It was a Collins family affair at Round Four of this year's Silkolene Short Track UK championship at Buxton Speedway on Saturday (23/8). 

Winner on the day and claiming his first Round win since turning full-time to Short Track (the dirt track motorcycle racing event based on the US discipline of Flattrack) was one-time Buxton Hitman, Adie Collins: holding off the challenge of reigning champion and current series leader, Marco Belli in a rain-affected Grand Final. 

But lining-up alongside the cream of European Short Track riders in that Final, represented a personal triumph on his track return for Adie's father, former World Speedway Final runner-up, Les Collins.  The former Belle Vue man, last seen on a British track back in 2005, started slowly but then stormed to qualifying victory in his third outing to claim automatic qualification for the Final. 

The 12 lap marathon around the Hi-Edge circuit then proved a bit too much for Collins’ tired limbs but 10th. place was nevertheless a more than satisfactory result for the ever-popular veteran.  Collins senior, indeed, stole the plaudits by entertaining a good-sized crowd by some typically daring manoeuvres out in the dirt on the outside recalling the exploits of his and his brothers (including the legendary Peter Collins) back in the 1970s and '80s.

Bang up to date was the form of Burton-based Ben Baker, who having turned 16 years of age in the week, graduated straight up from the junior ranks to finish a hugely creditable 9th. - ahead of Collins senior - in the Grand Final. Remarkably not only was Baker conceding many years to his rivals, his mount was the smallest machine competing in the event by far: 250cc to most of his opponents’ 450cc plus bikes!

The Final was a hard-contested race with by this stage a significant (un-forecasted) rain storm having quickly closed in over the Peaks at Britain’s highest positioned motorcycling circuit.  Welsh international skipper, Tim Greig made the hole-shot with one-time World Ice Racing rostrum man, Pete Boast hard after him. 

Adie Collins then pulled level and executed an excellent move to find a space which didn’t seem to be there on the inside to take the lead.  The Varese-racer, Belli, currently heading Greig in the standings for the European championship too, then joined them up front and all four battled hard for next few laps; but it was Collins who pulled away and took the win from Belli, Greig (who was to celebrate his first podium of the year), Boast with reigning Champion of Champions title holder, Yorkshireman Steve Hall making his way up to fifth spot ahead of Stamford’s Victor ‘Ragin’ Bull.  Another former Buxton Speedway rider, Adam Allott was 12th.

The Thunderbikes class for larger, twin and multi-cylindered machines saw some great action as the riders had to muscle the big monster bikes not seen before at Hi Edge, around the tight confines of the 230 metre Buxton circuit.  It was Boast, a former Isle of Man TT racer and well-known as a Road Racer trainer, who took the honours on his 650cc V twin Suzuki, coming under pressure from Helmets4u Rider of the Night Guto Llewellyn on his 600cc Husaberg.  For the moto-crosser from Wales it was a best ever Short Track night and the same applied to fellow rostrum man, Paul Harrison who held off the challenges of Richard May on the huge 710cc CCM.

In the junior competition, regular Buxton Speedway second-halfer Kyle Howarth took to a 250cc KTM to inflict a surprise win over series leader, Tom Woolley, with the doubling-up Baker in third.

For many, a top attraction was a rare taste of four-wheeled action at the Buxton motorcycling circuit: courtesy of the Welbourns of Wisbech Quads ST championship.  The Hi Edge circuit proved a tricky one for his harum scarum practitioners to master and the heats in particular saw plenty of action with riders spinning out and taking to the grass on the slippery surface.  However quality will out and in the end top spot went to current number one Alan Hooker with Brendan March taking a fine second spot ahead of Charlie Welbourn.

All in all, a terrific evening’s entertainment and one which Hi Edge devotees will long to see repeated.

Results Round 4 Silkolene STUK Final
1st  Aidan Collins           450cc Buckingham Van Sales Honda
2nd  Marco Belli             510cc CCM
3rd Tim Greig                 450cc ASR Honda
4th  Peter Boast            450cc Team Suzuki
5th Steve Hall                525cc MRS KTM
6th Victor Bull                450cc No Bull Yamaha
7th  Ben Wells               450cc Revs Suzuki
8th Glyn Pocklington      450cc Helmets4u Honda
9th Ben Baker               250cc Kawasaki
10th  Les Collins            450cc Silkolene Honda
11th Geoff Baldock         525cc Rob Speed KTM
12th Adam Allott            450cc Joe Booth Racing Honda

Thunderbikes Final
1st Peter Boast             650cc Suzuki
2nd Guto Llewellyn         600cc Husaberg
3rd  Paul Harrison          600cc Honda
4th  Richard May           710cc CCM
5th  Steve Coles            650cc Honda
6th  Tim Stevens            604cc CCM

CCM Junior Short Track championship
1st Kyle Howarth           250cc KTM
2nd Tom Woolley           230cc CCM
3rd Ben Baker               230cc CCM

Welbourns Quad Shorttrack Championship Final Result
1st Alan Hooker             350cc Banshee
2nd Brendan March        350cc Banshee
3rd Charlie Welbourn      525cc Outlaw