Roy Gilfoy may be the oldest competitor in the Special Rod Class down at the Ringwood Raceway - but he still drives the fastest Ford Sierra in the West.

The 53-year-old speed ace from Lordshill in Southampton showed the boy racers the way home when he won the Western Championship at the New Forest track.

Roy drives in the popular Special Rod class in which the cars are all Ford Sierra-based with 1600cc engines and various modifications.

There were 24 of them on the grid for the Western Championship and Roy qualified in sixth place - not bad considering he started to race relatively late in life - just four years ago when he was just short of his 50th birthday.

But he's proved that life can start at 50. He made a blinding start in the final, moving into third place within the first three laps behind the leader Mark White and another Southampton driver Tom Terry.

When the two leaders had a slight coming together on lap five five, Gilfoy swept past them and not only held on for the remaining 25 laps but pulled out a substantial lead.

It was his first major title win and Basingstoke's Geoff Mayle made it a good day for Hampshire drivers by taking second place.

Roy's success sparked great family celebrations because his two sons Derry and Chris Gilfoy are both emerging talents at the Ringwood Raceway.

They race in the Hot Rod Class and Chris, 21, is currently lying third in the championship with just one race remaining.

Derry only began racing two months ago yet he has already finished on the winner's rostrum.

Roy and Chris are both sponsored by Southampton-based companies - Mobile Style Mobile Phone Accessories and Totton Motor Factors. Without their help they wouldn't be able to go racing.

Ministox and Bangers are at Ringwood Raceway on Saturday for a Fireworks Extravaganza and on Saturday November 11 it's the turn of the 1300 Stock Cars and National Superstox plus the Hodge Rods Championship.

Racing starts at 6pm.