Brisca FII Semi Final Preview from The Vicar

The 6^th March doesn’t seem that long ago when the first world championship qualifying round took place at Kings Lynn with a fantastic turn out of cars. Since that time we have had 152 Mick Sworder stamp his authority on proceedings by scoring a heap load of points and showing that he is hungry for the gold roof in 2004. But, being on the front row of the semis doesn’t necessarily mean that he is going to win or actually get in to the final, anything can happen in stock car racing – and it usually does.

 So, what of the actual semi finals themselves? Well it’s good to see some Barford regulars there and what a nail biting time it has been for some of them. Initially 79 Gordon Moodie didn’t seem to be chasing the world points and seemed to be concentrating more on the national points, but after scoring well in the Barford qualifying round and his month spent on the side lines, he appears to have come back with a vengeance and something to prove. Hence, he is in semi final 2 next to an on form 901 Ian Thompson jnr.

 If I wasn’t bald already then I would be by now watching 725 Paul Broatch chase qualifying points – it ‘s been enough to tear your hair out. It is all credit to his tenacity and that of the team, that despite the odds being stacked against them, they have battled away and got onto the grid. Watching him in the last two qualifying rounds was painful, both times hitting trouble in the heats and having to go into the consolation. With his ‘never say die’ attitude lets hope he doesn’t have to go to another consolation to get into the final, because if the car is running right on the day there is every possibility that he could lift the gold roof.

There are many heroes in stock car racing, not just those who are super stars and have an extra special roof colour. For a vast majority of drivers they will never attain a grade above yellow or white, not because of a lack of ability but just down to time and money or not wanting to aspire to red roof. But then there are those budget racers who just want that bit more despite not having the resources to put into the car and their racing. One of those ‘gutsy’ drivers is 371 Peter Wright, who for years has campaigned a 1300 screamer motor against a lot faster 2lt lumps. It is all the more incredible that despite starting the season late, Peter Wright has got himself into the semi-finals by cheer determination. Watching him at the penultimate qualifying round at Warton he was the first one to catch 435 Steve Temple who was way out front in the final. Had the yellows not come out he would have won with a very good margin, yet despite the likes of 901 Ian Thompson in the race he still managed to take third place. Then at the last round at Skegness he drove a very neat heat to get into the final and produced a calculated fifth place finish to put himself into the semis. Only mechanical problems or a severe crash will keep 371 out of the world final.

 In just over a fortnights time it will all be over for twenty drivers and we’ll have more of an idea who could win the world title – any one of twenty drivers!! Then there is the consolation semi the night before the big day, which will prove to be a fantastic race for sure to get those last places on the final grid. Bring it on!!!