Halloween Showdown  30/31 October 2004

Shakespeare County Raceway

Entrants

Paul Hensher, championship leader going into this meeting, was unable to attend with transportation woes.

Qualifying

Although there was no rain after about 9am, the track stayed cold & damp all day Saturday & despite efforts of the track staff no "slick shod" cars ran.

 Leaving a one-shot qualifier & 3 rounds to be run in under 5 hours on Sunday !

1. OA 11     Paul Wright                  9.03 / 161 mph
2. OA 2       Pete Ashworth             9.60 / 134 mph
3. OA 14     Ian Norman                  9.85 p.b.
4. OA 54     Bob Hancox                10.60
5. OA 79     Justin Krekelaar        11.08 / 121 mph
6. OA 590   Aidan Kenny              11.52 / 117 mph
7. OA 9       Matt Cooper               12.60

Eliminations

 1st Round 

OA11 Paul Wright  v  Bye

Short Burnout & a straight pass 9.34/154mph.

OA54 Bob Hancox  v  OA79 Justin Krekelaar

Bob's Daughter had just run the car & after a swift fire suit change Bob was up against Justin. This one was over before it started bob picked up a -0.01 cherry 11.31/94mph to Justin's clean & green 11.13/120mph

OA2  Pete Ashworth  v  OA52 Matt Cooper

Matt's keen on the tree but  13.02/105mph to Pete's 10.16/113mph meant he was watching ever diminishing Dayglo boot lid, from 60ft to the stripe.

OA14 Ian Norman  v  OA590 Aidan Kenny

Ian's starter motor gremlins were back, again he was unable get Popeye 21/2 fired up in the lanes, leaving Aidan to progress past the 1st round for the 1st time! 11.44/117mph

Semi-Final

OA11 Paul Wright  v  OA59 Justin Krekelaar

Paul Wright needed to win the final of this event, to bump Paul Hensher into 3rd spot in the championship. Any hope of that ended here, a clutch adjustment too far left Paul revving on the line, while Justin progressed into his 1st final 11.19/117mph to Guv's 15.40/57mph

OA2 Pete Ashworth  v  OA590 Aidan Kenny

This was the Big One for Pete. Winning this round secured the 2004 Real Steel Championship. Aidan's car cut-out at the hit, leaving Pete to cruise through into the final a happy man.10.96/108mph

Final

OA2 Pete Ashworth  v  OA79 Justin Krekelaar

No time for celebrations in the Ashworth camp, the championship was won but with the 5pm curfew & darkness fast approaching, there was a final to run. Pete left 1st & stayed out in front on a greasy track, 11.55/103mph was good enough to round off the weekend wit a win. Justin's valiant 11.57/116mph proved him as a worthy adversary,  & the runner -up points catapulted him from =16th spot before this event, to No.9 after it !

Congratulations to Pete, Thanks to Lee Child & all the crew & officials at SCR.