Murray finds form for a big Hot Rod victory
National Hot Rods: Ipswich
Organiser: Spedeworth When: Bank Holiday Monday, April 2 Where: Foxhall Heath Starters: 22
Gavin Murray collected a big points haul on Bank Holiday Monday: a brace of heat second places pushed him to the front of the grid for the main event and left him handily placed to pick up the baton after Jason Kew was forced to retire from a solid lead.
Murray still had to fend off a challenge from Billy Bonnar though, the experienced Scot vying for the win throughout the closing laps.
A shower before the start meant that the first heat was run in very wet and slippery conditions.
Enjoying a solitary start from the white grade, Lewis Shelley set off in determined fashion, clearly intent on putting as much space as possible between him and the rest. Colin Hitch headed the rest of the pack for a while before he managed to pull clear of a big scrap between Colin Smith, Danny Smith, Alistair Lowe, Murray and Lee Pepper.
It took Murray a while to work his way to the head of this bunch and longer still to relieve Hitch of second, by which time there was only five laps to go and Shelley wasn’t to be caught.
The second encounter followed much the same pattern. Shelley got away fast, building a lead which quickly went from merely substantial to around half a lap, while the rest battled to get past second man Shaun Taylor. Indeed, it wasn’t until Murray – who seemed to be able to pass at will once he found the right groove – caught up that Taylor’s position looked in any danger. Murray swept past round the outside, but again, much too late to bother the leader.
That would all change for the final, of course. Although Shelley had pole wrapped up, he wouldn’t be alone this time. Having Murray alongside would have been bad enough, but all the other top scorers of the night were sat right behind as well.
Despite a very greasy track it was still the impressive Shelley who went straight to the front. The expected pressure was soon on though, with Murray and Kew clamouring to get past, Kew darting down the leader’s inside with Murray swiftly following through.
With those two out front and Shelley embroiled in a fight which ended with him losing more places to Bonnar, Carl Waller-barrett and Colin Smith, they were all brought up short by a waved yellow for a multi-car tangle on the back straight. But as the cars slowed, Kew retired to the infield with a blown differential.
That left Murray in charge for the restart and he immediately pulled clear of Bonnar. It looked to be the end of the matter as they moved beyond half distance but, as the laps dwindled, Bonnar came back strongly. With a big bunch of seven backmarkers directly ahead, passing opportunities looked like they might be plentiful for the Scot, but Murray proved to be the canny one here as he simply maintained his position and never tried any passes he wasn’t completely sure of making.