Awesome weekend - go, Frankie and Gordon, go!

This is Hamish MacBear, cub reporter, jotting down some highlights of the European weekend at Northampton International Raceway.
Saturday 15th July 2006:
I'll start off with Saturday evening, which was a full race meeting to qualify for the European Championship on the Sunday. Both the F1s and F2s were racing, so we were rooting for both Frankie (F1) and Gordon Moodie (F2). We were there from 4pm so that we could wander round the pits, watch everyone get their cars ready, see the Dutch drivers and take photographs before the racing started at 6pm.
In the first F1 hear, poor Ivan Pritchard's car got hit and burst into flames! Ivan eventually emerged safely from the car covered in foam, but his car was in a sorry state - burnt and damaged. Frankie won his heat, so qualified for that evening's final, which he also won despite stiff competition from the other drivers. Poor Gordon didn't have such a good evening, running into the back of a stationary car in the final.
Then it was a quick rush home, crash out in the bed (we bears didn't bother getting undressed, despite the heat), get back up again and head off to Northampton for 11am! Bev was feeling poorly due to the heat, but insisted on going to the racing - that's what we call a dedicated fan! Anyway, we got back to Northampton and settled down to watch another full day's racing, with the added bonus of the F2 and F1 European Championship races.

Sunday 16th July 2006: European Championships for the F1s and F2s
So, who won the European Championships, did Frankie and Gordon do well, did Bev survive the heat? Read on......
F2 European Championship:
First out were the F2's with Gordon Moodie. He raced brilliantly, and worked his way to the front of the pack, finally winning the European Championship! We clapped our little paws and shouted for Gordon - he's our Scottish hero! He currently has the Silver (National Points Champion) roof, and can now add red and yellow chequered decoration to his roof to indicate he is the European Champion.
F1 European Championship:
Next out were the F1's with Frankie at the back of the grid as the World and National Points Champion. This was an action-packed race, with a serious roll-over by Ray Witts in the 180 car, and lots of damage. Frankie worked his way through the pack, chased by Paul Harrison, and finally overtook h221 Marco Jenninga to move into first position. There was a nervous moment when they stopped the race with 4 laps to go, so that Frankie lost the lead he had built-up, but when the green flag went down he was off like a rocket and came in first, with Marco 2nd and Paul 3rd! Bev could hardly watch the race, she was so excited! What a wonderful weekend - both Gordon and Frankie winning their races - YIPEE!!! So, what colour will Frankie paint his roof? His roof is currently gold with two silver stripes because he is the World and National Points Champion, but will he add a red and yellow chequered panel to show he is also the European Champion? No doubt we will find out next weekend.


The rest of the racing was very good - we still had all the heats, finals and Grand National races to come, so we had a fabulous day basking in the sun, wandering round the pits and watching the racing. Poor Tony Smith had a big crash in one of the races and needed medical attention. There was a lengthy race suspension while they assisted Tony, so they let the drivers out their cars because it was so hot - over 80F on the track! In the final, Frankie did quite well then hit a stationary car on the last lap, but managed to come 2nd in the Grand National.
All in all, a brilliant weekend's racing, with three happy little bears (Hamish, Bill and Phoebe) and two ecstatic humans (Bev and Paul)!