Another healthy field of high speed 2.0 Hot Rods took to the track on Saturday evening and produced some great wheel-to-wheel action under the floodlights. Portadown’s former World Champion Wayne Woolsey drew first blood with a controlled win in the first heat of the evening, before mechanical gremlins ruined the remainder of his evening. In both heat two and the final he had worked his way into the lead, but fuel starvation bothers saw him sidelined in both events. That opened the door for Glenarm’s Bobbie Johnston to grab a welcome win in heat two after some horrendous luck for the young Co. Antrim driver over the past twelve months. Adam Hylands and Gareth Thompson chased him over the line, but come final time Irish Champion Derek Martin was the man on a mission. He worked his way through from the star grade and was challenging hard with Woolsey when the latter retired, allowing Martin to storm home to a well deserved win. European and British title holder Shane Murray took second ahead of Gary Wilson.

The all action Lightning Rods had their outing on Sunday, and another fine grid of cars took part with one eye on their big World Championship coming up in September at Tullyroan. Moira ace Francie Allen was in great form in the heats, grabbing both wins in style which saw him automatically upgraded to the blue grade for the final. Coleraine’s Dane Ferry and Winston Weir both carded second spots in the heat races. The final was always going to be much more difficult for Allen from further back, but in an enthralling race he managed to work his way through to the lead, although he had a hungry pack of the big names challenging hard behind. Larne’s Darren Bevan then had a catastrophic mechanical failure which pitched him onto his side on the start/finish straight, which called for a race suspension just five laps from home. On the resumption Allen held on to record what he thought was a hat-trick of wins, but Race Control penalised him two positions for contact on another car during the race which handed the victory to delighted Killyman racer Weir in his new car. Ferry took second, ahead of the demoted Allen and Drogheda’s Noel Reynolds.

The budget ProStocks were again on top form, with Dean Fleming from Strabane claiming the win in the feature race final. Fleming was one of a pleasing 12 novice grade drivers in action, with another, Allen Cherry, taking the win in the day’s opening heat. Magheralin’s Stuart Agnew was second in that one and he went on to record the win in heat two on a great debut meeting for his new car. Cyril Hawe took the runner up slot in that one. Fleming got the break from the front early in the final and set about building a lead at the head of the field. That lead disappeared after a caution period for a huge accident which eliminated Cherry amongst others, but Fleming held on at the front as Agnew appeared on his tail to challenge. A nudge from Agnew to move the leader was needed as the laps dwindled down, but that only succeeded in putting both cars in the wall. Fleming was the least damaged and as Agnew struggled home to finish sixth in the end, Dean sensationally powered to glory in his first ever race meeting! Portadown’s Mark Corry took second ahead of Stock Rod ace Stephen McCready in a borrowed car.

Birthday boy Jaimie McCurdy was the toast of Tullyroan on Saturday night as he celebrated his 15th birthday with a heat and final double in the Junior Productions. The young Broughshane lad led Bradley McKinstry all the way to the flag in the first heat in the closest of finishes. Jordan Robinson held McCurdy and Edmund Davis at bay for the win in the second heat, before McCurdy showed his class on the slippery track with a commanding final win to complete his double for the evening in superb style. Robinson, McKinstry and novice Graham Fegan Jnr completed the top four.

The Rookie Bangers, which are mostly based in the Republic of Ireland, had their first ever outing at Tullyroan over the weekend. Many observers were greatly impressed by the racing they produced, and their return in June will be eagerly anticipated. Stephen Clarke took the chequered flag in both heats on Saturday night, before he got himself in all manner of trouble in the final. That opened the door for fellow Co Meath man Brian Mullen to land the win.
Although down in numbers on Sunday, the racing was still incident packed. Davy Connolly powered through the mayhem to take victory in both heats, before Clarke underlined his speed with the victory in the final.

The three wheeler Reliant Robins had their first outing of the year on Saturday evening, and the Bolton family from Ballymoney dominated proceedings. Irish Champion Ian made off with a brace of wins in both heat one and the final, with his son Steven the winner of the night’s other heat.

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