Mildenhall Stadium Saturday July 9 2011
Unlimited Bangers Suffolk Open Championship and Ministox Suffolk Open Championship 

MENTAL METAL
33 Simon Reed Austin 3Litre
67 Mark Whittaker Datsun 300C*
68 Olly Wilkins Ford Mustang
90 Joe Harboard Ford Granada hearse Mk2
96 Amber Harboard Ford Granada hearse Mk3
210 Steve Hayward Rover P5 coupe*
237 Gary Nash Datsun 300C
262 Buddy James Datsun 300C
262 Jason Barnard Jaguar 420*
310 Chas Lee Daimler 250 V8*
339 Adrian Lightbown Ford Granada limo
508 Harry Bradbury Austin 3Litre
538 Jake Swann Ford Granada limo Mk3
579 Gary Beecham Jaguar XJ-S*
581 Simon Fixter Armstrong Siddeley 18HP limo*
644 Piers Turner Chevrolet Monte Carlo
714 Paul Smaldon Toyota Crown
782 Glen Boyce Daimler DS420 limo
830 Lee White Ford Granada limo Mk2*
841 Stu Charlton Austin Westminster*
886 Adrian French Datsun 280ZX
912 Kieran Greenaway Lincoln Town Car limo
*=used car

The 2011 staging of the Unlimited Banger Suffolk Open Championship raised a strong, if slightly down on expected, entry of 87 cars boosted by a strong visiting presence which included drivers from GMP, Spedeworth, TSR, PRI, Autospeed, Incarace, Spedeworth plus 13 Pietra Liestra (Mk2 Granada) on another long trip from Northern Holland. Once again a high effort was made on the car and presentation front, much of the tin highlighted by the Mental Metal list above while on top of that there was a couple of Omegas, a used Supra and a Mercedes 230D for 356 Lee Basham. Ten small cash awards were out to the top cars with 782 Gladis, 96 Bam Bam, 90 Joe Ninety, 912 Kieran Greenaway, 33 the Legend, 508 Led Head, 237 Nasha, 714 No Show, 262 Axle and 644 Piers Turner receiving them and they and several others were rewarded for their efforts with top tin trophies. All cars are Volvos unless otherwise stated.

Despite wet weather in the week the track was in top condition for the opening heat and thankfully the forecast on the rain stayed away all night with 30 cars gathering for the first heat. 210 Stevo fired the first shot spinning 128 Andy Shipp (240 estate) into the blocks as Bam Bam hit 898 Andy Battle (Omega) head-on on the road bend while 148 Ian Redden (740 estate) hit the spun 500 Bill Wenham (240 estate) on the nose on the back straight. This allowed the recovered 128 Shippy to nail welcome returnee 39 Steve Moore (XJ) and he was blasted in turn by 267 Martin French (Mk2 Granada). The latter then copped a head-on from 830 Stretch as 538 Swanny Jnr met 579 Mr Clumsy on the nose as the race exploded at the end of the back straight. 390 Dave Gibson (Supra) picked up 768 Danny McSweeney (240 estate) for a wicked hit in the rear wheel which left the latter up for a storming blitz from 602 Shaun Cooper (240 estate). The lone Aftermath man was then leathered by 101 Richard Rayner (XJ) as 390 Gibbo decimated 500 Wild Boy with a mega blitz, the former then taking a hard hit from 97 Jim Madsham (240 estate). Stretch then clobbered the spun 133 Marc Paton (Scorpio) on the nose with 425 Martin Stopher (XJ) homing in for a hard head-on to the former and burying him into the pit gate to boot. 67 Sparky fired his late Cedric into the struggling Swanny Jnr as 220 Tom Pavitt (XJ) fired into Stretch and stayed on him to thunder him into 500 Wild Bill’s wreck head-on. Up front and Joe Ninety buried 841 Stu Charlton which blew the race for the lead wide open, 53 Dave Palmer (Mk2 Granada) burying Battle to hand 148 Shorty the lead. Shippy then dished out a roof bending hit on the game Stretch and ensured the latter would not ride again with a second hit a lap later. Shorty got the better of Battle and Palmer in a fine tussle to win a cracking opener, 602 Mr Moody taking the entertainer award. 

30 cars again for heat two and 331 Jason Jackson (XJ) wasted no time in firing into 66 Mark Rogers’ Mk2 Granada and burying him as 998 Wayne Cotterill Jnr (XJ) fenced 545 Karl Hough (240 estate). Turner butted heads with the spun 339 Adrian Lightbown with 310 Chas Lee firing into the former as 17 Kyle Overy (240) hit the luckless 545 Huffy on the nose. The spun 455 Rick Finney (240 estate) nailed the passing 145 Chris Abbott (240 estate) in the rear wheel while Lee turned round and again stuck it to Turner. Finney fired 303 Wayne Linsdale (240 estate) into the wall before 230 Dean Moljourd (740 estate) stuffed 673 Darren Fendley (Scorpio estate) into Lee and Turner. This allowed 998 Cotty Jnr to hammer 230 Mr Mean, 450 Glyn Platts (XJ) also hammering the latter as Finney buried 690 Jack Wilkins’ XJ40 hard at the end of the back straight. Lee now attacked Cotty Jnr with a T-bone as 690 Del Boy recovered to end Fendley’s night with a meaty T-bone. 325 Craig Preece (740 estate) hit the lurking Turner head-on as 33 the Legend hit Platts in the rear wheel. The latter then turned round and lined up Turner but before he got there 68 Olly Wilkins nailed him with a big hit but he copped an equally savage T-bone from 384 John Golden (XJ) in turn. Platts rallied on to lay into Turner as Wilkins was belted in the front wheel by 01 Kyle Shires (240). Lee rammed Platts against the flow as Shires ensured Wilkins’ Yank was short lived with a monster blitz one lap after his first hit. Platts landed a revenge hit on Lee as 617 Jack Overy (XJ) motored to the win from 331 Boxer Jack and 789 Rob Taylor (Mk2 Granada). Controversy at the end as 460 Lewis Barber (240 estate) and Finney ran into one another just as the reds came out and Shires trashed the former with a late hit to earn him a black flag and therefore Finney was named the best entertainer. 

Somewhat unusually the final heat was open to non qualifiers from the earlier heats to top the numbers up and this produced another 30 car field. A manic start resulted in a pile-up from the word go on turn four in which 160 Perry Willings (740 estate) hit Stevo head-on and buried him which also claimed 340 Wes Freestone (240 estate). 886 Shades fired his unusual Datsun into the latter and 688 Steve Collins (240 estate) attacked 682 Paul Sparrow (240 estate) with 146 Dan Wigman (240 estate) moving in to bury the former. 862 Liam Reach (Mk2 Granada estate) then ran in 220 Lurch with 237 Nasha lending a late assist. 623 Ricky Hutton (XJ) nailed 347 Dave Bull (Mk2 Granada) as Greenaway went against the flow in his massive Yank to lay into the smart Volvo 240 of 717 Darren Pindar before 46 Wayne Pecker (240 estate) picked out Bam Bam for a T-bone by the start line. 862 Reachy stuffed Shades as 67 Rickie Beasley (Scorpio) stuffed Nasha. 262 Axle then did the same to 356 Luke Radley (740) as Greenaway and Stevo met on the nose. 456 Nathan Roberts (Scorpio) then piled 360 Jack Reynolds, in the lone Lexus, into Pecker who battled on to meet Greenaway on the nose. Shades fired into the lone Motley Krew man as 67 Sonny Black rattled 507 Danny Brown (Mk2 Granada) into the pit gate and Roberts again piled 360 Jackstar into Pecker. Sonny Black got the better of Axle in a fine battle for the win with No Show third and Pecker took the entertainer award. 

A short delay following the first Ministox race to repair damage to the fence resulted in a fine field of 34 repairing for the consolation which was another cracker. Another manic start saw Del Boy whack the spun Jackstar head-on as just behind 267 the Tramp followed in 623 Tricky which also claimed Axle and Nasha homed in hard on the Tramp only to take one in turn from 13 Peewee. 333 Danny Webb (240 estate) then picked up Del Boy and followed him head-on into the spun 356 Bash to trigger a pile-up on the road bend. A big push on the pit bend saw 415 Scott Cornish (Mk2 Granada) fire into 887 Rob Browning (240 estate) who hit Marcy and he hit the spun Jackstar by the start line as the road bend pile-up saw Rayner stuffed 466 Steve Hackett (Mk2 Granada) into the heap with Webb flattening the former in turn. The action now moved to the end of the back straight with a rated wrecking train. Platts destroyed Del Boy with a savage hit before he was leathered by a fine shot from Barber with Marcy throwing away his lead to trash the latter. Back on the road bend and 581 Mr Fixit used his epic Armstrong to nail Rayner before he was wrecked by another big hit from Webb. 313 Craig Osbourn (240 estate) butted heads with the spinning Cornish, the former then buried into Reachy and Turner on the road bend by Sparky. Back on the pit bend and Jackstar connected with a hard hit in the rear wheel of the spun Cornish as Finney turned round to stop Huffy with a hard head-on. The former continued to T-bone Axle well before spotting the west country man turn round on turn one and Finney duly homed in for a massive head-on. Axle appeared to be going for a revenge hit but instead blew up the long time stationary Cornish to earn a black flag with Lurch ending things with a head-on to 662 Jamie Harding (240 estate). Browning won from Rogers and Sparrow with Webb the best entertainer award winner. 

30 cars again for the final which was surprisingly decent. Mr Moody began with a shot on Linsdale which span the latter as 384 Goldie turned 328 Dan Lathan (240 estate) into the wall, the former then dumping Battle and 715 Mick Prince (Scorpio) with a wild lunge exiting the pit bend and Pecker hit the latter on the nose in turn. Harding shrugged off a head-on from Joe Ninety to nail Mr Moody in similar fashion. Cotty Jnr fenced Sparrow as Shippy blasted Joe Ninety and Pecker hammered 160 Pez. Roberts now fired into and fenced Mr Moody, the latter then slaughtered by a rated hit from 262 the Verger. Cotty Jnr now set about Linsdale and continued to weigh into Pecker as Pez crashed up the side of the latter a few laps later. Harding then powered into Mr Moody who had been stationary for a sufficient time to earn the former a load up before Boxer turned round and blasted the spun Shorty hard. The latter pair enjoyed a head-on on the back straight which caused a pile-up in which 425 Mr Vauxhall T-boned Shippy and 17 the Little Chief crashed into Sonny Black which also claimed 287 Dean Quinsee (Omega) and Goldie. 382 Jack Foster Jnr (240 estate) came through for the title ahead of Overy and Sparrow, Verger taking the entertainer award. 

Following the final it was decided there wasn’t sufficient cars to run the Accumulator qualifier and DD as separate events and instead they would be run together as programmed but extra repair time was afforded to the drivers who needed it. As a result a superb field of 46 drivers made it back out for the final event and they did not disappoint. Another manic start saw Marcy fire into McSweeney as 230 Mean rattled Gladis into the wall and 39 Peanut nailed Pindar. Gibbo stepped things up with a massive pit bend follow-in to 97 Sunny Jim as the stricken McSweeney was clobbered in the front wheel by Tricky while Gladis evened the score on Mr Mean with a burial of his own. 688 Lil United blasted Reachy as 145 the Mad Monk hit Tricky on the nose but was nailed in turn by Nasha as Barber, one of several who had worked hard to repair, blasted Freestone. Mr Mean and Gladis now enjoyed-ons as a pile-up formed on turn two. Lurch turned round and hit the Mad Monk as 13 Peewee attacked Osbourn but instead collected Gibbo with Linsdale treating the Dutch star to a stiff T-bone. Greenaway now powered into the road bend heap on opposite to hammer 4 Sam Nice (240 estate). The Legend spotted Linsdale by the pit gate and landed a fine hit only to take an equally stiff shot from Finney who buried the vintage Austin in turn with Jackstar blasting Finney in turn. Taylor now weighed in with a fierce hit on Gibbo and Nasha met Finney on the nose. The latter took another head-on from the Mad Monk with Lurch again sticking it to the latter. No Show turned round and T-boned Jackstar as the pile-up on turn two escalated into a track blockage. The lively Nasha now hammered Harding in the chaos but Cream team revenge was swift thanks to Lil United as Boxer T-boned the Mad Monk and Marcy fired into Taylor with a stonking hit. Cornish went against the flow to batter McSweeney but was trashed in turn by a fine hit from Pindar as Marcy continued his rampage with a shot on Sparrow. Lathan then fired into Shorty and stuffed him into some wrecks on turn three with Marcy turning round to pound the latter. The Verger laid into Marcy as Overy hit the Mad Monk in the rear wheel. Swanny Jnr now blasted Verger with a big hit, Nasha laying in with a meaty head-on to the former which set Swanny Jnr up for another stiff hit from Marcy. Shades escaped the blockage to hammer the Mad Monk but he took one in turn from Goldie. Harding finally silenced Marcy with a head-on. Boxer blasted Nasha with 382 Chubby finishing the latter with a meaty hit. Boxer then hammered Swanny Jnr and a head-on from Goldie finished the latter before Goldie and Sonny Black pounded Verger. Overy won from Sonny Black and Chubby and they were left to contest a cagey DD after No Show and Sparrow finished each other with a head-on. Sonny Black fired the first shot with a T-bone on Overy before they met on the nose, a second head-on finishing the former leaving Overy to battle Chubby. At this point Marcy’s car burst into flames so the event was declared with Overy taking the winner’s purse based on being more aggressive than Chubby in the final stages. Marcy and Nasha took the entertainer awards, the former also being judged the night’s most devastating driver while Barber was named the evening’s hardest trier.

Heat One: 148 Ian Redden, 898, 53, 90, 425, 269, 262, 128 Best entertainer: 602 Shaun Cooper
Heat Two: 617 Jack Overy, 331, 789, 382, 460, 998, 455, 328, 33, 17 Best entertainer: 455 Rick Finney
Heat Three: 67 Rickie Beasley, 262, 714, 715, 287, 456, 360, 160, 333, 623 Best entertainer: 46 Wayne Pecker
Consolation: 887 Rob Browning, 66, 682, 67, 17, 303, 333, 384, 662, 360
Suffolk Open Championship: 382 Jack Foster Jnr, 617, 682, 67, 715, 384, 160, 17, 128 Best entertainer: 262 Jason Barnard
Accumulator qualifier: 617 Jack Overy, 67, 382, 682 Best entertainers: 133 Marc Paton and 237 Gary Nash
Into Destruction Derby: Overy from 382
Most Devastating Driver: Paton
Hardest Trier: 460 Lewis Barber

A fine field of 26 Ministox gathered for the 2011 Suffolk Open Championship, the field boosted by a pair of Spedeworth visitors while 342 Riley Freestone made his debut. 

A full field for the heat race which was a fine start to the Ministox programme. 320 Charley Streeton half span 339 Jake Futter from the off with 383 Shane Harvey removing the former in turn as 361 Ashley Byron also went out leaving 390 Karl Morris to make the running. 301 Josh Simpson span 332 Sophie Bright who was collected by 327 Mick Maskall Jnr. 375 Alex Hensby barged his way into the lead as 355 Sid Magewick removed 322 Thomas Fox and 313 Tommy Langley lunged at and passed Harvey. 391 Jake Banwell had Simpson around as 308 Sam Beumont moved into second ahead of 341 Austin Freestone. Harvey squeezed Futter wise as 386 Daniel Petters raced his way to fourth and in the race over seventh Langley landed a hit on Maskall Jnr. Petters then lunged at and passed Austin Freestone for third as Harvey span aside Fox and a big push into the pit bend culminated in 394 Liam Aspin spinning Streeton into the fence. Futter removed Simpson as 350 Thomas Parrin fired into the luckless Fox. Petters now raced into second while Hensby continued to lead as Langley came under fire from 382 Tom Foster. Aspin collected the stricken Simpson which knocked him off the racing line as the lively Langley fired into 397 Reece Swatman. Petters claimed the lead with three to run but Hensby reclaimed it on the road bend with Petters taking back the top spot half a lap later. Elsewhere and Banwell span Bright as Foster lunged at Maskall Jnr. Up front and Hensby lunged back at Petters to snatch his maiden win on the last bend with Austin Freestone in third and Foster a fine fourth from the back. 

The second Ministox race was the championship and was another cracker. A first lap sort out saw Langley spun Futter and 345 Daniel Weavers and they all crashed out in a heap to end their chances. Morris led the way from Swatman, Austin Freestone, Simpson, Riley Freestone and Petters as Beaumont became the first retirement. Austin Freestone moved to second with Hensby on his tail as Magewick’s hopes ended with a spin on the road bend. Riley Freestone removed Simpson to take fourth but Petters was again on the move and soon dived up the inside of Hensby for third. Langley lunged at Aspin in a fight for the minor spots, Weavers stepping in to spin the latter. Morris continued to lead ahead of Austin Freestone, Petters, Swatman, Banwell, Maskall Jnr and 128 Craig Banwell. A road bend crash resulted in 126 Kyle Picton finding the wall with Hensby and Parrin also involved, the latter retiring as a result. Swatman moved up the inside of Petters to gain a place in a three wide scrap with Magewick. Bright was a spinner as Riley Freestone span Petters who was hit by Fox which promoted Jake Banwell to third ahead of Swatman, Fox, Craig Banwell, Streeton, Maskall Jnr and 349 Todd Payne as the race hit half way. Austin Freestone attacked Aspin while Simpson and Bright span on the road bend. Austin Freestone came under pressure from the back marking Magewick while brother Riley’s run was ended by a spin from 344 Ross Fisher. Craig Banwell bested Swatman for fourth as Futter span. The latter recovered and was hit by Craig Banwell which allowed Swatman and Payne to close in over the race for fourth. Elsewhere and Langley span Picton as Morris led the race into the final five laps ahead of Austin Freestone and Jake Banwell although the latter soon climbed to second. Morris lost time when Magewick squeezed him wide allowing Jake Banwell to land a last bend hit and snatch the win and the title, Craig Banwell muscling into third in the final stages with defending champion Payne fourth and Austin Freestone an excellent fifth. Streeton, Foster, Fox, Fisher and Maskall Jnr completed the top 10. 

Still 22 cars for the Allcomers and a big push at the start saw Craig Banwell fire into Fox which resulted in Fisher and Picton finding the fence as Parrin and Payne span at the rear of the field. Swatman made the running from Hensy, Morris and Riley Freestone with Aspin the first yellow on the lap charts. The recovered Picton attacked Magewick as Aspin raced into third and then second as Hensby took the lead. Payne rattled Parrin and got him sideways while Riley Freestone did the same to Harvey. Langley battled his way up to sixth as Simpson span while Streeton attacked Riley Freestone and Payne and Parrin continued to trade hits. Austin Freestone passed Swatman for third as Futter lunged at Riley Freestone and Aspin put the bumper in on Hensby to take the lead with three laps to run. Behind them and Foster, Weavers and Streeton made it three wide for a minor place with Weavers then removing Austin Freestone. Parrin span Streeton as Aspin took the win from Austin Freestone and Hensby. 

Heat One: 375 Alex Hensby, 386, 341, 382, 327, 355, 390, 308, 313, 349
Suffolk Open Championship: 391 Jake Banwell, 390, 128, 349, 341, 320, 382, 322, 344, 327
Allcomers: 394 Liam Aspin, 341, 375, 327, 128, 391, 397, 390, 355, 339

A quality night of action with a far superior Unlimited Banger Suffolk Open than the 2010 event with the tweaked format working well with six races of at least 30 cars, each producing some rated hits and half of the races being real crackers and supported by another fine outing from the Ministox who continue to enjoy a great season at RDC. 

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