NIF2.com - And the Meeting Was.... Speedweekend 2005

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Added: 14 Jan 2012	Category: Older Oval Racing
And the Meeting Was.... Speedweekend 2005
I thought it worth writing a piece on not just the past years, but also the meetings that have really stuck out for me, and there was something of a buzz around the Nuttscorner Oval 2005 Speedweekend that just made it special. Although there had been 2 day meetings at Nuttscorner Oval in the previous summers, 2005 was the first of them to have been branded a Speedweekend. The concept of a Speedweekend is something many of us who had spent our summer’s tripping back and forward to the mainland were well familiar with, but there was still a greater audience of fans at home who had never been across the water, and this was to be their first Speedweekend. It was Nuttscorner Oval’s first hosting of the 2 Litre Hot Rod world championship too, Kevin Randell had won the previous two world championships and went into the meeting as the pre-race favourite. Other visitors included Mark Paffey, Jason Kew and Kym Weaver, all now racing National Hot Rods. The meeting was being recorded for broadcast on Sky TV, Barry Lee was on commentary, I think accompanied by Dave Richards from memory. The weather was fantastic and it is indeed one of the few times I’ve been sunburnt at Nuttscorner, the bar was in full swing, the stadium was looking well with the walls painted, the grass cut and a new line painted on the track to aid with assessing whether drivers were holding their line or not. In the 2 Litre Qualifying heats on the Saturday night it was Ronnie McMillan who took the opener with English visitor Martin Cooling taking heat two and Randell taking the third heat. Two second place finishes were enough to put Kym Weaver on pole for the World final itself, with Andy Best sharing the front row. In the big race itself Best got the better start and led Weaver into the first bend, Weaver later got back into the lead before losing out to Best a second time. Weaver pulled out with mechanical problems and Best went on to win the 2005 2 Litre Hot Rod World Championship, leading Randell, Paffey and Longhurst as visiting drivers occupied 2nd to 5th spots with Alvin Doak and Gary Wilson the only two other local drivers in the top ten. Ronnie McMillan won the last 2 Litre Race of the weekend, a dash 4 cash which seen Wilson and Longhurst in the wall. In the support classes throughout the weekend Nigel Sinnamon dominated the Lightning Rods on Sunday, taking all three wins, while Andy Cochrane won a heat on Saturday night before Nigel Jackson took a heat and final in their 2005 King of Nuttscorner. Also in action on the Saturday night were the National Hot Rods, with Keith Martin making his Nuttscorner debut with the gold roof. Ian Thompson won a heat and final in their qualifying round which seen a grid of 11 cars including English visitor Steve Thompson. Clive Richardson won the other heat. In the Juniors there was final wins for Richard Buchanon and William Buller while James Turkington and Brendan McConnell were also heat winners. At the time the Senior Productions were still running and boosted by Production cars from Nutts Corner Raceway. David McMenemy won three of the four heats throughout the weekend, but it was Gareth Sloan and Brian Berry who won the finals, Berry also took the other heat win. In the Robins there was three race wins for Rab Stewart and a final win for Glenn Bell. Mark Hughes won the Banger King of Crash
The Poster and Programme Artwork


William Buller in the Juniors

Lightning Rods on Saturday night
National Hot Rods on Saturday night
Robins line up


2L World Grid
...and the rest was history
Just like Ipswich!
Support race line up
Banger left overs

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