Kent Outlaw Oval Racing round 5

KENT OUTLAW OVAL RACING ROUND 5

Lydden Hill Saturday 5 July 2025

After a couple of meetings with a below target number of entries, Kent Outlaw Oval Racing’s July session attracted the best entry of the year so far, with 64 total entries, of which 55 appeared on the day. The main boost was provided by the invitation of the National Super Rods in addition to the regular KOOR classes. Despite threatening weather all day, there were just a couple of quick showers during the afternoon and the racing went so well that it wasn’t a concern when the circuit’s external noise monitoring forced a short break at the start of the finals. Of course, after that there were three red flag incidents in the next races, but the full programme was completed with three minutes to spare before the 6pm curfew!

The KOOR format doesn’t allow much scope for adding visiting formulae, but the NATIONAL SUPER RODS were a perfect fit, with Lydden’s oval providing an ideal opportunity for the big V6-powered cars to stretch their legs. Super Rods hadn’t appeared here for several years, since they were on the Rolling Thunder Show programme, but with the now independent formula having few opportunities to race other than at Swaffham and Grimley, the Lydden opportunity was well received. Eight cars entered, out of the dozen or so believed to be currently ready to race, and seven turned up, with Norfolk-based Pete Ash not making it due to work pressures, and shared the grid with the Outlaw Hot Rods. There was a bit of pre-race drama as a slight communication error led to the drivers turning up believing the noise limit was 108db, rather than Lydden’s strict 100db, but Lydden’s staff were very accommodating in carrying out the checks early, and everyone scraped through, with the aid of a bit of wire wool in some cases.

The grid was led away by Gavin Cocks’ Sierra and Iain Nicklin, in the ex-Dave Willis Mondeo, but Gavin’s car lost power on the climb through Chesson’s Drift and Iain took the lead before being passed by brother Kenny’s Sierra. At half distance Jamie Johnson’s Sierra took over after going the long way round the outside, but he was soon under pressure from fellow Essex driver John Wicks and the many times champion John finally got his nose ahead on the line after throwing his Sierra round the outside of the last corner. Kenny and Iain Nicklin were next ahead of George Rollins’ Sapphire, but Ashley Law’s distinctive BMW-bodied car was a casualty, with a blown engine.

Second time out Iain Nicklin led the early stages until he took to the grass coming through Chessons and Kenny again hit the front before Jamie Johnson this time found a gap on the inside. Jamie then held off John Wicks all the way to take the win, with Kenny and Iain in third and fourth, while George Rollins pulled off and Gavin Cocks’ car again seemed strangled at the start – Gavin was inclined to blame the silencing mods until the same happened in the final, suggesting a more fundamental problem.

The final again saw Iain and Kenny Nicklin making the early running until the two Worcestershire drivers were passed by Jamie Johnson and Jamie, a veteran of National Hot Rods, Autograss, Classic Hot Rods and everything in between, took another well earned win, again holding off John Wicks, with Kenny Nicklin in third, while Iain Nicklin beat George Rollins for fourth. All the Super Rod drivers seemed to enjoy their return to Kent, and as the KOOR team would welcome them back any time, we hope to see them again.

Joining the Super Rods were the OUTLAW HOT RODS with a four-car grid, although the first heat lost Dan Rolfe, returning with his 206CC, after a bizarre problem. A heavy shower before the start had caused rain to drain into his air filter, which choked the car on the line, and Dan’s efforts to restart it set fire to the filter! We also lost the similar car of Billy Perry, flagged off after losing water from a split hose, so Jason Anderson’s Corrado took the win ahead of Joe Cato, going well in his 205 and mixing it with the leading Super Rods. Dan Rolfe was back on the grid for the second heat and took the win, closely chased all the way by Jason, with Joe in third. All four cars were out for the final, and a close three way battle developed as Billy, Dan and Jason lost no time in carving through the Super Rod pack. Billy held on until the last couple of laps when Dan found a gap to take another win, with Billy and Jason right behind and Joe Cato having another good drive to fourth.

The OPEN RODS just had a six car grid, but these were the top six in the points, leading to very competitive racing. Ricky Beazzer’s Sierra shot from the back of the grid to the front in the first heat and although Tommy Parker’s slower-starting Mk1 Escort soon caught up, Ricky held Tommy off to win with Marcus and Chris Reeve’s Sierras next and Andy Burbridge’s Lexus competing the field after Russ Thornton’s Sierra pulled off. Second time out Russ battled for the early lead with Marcus, but Ricky was soon through again and, despite a spot of rain during the race, Ricky held off Tommy for another win, with Marcus third and Russ getting the better of Chris for fourth. It all went wrong for Ricky Beazzer in the final though, as he got tangled up with Andy Burbridge in the first corner, and Ricky wasn’t allowed to restart with his front bumper missing. Tommy Parker, whose business Parkers’ Gates and Fencing was the meeting’s main sponsor, went on to win, also taking over the points lead, with Russ Thornton getting the better of a close battle with Marcus Reeve for second, Chris Reeve chasing them in fourth and Andy Burbidge in sixth. After this disappointment Ricky Beazzer was allowed a run from the back of the grid with the Outlaws and Super Rods, and his ST170-powered Sierra proved its pace by catching and passing all the Super Rods.

Seven cars raced in the 1400 HOT RODS with Lily-May Burbridge’s 106 and Alfie Gibbs’ Micra first to show at the front before Chris Goldsmith’s Corsa took it up. Doug Constable’s Corsa closed in to challenge but after several looks at the outside line, Doug ran wide onto the grass and settled for second, with Alfie holding off Chris Kemp’s Corsa and Scott Ruggins’ crossflow-powered Starlet. Calum Staines’ Corsa pulled off and wasn’t seen again. In the second heat Doug Constable made some good moves in the early laps so that he was the first to catch Alfie Gibb in the lead. Doug took it up and headed for a convincing win over Chris Goldsmith, Alfie and Chris Kemp, with Lily-May and Scott battling for fifth.

Scott Ruggins’ classic Starlet got away well in the final but got out of shape first time through the oval link, scattering the field. The reason quickly became clear, as Scott had spotted that he was on fire and was desperately trying to get out of everyone’s way before baling out. Fortunately it was quickly extinguished, and Chris Goldsmith took the lead from the restart, with Doug Constable again in hot pursuit. With two laps to go Doug’s outside line took him to the front and he held off Chris to win, with Alfie Gibb the only other finisher. Lily-May Burbridge pulled out after an off course moment avoiding Scott, while Chis Kemp had a dramatic exit when a tyre blew.

The LYDDEN RODS were having their main trophy meeting of the year, the Concept Cup, which meant they had drawn and reversed grids for the heats, with the final lining up in points order. The 11-car field was headed away by Liam Tanner’s Fiesta in the first heat, being passed at half distance by Chris Gibb’s Puma before Ash Wilkinson’s Puma made a move on the outside with a lap to go, taking the win from Chris, with Liam in third, holding off Paul Austin’s Fiesta, and Pete Harris Fiesta taking fifth from Phil Morgan’s C2. The reversed grid put Pete Harris and Phil Morgan on the front for the second heat, but Pete left a small puddle on the dummy grid and was soon trailing smoke, meaning the end of his day. Phil Morgan held the lead for half the race, but was eventually passed by Ash Wilkinson, coming through from seventh on the grid, and Ash took another win from Phil, with Paul Austin, Chris Gibb and Scott Dalton’s Puma next, ahead of Liam Tanner, Robin Miles in a hastily built Ka (a re-shell of brother Jack’s Puma) and Zack Heaps in the second of the orange Pumas.

The reversed grids obviously did their job as, in the final, the top four ran all the way in grid order, evenly matched but with no real challenges for position, so Ash Wilkinson won the Concept Cup after his unbeaten day, chased home by Chris Gibb and Paul Austin, with Phil Morgan just missing out on the trophies as he finished fourth ahead of Scott Dalton, Robin Miles, Liam Tanner and Zack Heaps. Completing the field was Lydden newcomer Lee Garrett in the Fiesta he’s been racing at Coombe Valley. Another newcomer was Karl Boden, in the ex-Alfie Gibb Twingo, but he retired after problems in both heats.

Last but not least, the MINI RODS also had their Concept Cup, with a 20-car field being randomly divided into two groups in the heats, the top twelve overall making the final. The designated Group B raced first, with Adam Rossiter coming through from the middle of the grid to take the first heat lead from Bill Barlow. Adam took the win, chased by Mick Ramsey and Matt Haines, with David Madge just taking fourth from Bill Barlow and Lee Pullen, making a welcome return. Second time out, in a rain shower, just seven cars lined up, with Mick Ramsey, Terry Pithers and Dave Mayer missing. Matt Haines led all the way, with Adam Rossiter coming through to second from Lee Pullen, Dave Madge and Kev Ellis.

In Group A Darren Edwards was drawn at the front of the first heat with Dan Wonfor, who’d made an impressive debut at the previous meeting. It was Darren who led all the way, just fending off Nick Ring and Bill Barlow, while an equally close battle behind saw Dan Worfor hold off Graham Ives, Matt Colburn and Andrew Buckett, with Dave Wimble and Rob Shaw close behind, although Adrian Fryer’s car didn’t make it onto the track. Second time out Graham Ives was on pole and led all the way, with Matt Colburn holding second for a while, but losing out to Rob Barlow, with Nick Ring and Darren Edwards also in the mix.

Adam Rossiter earned pole for the final, with Matt Haines alongside, and these two battled for the lead, until Adam started to pull out a small gap, with Rob Barlow challenging Matt for second. Unfortunately Matt and Rob came together going into the last lap, with Matt spinning sideways into the infield barriers on the Rallycross course. The heavy impact brought out an immediate red flag, so it was good to see Matt drive the car off afterwards. The race was called with the result taken back a lap, giving Adam the win and reinstating Matt in second ahead of Rob. The rest of the field were bunched up behind the second place battle; Nick Ring took fourth from Darren Edwards, Dave Madge, Graham Ives, Lee Pullen, Matt Colburn, Dan Wonfor and Kev Ellis, with Mick Ramsey having run out of track in the oval link at half distance.

The non-qualifiers had a consolation race ay the end of the day, although only four lined up in drizzly conditions. Bill Barlow led all the way, chased by Andrew Buckett and Dave Wimble, while the field was completed on his debut outing by former Invicta Stock Hatch racer Charlie Eastwood.

The KOOR season continues with the “Thunder 650” two-day August Bank Holiday meeting, also featuring the European Late Model series, which we probably can’t make due to Bank Holiday clashes, and then monthly meetings on 13 September, 11 October and 15 November.