| |
| Added: 27 Mar 2012 |
Category: 2012 Oval Racing |
| 2012 Season Preview |
As the new season approaches, it’s time to take a look over the forthcoming fixtures and see what the local season has to offer in 2012.
We enter 2012 in exciting times, Tullyroan Oval is due to open in May, and looks like being a fantastic Oval Racing complex, although you wouldn’t tell it by looking at their promotional material, Nutts Corner Raceway is now partnered with Spedeworth, and there should be more inter promotion activity with National Hot Rods racing under the Nutts Corner Raceway promotion for the first time, many of the classes getting a run out at Aghadowey including the Saloons, some Aghadowey classes going to race at Ballymena and the one I’ve been looking forward to which is the F2’s coming to race at Tullyroan Oval. The Slick Cars and Aghadowey’s open Hot Rods have become one and will run a series across Tullyroan, Aghadowey and Ballymena and the 1300 Stock Cars have been introduced to Nutts Corner Raceway, who’ve also brought in Super 1600’s.
I think it’s great to see the Saloons going back to Aghadowey and would hope extending the footprint of the class will bring some more drivers into it, it’s hard to beat a good saloon race, but so long since I seen one over here with the meetings I’ve been at seriously lacking in car numbers.
By my count there is the choice of 94 meetings in Northern Ireland in 2012, when you get a grand total like that it becomes little wonder that the crowds seem to be falling away. I think it would be great if that number was greatly reduced and several classes merged so that you would end up with less meetings, but of a higher standard, which would have a better crowd and in turn a better atmosphere, it’s out of my hands, but you can always dream.
Of the meetings there is always the key fixtures which stand out from the rest, the 2012 Speedweekend at Tullyroan Oval for me is the pick of them, as the 2 Litre Hot Rods and the Lightning Rods contest their European Championships, and better still it gives the local fans a chance to see two local champions defend their titles.
Another must see fixture for the season if the return of the Stock Rod World Championship to these shores, Glenn Bell was victorious the two times the big event has been held at Ballymena and the Stock Rods are a class our local drivers have had a great deal of success in over the years.
Alongside the National Hot Rod weekend at the start of September, Ballymena Raceway holds it’s 35 Anniversary meeting. The 30th Anniversary meeting was a fantastic meeting, with each class well supported and some odd cars and stars of other forms of motorsport in attendance, if the 30th is anything to go by, then the 35th should be a cracker. The Nationals contest their British Championship at the meeting before the road show moves on to Tullyroan for the Irish Open championship the following day. Numbers of visiting Nationals have been on the up and up in recent years, hopefully a trend that will continue.
For the contact racing fans, Shamwreck at the end of April takes place at Nuttscorner Oval and is set to be the last banger meeting at the venue for Davy McCall’s promotion, and what a way to go out. The Bears and the reigning world champion are already booked in, can anyone stop them this year?
For me two of the best races of last year had to be the ProStock Irish Open and the ProStock British Championship, the Irish Open was an epic race which had everything and probably the race of the entire Speedweekend, no mean feat at a World Final meeting, The Irish Open for the class is once again part of the Saturday meeting at the Speedweekend, with their British Championship being contested in September.
No season preview I write would be complete without mentioning the F2’s, we seem to have got a mixed bag on that count, it would have been nice to have seen the class at Aghadowey, but they do have 2 dates at Tullyroan, so that is always something. This year we have lost the Challenge Trophy, which I thought was about as minor a championship as we could be given, and it has been replaced with the National Championship, which is even less prestigious. The plus side is that we have been given 3 days of racing for the class instead of two, which is all well and good provided the cars last the distance. The Irish Open takes place at Ballymena on the Friday night with the National Championship at Nutts Corner on the Saturday.
Joining the F2’s this season will be the return of the Saloon Stock Cars, for various reasons they had no NI trip last year, so it’s great to see them back on the list, hopefully we’ll get a good turnout and some good racing.
Last but not least, the one I almost forgot about, 2012 sees the return of the Reliant Robins Irish Open Championship, it’s a class often criticized for the car numbers, but it’s probably more light hearted and fun than any other formula you’ll see on our ovals, hopefully we’ll see some visitors over and a good squad of cars for this one.
So there you have it, 2012 is all ready to go. I’ve created a master spread sheet of meetings as they appear on the promotions websites at the time of compiling it, less the odd typo which no doubt is in there somewhere. You can download the spread sheet from the link at the bottom of this article, but please check the websites of the promotions before travelling.
|
.JPG)
Looking Ahead at 2012 |
.JPG)
Speedweekend - One of the highlights |
.JPG)
M. Emerson defends his European in July |
.JPG)
as does McLean |
.JPG)
F2 Irish Open is at Ballymena |
.jpg)
The grid for the 08 Stock Rod world |
.jpg)
Won by Glenn Bell |
.JPG)
Saloons are back in June |
.JPG)
Ballymena's 35th should be a cracker |
.JPG)
and includes the NHR British |
.JPG)
ProStock British is at Tullyroan |
.JPG)
Robins hold an Irish Open this year |
| Download the Fixtures for Excel |
|
|
|
  |
|
|
|
