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Going into the final round there were two main protagonists that could take the 2017 Gasser Circus Title, Brian Gibson in his ‘Identity Crisis’ Dodge and Harvey Turner driving his father’s ‘Green Onions’ 55 Chevy. Harvey was looking for back to back titles and when Brian came up against Chris Hill in his ‘Gas Guzzler’ 56 Chevy that title appeared to be going his way. With both Brian and Chris dialling in the same time, they both hit the loud pedal at the same time, but where Chris’s car hooked up, Brian’s appeared to spin the tyres and with a few milliseconds Chris was ahead and was still holding that position when the cars some 11 seconds later crossed the finish line. Brian was out and so with it potentially went his championship aspirations. The same aspiration that had brought him so close to the title in teh past few years, was it going to be another case of so close but yet still too far?
Back on the start line Harvey despite some concerns over the cars ability to fire, had pulled round to burnout against the always smiling Tim ‘Hank’ Holmes in his ‘Wragged Wedge’ Dodge. With burnouts concluded, the cars staged and with a Tim dialling in a 10.80 and Harvey on a 12.05 all Harvey had to do was get past Tim and the repeat championship was on.

Harvey of course left first with a reaction time of 0.311, when Tim left he had posted a reaction time of 0.117 the race was on and by mid track Tim was within winning distance of Harvey, at ¾ track they were side by side, at the startline we were all watching the scoreboards within an instant the win light glowed in Tim’s lane. The Championship had been decided and from a position of thinking the title was over for another year, Brian was suddenly thrust up onto the top step.

The Gasser Circus are like a family and they celebrate each other wins, and so it was that although we felt sorry for Harvey missing out on what would have been an outstanding repeat, we were all delighted that Brian had taken his first title. It literally couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke and all round top geezer.

With congratulations handed out, it was soon back to the business in hand, as there was still the matter of finding the event winner. Tim continued his wins seeing off John Gumble in his ‘Rat Poison’ Willys Pickup before beating Jerry Denning piloting ‘Honky Tonkin 2’. This setup a final with whoever progressed from the other side of the ladder.

By the time it came to the semi-final B & G Racing Falcon had seen off ‘The Mighty Mouse’ Pop, and then beaten ‘Gas Guzzler’ 56 Chevy, so sat waiting for Merv Barnett in his wicked ‘Psychedelic Relic’ Pop. He had beaten Mick Allen and Julian Balme on his way to the semi-final. On this side of the ladder it was now an all Bristol affair, with Hoch on driving duties in the Falcon. The cars came to the line and Hoch left first, Merv was only fractionally behind and despite his best efforts he could not take the win so Hoch progressed to the final where Tim was waiting for him.

Both men were having a day to remember but there can only ever be one winner, and as the cars left the line we knew who that was as Tim left with a cherry on his side of the tree. Hoch was not about to lift and neither was Tim so with both racers entertaining the crowds, they raced to the end. Hoch deservedly took the event win and another fiercely competitive and enthralling Gasser Circus season drew to a close.