West Norfolk driver makes the switch from karting to short oval racing

West Bilney’s Lewis Galer has made the switch from karting to short oval racing – and enjoyed his best ever meeting in the formula at the weekend.

Competing in BriSCA F1 stock cars, Galer started well with a second place finish in the opening heat before coming home in ninth place in his second heat, and then in a tremendous second place in the Grand National.

A delighted Galer said: “It was a brilliant meeting. The car felt really good and I really enjoyed the night.

“I would like to thank Wainman Racing who are helping me with the car and all my sponsors for helping to make this possible.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Heacham’s Willie Skoyles Jnr was left to reflect on a disappointing night. “If it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all,” was how the West Norfolk driver summed things up.

Skoyles had a steady start to the night in the opening heat.

He tangled out just before halfway when lying in third place but recovered well to come home in fifth place by the end of the night.

Heartbreak struck in the second heat when disaster struck when the first win in BriSCA F1 looked on the cards.

A determined Skoyles muscled his way to the front in the opening laps and extended his lead as the race moved on with some great driving, only for novice driver Alistair Plant to lose control on the home straight with only four laps to go.

Plant veered across the track taking Skoyles with him into the fence.

The team got the car back out for the final and he was running in a strong top ten place when he had to retire with five laps to go.

“I was so close, yet so far,” added a disappointed Skoyles .

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me to get the car out for the final.”

Keegan Sampson had a couple of top ten finishes in the 2L stock cars but failed to complete the distance in the final which was won by Deane Mayes

Racing returns to the Adrian Flux Arena tomorrow when the 2L banger teams are in action with the 1300 stock cars and junior bangers.

The Predators will be looking to continue their recent good form in team competitions and are led into battle by Kieran and Brad Bowman whilst Ashley Garrod guests for the Dover Boys and Jon Cooper will be in action for Matt’s Mafia.

Jake Banwell will be hoping for an easier ride in the 1300 stock cars than he had last time out whilst Dan Bitson will be making his first appearance in the formula since the first week in March.

A good field of junior banger entries include Sam Steele, Perry Williamson, Sam Malkin, Marley Frost, Daisy Reynolds, Morgan Bailey and William Cartwright.