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The No Prep Nationals held at Rockingham on 7th May has to be counted a great success. The racers and spectators alike enjoyed it and I would guess that Rockingham management were pleased with the number of public who attended; so many in fact that the catering wagon in the pits area ran out of many things by lunchtime. Of course this first experience showed some improvements could be made but that�s what always happens with a new event at a new venue.

The track, usually the pit lane, was surprisingly grippy as shown by the many high horsepower cars that managed get down it but it�s telling that the people left standing at the end of eliminations were long time racers; Pel Norman, Harrison Brown and eventual winner Lee Huxley.

Viewing for spectators was excellent from the roof of the pits which was the whole length of the track plus the beginning of the shutdown area. There was also a good view of the staging area and start line. Only problem I found was the PA coverage, I could hear it but echo from the grandstand opposite made it pretty unintelligible. So it became a bit difficult to know what was going on as the day progressed. This is probably because the system is designed to work for the main grandstand. In other ways the facility was excellent with garages for the racers, lots of toilets and a proper café on the other side of the track.

Entries were pretty eclectic with a mixture of non-racers, Pod regulars, Shakey refugees and some who had ventured south from York. As well as cars there were four drag karts and several bikes. The bikes had to use part of the normal track because of concern about safety barriers in the shutdown area. Many of those who signed on were happy to take as many laps as they could fit it in as RWYB or Grudge racers but there were twenty five takers aiming for the considerable prize money on offer for the No Prep category. They were paired off by drawing lots from the prize cup and then followed the usual eliminations ladder. Among other pairings this offered the spectacle of Dave Billadeau in probably the largest racer (Plymouth Wagon) against Peter Richardson in the smallest (Honda Civic).

Six cars in the quarter finals meant only three in the semis and all three were capable of winning as they�d all made it down track multiple times. Sadly Pel Norman broke in his semi handing Harrison Brown a reasonably easy win. When it came to the final it was a classic Ford v Chevy battle with veteran Crew Chiefs using all their experience gained over many years on less than perfect tracks and those good old Huxleys did it again.

With any luck this will be the first meeting of many to be held at Rockingham, not a replacement for the full on quarter mile big show but an alternative for those seeking a more relaxed toe in the water of competition.

Finally many thanks and congratulations to Paul Marston for taking a chance and putting on this event and to the crew who did a great job in sufficient heat that your reporter had to hide in the shade most of the afternoon.