Happy Harper on opening night of Raceway

The drivers battled against the elements and the unfamiliar track to provide a hectic session of short oval action and it was a memorable weekend for Stock Rod racer Raymond Harper who proved unstoppable in his rapid Vauxhall Corsa.

The Nutts Corner lad clinched the Greer's of Antrim sponsored Yokohama Tyres title on Good Friday and followed that up with a dominant win in the HSS Hire/Kirkwood Coaches backed Irish Open Championship the following evening.

Defending Yokohama champion Micky McFall put up a gallant defence of his title, but had to settle for second with Scottish visitor Jonathan Lattka in third.

It was another Scottish driver, Robert McDonald, who chased Harper home in the Irish Open, while sixteen year old newcomer Bobbie Johnston capped an impressive weekend to grab third.

The young-guns were certainly out in force in the other classes too, especially on Good Friday. Former Junior Rod racer Caleb Howard marked his first outing in the senior ranks with a final win in the Classic Hot Rods, and another teenage hot-shot, Christopher Kincaid, collected the F2 Stock Car silverware.

On a weekend when the Stock Rod class took centre stage it was perhaps inevitable that three-times Stock Rod World Champion Glenn Bell would get in on the script with a well judged victory in the latest National Hot Rod World Qualifying round on Good Friday.

In the Group Two Lightning Rod class the action was as close as ever, with their six races producing five different winners over the weekend. Michael Rodgers romped to a heat and final double on Friday in his neat Vauxhall Astra, before Gary Thompson collected the final honours on Easter Saturday.

Ahoghill's Marc Morrell blasted to a brace of heat victories in the Junior Rods, but had to settle for third in the final behind Declan McFerran and Ryan McCrory. Saloon Stock Cars completed the programme, where Armagh ace Stuart McCammon plundered a faultless hat-trick of wins in his Ford Sierra.

RESULTS

Stock Rods Yokohama Championship: 1. Raymond Harper (Nutts Corner), 2. Micky McFall (Ballymena), 3. Jonathan Lattka (Falkirk)

Stock Rods Irish Open Championship: 1. Raymond Harper (Nutts Corner), 2. Robert McDonald (Armadale), 3. Bobbie Johnston (Glenarm)

Group Two Lightning Rods (Friday): 1. Michael Rodgers (Randalstown), 2. Lyle Murray (Ballymena), 3. Shane Gault (Glarryford)

Group Two Lightning Rods (Saturday): 1. Gary Thompson (Cookstown), 2. James Goldie (Ballymena), 3. David Reynolds (Ballymena)

National Hot Rods: 1. Glenn Bell (Portadown), 2. Mark Heatrick (Portadown), 3. Tommy Maxwell (Antrim)

Classic Hot Rods: 1. Caleb Howard (Moneymore), 2. Paraic McCormack (Rep. of Ireland), 3. Kenny Wilson (Ballymena)

Formula Two Stock Cars: 1. Christopher Kincaid (Antrim), 2. Craig McConnell (Bangor), 3. Gavin Fegan (Belfast)

Saloon Stock Cars: 1. Stuart McCammon (Armagh), 2. Andrew Stewart (Portadown), 3. John Griffiths (Loughgall)

Junior Rods: 1. Sean McFerran (Portglenone), 2. Dean McCrory (Antrim), 3r. Marc Morrell (Ahoghill)

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting takes place on Friday, April 16, and features races for the Formula 2 Stock Cars, Stock Rods, Saloon Stock Cars, Group Two Lightning Rods and Classic Hot Rods.

This fixture has also been re-scheduled to Nutts Corner with the first race commencing at 7:15pm.

FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN

An internet campaign aimed at saving the future of Ballymena Raceway is currently up and running.

Racing at the Showgrounds venue is currently prohibited by Ballymena Borough Council on health and safety grounds and supporters are keen to ensure the sport continues in the borough.

An online petition can be accessed by clicking either of the following links - http://zh-cn.facebook.com/group.php?gid=368826437997&ref=mf or http://www.ballymenaraceway.com/bmr/home.htm