Standlake 6 July 2025

STANDLAKE ARENA

Sunday 6 July 2025

Standlake’s penultimate meeting before the track’s traditional summer break was one of their quieter fixtures of the year, but everything’s relative – with 114 entries, a quiet meeting by Standlake’s standards would still be extremely busy for many other tracks and provided entertaining racing through all the classes, with an earlier finish than normal. The weather was favourable – while just up the road, Silverstone on Grand Prix day saw changeable weather with several spells of heavy rain, Standlake had just one brief shower among sunny intervals.

The HOT RODS headed the programme although this year’s improving numbers in the class weren’t so evident today, partly because of some drivers taking a weekend off for the World final at Ipswich. Three FWD and four RWD cars lined up, but Michael Hendy was an early retirement, in what should be the last appearance for his Mini with 1275 A-Series power; it’s planned to reappear with a Honda D-Series in it. Michael Day’s similarly powered Civic set the pace in the first heat until he was caught with four laps to go by the RWD battle, with Chris Muspratt’s Puma then holding off Graham Fulker’s Corsa for the win. Michael Day was followed by Paul Hiden’s Citroen C2, while the other RWD cars were two of Josh Breakspear’s collection of Zetec-powered Novas, Josh starting at the back to keep an eye on young Harvey’s spectacularly sideways first outing in the class. The second heat was again led for two thirds of the distance by Michael Day, but this time when the RWD cars caught him Graham was in front of Chris and Graham came home the winner with Josh Breakspear in a close third. Michael was fourth and Harvey Breakspear headed Paul Hiden for fifth. It was Paul’s turn to get away first in the final, and he led for six laps before he slowed up, leaving Michael Day briefly in front before Graham Fulker came by. Graham had Josh Breakspear pushing him hard until Josh’s transmission locked up, leaving Chris Muspratt to finish second from Michael Day, Paul Hiden and Harvey Breakspear.

PRODUCTION A fielded a smaller than usual 14 cars, led away by sometime Tongham driver Michael Watson’s Micra. Daryl Robins got past at halfway to lead the field home with son Dave coming from the back to second, but picking up a black flag on the way, leaving Colin Passey’s Nova second from Bradley Stratford’s Micra and Michael Watson. A couple of incidents saw Rowland Passey’s Corsa hitting the fence, while Harvey Breakspear’s Micra had heavy front end damage after collecting Ricky Jenkins’ Tigra. Lee Maslen came home fifth in his Mini from Katy Kerbey’s Nova, Geoff Davis’ Mini, Connor Breakspear’s Micra, with Ricky Jenkins, missing his passenger door, a lap down ahead of Chris Bourne in the hire car Nova. One new car in the field was Jasmine Hutt’s 106, replacing her long suffering Nova, but the new car had a few teething problems.

The second heat saw Michael Watson again leading for a while, being caught by Daryl Robins, but it was Ricky Jenkins who came though to lead, with close attention from Dave Robins. Dave found a way past on the outside to take the flag, but had again caught the steward’s eye, this time being dropped a place to give Ricky the win, with Daryl Robins and Bradley Stratford side by side in third and fourth ahead of Colin Passey. Lee Maslen, Katy Kerbey, Connor Breakspear, Geoff Davis and Michael Watson completed the top ten, ahead of Chris Bourne.

Just the eleven qualifiers made the final, but it proved a fraught race, with Connor Breakspear soon passing Michael Watson for the lead. Connor was caught by Daryl Robins, and then Colin Passey, Dave Robins, Bradley Stratford and Katy Kerbey all closed up to join the lead battle. It all got too close with Colin and Bradley coming together to leave Colin with a puncture, and then Bradley was launched over the side of Katy’s car, also putting Katy out with a puncture. Among the chaos, Daryl Robins emerged in front to win from Dave Robins, Ricky Jenkins, Lee Maslen and Conor Breakspear, with Geoff Davis, Michael Watson and Chris Bourne completing the finishers.

If the Prod As were hectic, the 1600 PRODUCTIONS were a battlefield, at least in their first heat, with a 19-car grid. Paul Baldwin’s Rover led the first part of the race, until the red flags came out with Blake Harris’ Fiesta needing a fire extinguisher on the infield. Paul again led away on the restart, with most of the pursuing pack hidden by the smokescreen from Shaun Muspratt’s Fiesta. It wasn’t slowing Shaun though, and in the closing stages he grabbed the lead and came home the winner, with David Oxlade’s Focus a close second from Dylan McDermott’s Focus, which was dropped a place behind Paul Baldwin. In the next pack came Lewis Staite’s Civic, Michael Bayford’s Focus, Kian Thornton’s Focus, Stuart Pitson’s Focus, Shaun Marx-Hughes’ Fiesta and, dropped a place, Mark Champion’s Fiesta, while Rob Stayte’s Civic, Glenn Lewsey’s Kia and Leon Cox in the Focus hire car ended up a lap down. Various incidents accounted for Joe Bates’ Suzuki Alto, Gareth Bowen’s Fiesta and Bradley Ball-Nicholls’ Civic, while along the way Jimmy McDermott’s Civic and Liam Ivins’ Rover collected black flags accompanied by loading up orders.

One extra car appeared for heat two, Darren Coxhead in the Civic already seen driven by Austin Jordan and Aaron Buckett in both Thunder Rods and Super Saloons at Tongham. This one saw virtually everyone make a slow and cautious start on a very greasy track after a rain shower, with the field speeding up and closing up as the race went on. Paul Baldwin set off in front but slid into the fence, giving way to Shaun Marx-Hughes. David Oxlade took the lead as they settled down and held it to the end, ahead of Shaun Marx-Hughes, Paul Baldwin, Mark Champion, Gareth Bowen, Lewis Stayte, Stuart Pitson, Bradley Ball-Nicholls, Kian Thornton, Shaun Muspratt and Glenn Lewey.

The twelve qualifiers for the final were joined by all six of the surviving non-qualifiers, lined up at the back. Paul Baldwin led away and held on for ten laps, giving way to Dylan McDermott, until Paul collected a stray marker tyre, which brought the reds out. Dylan led a four-lap dash on the restart to take the win, while Mark Champion took second from Lewis Stayte on the road, but with the positions reversed once flags were applied. The next nine or ten cars were all bunched up with Shaun Marx-Hughes in fourth, ahead of Shaun Muspratt, Rob Stayte, Bradley Ball-Nicholls, David Oxlade, Joe Bates, Glenn Lewsey, Kian Thornton, Blake Harris and Darren Coxhead.

The JUNIORS’ numbers show no sign of dropping off, with 29 Minis turning up to race in a two-out-of-three heat format. The first race came to an early halt after Morgan Martindale got spun out. First year driver Robert Carapcea was in front at the time and, despite being caught out by the red flag, kept his win, chased by Bobby Cushion and Freddie Truman. Archie Breakspear had been fourth but picked up a black flag, leaving Jack Fulker, Ella Rowland, Chloe Exell and Corey Walker next ahead of the rejoining Morgan Martindale, Amber Toepfer, Freddie Thomas and newcomer Millie Hendy.

The second heat was led all the way by one of the quickest of this year’s crop of newcomers, Jason Cox, although this was also stopped a lap early after Albie-Lee Cornish had a heavy coming together with one of the unforgiving track markers. On his second outing Willis Woodcock, youngest son of a former Standlake Junior star Matt Woodcock, held an impressive second, just losing it at the end to Ella Rowland, who then closed right up to the leader. Lexie Parker took fourth from Harry Miller, Charlie Greening, Corey Grant, Lucas Turnage, Alfie Breakspear and Robert Carapcea, with Amber Toepfer, Freddie Thomas, Mille Hendy, Bobby Cushion, with a puncture, and Corey Walker still running at the red flag.

The third heat was led away by Wilis Woodcock, but Carter Bowen soon took it up and pulled away for a dominant win. Morgan Martindale took up the chase in second, ahead of Lewis Glendenning and Freddie Truman, with Lucas Turnage just beating Willis Woodcock and Harry Miller. Jack Fulker, Lexie Parker and Charlie Greening completed the top ten, with other finishers being Harvey Taylor and Jayden Spicer.

Seventeen cars qualified for the final, but fourteen lined up, with Chloe Exell, Jason Cox and Corey Grant missing. Corey Walker led away but soon lost the lead to Carter Bowen, who held it all the way to the finish. Lewis Glendenning closed up with a couple of laps to go but dropped back again, finishing second from Morgan Martindale. Harry Miller took fourth, at the lead of a bunch comprising Lucas Turnage, Charlie Greening, Jack Fulker, and Harry Truman, and then came Lexie Parker, holding off Ella Rowland and Corey Walker. Robert Carapcea and Willis Woodcock completed the finishers after Bobby Cushion picked up another puncture.

Just six cars made it out for the non-qualifiers’ trace. Alfie Breakspear was spun at the first corner, with Mollie Packer picking up a black flag, and Harvey Taylor then led all the way, winning from Amber Toepfer, Freddie Thomas, Alfie Breakspear and Jayden Spicer. Non-starters were Archie Breakspear, Albie-Lee Cornish, Mason Giddings and Mille Hendy, while Isaac Harris had problems before the start of the first race, and Mason Giddings’ car never made it onto the track.

The contact side of the meeting featured the 1 LITRE STOCK CARS, with fourteen cars making it to Standlake, some of the southern based drivers finding the diversions around a closed A34 too much to face. Rhys Gregory was the first to feature in the first heat, losing the lead to Jack Bailey before local ace Luke Martindale came through to take the win from Jack, Joe Planson and Harry Truman. Luke Tombs, Dave Truman, Ross Hocking, Rhys Gregory and Jessica Lee were next, with Craig Taylor just lapped at the end and Joel Pledge having rejoined after an early problem. Sam Lambert dropped out of the places after being spun by Rhys Gregory, while Callum Martindale and Tim Bates both retired for the day.

The second race was led for a while by Dave Truman before Sam Lambert took it up, but again there was no stopping Luke Martindale as he came from last to first and took another win. Sam Lambert was heading for second, but couldn’t resist his revenge on Rhys Gregory on the last corner, taking them both into the fence as Dave Truman took second from Luke Tombs and Ross Hocking. Harry Truman, Joel Pledge and Jessica Lee were next, with early spinner Joe Planson and Sam Lambert the only other finishers.

11 cars made the final, with Dave Truman sent spinning at the start and Jack Bailey spinning Rhys Gregory. This left Sam Lambert in front, but Joe Planson was flying from the blue grade and built up a lead that nobody could approach, coming home the winner as Sam Lambert held off Luke Tombs and Luke Martindale for second. Ross Hocking took fifth from Harry Truman and Craig Taylor, with Rhys Gregory, Dave Truman and Jessica Lee completing the finishers and Jack Bailey dropping out with a broken driveshaft.

The meeting was completed by two Banger classes. The LADIES’ BANGERS, with thirteen starters, saw a first heat win for Tracey Green, who passed Linz Richens in the closing stages, with Kirsty Brookes in third. Second time out a restart was needed after Ellie Lawrence ended up on her side on the first lap. Linz Richens led this one all the way, with Tracey Green second and Gemma Bricknell, with a Primera in the Focus-dominated field, in third. Gemma then led the final nearly all the way, holding off Kirsty, until the Primera just stopped with a lap to go, leaving Kirsty to take the win from Chloe Bricknell, Linz Richens, Tracy Green, Bethany Lawrence and Charlotte St Claire. The closing Dash saw Tracey Green take another win.

The regular Banger slot this time was filled by NATIONAL MICRO BANGERS, which brought out fourteen cars. The first heat went to Bradley Salter in a close finish with Tom Castle, chased by DJ Tyler. Second time out Aaron Charles did most of the leading, but a quick rain shower on the already greasy track sent virtually everyone piling into the fence on the last corner, with Aaron following Aiden Boon’s car in rather firmly. DJ Tyler emerged the winner from Bradley Salter and Ed Kerbey. The final saw a duel between DJ Tyler and Jack Bunyan, who finally propelled DJ wide in the last corner to take the win. Aaron Charles was third from Tom Castle, Ed Kerbey and Nathan Grant. The Dash was won by Jack Bunyan and DJ Tyler made short work of the DD.