Bibby
RMS Regular
are there many known to be going tomorrow? did the weather put people off going today?
UDC Round 8, the final! Never in the 3 year history of this championship has there been a three way battle for championship glory so it was all to drive for at the Bishopscourt Airfield Circuit on Sunday 7th December. With a sharp frost in the air and a dry track come qualifying time it was all or nothing for Richard Bradley, Clive Heatherington and Damian McBride who could all take the win and get the chance of a trip to the USA to spectate at a D1 series drift event.
Top qualifier yet again was Chubby McCord in his CS Covered SIL V8 animal along with a notable qualifying run from late comer Andy Cooper from the hugely popular web site www.reallymeansounds.com. McCord had an easy battle against Paddy Haughy to progress into the top 4 whilst Ian Robinson in his manta had to work hard with only second gear against Rob Barnett who has proved he is a force to be reckoned with in recent events and indeed got the better of Robinson to progress.
Bradley and Cooper lined up to do battle and as much as Cooper could do, Bradley had the better of him in the first battle and when leading in the second battle the pressure Bradley put on forced Cooper to spin at the hairpin leaving Bradley relieved he could still win the title. Heatherington faced McBride next and with both of these lads able to get the championship it was all or nothing with 2 very tightly fought runs McBride took the glory to face Bradley in the top 4, I wouldn’t have fancied judging these two lads it was that close.
Barnett had it all to do in the top 4 against a monster of a car and very talented driver, but done himself proud in the first run but on the second battle McCord roared past with a very brave overtake on the transition to get into the final. This just left the other semi final as a championship decider, the spectators and commentators were in suspense and the atmosphere was electric like it has never been before at the circuit, Bradley led the first battle and he was on a mission, McBride as hard as he was trying couldn’t keep with the sheer pace and angle of Bradley and it was called after the two runs as victory to “King Richard III Bradley” he was ecstatic but still had the final to compete in.
McBride and Barnett took to the track once again to battle for the final podium spot with McBride not performing at his best it was Barnett who took a more than well deserved third overall in his road legal Nissan S13 .
Bradley went into the final against McCord on a high with the championship won but he still wanted to take the overall victory at this, the final championship event in 2008 so as he led the first battle, McCord sat on his tail lamp so tightly that coming into the hairpin he spun trying to avoid contact with Bradleys black car, 10-0 to Bradley! It would take a spin from Bradley in the second battle for McCord to be in with a chance of the win, so McCord put in the best run of the day but Bradley kept his cool and took victory, though very modest in his own words “There was a lot of luck involved in my win today... Chubbys car is so fast!!!!!”
Richard Bradley from Dungannon is now the 2008 UDC Champion, however the story doesn’t end there. This is only the third year of the championship and Bradley has won it every year since it was formed so in fact he gains the title of UDC’s “ONLY” champion, as well as winning UDC Round 8 so will be on route to USA next year to watch a D1 event.
The question in everyone’s mind now is; “is there anyone that can take Richards title from him in 2009?” well I know for a fact that there is going to be a huge number trying their best to do such next year, so come along to an event and see what it’s about.
hope theres no i'll feeling there after andy spinning out
well done to richard and the rest of the competitors for putting on a fine display. nice bit of overtake drifting by chubby too
Cool report...