Keith Butcher takes 2007 title as Graham Cole nets a double win in season finale.

Pembrey 20/21 October Truck Festival

Entry and practice

There was a pleasing 15 car entry for the penultimate race of the season and Graham Cole took pole with a time of 55.854 secs in his turbo-charged Jade Trackstar, which was 3 seconds quicker than anyone else, including 2^nd place man Ginger Marshall and the Bolbay. The 2^nd row was an all Williams affair with Peter and few 10ths away from Huw, both drivers in their familiar Radicals.

First of the saloons was Alvin Powell making a welcome return with his Mondeo with Nigel Bowen also bringing out his Nissan Primera ahead of Championship Contenders Keith Butcher and Andrew Williams. Ken Rattenbury was another driver making a welcome return and he was hoping that this time all the gremlins were gone! Rhys Lloyd was 10^th , our chairman Mike Woods was next ahead of Paul Trowbridge, Richard McVein, Adrian Chapman & Paul Gibbs completing the grid with the Rover 216 Gti.

The race 15 mins + 1 lap

Ginger Marshall took the lead when the lights changed, leading for the first seven or so laps, until Graham hit the front. A quick burst of speed gave Graham a handy lead which he defended to the end of the race, although the lead evaporated on the last lap and he had Ginger & Huw Williams looming large in the mirrors as he crossed the line. Peter had kept close company to Huw early on but he gradually dropped away, allowing Alvin into 4^th place, the Radical a lap down in 5^th . Andrew Williams was 6^th ahead of Keith Butcher after a remarkable drive which saw him initially fall the back of the field before powering back up to 7^th ahead of Ken Rattenbury who did at least have a reliable run, Rhys Lloyd, Mike Woods, another driver thankful for some reliability, Paul Trowbridge, Adrian Chapman and finally Paul Gibbs. Nigel Bowen was the only non finisher.

Sunday 21^st October - Entry & Practice

So on to round 14 and the final race in the 2008 season. With double points on offer, anything could happen, but with plenty of reliability on show amongst the top drivers, it was likely that the title would pass to Keith Butcher for the first time if he finished the race. Graham Cole was quickest but this time Peter Williams would share the front row albeit with a time some 2.5 seconds slower than pole. Ginger Marshal was 3^rd and Huw Williams was 4^th. Alvin was fastest saloon once again but Keith was pretty close in 6^th place, ahead of defending champion Andy Williams. Nigel Bowen got his troubles sorted out in 8^th with Ken Rattenbury in 9^th seeming to have also caught a welcome dose of reliability. Rhys Llloyd rounded off the top 10. Mike Woods was 11^th and Steven Pearcy was 12^th having been granted an entry for Sundays’ race but not Saturdays! Paul Trowbridge was 13^th, Adrain Chapman 14^th and it was Dominic Edgells’ turn to give the Rover a go.

The race 15 mins +1 Lap

When the lights changed it was Peter Williams who was giving the large trucks crowd the showboat experience, but with Graham never far behind. Indeed it was lap 14 before he pounced, drawing away in the last 3 laps to take the flag over 4 seconds in front of Peter. Ginger Marshall established himself in 3^rd place but always had Huw for company, keeping him honest until the end. Alvin was first saloon in 4^th but with Keith finishing in a respectable 5^th place, the championship passed into his welcoming arms. A fast starting Steven Pearcy was initially 6^th but he was quickly overhauled by Nigel Bowen. Andy Williams and Ken Rattenbury to finish in 10^th place. Rhys Lloyd took the Class B honours on the road and the championship class ahead of Mike Woods and Paul Trowbridge with Adrian Chapman the last classified finisher.

Afterwards Keith the new champion confirmed "I really pleased to finally do it. I’ve had a few good years of trying, I won my class a few times before and I was runner up in 1999. It all came to climax in the end, but everybody is so friendly. I’d like to thank Larry and also Andrew Nash for race day help. Andrew is a chef so he’s also been keeping us well fed."

Results and times from http://www.msttiming.com