Sunday 9th March 2008 saw the end of an era as Hunts Kart Race Club’s Winter Championships reached a conclusion. With the track being totally re-surfaced in April this was the last chance for drivers to race on the current layout.

One of the smallest grids of the day provided the most exciting racing. There may have been only four 177 Veterans, but their were more lead changes than any other race. Dave Stimpson took the early lead with Tim Penstone- Smith powering into second ahead of Paul Darrington and Frank Kolasky. The front three started to pull away, sizing each other up and looking for an opportunity to make a move. Darrington was quickest and took the lead on lap five. He couldn’t pull clear though and lap after lap, Stimpson would pass him only for Darrington to take the lead back. Penstone-Smith followed closely, looking to pick up any scraps. The opportunity came on the final lap as they raced to the Bus Stop and Penstone-Smith finished a delighted winner ahead of Stimpson and Darrington.

A healthy Cadet grid saw both Comer and Honda’s on the track. Harry Webb and Toby Sowery scrapped for the Comer lead in the opening laps, but once Sowery got his nose in front on lap four, he was able top pull away. Then Webb had a moment on lap six which allowed Charlie Savage and Hannah Pym past him. Webb was still quick tough and was back in third before the last lap board went out. Novice Matthew Davies finished well up the field in tenth.

It seemed like all the Honda Cadets took a turn at leading during an up and down race where the result was in doubt right to the end. Novice George Morris started well, but unaccountably faded as the race progressed, finishing fourth. Jack Partridge was next to lead, but then dropped to the back with Bradley Peck now in top spot. Partridge was soon back in second and re-took the lead when Peck was delayed by a back-marker. As the dust settled, Chad Shiner came in third.

Minimax drivers had a hailstorm to contend with in the last couple of laps, but by this time Sam Ward had the race in the bag. Ward’s move for the lead was outstanding, passing Aaron Charles round the outside at Stow. Louie Marshall successfully wrestled runner up spot from Charles at the second attempt.

William Hillyard was on pole, quick and leading, until his equipment let him down with two laps to go. Jake Parker, the only driver able to keep anywhere near Hillyard, inherited the win. First corner spinner Aaron Head recovered well to finish fourth.

Third on the grid, Will Van Es was an unfortunate visitor to the Stow tyres on lap one, leaving his race effectively over. Oliver Hodgson and Daniel Butcher-Lord contested the lead with Butcher-Lord getting his nose in front briefly, but Hodgson recovering to win fairly comfortably.

Senior Rotax poleman David Turton was short of pace for the final and gradually dropped back down the order. Marc Dawson was flying and gained a two second lead in the first two laps. Paul Walsh and Ashley Taylor did their best to keep up. Josh Parker capped an up and down race by recovering to third with three to go.

Will Waterman resisted Michael Cornell’s challenge to take a lights-to-flag TKM Extreme win. Jack Kemp passed Adam Jenkins into third on lap eight, leaving Jenkins with his hands full holding back Daniel Humphrey.

With several of the front runners tangled up in the first corner, Tony Lovell found himself ahead of the 177’s. His lead didn’t last long though and poleman Scott Clee took over at the front on lap three. Lovell continued in second and Tim Penton made a great recovery from his first corner mishap recording the fastest lap as he made his way from tenth to finish third.

Ron Stamp was master of 250 Gearbox, winning by over 8 seconds. Martin Goodliffe and Steve Burton were the only other finishers.

James Holman had his hands firmly on the winner’s trophy from the start. Following Holman throughout, Jake Green’s late race pace wasn’t enough to put him in a position to challenge for the lead. Richie Schmitz took third from Paul Lawson.