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Added: 27 Mar 2012 Category: Older Oval Racing
And the Year Was .... 2006
In 2006 NIF2 became database driven and was still partnered with NIRods and covering domestic classes to give as complete a coverage of the sport as we could. The downside of being database driven is that I didn’t back it up when NIF2 closed in it’s previous format, and all the reports from 2006 and 2007 that appeared on the site have now been lost, so I’m relying on notes and unloaded articles I’d written to make up my 2006 piece.
Joining NIF2 and NIRods on web browsers was BallymenaRaceway.com and NuttscornerOval.com. The promotions site went online within days of each other.
2006 seen the introduction of the Spedeworth style 2.0 Stock Cars to the Nuttscorner Oval promotion, as they broke away from the Seniors/ Production cars which had been running at both Nutts Corner’s promotions under slightly different rules. The class looked to have early potential, but never really filled the boots of the Seniors that it had replaced and before long, the class was scraped.
Having built the Nuttscorner Oval website, I managed to secure myself a spot on the infield, a bit of a daunting step up from standing on the outside of the fence, and when one of your first meetings on the infield happens to be “Shamwreck”, it was all a bit heart in mouth, and I plodded off back to the outside for the Bangers, a good call I think.
From the notes I have, Andrew Thompson and Brian Houston each racked up a hat trick of wins at the end of April at Nutts Corner Raceway in the F2’s and Saloons respectively.
May brought the Saloon Irish Open and World Masters. The Irish open taking place on a Wednesday night, of which I’ve no notes on who won it, but the World Master at Ballymena seen a hat trick of wins for Scottish Visitor Alistair Strachen, who led home Andy Stewart and Stuart McGammon in the final.
In the F2’s in May there was final wins for David Faloon, Craig McConnell, Davy Nesbitt and Thomas Greer.
Moving into June and it was the F2’s turn to host the Irish Open. Gordon Moodie headed the visiting drivers which included the Kelly Brothers, Paul Ford, Douglas Ford, Bryn Tootell, Martin Cole, Chris Burgoyne and Dave Polley. The first meeting on the trip was at Nutts Corner and was dominated by the RCE of the Silver Roof, Moodie took two heats and the final on the night to win the Challenge Trophy ahead of Jeff Minish and Graham Kelly. Moodie then went on to come through to second in the GN which was won by Douglas Ford. Jeff Minish was the other heat winner on the night.
The next night it was onward to Ballymena for the Irish Open Championship and Moodie’s domination continued into heat one. Martin Cole then took the second heat. The final produced one of the memorable moments of the season when Graham Fegan and Moodie clashed, with Fegan retiring to the infield before being rammed by Moodie, who then climbed upon his wing and did a chicken dance. Davy Nesbitt went on to take the Irish Championship, leading home Cole and Gavin Fegan. Gavin Fegan went on to take the GN.
In the other meetings in June there was wins for Gavin Fegan, Lawrence Boal and Joe Yates, and at the end of June Darren McKinstry debuted a new shaped A&D chassis at Ballymena, taking second in the final.
July brought the end of Keith Martin’s reign as World Champion, as Carl Boardley won the first of his National Hot Rod World titles at Ipswich. Graham Fegan’s reign as F2 European champion also came to an end with Gordon Moodie taking the title at Northampton.
Locally, Davy McCall made debuted his new 206cc at Ballymena on the 21st of July, which was my first full meeting on the infield at Ballymena.
The Nuttscorner Oval Speedweekend was headlined by the 2 Litre Hot Rod British Championship, which featured a good scrap between Garry Campbell, Denver McLean, Mark Paffey and Wayne McClure. Campbell lost the lead in the closing laps having been pushed wide and the race was then stopped, declaring Campbell the champion, with McLean second and John Murray third.
On the domestic scene, Craig McConnell and Ian Thompson took final wins before Barry Smith took a hat trick of wins at Nutts Corner.
Keith Martin won the National Hot Rod National Championship at Hednesford.
Barry Smith got another final win in the F2’s at Nutts Corner at the start of August. The following week Ian Thompson was first across the line in the final and then excluded for the results for not wearing gloves, handing the win to Denver Grattan.
The F2 World took place at Mildenhall and I managed to take in Swaffham earlier in the day and watch the Superstox in action, as well as another F2 meeting at Kings Lynn the following day. Gavin Fegan, Denver Grattan, Darren McKinstry and Jeff Minish represented us in the world, while Graham Fegan and Gary Grattan raced in the support races. Mark Simpson led for most of what was a superb world final before Moodie took the lead on the very last bend, taking the title.
August ended with hat tricks of wins for Ian Thompson in the F2’s and Winston Wier in the Saloons at Nutts Corner.
September kicked off with the Norman Cromie Memorial meeting for F2’s at Ballymena and Thompson’s domination continued, taking another hat trick.
The first Sunday in September seen the first Hearst meeting for the National Bangers at Nuttscorner Oval, something a bit different that we’d never had over here at the time, and there was a decent turnout of well presented cars.
September represents the business end of the season, and in the Irish championships there was a win in the Junior Productions for Adam Hylands, Winston Weir took the Saloon Irish at Ballymena. Nigel Jackson won the Lightning Rod Irish Open.
The F2 Irish Championship took place in some of the wettest conditions that I’ve seen at Nutts Corner. Gavin Fegan was first across the line, but having changed a wheel in practice failed scruitineering on the track width, the decision gave the win to Craig McConnell.
At the next F2 meeting which was the Ballymena track championship, Gavin Fegan arrived complete with Green and White chequered roof which had to be removed before he could race. McConnell was again victorious and took the Ballymena track championship, which on top of the points title gave him a clean sweep of local honours in F2.
In October I had my first trip to Tipperary, where Keith Martin won the National Hot Rod European.
Andy Best won the 2 Litre Hot Rod Irish Championship a week later, being joined on the podium with William Buller and Wayne McClure.
In November there was a one off meeting at Northampton with match racing between the Superstox and the F2’s, which seen Rob Speak return to the wheel of a borrowed DK F2.
At some point in the year, I think late August, but I’m not 100% sure, Stephen Emerson became the first Northern Ireland winner of the Lightning Rod world final, winning it at Ipswich.
Nigel Jackson took the European title earlier in the year when it was held in a joint meeting between Ballymena Raceway and Nuttscorner Oval.


D McKinstry on this cars debut in June

My first infield outing at Ballymena

McCall's first outing in the 206cc

2 Litre British action

2 Litre British Grid

Speedweekend Lightning Rod Action

Outgoing World Champ at Mildenhall

NI cars line up at Kings Lynn

2.0 Stockcars didn't last

The First Hearst banger meeting

Emerson won the World

My first trip to Tipp

2 Litre Irish Grid

Shamwreck 2006

F2's line up at Ballymena
More Photos from 2006 on Flickr

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