Frankie Wainman Junior was again the man to beat at Belle Vue, taking a heat and final double, surviving a last bend attack from Andy Smith in the process. The weather had a part to play in the proceedings, two brief but heavy showers during the evening dampening the track, although the second heat was the only race to be adversely affected to any degree.
Nigel Bowler went into an early lead in the opener. Andy Robinson, in his first outing for some time, span on the first bend and was collected by some of the chasing pack. Simon Brooke hit a spinning Ray Williams on the back straight. Mark Gilbank sent Nigel Whalley fencewards, and surprisingly Whalley didn't retaliate. Bowler's lead ended in the pit bend fence at the halfway. Steve Harrison was then given the lead, although he had been in the fence with Bowler. Paul Branson (125), on his F1 debut, got stuck in, sending Chris Bonner, Gaz Wood, and Simon Brooke, to the fence with one hit. Mike Andrew span going into turn 3 and was hit side-on by Frankie Wainman (212). The 220 cars nerf rail folded up to the cab side. Gilbank gave Robinson and Brooke the bumper, and Paul Harrison performed a similar manoeuvre on Branson. Junior had few problems taking victory.
Heat Two was restarted when Tony Spencer (47) stalled on the rolling lap, just as the green was dropped. Cars went everywhere as the field took avoiding action. The second attempt was without Dutchman Rien Rutjens (H15), who pulled onto the infield. Maybe he had a premonition, for as soon as the race started the heavens opened. The downpour lasted for only a few minutes, but it was enough to make the track treacherous. Cars were spinning on every bend, with only Mark Brightmore coming to terms with the conditions. Brightmore took the lead early on and was lapping noticeably quicker than the rest of the field. The 477 car came to a stop in a turn 3 pile-ip at the half distance, allowing Mal Brown to take over. Brown was taken to the fence by Dave Willis as the lapboards came out, and Brightmore was back ahead, and went on to win.
Rien Rutjens was on track again for Heat 3, by which time the track had dried a bit although there was a lot of wet loose shale around the outside. Andy Swann (103) led from the green until he crashed into the pit gate on the first lap, Colin Nairn then taking over. Kev Smith was in this one nd he wasted no time in dishing it out; Simon Gill being on the receiving end. Mark Taylor then planted John Walker into the 290 car. Nairn now had Dave Russo and Mick Harris in close contention, and it wasn't long before Harris moved first Russo then Nairn to take the lead. Andy Smith then arrived on the scene, Harris then fell down the order. Taylor and Lundhad a battle for second place, with Lund coming out on top. With two to go, Smith was slowed by Rutjens but it didn't cause him any problems.
John Walker span at the start of the 21 car Consolation and Gill and Rutjens piled into him. Neil Shenton led for a number of laps before Steve Harrison took over. Colin Nairn was rather aggressive in this race, an early race hit on Andy Jacklin was followed up with a bigger shot on Gaz Wood. But the 101 car span on impact and was collected by Chris Bonner. With three to go, Harrison was slowed by the traffic, allowing Shenton to close up. Last bend, and Shenton went for it. The 118 car was knocked sideways, and Shenton took the win.
Paul Lowe led them away in the Final before Dave Russo took over, while John Lund, Peter Falding, and Gary Castell all visited the fence courtesy of a big hit from Rob Speak on the first lap. Paul Harrison also got stuck in, giving Andy Smith a big one. Junior then thundered into the Speak car, the impact sending Simon Gill and Ray Witts hard into the fence. The 180 car then burst into flames, bringing out the yellows. On the restart, the order was Russo, from Wainman, Taylor, and Gilbank, but as the green dropped, Gilbank clattered the fence. Andy Smith made a brilliant start, passing about 6 cars on the inside to tuck in behind Wainman who had deposed Russo for the lead. The yellows were then out again for attention to Tony Smith, who with Jason Holden, lost control in the loose shale and gone into the fence hard. The 91 car was then hit at some speed by Dave Willis. As they came to a stop, it was Wainman, then backmarker Castell, and Smith. Castell probably remembered the last time he got between Smith and Wainman, and retired to the infield before rejoining at the back of the grid. At the halfway, Speak moved into third place by shoving Mick Harris aside. Harris replied with a big hit on the 318 car, which Speak held. Speak went on to dump Paul Harrison in the fence in a big way, with Chris Bonner then crashing into the number 2 car. Speak retired to the infield as the lapboards were out, and as the laps ticked by, Smith wasn’t getting any closer to Wainman. Smith was about 4 or 5 car lengths behind going into the last bend, but it was unlikely he would settle for second, and kept the power on until he made contact with the 515 car. Wainman went sideways into the fence, Smith following him in. The impact span the 391 car so it was facing the right way, but the engine stalled, allowing Wainman to get over the line first.
Richard Earl (285) led the early laps of the GN, with Lenny Smith taking up second place after a few laps. Simon Gill soon moved ahead, with Smith and Lund charging through the field. They were soon up to second and third respectively, and that was how it stayed to the flag. Junior came through to finish fifth from the handicap.