Busy August in store at Raceway

IT'S action all the way during the month of August at Ballymena Raceway with no less than five meetings scheduled to take place at the venue.

It all starts this Friday (August 6) when the Group Two Lightning Rod drivers battle it out for their Challenge Cup. Last year's winner Stephen Doherty from Garvagh will attempt to retain the trophy, but faces plenty of opposition with Shane Gault, Lyle Murray, Kenny Carson, Graham Young, David Gillespie and Irish Champion Daniel Norris all potential victors.

Also participating at the August 6 meeting, which is sponsored by Trophies NI in association with Mulholland Scrap Metals, are the Stock Rod, Saloon Stock Car, Classic Hot Rod and Junior Rod classes.

The action continues one week later on Friday August 13 when the spectacular National Hot Rods return to the Ballymena Showgrounds to contest round 3 of their World Qualifying campaign.

All the local stars such as Northern Ireland Champion John Christie, Irish Open Champion Keith Martin and former British Champion Gary Woolsey will compete at the Ross Hyndman Motors sponsored fixture in search of those valuable World Championship points.

An excellent race card on August 13 is completed by the F2 Stock Car, Group Two Lightning Rod and Stock Rod classes.

There's a double helping of thrills in store the following weekend with racing on both Friday and Saturday evening (August 20/21).

Main attraction will undoubtedly be the Stock Rod UK Masters sponsored by Kirkwood Coaches in association with HSS Hire. The Stock Rods always put on a great show at Raceway and this weekend is sure to provide some hectic action from the 1400cc rods, as the best from England and Scotland tussle with local favourites such as Micky McFall, Raymond Harper and Victor McAfee.

The all important qualifying heats take place on Friday evening with the UK final decided the following day.

A full programme of support races, featuring all the Raceway formulas, makes these two days of short oval racing not to be missed. Pride of place amongst the support races falls to the Classic Hot Rod division.

The Classics will be in action at both days of this showcase event with drivers from the mainland joining the Raceway regulars for the SHP Automotive Engineering Irish Open Championship.

The weekend will also see the return to Raceway of the ORC Lightning Rods and the Two-Litre Ford Sierras will compete for the Racemart sponsored Yokohama Cup. One of the true characters of oval racing in the province will also be remembered on the Saturday evening when the F2 drivers contest the Tom Swan Memorial.

Round Two of the Hoosier Tires / LJN DeSIGNS Series for the Two-Litre Hot Rods on Friday 27 concludes the impressive Ballymena Raceway line-up for August.

The Group Two Lightning Rods race for the William McMaster Perpetual Shield on that occasion and this is sure to be another hotly contested event for this well supported formula. Races for the Stock Rods and Junior Rods are also scheduled for August 27 with the action at all five meetings during this busy month commencing at 7:15pm.