Sun shines on Aghadowey

ONCE again the sun shone as the latest meeting was held at Aghadowey Stock Car Stadium on Saturday which included the King of Aghadowey Championships for each class.

This meeting was kindly sponsored by Higgins Car Dismantlers Ltd, 42a Belraugh Rd, Ringsend, Garvagh Telephone: 02870868814

1600 Bangers

20 cars lined up on the grid for heat 1. Mark McLaughlin took the early lead from new comer Adam White and Brian McMullan. Meanwhile at the back of the field JJ McAfee took out Karl, Willy & Trevor McFaul. McAfee was defiantly on a mission and he was soon up to second spot behind McLaughlin. However Mark McLaughlin was too far ahead and took the chequered flag. JJ McAfee finished a respectable second and Karl McFaul recovered to take third place.

In heat 2 Lee McCloy took the early lead in his new car. Heat 1 winner McLaughlin was in second with White hot on his tail. Lee McCloy took a solid win with Mark McLaughlin holding on for second and Adam White a very respectable third.

Heat 3 was again hectic with JJ McAfee again taking out Karl McFaul but damaging his own car in the process.

Lee McCloy took over the lead from Roy White. McFaul recovered from his spin and made his way up through the field to second spot. Lee McCloy took another solid win with Karl McFaul second and Roy White third.

Lee McCloy lined up on pole for the King of Aghadowey final.

McCloy shot off in to the lead from McLaughlin and McFaul. McFaul nudged McLaughlin wide going in to the Brown Trout corner and took up second spot and set off to catch leader McCloy. McFaul reeled McCloy in and made his move, nudging McCloy wide and taking up the lead. Karl McFaul then opened up a gap, counted down the laps and took the win.

Lee McCloy settled for second and Mark McLaughlin took third.

1600 Lightning Rods

19 cars lined up on the grid for heat 1 and it was Jerome Doherty who led them away. Doherty opened up a good lead over Aaron McMullan and Mark Dunlop. Last week’s final winner Neil Capper piled the pressure on McMullan & Dunlop but neither of the two budged. Jerome Doherty took the win with Aaron McMullan & Mark Dunlop holding on for second and third place.

In heat 2 Owen Cunning led them away and took the early lead. Aghadowey Stadium Champion Sammy Stewart took up second spot from Kyle Tannahill and set off in pursuit of Cunning.

Cunning had a good lead which Stewart could do nothing with so Owen Cunning took the flag. Sammy Stewart finished second with Kyle Tannahill third.

Paul Dunn took the early lead in heat 3 and opened up a gap over Aaron McMullan & Neil Capper. Sammy Stewart was one man on a mission as he started last and was up to fourth place behind Capper.

Stewart made his move around the outside of Newton and set off to catch the top 3. Owen Cunning was also in the mix as he was hot on Capper’s tail. Stewart went to the outside line yet again and drove around all 3 drivers!

Cunning & Capper followed Stewart and took up second and third spot. At the flag Sammy Stewart took a very well deserved win with Owen Cunning second and Neill Capper third.

The King of Aghadowey final came and it was Stewart and Cunning on the row 1 with Capper and McMullan on row 2.

When the flag dropped Stewart made no mistakes and shot in to the lead with Capper second. Stewart opened up a very good lead over the battling Capper & Jerome Doherty.

Doherty got the better of Capper coming out of the pit bend corner and took up second spot. Doherty set off in pursuit of Stewart and was reeling Stewart in lap after lap. Doherty was soon on Stewart’s pipe and was waiting for him to slip up. The pair caught a back marker and Doherty nipped up the inside as Stewart tangled with the back marking car.

Doherty took the lead and pulled away from Stewart. Meanwhile for fourth spot Owen Cunning and Amos McCloy had a tangle and both ended up on the grass. After the 20 laps Jerome Doherty took the win, with a devastated Sammy Stewart in second and Neill Capper a comfortable third.

2L Sierra’s

A new face was on track for heat 1, Tony Loftus. Loftus soon made a good impression as he was straight on the pace. Peter Henderson took the early lead from Ronnie White in second.

White nudged at Henderson lap after lap but couldn‘t budge Henderson as he held tight. But White got up the inside of Henderson going in to the Brown Trout corner and took up the lead.

Ronnie White took the win, with Peter Henderson a solid second and Tony Loftus third.

In heat 2 Ronnie White took the lead on lap 1 with Dessie Kearney following. Loftus was in third but couldn’t find a line past Kearney. White opened up a gap while Kearney and Loftus were battling it out for second place.

Ronnie White took the win, his second win of the day with Dessie Kearney holding on for second and Tony Loftus again third.

In heat 3 White drew pole with Henderson along side. White got a slow start off the line and Kearney nipped up the inside and the 3 were 3 a breast coming out of the pit bend corner but it was Kearney who suffered as his steering tangled and he fell back. White held on to the lead with Henderson following closely behind.

Ronnie White held on for his third win of the day, Peter Henderson and Dessie Kearney completed the top three.

The final came and it was Ronnie White who was pole with Henderson along side. Kearney and Loftus shared row 2. White shot straight in to the lead with Henderson second and Loftus third. Kearney kept with Loftus for a good few laps but soon fell back as his car had a carburettor problem.

The top 3 settled down and followed each other lap after lap with very little between them. Ronnie White took the flag, his fourth win of the day, Peter Henderson took second place and new comer Tony Loftus in third.

Open Hotrods

Last weeks final winner Paul Nevin shot off in to the lead in heat 1 with Lindsay Ferry second in his rare space framed Audi TT. Ferry’s machine was very sideways and he spun coming out of the pit bend corner, leaving Richard Stewart to take up second spot. Paul Nevin took the win with Richard Stewart second and Gareth Nevin third.

In heat 2 Richard Stewart took the lead with Paul Nevin closely behind. Ferry had his Audi TT handling a bit better as he was in third. Richard Stewart held on for the win with Paul Nevin second and Lindsay Ferry third.

In heat 3 Paul Nevin took the lead on the opening lap with his nephew Gareth a close second and Terrance McConlouge third. Stewart spun himself and broke his front suspension which left new comer Jaye Nevin fourth. Paul opened a gap over Gareth and took the flag. Gareth took second with Terrance McConlouge third.

Paul Nevin lined up pole for the Final with Gareth along side. But disaster struck when the flag dropped as Paul was in reverse gear and shot backwards in to Richard Stewart, holding the pair up. Gareth jumped at the opportunity and shot in to the lead. Ferry was second and McConlouge third. Nevin & Stewart started making the ground up and were soon up the second and third spot, as Ferry clipped the home straight wall and knocked his suspension off line and pulled off. Disaster struck again for Paul as he sent himself straight in to the pit bend wall, and he too pulled off. This left Gareth still in the lead spot with Stewart on his pipe. Stewart then got too excited and clipped Nevin’s back bumper sending him in to a slide. Nevin held on to the car but slotted in behind Stewart. Richard Stewart crossed the line in first place but was docked to second for his actions. This left Gareth Nevin to take the win, with new comer Jaye Nevin taking third, a very good result for his maiden day.

Junior Stocks

Glen White shot off in to the lead on heat 1 and opened up a good lead over Andrew Gamble and Lauren McIlroy. Gamble could do nothing to catch White as he pulled away lap after lap. Glen White took the win, from Andrew Gamble second and Lauren McIlroy third.

In heat 2 Curtis Greer took the early lead with White and Gamble following in close pursuit. White went in with the bumper on Greer going in to the pit bend corner and got docked 1 place. Glen White crossed the line first but was docked to second and this left Curtis Greer to take the flag. Andrew Gamble completed the top 3.

In heat 3 White took the lead on the off with Gamble and Greer second and third. Gamble & Greer had a good battle for second place with both cars very evenly matched. White opened up a good lead as Gamble and Greer were battling away for second spot. Glen White took the win, his second win of the day, Andrew Gamble held on for second and Curtis Greer finished third.

Glen White lined up pole for the final with Gamble along side. White got a good start and took up firstt spot with Greer slotting in second and Gamble third. With nothing between the top 3, Glen White held on for the win, his 3rd win of the day. Curtis Greer took second and Andrew Gamble third. Darryl McAleese and new comer Mark Graham completed the top 5.

Next Meeting: Saturday 14 August featuring a Van Destruction Derby where the winner walks away with 400. Everyone welcome. Racing starts at 1.00pm

Photograph courtesy of G E S Photography Tel: 07732275296

WEBSITE: www.aghadowey-stockcar-stadium.co.uk