It may have been a bitterly cold day, but there was plenty of track action to warm the cockles at the Smallbrook Stadium on Saturday as the Wightlink Warriors Shale Track Racing Club staged their second Winter Warmer event writes Ken Burnett. With no less than 44 heats of various motorcycle racing, it was time to blow away those Christmas cobwebs and New Year hangovers.
The day started with 10 heats of youth speedway racing on smaller machines with Charlie Southwick winning four of his five heats in style and only a fall in his first race prevented him going through the card unbeaten – his pass of the fast-improving Jack Scully-Syer in their second heat looking spectacular and daring.
It was then the turn of the GT140s to show their stuff. With 8 qualifying heats leading to an A and B final, Wayne Broadhurst and Ian Clark led the way, but with 8 rider races they didn’t have things all their own way with Steve Newsham and Keith Gwillam amongst others pushing them hard as they weaved their way through the field.
The final was won by Broadhurst after a great tussle with Clark who was caught up in traffic early in the final, Gwillam snatching 3rd by a whisker from Wayne Broadhurst’s son Max.
In the flat track event, it was Chris Pugh who came out on top winning the 8-lap final comfortably from Brad Hardman. Once again plenty of passing to keep the fans occupied.
In the 4-valve Upright speedway it was Dave Hammond who went to the final unbeaten and he made no mistake in that either with Andy Hickman picking up second place on the line from John Freeman.
The 2-valve speedway saw Martyn Stacy with through to the final with only a tumble on bend 4 in the 3rd heat when trying a spectacular outside pass stopping him from being unbeaten. Stacy made no mistake in the final beating Giles Dismore with Rob Snow taking third.
In the senior 500cc Speedway training event, it was Chad Wirtzfeld (feature image) who has recently signed for the famous Belle Vue Manchester team, who went through the card with Eli Meadows taking 2nd from Jamie Sealey, home favourite Morgan Williams falling with making an early challenge having his hopes dashed.
All in all, it may have been cold, but Promoter Barry Bishop was more than happy with the day’s work and the effort put in by everyone from the competitors, right through to the many track staff and volunteers.
Words by Rob Dyer – Images by Ian Groves/Sportography
