THE May Midlander marked the start of racing at Shelsley Walsh for 2011 and, despite the weather, it was a resounding success.

Deryk Young (Yarkhill, Herefordshire) and Romsley driver Will Hall were among the top performers, while Alex Summers from Tenbury Wells also excelled.

Trevor Willis (Aylesbury) in his new OMS-Powertec took best time of the day and won both the Avon and BMTR Tyres top 12 run-offs.

Despite showers during the morning practice and a number of short downpours during the day, the efficient organisation ensured racing was completed by 4pm the following day.

Qualification for the first run-off was affected by overnight rain and some early showers.

However, the track dried sufficiently during the morning ensuring the expected front-runners, while a little slower than usual, all got into the first run-off.

After Willis had set the fastest time of 25.25 seconds, a couple of local heroes made their mark.

The vastly experienced Young finished second in his Gould-Judd in 26.05, while Hall’s time of 26.97 saw him take third in his Force-Suzuki.

Summers, a 20-year-old Bath University student, not only won the two-litre racing car class but also got into his first ever Shelsley Walsh run-off, finishing sixth, in his recently acquired supercharged DJ-Firehawk.

By the time of the second run-off, the track had dried and Willis was quick off the start to record what would become a winning time of 24.67.

Fastest qualifier Hall ran last to take second place in 25.70 with OMS car constructor Steve Owen (Boroughbridge, Yorks) third in 26.83.

Summers’ time of 27.02 ensured he finished fourth.

Spectators were also treated to a class of historic ‘flathead’ side-valve engined cars.