Mick's just 'grand' after Golden Helmet success

Top of the bill was the F2 Stock Car Irish Championship where a new name was added to the list of champions when Antrim's Conor Hughes took his first major title after a tough contest.

Ballymena's Kenny Wilson also wrote his name into the records books by clinching the inaugural Classic Hot Rod Irish Championship, while Randalstown racer Shane Murray stroked his Vauxhall Corsa home to secure the Hoosier Tires/LJN DeSigns Two-Litre Hot Rod Series.

The driver with the biggest grin on his face on Friday evening however was Randalstown's Mick Rodgers, who went home with a cool 1000 in his pocket for winning the Group Two Lightning Rod Golden Helmet Trophy.

F2 STOCK CARS

The Irish Championship race started in spectacular style when pole position driver Graham Fegan was launched into and over the wall at the first bend, while Gary Grattan also rolled his car before the end of the first lap. Both drivers were unhurt after their crashes and once repairs had been carried out to the safety wall the race resumed.

Conor Hughes set the pace out front from Ryan McCrory and Gary Blair, but the driver catching the eye as the race progressed was Denver Grattan. The Banbridge driver dropped back at the restart, but powered up through the field to close in on the leader as the finish approached.

Hughes had built up enough of a cushion to just hold on for victory and claim the coveted title for the first time after a well judged drive. Grattan was a very close second with McCrory in third, Jack Boal fourth, Blair fifth and Sam McKay in sixth. The support race brought a win for Christopher Kincaid.

2010 Irish Championship: 1st. Conor Hughes (Antrim), 2nd. Denver Grattan (Banbridge), 3rd. Ryan McCrory (Antrim), 4th. Jack Boal (Crumlin), 5th. Gary Blair (Antrim), 6th. Sam McKay (Ballymena)

Support Race: 1st. Christopher Kincaid (Antrim), 2nd. McCrory, 3rd. Gavin Fegan (Lisburn)

GROUP TWO LIGHTNING RODS

Two reverse grid qualifying heats determined the starting positions for the Golden Helmet Trophy and the first of these brought a win for Stephen Doherty after a close battle with David Gillespie.

The second qualifier went the way of tough lady racer Liscinda Smyth, but two consistent finishes earned Ballymena's Lyle Murray pole position for the final. Nigel Doherty joined Murray on the front row, with Mick Rodgers and Smyth on row two and it was these four who fought out a titanic struggle for the 1000 winner's prize.

Murray grabbed the early lead before Rodgers made his move to the front. Smyth motored through to put the pressure on the race leader, but a clash with Doherty saw both lose valuable time and left Rodgers and Murray to battle it out over the final laps.

Rodgers coolly completed the distance to take the chequered flag after a fine effort, with Murray tight on the leader's tail at the finish. Heat one winner Stephen Doherty finished third, with the top six completed by Gillespie, Samuel Montgomery and David Reynolds.

Heat One: 1st. Stephen Doherty (Garvagh), 2nd. David Gillespie (Ballymena), 3rd. Lyle Murray (Ballymena)

Heat Two: 1st. Liscinda Smyth (Portglenone), 2nd. David Wilson (Cullybackey), 3rd. Nigel Doherty (Garvagh)

Golden Helmet Trophy: 1st. Michael Rodgers (Randalstown), 2nd. Murray, 3rd. S. Doherty

TWO LITRE HOT RODS

This was the third and final round of the Hoosier Tires / LJN DeSigns Series and the results achieved in the two heat races were added to those already scored in the opening two rounds to determine the grids for the series final. Adam Hylands pipped Gareth Hagan to the flag in heat one, with series sponsor Leigh Nicholl taking the spoils in race two.

With the points tallied however it was Irish Champion Shane Murray who earned pole position for the final, with Glenn McDowell alongside on the front row. The pair spent the opening laps side by side before Murray eased ahead, with McDowell dropping down to third behind Gary Wilson.

Gradually Murray pulled further and further away from the pack to win handsomely after a dominant drive in his Vauxhall Corsa. McDowell fought back well to claim the runner-up spot after a fine effort in his Toyota Starlet, with Derek Martin in third.

Heat One: 1st. Adam Hylands (Portadown), 2nd. Gareth Hagan (Ballyclare), 3rd. Adam Heatrick (Portadown)

Heat Two: 1st. Leigh Nicholl (Limavady), 2nd. Wayne Woolsey (Portadown), 3rd. Hagan

Final: 1st. Shane Murray (Randalstown), 2nd. Glenn McDowell (Randalstown), 3rd. Derek Martin (Dungannon)

CLASSIC HOT RODS

The first ever Irish Championship for the Classic Hot Rods began in unruly fashion and the race steward was so displeased with the standard of driving on display that the race was halted after a few laps.

A further attempt was made to run the event later in the programme and proved more successful, with the race settling down into a straight fight between pre-race favourite Stephen Nevin and local driver Kenny Wilson. Nevin led from the start, with Wilson tracking his every move closely and when the leader ran wide at Suffolk bend with three laps to go Wilson immediately seized his opportunity to snatch the lead.

Nevin tried to respond over the final tours, but Wilson would not be denied and held on for a popular win in his Ford Escort Mk. 2. Nevin was forced to settle for second, with Glenarm’s Robin Morrow third in his Ford Anglia.

2010 Irish Championship: 1st. Kenny Wilson (Ballymena), 2nd. Stephen Nevin (Macosquin), 3rd. Robin Morrow (Glenarm)

NEXT MEETING

The next action at Ballymena Raceway will be the traditional holiday meeting on New Year’s Day 2011 (2:00pm start).

The Winter National Championship for National Hot Rods will be the top event on the programme, supported by Stock Rods, Group Two Lightning Rods, Classic Hot Rods and Junior Rods.