. However
Peter Bourn's spin on lap 3 left him in a dangerous position,
resulting in the safety car being brought out. This allowed
the field to close up and the restart was followed by chaos
as Alan Buckland span 360 degrees into the first corner somehow
missing the wall and Andrew Bilby. Brian Gough and Gary Bonner
also had a coming together, ending Gary's race, and Daz Rycroft
who had been in second place hit an unforgiving wall ending
his chances of retaining the Casa cup. Alan Buckland managed
to fight his way back into first position, followed over the
line by Mark Hodges, Andrew Bilby, Neil Clarke, Andy Smith,
Steve Terry, John Salter, and John Bilby who rounded off the
top eight.
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