NIF2.com - And The Year Was.... 2005

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Added: 23 Dec 2011	Category: Older Oval Racing
And The Year Was.... 2005
2005 was probably as strong a year as NIF2 had, and with the changing face of the internet and my other commitments these days, it is unlikely ever to return to it’s former glory. In 2005 NIF2 and/incorporating NI Rods was still the only NI Oval Racing website, Colin Adair was writing regularly for it, Darren Black and Doris McCall were sending stuff through from Nutts Corner Oval, Simon Kennedy was covering Hot Rods and BWP was amongst other photographers contributing, there just doesn’t seem to be that cohesion these days in websites, only sites like Nationalhotrod.com have a strong supporting cast of multiple contributors. Although I covered mainly F2, the contribution network was there to ensure that as much racing as we could cover, was being covered. We were even trying cutting edge things like posting updates through wap portals on phones, when mobile internet was just about in colour, let alone what we take for granted these days. The out of season action started at Nuttscorner Oval in February where there was a North V South race for the National Hot Rods. I wasn’t there, but heard from what I recall it was talked about as having been more like a banger meeting. The bottom line is that the South won. As ever the season kicked off at Easter, which was at the end of March and it was Geoff Alexander who took the opening F2 heat of the season at Ballymena, he then took the second heat as well before Ronald Scott recorded the first final victory of the year. Meanwhile in the Stock Rods it was Micky McFall who took the honours in the Yokohama Tyres championship. The F2’s had four Nutts Corner meetings in April with honours shared between Paddy McAtamney, Jeff Minish at the wheel of a new Bingley chassis, Graham Fegan as well as a second feature race of the year for Ronald Scott. Ivor Greenwood returned to racing in a splendid home built car and Davy Grattan joined sons Gary and Denver on track In May there was F2 final wins for Jonny Sterling at the wheel of the ex- Gary Beggs A&D car, Jeff Minish took his second final win of the season, with Tony Loftus winning and Graham Fegan also taking final wins. June arrived and so did the visiting drivers, but not before Gary Grattan had taken a final win at Nutts Corner and Graham Fegan had taken a Hat Triack at Ballymena. The Irish Open and Challenge Trophy had attracted an all star field of thirteen visiting drivers, including National Points Champion Gordon Moodie, World Champion Bill Batten as well as Mick Sworder, Dave Polley. Bryn Tootell, the Kelly Brothers, Paul Ford, Gavin Miller, Trevor Harris, Rob Batten and Chris Burgoyne. The Irish Open was first on the agenda and Bill Batten took the title after heat wins from Graham Kelly, Tootell and Loftus. The Challenge Trophy took place at Ballymena and seen a home win as Tony Loftus took both heats and the final with Tootell runner up and Graham Kelly third. Loftus I think was the first person to take a title with one of my website’s address on their car, sporting NiF2.com across the front bumper. As we moved on through June, Francie Smylie took a heat win a in the ex/now Gavin Fegan HCD, Gary Grattan, Jonny Sterling and Graham Fegan all took final wins before Lawrence Boal took a hat trick of wins to round off a busy month in the F2’s. At home Denver Grattan took the Nutts Corner final on the first week of July before the local summer break. Bigger things were on the cards for local drivers on their travels as Keith Martin won the National Hot Rod world at Ipswich, where Ian Thompson had taken two heats wins in the support races. Graham Fegan became the first Northern Ireland driver to win an F2 European Championship when it was staged on the mainland, and was the first time I’d actually witnessed an NI driver taking a major trophy on the mainland. Gary Grattan took the Nutts Corner final when racing resumed at the end of the month, before Graham Fegan won the Norman Cromie Memorial trophy at Ballymena, two nights later. July ended with Ballymena and Nutts Corner co hosting the Lightning Rod British championship, with Stephen Emerson coming out victorious. August seen F2 final wins for Jeff Minish, Raymond Percy, Hudson Foster and a brace for Graham Fegan. Nuttscorner Oval hosted it’s first Speedweekend that had been branded as a speedweekend with Andy Best taking the 2 Litre World final on the first occasion that the championship was held at the venue (fuller report on this meeting to follow). At the National Championships at Hednesford it was Ian Thompson who took victory in the National hot rods, while Nigel Jackson took the spoils in the Lightning Rods. September began with Ballymena and Nuttscorner Oval co hosting the National Hot Rod British Championship, and it was Ian Thompson who took his second National Hot Rod major by taking the title at Ballymena. Craig McConnell took a final win at Nutts Corner either side of the world final at Northampton which was won by Dutch ace Willie Peeters. McConnell and Fegan started the Irish Championship from the front row which was filled with the usual carnage early on and it was Gary Grattan who took the title. Sam McKay and Craig McConnell took the remaining final wins, with McConnell also winning the Ballymena Stadium Championship and being voted the 2005 NIF2 driver of the year, the only year there was ever a trophy presented for what was intended to be an annual award. In the other classes Alastair Bolton won the Stock Rod Irish, a young William Buller took the Junior Production Irish Championship, Brian Berry took the Senior Production Irish Championship, Ryan Stewart took the Nutts Corner Juniors Irish championship, Mervyn Crawford won the Productions Irish Sam McKinstry won the 1400 Banger Irish and it was Tommy McCrory who won the Saloon Stock Car Irish. As the season moved into October it was only Nuttscorner Oval that was left running, Jack Overy took the National Bangers Irish open, Stephen Emerson who the Lightning Rods Irish and Andy Best won the 2 Litre Irish title. In November Tommy McCrory took the honours in the Nutts Corner Raceway stadium championship for the saloons on a day that Andy Thompson won both F2 heats. The festive meeting at Nutts Corner Raceway seen F2 wins for Craig McConnell and Stuart McGammon won the King of Nutts Corner title. Points titles throughout the year went to Craig McConnell (F2), Conor Hughes (Production Cars), Adam Maxwell (NCR Juniors), Sam Mckinstry (1400 Bangers), Andrew Murray (2 Litre Hot Rods), Stephen Emerson (Lightning Rods)
Graham Fegan won the F2 Euro
Tony Loftus won the F2 Challenge Trophy
Gary Grattan won the F2 Irish Closed
McConnell was NIF2 driver of the year
Ivor Greenwood returned to F2
Keith Martin won the NHR world
Ian Thompson won the National & British
Andy Best won the 2L world @ NCO
Emerson won the British @ NCO
McCrory won the Saloon Irish
F2 Pile Up at BMR
Batten & Moodie at NCR
Chris Gordon in the Juniors
Nationals at BMR
NIF2 Looked like this
Link to 2005 Photos on Flickr

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