Swaffham Raceway 26 October 2025

SWAFFHAM RACEWAY

Sunday 26 October 2025

Although Swaffham Raceway still had another couple of meetings scheduled, Winter was clearly on the way and the October 26 fixture had a definite end-of-season atmosphere. With a distinct chill in the air after a sunny morning, and intermittent ran arriving towards the end of the first heats, making the track somewhat greasy for the rest of the day, it was a day for rushing through the racing and getting on the way home. Having said that, there was some excellent racing to be seen, despite a small turnout that meant only two classes (the Ninja Karts and Junior Rods) managed double figure entries. There was an 8-formula, 24-race programme, with the ninth billed formula, Outlaw F2s, as is often the case here, not getting any entries.

Kicking off the action were the V6 CLASSIC MODIFIEDS. This unique, and very appealing, formula, which currently is only seen at Swaffham, has around ten active cars (many more have been built, so we wonder where they’ve all been hidden), but only six have raced this year. This time five lined up as John Thoroughgood’s JPS Capri had capped a troubled season by blowing up its engine. Two of the five were for sale, so we hope they end up bringing new drivers into the class! The first heat, in the dry, saw Mick Thoroughgood, out in his Vitesse this time, battling side-by-side with Al Fanning in the “Cowdenbeath Pace Car” liveried Capri. Al won, with the field completed by Mark Harvey’s Mk2 Cortina, new points champion Jordan Meakins’ Stag and Steve Brattan’s Anglia. Al didn’t come out again and Mick’s Vitesse led the second race all the way, chased by Jordan with Mark holding off Steve for third. Mick was at the back of the grid for the final, which Jordan led from start to finish, Steve just fending off Mick for second after Mark spun out on the very slippery track.

The NINJA KARTS lined up with fifteen on the grid, including one newcomer who passed his novice test that morning, Albert Morphy. He was immediately on the pace so should be one to watch next year! With graded starts for both heats and the final (it sometimes seems odd that the grades are different on Saturdays and Sundays!) Tyrus Read was making the running at the head of the field. In the first race he was passed with two laps to go by Alfie Bradford, who took the win with Tyler in second, just ahead of Riley Lynn, Harry Plaice, Kian Waller Barrett and Albie Challis. Alfie Cole beat Freddie Taber in the battle of the gold roofs, followed in by Harry Henderson, Logan Dixon, Mason Challis, Macie Dixon, Daisy Mace, Albert Morphy and Oakley Mace.

The track was already getting very wet in the second heat and this time Tyrus Read led all the way, chased at the end by Alfie Bradford and Kian Waller Barrett, who survived a big sort-out in the chasing group when several went spinning as they caught backmarkers. Freddie Taber and Alfie Cole again seemed inseparable, Freddie coming out ahead this time.

In the very wet final, with a few more laps to sort it out, Alfie Bradford got past Tyrus at half distance, and Tyrus then tangled with another kart. Harry Paice took a very close second on the line from Kian Waller Barrett, with Riley Lynn and Freddie Taber right behind and Harry Henderson heading the rest, from Logan Dixon, Alfie Cole, Albie Challis, Albert Morphy, Mason Challis, Macie Dixon and Oakley Mace.

The RETRO STOX had one new entry with Rachael Richardson now out in her own car, an immaculately presented Randall chassis. Rachael led the first heat away, but spun on the back straight, while John Cook spun on the startline. After a quick lap under waved yellows, Ian Lawson led the restart, then Dan Horsepool briefly hit the front before Jamie Bridges came through and pulled away, eventually lapping everyone except Dan. When Dan locked-up and slid into the armco on the last lap, Jamie won by a lap, with Ian taking second and Rachael recovering to third ahead of Mark Hewlett, Vince O’Connor and John Cook.

Once the rains came, the second heat looked a bit different. Rachael quickly pulled out half a lap lead, only to take to the infield and rejoin nearly a lap down. Ian Lawson pulled out with a misfiring engine and Mark Hewlett took over to lead the rest of the way, holding off Jamie Bridges, with Vince third ahead of John and Rachael.

In the even wetter final, Vince came straight though to lead the first lap and pulled out a big lead, driving a newly acquired HCD car that may have been the first built by Colin Aylward, or maybe not! Towards the end of the race Mark reeled in Vince but couldn’t find a way past, so Vince took a good win from Mark, with Jamie third, Rachael fourth and John fifth aftrer a spin.

The second biggest grid of the day was the JUNIOR RODS with 12 cars. It took four attempts to get the first heat under way, with different cars left on the line each time, but once they were racing Tommy Jackson and Harry Harwin took turns in front before Jack Lomax took over to win, chased by Freddie Withers and Jayden Lake. Rex Pooley had a close race to fourth in front of Ted Emmett and Harry Harwin, with Zach Robinson, Tommy Jackson and Mason Clark next after Rosie Taber and Harvey Goudy pulled off, while Lewis Pyne was a non-starter on the final restart.

The second race also had one aborted start, but they were all quickly back on the grid for another go, with Zach Robinson and Harry Harwin leading before Freddie Withers took over. Harry retook the led though and held it to the last lap when Ted Emmett, having steadily worked through from his gold top start position, took the outside line and emerged to win from Harry, Lewis Pyne and Freddie. Jack Lomax, Rex Pooley, Jayden Lake, Harvey Goudy and Zach Robinson filled the next places.

After yet another red flagged start, the final was led by Tommy Jackson until Harry Harwin moved up, although he quickly lost the lead to jack Lomax. With a couple of laps to go Tommy Jackson had a moment over the kerbs and collected Zach Robinson, bringing out the red flags. Everyone was lined up for a restart that proved to be a one-lap dash; Jack held onto the win but Ted Emmett nipped past Harry Harwin for second, with Freddie Withers, Rex Pooley, Rosie Taber, Harvey Goudy and Jayden Lake all in the queue behind them. Tommy and Zach were allowed back in for the restart, while newcomer Mason Clark completed the runners in his second meeting.

The usually well supported STREETSTOX, with all their trophy races now done, just turned out five cars, but their racing got better and better through the day. The first race was relatively quiet, with white grader Riley Pottle leading all the way as James Taylor took second from Ross Featherby, Darren Lovelock and Matt Chance. In the wet, Ross Featherby came through to lead the second race, finishing well ahead of James Taylor, who was chased by Darren Lovelock’s Alfa, with Riley Pottle and Matt Chance dropping to the rear. The final followed the same pattern, but with a few extra laps Darren Proudfoot, having worked his way up to second, steadily closed on the leader. For the last couple of laps Darren’s front bumper was in tapping distance and he went in with a firm shove into the last corner, but Ross did a fine job to hold onto it and let Darren sort out his own sideways moment, so Ross won from Darren, with James Taylor third ahead of Riley Pottle and Matt Chance.

The ROOKIE RODS had the same six-car grid as at their last meeting, and started with the same result, Rhys-Jon Williams’ Corsa holding off Liam Parker’s Fiesta, while gold roofed Emilie Smith finally passed Siani Martin’s Fiesta and moved up to challenge Jason Chinery for third. The second race saw those at the back of the grid make quicker progress in the wet, Jason moving up to challenge Rhys-Jon, with Emilie then joining in. Rhys-Jon hung on to win, with Emilie passing Jason on the outside on the last lap for second. Liam Parker was close behind in fourth and John Rattigan just beat Siani Martin for fifth. For the final Rhys-Jon was upgraded to red and Liam Parker was quickly passed for the lead by Jason Chinery. Jason pulled out a reasonable gap, but after Emilie Smith moved up to second she gradually whittled away at Jason’s lead. With three laps to go she was right there, but passing was another matter and a last corner run round the outside saw her end up a couple of feet short as Jason took the win from Emilie, with Rhys-Jon third and John Rattigan just beating Liam Parker for fourth.

As always, the class order ended with Bangers; the JUNIOR BANGERS produced four cars. Daisy Martin’s pink Micra was up against the three Corsas of Logan Wick, Connor Broomfield and William Eve. After being spun out on the first lap Daisy caught Logan with a lap to go in the first heat, paused to bury herself in his back bumper, then went on to win. Second time out both Logan and William spun Daisy out, with Logan going on to win and Daisy the only other finisher. In the final Logan again took Daisy out on the first lap, leaving William in the lead until his car boiled up and was removed by Logan. That gave Logan a clear run to the finish, but in the last corner he whacked the kerb and spun himself out, so Daisy came through to win, with Logan rejoining second and the other two just about still moving.

The BACK TO BASICS BANGERS fielded eight cars but still got up to their usual antics. Stuart Barton’s BMW Mini ended up with a big lead in the first race, but on the last lap he went to pass Kerry Thurgill’s Nissan Note and got spun heavily into the fence. Danny Elton’s Civic came home the winner from Samuel Cannon, promoting himself from Juniors with a Fiesta, and Seb Nye’s Fiesta, with Ryan Woods in a Ka, Thomas Wilkinson in a Polo and Lewis Spurden’s Focus also making the finish. Second time out Danny and Lewis were relatively untroubled in the first two spots, while Samuel Cannon headed the other survivors. Danny went on to win the final as well, lapping second placed Lewis at the end, and Samuel ended up two laps down but was the only other still moving to collect the third trophy.