STOCK Car racing's UK Open meeting at Skegness saw a return to winning ways for six times World champion John Lund.

The Rimington farmer has struggled to find his form this season with his new short-wheelbase Formula one machine.

Despite losing to European champion Paul Harrison in the final, Lund was much happier with the performance of his car.

With 30 of the top points-scoring drivers packing the shale oval track, Lund was on an immediate charge from the starting flag.

Closing down on the race leaders, he was spun out by Mick Harris, forcing the organisers to wave the yellow caution flags.

Lining up in order for the restart, Lund was in fourth place behind Frank Wainman Senior, Harrison and Chris Brocksopp.

Moving up the field, he nudged Harrison wide to take the lead - and the cheers of the partisan crowd. Undaunted, Harrison recovered and on the next bend, a tit-for-tat manoeuvre saw Lund edged out.

THERE'S just no stopping sidecar racer Dave Holden.

Leader of the Derby Phoenix championship, the Blackburn electrician showed all the British Motorcycle Club regulars just how to do it with a hat-trick of victories at Oulton Park last weekend.

With Ben Birchall as passenger, Holden completely dominated the sidecar category on his Ireson 700 Yamaha.

The pair have the EMRA (East Midlands Racing Association) championship next in their sights, when they compete at Mallory Park on May 30.

ENTRIES are still available for Lancashire Automobile Club's annual Manchester to Blackpool vintage-veteran-classic car run on Sunday, June 13. The cavalcade will set off from the Trafford Centre and take in time controls at Haigh Hall, Wigan, Astley Park, Chorley and the Lancashire Police headquarters at Hutton, before lining up at Blackpool's Norbreck Castle Hotel for the presentation of trophies.

Entry forms are available by telephoning Alwyn Davis on 01254 201455.

ONE hundred classic cars will pack Lytham Hall on the Fylde coast for the AXA Classic next Saturday.

The stately home is one of 16 starting points for the world's biggest classic car event - formerly known as the Guardian Insurance Classic - with competitors meeting up with 1,300 fellow participants at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedford on Sunday.

The Lytham starters will snake their way through Catterall and Pendle Hill towards the first Saturday checkpoint at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham (10.15am to noon), before heading to Gargrave and Wetherby.

ROSSENDALE rallyman Mick Farrer steered his new navigator Damien Fletcher to 29th overall and 10th in class on last weekend's Mechanique Stages at the Three Sisters, Wigan.

"It was a good result for a new partnership, " said Mick, who drives a Ford Escort Mk II.

"We have had problems recently with the reliability of the engine, but thanks to the hard work of our sponsor Colin Brennan, it ran perfectly all day."

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