National & 2.0 Hot Rods Aldershot 3rd March 2024
ALDRIDGE SEES OFF ALLCOMERS AT ALDERSHOT
The 2023/24 English National Hot Rod World Qualifying series contested its first meeting of 2024 at Aldershot on Sunday the 3rd of March, forming the eighth round of the contest. The 28-car entry would be split into thirds and each group would race twice during the three 25-lap heats, from which the 26 highest points scorers would go forward into the 35-lap final. The winner of the final would also take home the John Butler Trophy, presented in memory of one of the stalwarts from the early days of Spedeworth.
The first heat was stopped as soon as the race started after the Ginetta of Lance Bowen stalled on the line. Paul Strawson led away at the restart but he was soon caught by Damon Wellman and the former 2.0 Hot Rod world champion nudged his way past into the Aldershot bend. Strawson then retaliated at the Pit bend, which sent Wellman spinning. The tangle placed Chris Aldridge into the lead from veteran Dick Hillard and the pair remained in that order to the finish. Bristolian Mark Shelper came home third in his Peugeot 206 CC at the head of a long line that included Lance Bowen, Hayden Ballard (who finished top of the red graded drivers), Billy Wood, Carl Waller-Barrett, Aaron Dew, Joey Palmer and English series points leader Paul Wright, who rounded out the top ten. The second heat saw Aldridge move quickly past white-graded polesitter Brett Collison, the yellow Peugeot was also demoted behind Ivan Grayson, Nick Roots, Bowen and Shelper inside the first ten laps. Disaster struck the table-topping Wright when his engine blew at the Pit bend just after half-distance, the closely following Terry Hunn skated into the wall on the resulting oil spill and brought out the yellow flag. The top three of Aldridge, Grayson and Roots remained as they were to the flag, with the victor securing his second heat win of the day. Bowen also held onto fourth ahead of Shelper in fifth, the red Peugeot heading home another train from three-time world champion and first of the red grades Robert McDonald. Carl Waller-Barrett, Aaron Dew, Dan Smith and Kym Weaver completed the top ten. In Aldridge’s absence from the third heat, Dick Hillard held the lead through the early laps but spun out exiting the Pit bend under pressure from Roots. The former Superstox world champion moved into the lead and held the spot to the end. Dan Smith came through to second just behind the victorious Vauxhall, the spectacularly driven Fiesta of Ivan Grayson took the flag in third. Billy Wood topped the red-grades in fourth, ahead of Hayden Ballard, Robert McDonald, Kym Weaver, Damon Wellman, Terry Hunn and category debutant Ryan Morgan went well to complete top ten from the back of the grid. Chris Aldridge’s double success in the heats gave him pole for the 35-lap final, with third heat winner Nick Roots joining him at the head of the field. Aldridge got his head down quickly to establish a few lengths lead in the opening stages whilst Roots had his hands full with 2018 world champion Billy Wood, once he’d dispensed with Ivan Grayson. Roots was ably holding off Wood until his engine blew on the fourteenth lap and the released Wood began to reel in the leading Aldridge. The local man was forced to try the outside repeatedly into the closing laps but Aldridge held on magnificently to win the John Butler Trophy under extreme pressure and complete a dominant display. Wood was attached to his bootlid when they crossed the finish line and the lead pair were caught by Grayson, Hayden Ballard and Robert McDonald as their battle grew more intense. Kym Weaver, Aaron Dew, Joey Palmer, Terry Hunn and Lance Bowen made up the top ten. “Hopefully it’ll carry on this way”, remarked a delighted Aldridge as he savoured his victory.
The 2023/24 English National Hot Rod World Qualifying series contested its first meeting of 2024 at Aldershot on Sunday the 3rd of March, forming the eighth round of the contest. The 28-car entry would be split into thirds and each group would race twice during the three 25-lap heats, from which the 26 highest points scorers would go forward into the 35-lap final. The winner of the final would also take home the John Butler Trophy, presented in memory of one of the stalwarts from the early days of Spedeworth.
The first heat was stopped as soon as the race started after the Ginetta of Lance Bowen stalled on the line. Paul Strawson led away at the restart but he was soon caught by Damon Wellman and the former 2.0 Hot Rod world champion nudged his way past into the Aldershot bend. Strawson then retaliated at the Pit bend, which sent Wellman spinning. The tangle placed Chris Aldridge into the lead from veteran Dick Hillard and the pair remained in that order to the finish. Bristolian Mark Shelper came home third in his Peugeot 206 CC at the head of a long line that included Lance Bowen, Hayden Ballard (who finished top of the red graded drivers), Billy Wood, Carl Waller-Barrett, Aaron Dew, Joey Palmer and English series points leader Paul Wright, who rounded out the top ten. The second heat saw Aldridge move quickly past white-graded polesitter Brett Collison, the yellow Peugeot was also demoted behind Ivan Grayson, Nick Roots, Bowen and Shelper inside the first ten laps. Disaster struck the table-topping Wright when his engine blew at the Pit bend just after half-distance, the closely following Terry Hunn skated into the wall on the resulting oil spill and brought out the yellow flag. The top three of Aldridge, Grayson and Roots remained as they were to the flag, with the victor securing his second heat win of the day. Bowen also held onto fourth ahead of Shelper in fifth, the red Peugeot heading home another train from three-time world champion and first of the red grades Robert McDonald. Carl Waller-Barrett, Aaron Dew, Dan Smith and Kym Weaver completed the top ten. In Aldridge’s absence from the third heat, Dick Hillard held the lead through the early laps but spun out exiting the Pit bend under pressure from Roots. The former Superstox world champion moved into the lead and held the spot to the end. Dan Smith came through to second just behind the victorious Vauxhall, the spectacularly driven Fiesta of Ivan Grayson took the flag in third. Billy Wood topped the red-grades in fourth, ahead of Hayden Ballard, Robert McDonald, Kym Weaver, Damon Wellman, Terry Hunn and category debutant Ryan Morgan went well to complete top ten from the back of the grid. Chris Aldridge’s double success in the heats gave him pole for the 35-lap final, with third heat winner Nick Roots joining him at the head of the field. Aldridge got his head down quickly to establish a few lengths lead in the opening stages whilst Roots had his hands full with 2018 world champion Billy Wood, once he’d dispensed with Ivan Grayson. Roots was ably holding off Wood until his engine blew on the fourteenth lap and the released Wood began to reel in the leading Aldridge. The local man was forced to try the outside repeatedly into the closing laps but Aldridge held on magnificently to win the John Butler Trophy under extreme pressure and complete a dominant display. Wood was attached to his bootlid when they crossed the finish line and the lead pair were caught by Grayson, Hayden Ballard and Robert McDonald as their battle grew more intense. Kym Weaver, Aaron Dew, Joey Palmer, Terry Hunn and Lance Bowen made up the top ten. “Hopefully it’ll carry on this way”, remarked a delighted Aldridge as he savoured his victory.
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The next world qualifying round for the National Hot Rods is at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich on Saturday the 16th of March.
2.0 Hot Rods
2.0 Hot Rods
The Hoosier Tires 2.0 Hot Rod series made its second appearance of 2024 at Aldershot. Like the National Hot Rods, the healthy 29-car field would be divided into three for the 20-lap heats, with the first 26 going into the 20-lap final.
Ryan Richards held off an onslaught from Jason ’Boxer Jack’ Jackson during the last few laps to take the first heat win on-the-road but the top two were each docked two places for earlier incidents, handing Graham Parrott the win and Aldershot resident Gavin Botfield was moved up to second. Ben Murray claimed fifth and Jordan Morgan completed the top six. Richards again took the second heat lead early on before the Corsa was caught by Pat Kiely and Dan Guidotti. Guidotti and first heat winner Parrott both spun and were collected by Murray, forcing a stoppage with five laps remaining. The Saxo of Kiely led the field away at the restart from Dean O’Dell and a charging Jackson. ‘Boxer Jack’ took over the lead on the penultimate lap to win on paper. O’Dell, Jason Secker and Daniel Bennett all passed Kiely in the late stages and subsequently sealed the top three spots after Jackson was docked four places for contact during the race. Jackson was demoted to fifth behind Kiely and one spot ahead of Jack Wilks. The ex-Lee Pepper Corsa of Harry Tiller led heat three from lights to flag from Kiely and Scott Morgan, the pair had closed in on Tiller mid-race before the leading Vauxhall eked out a small advantage towards the finish. The Saxo of Kiely was docked two spots after the race so Mike Daniels was given third in front of Kiely. Daniels and Jordan Morgan both performed a last bend pass on Damien Wright to clinch fourth and fifth before the Corsa driver’s promotion. The 20-lap final saw Kiely get the hole-shot from the outside of the front row and the Saxo would lead almost all the way but Jordan Morgan’s Peugeot 106 deposed the Citroen at the Aldershot bend to nick the win going onto the last lap and claim the John Butler Trophy. Dean O’Dell took third after starting the final from pole position. Daniel Bennett climbed from starting seventh to clinch fourth ahead of Jack Wilks and Scot Jason Secker, who’d started well down the order after his involvement in a four-car incident during the third heat. Second-row starters Jason ’Boxer Jack’ Jackson and Gavin Botfield had a bruising tussle, with the the local man’s 106 lifting the rear wheels of Jackson’s similar car off the ground into the Pit bend on one occasion,. The pair crossed the line in fifth and sixth before the pair were disqualified for the numerous bouts of contact.
Ryan Richards held off an onslaught from Jason ’Boxer Jack’ Jackson during the last few laps to take the first heat win on-the-road but the top two were each docked two places for earlier incidents, handing Graham Parrott the win and Aldershot resident Gavin Botfield was moved up to second. Ben Murray claimed fifth and Jordan Morgan completed the top six. Richards again took the second heat lead early on before the Corsa was caught by Pat Kiely and Dan Guidotti. Guidotti and first heat winner Parrott both spun and were collected by Murray, forcing a stoppage with five laps remaining. The Saxo of Kiely led the field away at the restart from Dean O’Dell and a charging Jackson. ‘Boxer Jack’ took over the lead on the penultimate lap to win on paper. O’Dell, Jason Secker and Daniel Bennett all passed Kiely in the late stages and subsequently sealed the top three spots after Jackson was docked four places for contact during the race. Jackson was demoted to fifth behind Kiely and one spot ahead of Jack Wilks. The ex-Lee Pepper Corsa of Harry Tiller led heat three from lights to flag from Kiely and Scott Morgan, the pair had closed in on Tiller mid-race before the leading Vauxhall eked out a small advantage towards the finish. The Saxo of Kiely was docked two spots after the race so Mike Daniels was given third in front of Kiely. Daniels and Jordan Morgan both performed a last bend pass on Damien Wright to clinch fourth and fifth before the Corsa driver’s promotion. The 20-lap final saw Kiely get the hole-shot from the outside of the front row and the Saxo would lead almost all the way but Jordan Morgan’s Peugeot 106 deposed the Citroen at the Aldershot bend to nick the win going onto the last lap and claim the John Butler Trophy. Dean O’Dell took third after starting the final from pole position. Daniel Bennett climbed from starting seventh to clinch fourth ahead of Jack Wilks and Scot Jason Secker, who’d started well down the order after his involvement in a four-car incident during the third heat. Second-row starters Jason ’Boxer Jack’ Jackson and Gavin Botfield had a bruising tussle, with the the local man’s 106 lifting the rear wheels of Jackson’s similar car off the ground into the Pit bend on one occasion,. The pair crossed the line in fifth and sixth before the pair were disqualified for the numerous bouts of contact.
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Two brand new bodyshapes made their debut in the 2.0 Hot Rod field, Chris Tullett's immaculate VW Polo and Lee Munday gave Spedeworth Fabrication's Citroen DS3 chassis its first airing.
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The 2.0 Hot Rods join the National Hot Rods again at Ipswich for the next Hoosier Tires round on the 16th of March.