The sixth round of the Boyndie Drome Open Challenge took place on Sunday 11th August in sodden conditions but the rain did abate around midday and the track began to dry. 

The feature trophy was the September Cup (in August) for the driver with least points on the day.

Bambino

The four Bambino drivers took to the track for their four heats in the worst of the rain in heat 1 but by heat 4 it was almost a dry track.  Katie Donaldson set fastest time of the day in heat 4, 55.784 seconds to take the victory.  Finlay Smith was second followed by Dylan Rankin and Myah Rankin.

  • 1st – Katie Donaldson (Dufftown)
  • 2nd – Finlay Smith (Stuartfield)
  • 3rd – Dylan Rankin (Foveran)

Senior Max, Senior Max 177, Senior Max Clubman

The four Bambino drivers took to the track for their four heats in the worst of the rain in heat 1 but by heat 4 it was almost a dry track.  Katie Donaldson set fastest time of the day in heat 4, 55.784 seconds to take the victory.  Finlay Smith was second followed by Dylan Rankin and Myah Rankin.

Pole-man, Keiran Smart, was last to the grid following a last minute switch to slick tyres with all the rest still on wets.  With two rolling laps on the damp track proved to be a winning  combination for Smart who took victory by half a lap.  Fraser Skene had settled into second and looked certain to finish in that position but an unexplained spin on the last lap allowed Steven Thomson through.  Thomson took second and the recovering Skene third.  Dominic Lund came home fourth on the tail of Skene with Steven Bain, fifth.

  • 1st – Keiran Smart (Oldmeldrum)
  • 2nd – Stewart Thomson (Tarves)
  • 3rd – Fraser Skene (Potterton)

The 177 class was won by Robert Strachan from Stewart Thomson and Billy Falconer.

  • 1st – Robert Strachan (Cuminstown)
  • 2nd – Stewart Thomson (Tarves)
  • 3rd – Billy Falconer (Inverness)

In the Clubman class, Kes Watson was leading until two laps from the end, where he must have been off as he dropped the lap chart leaving Peter Lesisz to take the victory.  Next up was Ross Raffan only half a second behind.  Third was Iain Thomson with John Fairclough and the unlucky Kes Watson.

  • 1st – Peter Lesisz (Huntly)
  • 2nd – Ross Raffan (Macduff)
  • 3rd – Iain Thomson (Banchory)

Honda Cadets

Aiden Macdonald got the best start from the outside of the front row.  He lead until pit corner when Steven Duncan dived to the inside and was never headed to take a comfortable win.  Macdonald took second.  The race became rather spread out with Cole Ritchie taking the final spot on the podium.  Hayden Miller was fourth who was followed home by Duncan Ingram and Matthew Underwood.

  • 1st – Steven Duncan (Aberchirder)
  • 2nd – Aiden Macdonald (Fyvie)
  • 3rd – Cole Ritchie (Newmachar)

Junior Max / Mini Max

The small entry in Junior Max was won by Jonathan Edwards from Nathen Smith.  Kieran Wood took the Mini Max honours.

Mini Max

  • 1st – Kieran Wood (Mintlaw)

Junior Max

  • 1st – Jonathan Edwards (Cornhill)
  • 2nd – Nathan Smith (Stuartfield)

Twin Engined Prokart (Owner Drivers) / Prokarts

From the lights going out Nicky Sutherland lead from Richard Christie, Gary Fleming, Grant Miller, David Leiper, Callum Paterson and Bruce Ewan.  Sutherland created a gap of 5 metres over the pack and went on to take the victory.  On lap 7 both Fleming and Miller passed Christie. Fleming and Miller came second and third respectfully. Christie was fourth with Leiper on his bumper. Sixth and seventh were Paterson and Ewan.

  • 1st – Nicky Sutherland (Newtonhill)
  • 2nd – Gary Fleming (Arbroath)
  • 3rd – Grant Miller (Montrose)

At the front of the Prokarts there was a great ding-dong battle between Ben Gordon and Daniel Macrae that last the full race distance.  The lead changed constantly and in one particular move at Gate corner, Macrae dived down to the inside of Gordon, but Gordon immediately got the position back in the drag down Boyndie Straight.  This continued until the last lap when Gordon opened a few metres gap to take the victory.  Keiran Glen finished third with Ben Burnett fourth. Douglas Miller was fifth ahead of Sandy Donaldson.

  • 1st – Ben Gordon (Whiterashes)
  • 2nd – Daniel Macrae (Inverness)
  • 3rd – Keiran Glen (Banff)

KZ2 UK (Gearbox)

The gearbox drivers were all on slicks for the last race of the meeting.   Pole-man, Gary Warren, took the lead with Neil Anderson on his bumper.  Anderson was trying hard to get a move to overtake.  His chance came on lap 6 when Warren hit the inside kerb at gate corner, throwing him wide off the tarmac surface.  Anderson was alongside as they thundered up Boyndie Straight but Warren was last on the brakes at MTM bend to retain the lead.  Anderson continued to harass Warren but there was no way through.  Warren took the chequered flag by only 0.2 of a second.  Meanwhile Colin McIrvine slotted into third on lap 2 and was latterly closing down the leaders by setting the fastest lap of 33.874 seconds.  Ross Armstrong was fourth, followed by Chris Walker.

Trophy winners

September Cup

September Cup – Shared between Gary Warren & Steven Duncan

GKC Chair, Fraser Edwards, presented trophies after the meeting.

Next race meeting takes place on 8th September 2019.

Full results available at https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1708183