Nostalgia: Kirkaldy takes 2012 title at Cowdenbeath Racewall

It was the first time the event had been held at the recently upgraded Cowdenbeath Racewall for the first time since 2004 when the title then was won by Barry Goldin. Could Goldin, who was the defending champion, be able to retain his title?

Apart from Goldin, Chris Bradbury and the National Points champion Gordon Moodie were the only others on the grid who had won the title.

On the Friday prior to the race there were a few drivers at the track setting their cars up. At the end of the session Alan Kirkaldy left disconsolate after he encountered problems with his new engine.

He said: “I had spent more time working on my car for the British Championship race than I had ever done on any car in my career. I got the new engine installed and everything was checked over so there was nothing left to chance.

“Imagine my disappointment when the engine didn’t run properly.

“When we got back to St Andrews it was straight into the garage and I put my old engine back in. We then checked everything to make sure the settings were correct and everything was tight.”

The day of the meeting dawned warm, sunny and bright and with the drivers turning up in good time.

“I got to the track early on Saturday to try to find a good spot in the pits,” Alan remembers, “I was really pleased when I found that the car felt good and didn’t do too many laps.”

There were no real scares in the practice sessions and as the start time began to draw ever closer with the drivers being split into five groups with each driver having three outings and the cumulated points would decide their grid position.

“I was leading the opening heat but had Gordon Moodie closing and decided that second would be better than nothing.

“I won the second heat and knew that another win would secure pole position. I drove a bit more aggressively in my third heat and picked up my second win of the night.

“When we got home I checked the car over thoroughly and had it on the scales to make sure the settings were as they should be.”

On Sunday if anything it was warmer than it had been on Saturday.

“I got there reasonably early to get as good a space in the pits as possible. The atmosphere was something else and the stadium was filling up quickly.

“I got a good reception and we were presented with a memento to mark the occasions by George MacMillan, who had won the title in 1993.

“I wasn’t nervous as the grid was formed but once we started the warm up laps I got a bit nervy.”

Kirkaldy was the first to show with Burgoyne tucked in behind and as they headed for the pit bend. Hogg was pushed wide and clipped the wall, Ewan Ewart had his bumper pushed against the tyre whilst Dennis Middler glanced off another car and bent a half shaft but carried on.

“I think I made it to the end of the back straight before the yellow flags appeared and the grid was reformed again minus a few cars,” Alan says.

The next attempt was just as brief but pretty spectacular with Dawson getting on the back of Kirkaldy as they headed towards the pit bend but Burgoyne went wide whilst four other cars tangled and spun with Paul Ford crashing into the wall.

The front row now consisted of Kirkaldy and George MacMillan Jnr and it was the latter who made the better of the starts to lead the field going into the pit bend.

MacMillan Jnr then led the pack away but on lap eight his car started to misfire with the race again being suspended after Conor Hughes ended up against the wall after trying to get around the spinning Reid.

There was another stoppage with Kirkaldy now lined up behind MacMillan Jnr who tried all he knew to cure the misfire without getting out of his car but with only minor success.

On the next restart whilst MacMillan Jnr led initially, Kirkaldy moved ahead and began to pull away but as Adcroft tried to make up a place he hit the kerb and crashed out.

“This time I think I outfoxed him by going around the outside of him to get into the lead. Once there I was able to open up a gap and began to concentrate on keeping a tidy line. We only did a few laps before there was another stoppage after Tom Adcroft crashed out.”

Kirkaldy again led on the restart: “Brennan got ahead of MacMillan Jnr but was quickly moved over as George retook second but then on lap 13 Ferguson tangled with Colin Gregg and rolled spectacularly on the pit bend suspending the race once again – and we were only at half distance!”

Kirkcaldy again made a good restart. MacMillan Jnr pulled away as Goldin got back into third with Brennan dropping to fifth.

“When I saw the last lap board coming out it was a case of not doing anything stupid and I did ease off a bit remembering that I had my old engine in.”

Kirkaldy reeled off the remaining lap to score a decisive win from MacMillan Jnr with Goldin finishing in third.

“I could actually hear the crowd over the noise of my engine as I headed for the chequer flag and could see most of the people in the stand cheering. It was an amazing feeling to think that I was the British Champion.

“It was brilliant to have been able to do it at my home track especially with my sponsors there and in front of the home crowd. I was mobbed after getting out of my car and there were a lot of drivers congratulating me on my success.

“It was an emotional scene as George MacMillan presented the runners up trophy to his son before he congratulated me and then presented me with my trophy.

“He reminded me that I had equalled his achievement of winning the Scottish and British at the same venue.”