Mildenhall Stadium
Saturday May 7 2016
National Bangers British QF, Saloon Stockcars,
Stoxkarts
and Junior Stoxkarts
A shade over 50 National Bangers
gathered for the final British Championship qualifier, the field more
than swelled by a double figure entry of Kent based RDC drivers with a
surprising amount of drivers on their first outings of the year at Mildenhall in
what was a largely RDC based entry, just a couple of visitors, mostly from TSR
but Spedeworth was also represented and it was good to see a little variety as
well with a lone X Type, a trio of Vectras and a FWD Volvo estate as well.
With the track in near perfect conditions 25 cars gathered for heat one
which started with a bang as livewire 51 James Licquorice followed 162 Rob
Wheatley (Cougar) in hard which also claimed 352 Ben Mynott (Vectra) and 317
Callum Jacobs then span 913 Brett Osborne into the fence while brother 817 Kurt
Jacobs clobbered the spun 212 Jack Maryon. 78 Lee Macey then grabbed hold of 308
Alec Hannay and planted him into 913 Brett Osborne with 270 Eddie Holland (Vectra)
then stuffing the luckless Hannay into the spun 220 Tom Pavitt (estate), the
former then spinning and hit head-on by 746 Tony Jarvis which brought the reds
out for Holland who wished to exit his car. A lap sheet order restart was needed
and a big push at the start saw 107 Michael Seex bundle 551 Stu Franklin into
Osborne before 841 Stu Carmen delivered a hard hit to the spun 77 Nathan Mace.
The race then turned quiet until 328 Dan Lathan span 746 Ted into the infield
blocks and 317 Stress lunged at and span Mynott with 326 Shane Lynn racing to
the win from Lathan and 730 Brandon Mayes
One more for heat two which started fairly quietly until 526 Tony Gates
squeezed 19 Joe Mullarkey into the wall which took the former in as well and he
copped a hard hit from 459 Todd Archer with 604 Ross Cooper nailing the latter
in turn with a solid hit. Archer battled on but span and was clobbered by 508
Harry Bradbury and 623 Ricky Hutton as 188 John Reeves ran in 119 Davey Cox
before Cooper delivered a wicked rear wheel hit on damage magnet Archer which
brought the reds out instantly to check on the latter. Another lap sheet order
restart was needed and a big push into the first bend saw 508 Led Head attack
527 Michael Norman which in turn stuffed 144 Jordan Godfrey into Archer’s wreck
hard, Godfrey bouncing out to bury Norman by the start line with 339 Jack Garrod
then leaning 26 Robin Ash (estate) through the side of Norman. 9 Ben Cox (Vectra)
took a swipe at 623 Tricky in the race for second but Tricky held on for the
spot behind the victorious 599 Matty Butcher with 119 Cruncher ending things by
burying 592 Mark Marchant.
25 again for the consolation with Osborne lunging at Norman which in turn
fenced 10 Ben Collins from the off and Godfrey fired into Ted and they crashed
into the latter which allowed Cooper to weigh in on Godfrey. 81 Lewis Greenwood
then followed 78 Lee Macey in hard with Mullarkey cracking the latter with a
T-bone before Gates butted heads with the spun 160 Perry Willings (estate) and
Cooper found the spun Collins for a bruising head-on on the home straight, the
two trading several more head-ons as the race continued. Norman turned round to
fire into Greenwood which caused a pit bend pile-up and this allowed Hannay to
nail Osborne with Tricky hammering the former in turn before he took one himself
from Gates as 313 Craig Osborne (Cougar) dumped 212 Mario Kart into the infield
blocks. Cooper arrived back to the heap to drill Hannay with a belting hit as
Ted added 267 Richard Butcher (Cougar) to the mess and Tricky evened the score
on Gates, the latter taking further punishment from the on former Cooper who
copped it from Mario Kart who was then pasted by 592 Mad Mark as Trick followed
in the X Type of 323 Steve Leeper and continued to thunder in the determined
Hannay a treat as Butcher ended things by blasting the stricken 323 Morph. 337
Ashley Garrod came through to win a quality affair from 204 Charlie King and 220
Lurch.
24 qualifiers for the final with 316 Sam Dace (estate) stuffing Mynott
with a wild lunge the sole action of the opening laps. Things stepped up when
Ash followed in Ted hard and Tricky attacked Cox who grabbed hold of and ran in
Dace, this allowing Cox to gather his thoughts and absolutely drill Tricky into
the wall a lap later. A big push among the pace saw 730 Brandon Mayes spat into
the fence as Dace turned round and Mynott happily met him in a big head-on while
Stress ran in 107 Seexy. 592 Mad Mark span Cruncher who was able to reverse his
attacker into Tricky, the former pair recovering with Osborne running in
Cruncher but this also claimed Mad Mark and Cruncher recovered quicker to smash
the TMT man with a couple of hits before returning to the pit bend to nail the
long since stationary Tricky but this left him open to a savage hit in turn from
Richard Butcher as 337 Pretty Boy claimed his second win from Lathan and
long-time leader 599 Matty who span from contention in the closing laps.
A rather disappointing field of just 13 made it back for the Accumulator
qualifier which proved quiet save Pretty Boy spinning Matty into the infield
blocks before Lathan barged Matty out of the way on the final bend to snatch the
win with 370 John Cobbold third. Most pleasingly most of those still running
contested the DD and this was a fine end to the evening. It began with
Cobbold stuffing Matty on the back straight before Craig Osborne fired into and
span Butcher, Godfrey nailing the latter with a head-on which left him open to a
stonking hit from Brett Osborne and he was leathered in turn by a rated shot
from 164 Jack Turner (estate) who was pasted in turn by Ash. Craig Osborne then
fired into and span the latter and Cobbold zeroed in for a savage head-on to Ash
with Craig Osborne turning round to deliver an almighty hit on Ash as well and
he continued to blast 164 JT before they shared some head-ons. Brett Osborne
limped back into life to attack JT and Matty also found a second lease of life
to assault Brett Osborne with brother Craig nailing him in turn. Matty then
enjoyed several head-ons with both Osborne brothers before Craig found some
space to deliver a big hit on Matty and after a couple of more head-ons the 599
car caught fire and Craig Osborne took the win as well as the entertainer award
with Cobbold, Godfrey and Brett Osborne collecting entertainer points for their
efforts.
Heat one: 326 Shane Lynn, 328, 730, 107, 317, 817, 841, 370, 352, 551
Heat two: 599 Matty Butcher, 623, 9, 592, 119, 339, 204, 508, 26, 164
Consolation: 337 Ashley Garrod, 204, 220, 313, 592, 623, 316, 746, 267, 604, 323
Grand Final: Garrod, 328, 599, 339, 26, 164, 841, 317, 730, 913
Accumulator qualifier: 328 Dan Lathan, 599, 370, 326, 313, 144, 164, 913, 26
Destruction Derby: 313 Craig Osborne from 599
Round four of the Saloon Stockcar track
championship was the first of the season to not raise 30 cars but being the
second meeting at Mildenhall in as many weekends and a week before the British
Championship weekend it was still a respectable entry, the field including a
welcome visit from Irishman 811 Kieran McIvor and the first visit of the year
for 232 Gavin Anderson, these being two of the right drivers who weren’t present
the previous weekend and it was also pleasing to report that the final entry
list was 100 per cent accurate but only after a disappointing amount of
cancellations during the week which touched on double figures.
Just nine for the white and yellow grade heat which for the first time
this year did not double up as heat one, the entry including 811 Motorhead on
some practise laps and 800 Scott Greenslade instantly span 270 Matt Fuller with
26 Tommy Barnes then barging past the former as 232 Diggy span 386 Daniel
Petters and he was struck by 473 Dean Moat. 610 Trent Artherton led as
Greenslade barged past 22 Karl Petters for fourth and 386 the Joker lunged at
Moat which caused them both to spin. The second half of the race passed without
incident and Artherton kept a struggling Barnes at bay for the win with
Greenslade third.
All in for the remaining races and all but one for heat one which yet
another storming affair. Artherton span immediately as 682 Paul Sparrow had 888
Shane Emerson around and 157 Max Stott, 321 Marcus Skeels and 220 Casey
Englestone all went out on the top bend in a heap and Motorhead came under fire
from 389 Ryan Santry with the Joker setting the pace from father Karl, Moat,
Fuller and Barnes as 157 Stotty went round again, this time claiming 214 Tom
Yould as well while 6 Simon Welton was another to spin. The recovered 220 Philo
Jnr had 360 Carl Waterfield out and 217 Sid Madgwick charged at 499 David Aldous
and Philo Jnr to pass them as the recovered 888 Shin came under fire from 321
the Frog. Fuller then barged past Moat for third as Petters span handing Fuller
second with 349 Michael Allard and 730 Deane Mayes already up to third and
fourth, 730 Deano then lunging at and clearing 124 Ollie Skeels as Motorhead
attacked the leading Joker and Barnes went round. Santry charged at Sparrow by
which point Allard had moved into second with 641 Willie Skoyles Jnr now fifth.
Waterfield fired Fuller into Shin and Motorhead removed Petters who was
collected by 6 Welly as Barnes was dumped out again at the hands of Shin. The
Joker led the cars to half way with Deano now second from Allard and 306 Daniel
Parker fourth as Aldous hooked out Greenslade and Stotty span Philo Jnr while
Skoyles Jnr was dive bombed by 304 Martyn Parker. Petters came back to deliver a
revenge fencing on Motorhead and the Frog span brother Ollie before Aldous
lunged at Sparrow. With five to run the Joker still lead as Waterfield lunged at
Moat and 218 Jacob Downey did the same to Skoyles Jnr before Waterfield attacked
Stotty which span the Frog and almost span the Joker but the latter managed to
hang on to his lead but Deano had closed in and swiftly span the Joker for the
lead as Skoyles Jnr had 218 Cracker and 214 Tucker out for fourth place.
Waterfield now went for the recovered Joker which in turn fenced Moat as Deano
motored to the win from Allard and Daniel Parker, a last bend lunge from Martyn
Parker on Skoyles Jnr seeing him snatch fourth.
With the revised meeting format offering an extra race for repairs ahead of
heat two, 23 cars made it back out but it suffered a false start when
Cracker failed to get moving and in the confusion another car was lost for the
restart. The race officially began with Moat dive bombing Greenslade before
Aldous did the same to Martyn Parker and Santry as Artherton set the race pace
an further back Deano charged at Waterfield and Martyn Parker which sent Welly
spinning, Waterfield rallying back to dump out Moat before Philo Jnr rattled
Welly into a half spin and Skeels charged at Petters before Stotty sent Diggy
crashing into the infield blocks on the home straight in alarming fashion
leaving the latter beached on the concrete. Deano span Welly as the Joker lunged
at and took the lead from Artherton just as the caution flags flew for Diggy.
Waterfield immediately lunged at Petters on the restart in the race for sixth
before Deano charged at the former and Aldous as they squabbled over the places.
The Joker led the field to half way with Skeels second, Artherton third and
Daniel Parker and Allard locked in battle for fourth. Parker barged passed
Artherton for third as Waterfield hooked out Deano which in turn fenced Petters
as Skeels grabbed the lead with six to run but the Joker put up a fight and this
allowed Daniel Parker to close in and he lunged at Deano which in turn bundled
the Joker wide and he took second and with three and a half to run he eased past
Skeels for the lead. The Joker charged at Deano as he tried to hang on to second
but he came under fire Skeels with Allard moving in to barge past the latter as
Aldous dumped the Joker out of contention. Daniel Parker meanwhile was clear and
raced to the win from Allard and Aldous and Skeels nailed a last bend lunge on
Artherton to claim fourth.
Impressively the final raised a bigger grid than the previous heat with
24 making it out and again it was a superb affair. The Frog was an early spinner
as Welly was removed by Skoyles Jnr and Allard dumped out Shin, Philo Jnr and
Stotty in a heap and Waterfield continued the frantic early action by spinning
Cracker as Artherton again set the pace, Barnes quickly into second ahead of
Fuller, Moat, Petters, Skeels and Allard before Aldous barged past Waterfield
for a spot and Skeels did the same to Moat to move up the order and Skoyles Jnr
did the same to Martyn Parker as the recovered Welly had Cracker out. Artherton
still led from Barnes with Skeels now third as Allard lunged at Philo Jnr which
in turn fenced and span Moat and Skoykes Jnr had Motorhead out before going
round himself with the waved yellows then flying for the stricken Moat on the
home straight. Barnes had grabbed the lead just before the stoppage with 14 of
the 18 survivors still on the lead lap but the restart was short lived as Allard
lunged at and fenced Artherton to take third and the Frog span Philo Jnr but he
was dumped out in turn by Deano with the Frog instantly signalling that all was
not well and the red flags were deployed. Barnes led the restart with Skeels and
Allard right on his bumper and Artherton, Waterfield and Tucker close behind.
Waterfield wasted no time in barging past Artherton as Welly attacked Daniel
Parker and Petters removed Motorhead. Skeels moved into the lead but Barnes
fought back and regained the top spot within a lap as Waterfield now bundled
into the back marking Cracker as Deano did the same to Stotty. The race finally
hit half with Barnes out front from Skeels, Waterfield, Allard, Aldous,
Artherton, Tucker and Deano but the latter was sent spinning by a revenge
seeking Stotty as Skeels shot Barnes into the wall but the latter was undeterred
and in fact Skeels lost the most ground. Martyn Parker came under fire from
Philo Jnr as Aldous lunged at Allard to climb to fourth and Waterfield fired
Skeels into the wall to take second as Artherton fell by the way side. With five
to run Barnes led from Waterfield and Aldous with Welly now fourth as Tucker
removed Allard and Daniel Parker fired Tucker into the wall. Allard now lunged
at Philo Jnr which sent Skeels into the wall as Barnes barged past Fuller as he
tried to maintain his lead and Philo Jnr came back at Allard. Barnes took the
flag as behind Aldous landed a perfectly placed last bend hit to grab second
from Waterfield in another majestic race.
With the revised meeting format also offering extra time between the final and
Allcomers it was most pleasing to see exactly two thirds of the original
entry return for the final race of the night with all but three of them from the
blue and red grade and the Joker led from the front as Skeels, Daniel Parker and
Tucker were all dumped out by Motorhead on the road bend which caused a brief
pile-up as Aldous and Stotty suffered spins and Allard charged at Moat while the
badly damaged Philo Jnr drilled Martyn Parker into the wall with a massive hit
but it didn’t stop the latter who was then spun by Waterfield. Allard was into
second as Aldous lunged at and span Tucker and Santry barged into Greenslade
while the Joker administered a score evening fencing on Allard only to then spin
from contention and Allard inherited the lead from Santry as Aldous attacked
Skeels and Waterfield dive bombed and fenced Moat. Allard now forced his way
past Stotty as Greenslade span from contention but he recovered to give the
leading Allard a hard time, the latter having to force his way through the
lapped traffic to break away as the Joker removed Cracker before he came under
fire from Waterfield which caused the latter to spin. Allard took the win from
Santry but the latter was docked two places for jumping the start and so the
Joker and Welly took the podium spots.
White and Yellow Grade Heat: 610 Trent Artherton, 26, 800, 270, 232, 22, 473
Heat One: 730 Deane Mayes, 349, 306, 304, 641, 499, 389, 217, 360, 6
Heat Two: 306 Daniel Parker, 349, 499, 124, 610, 217, 360, 386, 220, 389
Grand Final: 26 Tommy Barnes, 499, 360, 6, 306, 214, 389, 304, 730, 349
Allcomers: 349 Michael Allard, 386, 6, 389, 730, 306, 218, 499, 360, 473
The annual visit of the Stoxkarts to Mildenhall
raised an excellent entry of 44 drivers with 12 of them in the Junior
class who were making their debut at Mildenhall and contested their heat races
during the afternoon.
257 Kelvin Limb suffered a spin in the first heat as 33 Luke Woodhull set
the pace and 304 Nathan Topliffe eased passed 34 Ben Woodhull for second while
further back 24 Harley Thackra gave 238 Kayne Morgan a rough time. 21 Alex
Butcher passed 53 Megan Charlesworth for fourth only to then spin shortly after
as Thackra attacked 380 Ella Powell in the race for fifth and they were soon
joined by Morgan who grabbed the spot while Thackra sent Powell spinning as Luke
Woodhull held his nerve to take the win from Topliffe and Morgan.
59 Connor Bedsted failed to make the start of heat two with 90 Joseph
Sheldon suffering an early spin as Luke Woodhull nudged brother Ben wide for the
lead as Morgan fired into Charlesworth but went wide and tangled with Topliffe
as Sheldon again span and did Thackra. Powell was up to second as Morgan moved
Butcher wide to take fourth and at the half way mark Powell muscled into the
lead as Morgan climbed to third and got the better of Luke Woodhull in the final
laps for second but there was no catching Powell who won with Thackra besting
Topliffe in the final stages for fifth, 429 Jordan Wildman claiming ninth in
only her second race on shale.
A full field again for the third heat with Luke Woodhull immediately
moving Sheldon wide for the lead as further back Powell, Charlesworth and Morgan
all traded hits and places before Charlesworth span and Morgan continued to
shove Ben Woodhull wide for third as Powell attacked Thackra in the race for
fifth and this soon became a scrap for fourth when they caught Topliffe. Morgan
now moved into second and reeled in Luke Woodhull and landed a perfectly placed
last bend hit which sent Woodhull spinning and Morgan took the win with Thackra
inheriting second and Powell third.
The Juniors Final was the first race of the main programme and again
fielded all 12 cars with the Woodhull brothers battling for the lead from the
off as Sheldon went round and Morgan, Topliffe and Thackra were again locked in
battle, this time over fifth but a hit on Morgan caused Topliffe to go around
with Thackra then slipping passed Morgan for fourth and he then passed Butcher
for third with Morgan lunging at the latter to gain a place. Thackra moved into
second and with three to run punted Luke Woodhull wide for the lead with Morgan
hot on his heels and Thackra then suddenly lost pace on the last bend and Morgan
grabbed the lead. Thackra regained full power and managed to make contact to
Morgan exiting the last bend causing them both to get out of shape but Thackra
found a little more in the drag race to the line to claim an exciting win with
Luke Woodhull third.
The focus then switched to the seniors and their Gold Roof Final and
Grand Prix qualifier and all 32 contested heat one with 222 Richard
Grieg tangling with 902 Steve Vine from the off as 27 Chris Butcher landed a
blow on 471 Alistair Houghton and 8 Matthew Lloyd set the pace as 443 Kevin
Atkins attacked 810 Aimee Havercroftt only to come under fire himself from 528
Rob Key. Lloyd had now opened a lead with 778 Kurt Pearce in second but the race
for third, headed by 35 Graham Wheat, was typically manic. 265 Carl Nunn landed
a blow on 567 Peter Savage as 132 James Hall-Morton and 59 Andy Yull suffered
spins. Nunn battled his way to third as Atkins clashed with 804 Jamie Milne and
229 Joe Higgins charged at Wheat before Pearce cruelly span from contention
leaving Lloyd to fire Houghten wide and claim a comfortable win from Nunn and
324 Jordan Thackra who’d worked hard from towards the rear of the field.
All but one for heat two and 249 Jack Morgan quickly attacked Wheat and
Havercroft as he made a flying start but he struggled to control the momentum
and went wide and lost many of the places he had gained. Hall-Mortan span 67
Andy Passey and he was struck by 4 Andrew Duddy before Morgan collected the spun
Vine and Lloyd again set the pace with Nunn making a great start and quickly up
to fourth. Higgins charged at Savage as 84 Josh Rogers and Thackra suffered
spins. Nunn was now into second ahead of Pearce. 71 Thomas Grey and 31 Paul
Higgins battling Key and Joe Higgins over fifth, Thomas then pushing Pearce wide
to take a place as Nunn eased into the lead before 257 Kelvin Limb span
Havercoft who was collected by 199 Rob Whittaker the latter then losing a rear
wheel guard to bring the caution flag out with the guard left on the track. The
restart was short lived as a big push into the pit bend resulted in Passey
rolling onto his roof and the reds were flown and despite just one lap remaining
the race restarted and while it was a frantic sprint to the win Nunn held his
nerve to win from Gray and Key.
Just shy of 30 for the final and there was a huge push into the first
bend which saw Grieg spin and Wheat emerge as the early leader from Vine and Key
but Wheat then retired and Vine span and it was the rapid Nunn who emerged as
the leader having made another electric start, Key second and Thackra already
into third ahead of Paul Higgins before Morgan and Gray barged past the latter
in a fierce battle for fourth with Grey then slipping up the inside of Morgan
but this battle saw them all lose ground on the top three as Milne span.
Whittaker fired into Atkins as Lloyd struck the wall and came to a halt which
brought the waved yellow flags out. Nunn had two back markers between him and
the second placed Key who had one back marker between him and the race for third
between Thackra, Grey and Morgan and again the restart was wide as Hall-Morton
sent Butcher spinning and they were collected by Passey, 84 Josh Rogers and
Grieg with Vine then also spinning. Morgan punted Gray wide in the race for
third but the latter came back as Nunn claimed his second win from Thackra with
Gray besting Morgan in the final lap for third and in a photo finish for seventh
Joe Higgins just Whittaker to the line.
The field crept back past the 30 car mark with all but one again from the
Grand National and Havercroft immediately attacked Savage as Grieg set the
early pace but was soon overhauled by Wheat and behind Morgan moved Savage wide
to take third as Yull span and Grey fired Havercroft wide to gain a spot and
Vine managed an impressive 720 degree spin on the pit bend before 247 Craig
Faultless went round and was clobbered by the pack. Morgan now emerged in the
lead with Key and Grieg in pursuit as Lloyd, Rogers and Gray battled over fourth
but up front the top two had broken away and enjoyed a great battle until Key
took the top spot but Morgan stayed in the fight and landed a last bend hit but
span himself in the process and Key claimed the win with Nunn inheriting second
and Houghten third.
Juniors Heat One: 33 Luke Woodhull, 304, 238, 34, 24, 53, 59, 380, 21, 90
Juniors Heat Two: 380 Ella Powell, 238, 33, 21, 24, 304, 34, 53, 429, 90
Juniors Heat Three: 238 Kayne Morgan, 24, 380, 21, 34, 33, 59, 304, 53, 429
Juniors Grand Final: 24 Harley Thackra, 238, 33, 34, 21, 59, 380, 429, 304, 53
Heat One: 8 Matthew Lloyd, 265, 324, 229, 528, 84, 199, 35, 471, 804
Heat Two: 265 Carl Nunn, 71, 528, 31, 471, 27, 229, 8, 4, 295
Grand Final: Nunn, 324, 71, 249, 528, 471, 229, 199, 22, 4
Grand National: 528 Rob Key, 265, 471, 324, 295, 84, 31, 132, 4, 8
For a meeting which on paper didn’t have the greatest of promise this turned
into a hugely enjoyable and entertaining evening of racing, made all the more
enjoyable by the lovely weather. For the second week in a row the Saloon
Stockcars stole the show, not because of the other formulas not being on form
but because they were simply THAT good as the formula on shale in East Anglia
continues to provide arguably the best racing in the sport. A most impressive
night from the National Bangers with every race delivering some hard hits, the
consolation being the pick of the races while the DD produced some of the
hardest hits and another hugely enjoyable visit from the Stoxkarts who provide
the kind of competitive and close fought racing that only they can produce and
for the second week in a row it was most pleasing to report a good turn around
with the 15 races of the main programme completed within curfew.