Lee Robinson (107) won the final at Skegness.

Light drizzle pre meeting turned into rain just as the Tar Racing season got under way at a neat and tidy Skegness stadium, complete with an all new and very effective PA system. With 28 cars in the pits, including a good number of ‘as new’ winter refurbishments, and new cars for Luke Davidson (464) and a stunner from the Richard Earl (285) stable, the meeting was declared a 2/3rds format event.

The first heat gridded 18 cars, with Kev Unsworth (74) into an immediate lead as the flag dropped. Both Chris Cowley (37) and Jim Bamford (302) made great progress through the pack, and were soon into the leading positions, with Matt Newson (16) being the first star driver to show, although some way behind the leaders at the half way stage. The rest of the race was really all about Jim Bamford and Chris Cowley – both flying and swapping places every lap, with Chris taking a great win by less than a cars length. Paul Harrison (2) grabbed a distant third place from Matt Newson in the closing stages.

Heat 2 gridded 18 cars, with light rain continuing to fall. Kev Unsworth (74) again took the early lead before quickly being overhauled by Mike Kingston (188), with Chris Cowley (37) and Jim Bamford (302) again in hot pursuit. Frankie Wainman jnr (515) also made a great start and was leading the star grade pack by lap three, and up to third place by half distance, but he had no answer to the pace of Chris Cowley who maintained a 4 car lengths advantage to the flag, to take his second win of the evening. Jim Bamford again drove an excellent race to take third.

17 cars for Heat 3, with Richard Earl (285) leading the field away, only to be quickly relegated by early leader Robert Broome (41). Frankie Wainman jnr (515) and Lee Robinson (107) were making rapid progress through the pack, moving into 2nd and third places behind Robert Broome at halfway. As the lap boards appeared, a tight finish was looking inevitable as Lee Robinson inflicted ever harder blows on the FWJ rear bumper on each bend, only for Frankie to ride the hits and maintain his place. With Robert Broome finally relegated to third by the fighting star men, the last bend saw one final huge effort by Lee Robinson to move the FWJ machine, but again FWJ held on, to secure his first win of the evening. Post race, FWJ reported interesting track conditions, with a grippy wide line allowing him to survive the Lee Robinson attack.

The 22 car Final looked set to be memorable, with the conditions having little apparent effect on the action on track. Ian Venables (60) was the first to show in the lead, with Lee Robinson (107) and Matt Newson (16) again making rapid progress through the field, closely followed by Frankie Wainman jnr (515). Shortly after half distance, a rapid Jim Bamford (302) took the lead but it was becoming apparent that FWJ could not easily deal with the pace of Lee Robinson or Matt Newson, as Lee moved away to take the lead from Jim Bamford, and Matt attacked the FWJ rear bumper to take second with just a few laps to go. Swift retaliation came, with a massive hit on Matt by FWJ going into the closing laps, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a brilliant last bend come back by Matt to claim second place, which left FWJ spinning backwards into the turn 4 Armco, and out of the final places. Lee Robinson meanwhile took a popular and well deserved win in the main event, from Matt Newson, with another great drive by Jim Bamford netting third place.

Much anticipation, prior to the GN, of a continuing duel between Matt Newson (16) and Frankie Wainman jnr (515). Matt clearly had other ideas, as he left the other star graders behind to charge through the pack, taking the lead from Mickey Randall (172) at the half way point, with FWJ some way behind in third. As the lap boards came out Matt was well clear to take win by a 1/4 lap from 515 and a slightly subdued Paul Harrison (2).

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable meeting, despite the weather, held together in great style, as always, by the familiar duo of Richard and Alistair, on the microphone and in the box respectively.

Report by: C Turnbull

Full Race Results | Video: Final