Onchan Raceway welcomes visiting drivers from across the UK to celebrate 50 years of stockcar racing at Onchan.

JCK Ltd sponsored Monday evenings Stockcar meeting when we welcomed visiting drivers from across the UK. To celebrate 50 years of Stockcar racing at Onchan Raceway we were joined for the second year  by the Micro F2’s driven by 7-11yr olds and for the first time in many years,  the F2 Heritage  Stox are visiting. These are the original 1960’s style Stockcars.  Unfortunately due to reasons out of our control several Brisca F2 Stockcars were unable to come and only one driver has made it, regular visitor James Yule. 

Starting the evening off were the Micro F2’s. Only six arrived in time for Monday’s meeting but there are several more on their way ready for Thursday and Saturday’s meeting.  Race one saw some close racing between Alfie Smith and Coby Laing. From the drop of the green flag it was a cat and mouse race between Smith and Laing with Smith taking the chequered flag.  Oliver Heron held on for 3^rdplace throughout race one closely followed by Jaden Key, Thomas Holcroft and Josh Heugh.  A change of fortune in race two saw some great bumper to bumper action between Laing, Heron and Key and it was Heron who managed to take the lead and win with 2 laps to go. Race 3 saw all 6 Micro’s race closely around the track until the last corner caught Heron out and ended up on the grass infield but he held on and managed to clinch 3^rdfrom Laing and Smith. The last race saw the pack separated in half with great battles between all drivers.  Alfie Key managed to hold the lead claiming his first win of the night. The Micro’s will be back on Thursday with another 9 cars due. 

Next was the 1960’s F2 Heritage Stox. They were joined on track by James Yule and Mark Hargreaves who were both racing their modern day F2 in a 12 lap race. Yule and Hargreaves started a lap down behind the heritage cars and it didn’t take long before they were leading the cars around. Hargreaves had mechanical issues and retired on lap 8. Leading the heritage cars was Ashleigh Wareham who led the race up until lap 11 when John Clements came through from 6^thup to 1^st. Race two saw a great battle between Wareham and Jim Cannon for first and second but on the final two laps Clements came through to take 2^ndplace closely followed by Cannon, Phil Hickerton, Jack Bunte, Charlie McBarnes and Alan Humphrey.  It took Yule till lap 7 to catch up and lead after starting one lap down.  Race 3 and 4 saw the lead changing constantly throughout the laps with Clements claiming victory in race 3 and Cannon winning race 4. James Yule said after the meeting that it was some of the hardest racing he has had for a long while, having to work his way through all the other cars without being able to use his bumper! The JCK Ltd trophies went to 1^stAshley Wareham 2^ndJohn Clements and 3^rdJim Cannon.

Monday was the night for the local bangers and their last round of the Commissioners Cup. As always the crowds favourite, old timer Gary Crellin showed off his driving skills in race one taking the lead from newcomer John Garrod on lap 6. Plenty of collisions were happening around the track throughout with 7 out of the 10 starters finishing race one. Race two saw Crellin take his second win of the evening closely followed by Dave Sutcliff, Ashley Harrison, Steven Guest, championship leader Lee Jordan and Garrod finishing last. Tony Pitt suffered mechanical issues resulting in him not coming out for the rest of the meeting. Change of fortune came Sutcliff’s way when he took the win in race 3.  Race 4 saw Chris Crellin win closely followed by Sutcliff and the rest of the field. The JCK Ltd trophies were presented to 1^stAshley Harrison 2^ndDave Sutcliff and 3^rdLee Jordan. Lee was crowned the overall winner for the Commissioners Cup even though he didn’t actually win a race on Monday evening, the points he had accumulated over the last two meetings gave him some breathing space and all he needed was to finish each race.  It is the second year in a row Jordan has won the cup.

Stockcars are back Thursday and Saturday this week with gates opening at 7pm and racing starting at 7.30. We will be joined once again by the Micro F2’s and the Heritage F2’s. On Saturday there will be an open afternoon for the public to have a closer look at the visiting cars and meet some of the drivers and a chance to sit in them to see just how small they are. Admission for the afternoon will be free and entrance will be through the pit gate. Refreshments will also be available.