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ROLLING THUNDER SHOW Round 15

Swaffham Raceway 26 October 2024

After steady growth in support during the year, numbers dropped right off for the last of the Rolling Thunder Show’s regular Saturday evening sessions at the end of October, with just 29 entries over five of the regular classes. A mild, dry and overcast evening provided perfect racing conditions and some close fought racing resulted, despite the small grids.

The FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HOT RODS were officially ending their season, with a close battle between Chris Head and Chris Cole to be resolved in the points championship, which was eventually settled under the floodlights which were finally needed halfway through the last race of the day.. Chris H narrowly held off Chris C in the first heat, with Leon Retchless chasing them both home, but Chris Cole in his Puma just managed to defend his lead from the yellow Fiesta in the second heat and final to take the biggest of the very impressive season long trophies, while Leon’s Saxo was third on the day and in the points. Mark Taylor’s Peugeot completed the finishers, with Tom Saigon’s Corsa trailing smoke all day and retiring from both the heats.

Some of the closest racing came from the LIGHTNING RODS, who were treated to three 20-lap races despite only three of the five starters lasting beyond the first race. Danny Saunderson pulled out when challenging for the lead of the first race, while Tyler Younger’s ex-Anthony Lawrence Sapphire had problems afer a competitive finish in the first race. Sam Shirmer took a clear win, with Russ Thornton holding off Mark Collins and Tyler for second. Sam held off Mark and Russ throughout the second race, despite his tyres visibly giving up their grip towards the end. Mark grabbed the lead in the final and held off Russ and Sam; every time Russ got alongside Mark he had to drop back in line to stop Sam sticking his nose in. With two lap to go Russ and Sam were side by side over the line but a sideways Russ clipped Sam and sent him spinning, leaving Mark to win by three quarters of a lap as Sam rejoined to beat Russ for second.

The MONDEO RODS were the best supported of the senior classes, but still well below their usual turnout with seven cars. Chris Peel led the two heats away before getting passed by Rodney Thurgill. The first race saw Jonny Wilkinson catch Rodney, but it took Jonny until the last lap to find a gap on the inside, Jonny taking a close win as Luke Holdsworth pipped Matt Ford to the line in third. Second time out Les “Swampy” Clarke was the first to catch Rodney, taking over with five laps to go and winning from Luke Holdsworth and Rodney Thurgill with Colin Gilbert getting the better of Jonny Wilkinson. These two then battled between them while catching Rodney for the lead in the 20-lap final. For the last three laps Jonny and Colin were neck and neck with Jonny just getting the win, while Rodney , Luke Holdsworth, Matt Ford and Swampy crossed the line together in the other places.

After much improved turnouts in their last few outings the JUNIOR SCREAMERS were down to four cars, but they laid on close racing in their two heats, with Samuel Cannon’s Ka and Dylan Rees’ corsa taking the wins. The final was a bit moire spead out with Charlie Davies’ Micra getting away to win by three quarters of a lap, as Samuel took second chased by Dylan, and relative newcomer Jaxon Skoyles’ Micra took fourth.

The NINJA KARTS got the day off to a lively start, with the nicely turned out team-mates Harper Cark and Delilah-Rose Oliver tangling in the first corner, but they got away with it and battled for the lead until they were passed by Logan Dixon, with Freddie Taber finally coming through for the win. Harper, chased by Delilah-Rose, led most of the way in heat two, but Freddie again came through to pass them both in one move and take the win as Frankie Read snatched second on the line. Harper Clark again led the way in the final, but lost out in the end to Freddie Taber, who took his third win pf the day. Logan Dixon took second just in front of Harper and Delilah-Rose, with Frankie Read fifth in front of Alfie Cole and Harrison Myson. Newcomer Charlie Sealy’s not yet signwritten kart had a promising debut to complete the field.