Mildenhall Stadium
Saturday September 10 2016
Another Wild Weekend
BriSCA F2 Stockcars World Final, All
Granada National Bangers and Saloon Stockcars Tucky Munster Memorial
The 2016 BriSCA F2 Stockcar World
Championship saw a massive entry of 91 cars head to Mildenhall Stadium, the
biggest turn out seen in the formula in well over a year and it was equally
pleasing to see that just three of the advertised entry were absent (two of
these racing on Sunday in cars used by others here) with the field boosted by 13
Dutch visitors and five from Northern Ireland.
Sadly the weather gods were far from kind to the event with rain throughout the
morning but it eased a little around lunchtime which would allow the overseas
time trials to take place which proved an interesting affair. Faced with wet
conditions the first group posted their fastest laps at the start of their four
minute session with H47 Patrick Tersteeg nailing a 17.436 closely followed by
NI312 Chris Kincaid with a 17.796 but as their session went on the drivers
struggled more and more and actually posted slower and slower laps. The second
group joined the raceway and at first were unable to match the times set by the
fastest drivers in the first group but around a minute into the session things
started to change and the times started to tumble. Ultimately H124 Wim Peeters
went fastest with a 16.341 with H129 Michael Schutter (16.501), H30 Toon Schut
(16.649) and H116 Barry Bauer (16.918) less than a second behind and they all
advanced to the third session along with Tersteeg whose time from session one
was enough to move him forward. After a time minute break the five fastest
drivers returned for a second run but by this point the rain was again falling
but despite this all involved managed to go faster than before and at the top of
table Peeters and Bauer frequently traded the fastest lap while Schut and
Shutter, who struggled at times in the session, occasionally dialled a fast lap
in to keep their rivals in check. Ultimately Peeters’ lap of 14.777 could not be
beaten and he claimed the inside of row three, joined by Bauer whose 14.876 lap
time was just a fraction behind. It could not have been closer in the race for
row six and nine, Schutter claiming the inside of row three with a 15.065, Schut
joining him with a 15.157 and Tersteeg just missing out on 15.209 to end a
surprisingly exciting session in spite of the conditions.
As forecast rain continued to fall on and off following the conclusion of the
overseas lap times until start time but thankfully had come to a halt by the
time the official programme was due to start at 5pm but nonetheless the 33
hopefuls in the Consolation Semi-Final race were faced with hugely challenging
conditions in their quest to make the main event. Prior to the start of the
racing however things began in somewhat emotional circumstances as the friends
and family of life long stockcar racing fan Steve ‘Tucky Munster’ Tucker
gathered on the start line and spread his ashes on the raceway with a memorial
race held later in the night for him in the Saloon Stockcars.
Former World Champions 7 Gordon Moodie and 968 Micky Brennan heads the field for
the 33 car consolation semi-final with the former coming under immediate
fire from 19 Martin Ford which was met with large cheers from the big audience
who had gathered on hand in spite of the weather. 225 Tony Blackburn removed 5
Josh Coleman and 431 Andy Gibbs tangled with both 417 Allan Weston and 995
Michael Lund while 676 Neil Hooper suffered a spin. 560 Luke Wrench emerged in
the lead ahead of Ford, Brennan, 788 Steve Mallinson and 59 Lee Dimmick as 741
Luke Branston was the next to spin and 887 Neil Brigg removed 376 Darren
Seneschall who was collected by Dimmick causing a pile-up with 817 Tim Bailey
then crashing into the head. Brennan moved into second but was overhauled by
Mallinson as 871 Mark Simpson moved into fourth. Weston fired into the recovered
Brigg as Simpson drifted off the racing line and span and 136 Kyle Taylor
removed 977 Dave Massey which caused Wrench to hit the wall, the former then
spinning with 299 Steve Smith and Ford also hit the wall while the little hope
Moodie had of qualifying was ended when he was spun into the concrete blocks by
Coleman. Wrench continued to lead as the race hit half way from Mallinson,
Brennan, 219 Chris Mitchell and 289 James Waterfall with Mitchell soon into
third as Blackburn and 452 Mark Armitage now moved into contention which was
helped when Brennan span with 184 Aaron Vaight and Mallinson also span allowing
Waterfall to take second but with the field so spread out, Mallinson was able to
removed in third. Lund and 597 Barry Clow were the next to crash out in a heap.
Wrench meanwhile took a fine win, all the more impressive given his total lack
of track experience and the conditions ahead of Waterfall and Mallinson, these
the only three to finish on the lead lap. Mitchell, Blackburn and Armintage were
initially announced as the rest of the top six and secured their World Final
spots but it was later revealed Taylor was in fact in sixth position but with
the mistake only spotted just before the World Final it was elected to honour
Armitage’s place in the main event.
The supporting cars took to the raceway for heat two with a 27 car field
and 724 Tom Pell suffered an early spin as 447 Richard Hampshire set the pace
and H10 Jelle Tessler struck the wall and 93 Stu Sculthorpe landed a hit on 283
Gary Allen which also claimed H103 Chris van de Elst while H109 Tom Hendricks
and 81 Mark Clayton suffered spins. Hamsphire led from Pell and 150 Mark Thoms
as 715 Scott Aldridge also hit the wall and Sculthorpe lunged at Thoms which in
turn fenced 372 Steve North and from this van der Elst emerged in the lead.
Hamsphire meanwhile charged at 471 Malcolm Kay and they span into the blocks
along with 331 James Diguillio and Allen before the caution flags flew to assist
the stricken Tessler. Chris van der Elst headed the restart with a cushion of
four back markers between him and Clayton but he was able to leapfrog Sculthorpe
and Pell when they tangled and 735 Mick Haworth was soon into third as Clayton
lost time when he clashed wheels with Sculthorpe which allowed 449 Mark Dorrill
and Haworth to close in for the race for second with 259 Simon Farrington now
far behind. NI747 Brad McKinstry span H29 Cor Schutter and 235 Bradley Blyth
removed Thoms as van der Elst took the win with Clayton and Farrington second
and third, only five finishing on the lead lap.
Most disappointingly after the opening two F2 races where track conditions were
starting to improve and this continued to develop at the start of the first
National Banger heat, the heavens truly opened during the first National Banger
heat and while by the time it came to begin the World Final the rain had
eased, track conditions were back to arguably the worst they had been for the
big night. There was more drama to follow as 377 Daz Shaw was a late withdrawal
from the race and with the decision already made to make the race a 38 car
affair following the oversight involving Taylor in the first race, it was opted
to offer Shaw’s place to Simpson who was the first reserve.
After the driver introductions, the call for drivers to start their engines and
two rolling laps played out to a short burst of fireworks the green flag fell
and pole starter 606 Andrew Palmer roared into the first bend immediately
opening a couple of car lengths over 823 Sam Wagner and 647 Chris Burgoyne but
his determination to get away saw him slide into the wet shale on the outside of
turn three and he came to an almost shuddering halt as behind 905 Rob Mitchell
bundled into Wagner to take him wide and 662 Steve Wycherley and 768 Tom Adcroft
butted heads and the latter hit the fence as the struggling Burgoyne tangled
with Peeters but despite this the latter was able to emerge from the first bend
in the lead while 218 Rob Speak and Wagner fell foul of the wet outside on the
pit bend and H24 Willie Peeters, 41 Dennis Middler, Kincaid and 13 Andy Ford all
came to grief on the road bend. Palmer completed lap one in second with Tersteeg
already into third but the best start was made by Waterfall who having qualified
little more than an hour before was fourth one lap into the race.38 Dave Polley
then tangled with Tersteeg and they were collected by 441 Micky Branston and
Simpson with Mallinson also spinning and as the race hit lap three the caution
flags flew, primarily with concern for the stricken Burgoyne but in truth there
were others assisted by the stoppage who were moved to safety.
Joining Burgoyne on the retirements were other fancies runners such as Bauer,
103 Carl Issit and Palmer but still 31 cars were in the mix with just over half
of them on the lead lap. Wim Peeters led with two back markers between him and
the race for second which was now between Waterfall and 298 Jake Walker. They
had one back marker between them and the fourth placed Tersteeg with two back
markers between them and the race for fifth which saw Wycherley, Polley, Rob
Mitchell, Blackburn, defending champion 101 Kelvyn Marshall and Simpson all
start bumper to bumper, 488 Liam Bentham, 26 Gary Ford, 464 Matt Linfield,
Kincaid, Speak and Wagner the remaining cars to start on the lead lap. Wrench
was an immediate retirement on the restart while Linfield was the latest to go
wide and into the thick shale as Polley quickly moved onto fifth with Mitchell
behind as Simpson and Blackburn suffered spins and Waterfall’s hopes ended with
a spin from Schut who then went round himself and was hit by Polley and then
Mitchell eliminating two more potential challengers with Waterfall retiring soon
after. 578 Mark Gibbs and Simpson tangled and span and the latter was struck by
Polley with the caution flags again needed for the World of Shale Champion with
eight laps now completed.
Wim Peeters was not only still leading but looking increasingly comfortable in
his surroundings and this was assisted by the fact that just five drivers
remained on the lead lap among the 22 survivors at this stage. Peeters had seven
back markers between him and second placed Tersteeg at the restart who had a one
car cushion between him and third placed Walker who had a similar gap between
him and the race for fourth between Wycherley and Marshall who restarted bumper
to bumper. The first of the lapped cars was Speak was started immediately behind
the race leader and closer behind was a big battle for seventh between Wagner,
Gary Ford, Rob Mitchell and Bentham. Branston immediately attacked NI925 Craig
McConnell on the restart as Marshall came under fire from 124 Ollie Skeels.
Speak got to grips with Willie Peeters whose efforts to fend off the eight time
champion saw him taken into the wall as Wim Peeters led the race to half way.
Rob Mitchell then went round on the home straight and was collected by Speak who
was subsequently hit by Andy and Gary Ford in a series of nasty impacts but all
the drivers who unharmed and Gary Ford was subsequently dumped out by Polley but
Mitchell was unable to get out of harm’s way and so the caution flags flew for a
third time, this time on lap 16.
The same five cars remained on the lead lap at this point Wim Peeters still
showing no signs of weakness at the front and he had six back markers between
him and the race for second which was now between Walker and Wycherley with
fourth and fifth Tersteeg and Marshall close behind. Polley was the first lapped
car on the leader board, restarting just in front of the race for second with
eighth placed Skeels close hind and Michael Schutter and 226 Billy Webster
racing for ninth towards the rear of the 16 car line. Polley wasted no time in
aggressively charging at Chris Mitchell as Marshall attacked Wycherley which
opened a door for Tersteeg to slip through and into third and as this fight for
second, more than half a lap behind the leader continues, Walker span Polley but
it delayed him for Tersteeg to snatch the position but he then span from
contention. Wim Peeters lead now stood at around ¾ of a lap as he entered the
final five laps with Wycherley now the only man left on the lead lap. Schutter
had leaped to third with Skeels, Polley and Marshall next and Skeels went for it
on Schutter and span him but it took them both out wide and Polley slipped into
second. Meanwhile no-one had an answer for Peeters who followed in his father’s
tyre tracks to become the second Dutch winner of the World title and the first
to do it on shale, doing so in the most magnificent and dominant fashion.
Wycherley crossed the line in second as the only driver to finish on the same
lap as the new champion with Polley and Schutter completing the top 10, Skeels,
McConnell, Chris Mitchell, Willie Peeters, Andy Ford and Branston filling the
top 10.
Regretfully after the meeting Wycherley’s car failed post-race checks and he was
disqualified from the result, however he immediately stated his intention to
appeal the decision and subsequently the remaining places stay as originally
announced until such a time that the appeal is heard, NI944 Ryan McCrory
finished in 11th place and therefore could complete the top 10 depending on the
outcome of the appeal.
As hoped for there were sufficient car for two consolation races but given the
conditions it was no great surprise that the races had the smaller grids of the
night with 22 cars for the first consolation by which point the track
conditions were already at their best of the evening and would only improve
which each passing lap. North landed an early attack on 774 Steve Flatt with
Kaye firing into the former to snatch the lead as Webster came under fire from
527 James Riggall and Coleman span as Weston quickly climbed to third and Flatt
then moved into the lead before Riggall crashed out with McKinstry before the
yellows flew for the stranded Hendriks. Flatt led the restart away with Palmer
immediately firing onto Weston only to be dumped out by Tersteeg as Webster
moved into third and Wagner fired Linfield wide for fourth before H389 Mike
Sijbers fired into Dimmick which in turn fenced Massey as Flatt kept Gibbs at
bay as the race hit half way but shortly after the Ben Fund champion span him
for the top spot only for Webster to quickly pounce and take over as 55 Courtney
Finnikin tangled with Wagner and Flatt lunged at Weston which span them both,
the latter then clashing with Dimmck and then were collected by the recovered
Massey as Wagner moved into second which would be the final change at the front.
McKinstry delivered the final action with a hit on Flatt as Webster took the win
from Wagner and Gibbs.
A couple less for the second consolation and Hamsphire span Seneschall
from the off while Allen set the pace from Thoms, Hampshire and Clow before Rob
Mitchell removed Gary Ford and Allen also went round. Thoms moved into the lead
with Clow into second and Issit already into third as Hooper clashed with Pell
and Burgoyne compounded Moodie’s rotten night with a lunge which span him and
the latter was collected heavily by 581 Daniel Fallows which left then stranded
on the pit bend to bring the caution flags out. Thoms held off Issit and
Burgoyne as the race hit half way but shortly after Issit moved into the lead
before the Scottish star fired Thoms wide for second and Pell charged at Allen.
Walker now took third with Hooper close behind but he was clouted by Lund which
cost him time but saw Lund spin and when he recovered he was punted into Clow by
Thoms. Issit romped to the win from Burgoyne with Walker surviving a late clash
with Pell for third.
28 of the 30 qualifiers returned for the big money Grand Final which
featured no white grade drivers. Webster suffered an early spin as did Clayton
who was collected by Haworth and van der Elst as Dorrill emerged in the early
lead from 177 Glenn Scott and 728 Carl Pilkinton and Waterfall came under fire
from Wagner as Skeels got stuck into Mallinson. Farrington jumped up the order
to take the lead as Gibbs fired into Scott in the battle for fourth and Michael
Schutter evened the score on Skeels with a big lunge which took them into the
wall. Issit was the next man to take the lead as Clayton and Mallinson suffered
spins and the former was unable to get moving which brought the caution flags
out. Issit retired during the stoppage handing the lead back to Dorrill from
Farrington, Scott, Wim Peeters, Walker, Webster, Pilkinton, Burgoyne, Branston
and Cor Schutter but the World Champion was an immediate retirement on the
restart as Walker passed Scott for third but the latter came back at him which
allowed Webster to get in the mix as Dorrill led the race into the final five
laps. Webster claimed third from Scott with Burgoyne on his tail and he then
fired Webster wide for third but that was as far up as he could go with Dorrill
holding his nerve for a quality win from Farrington and Burgoyne.
Somewhat disappointing there wasn’t sufficient time for a Grand National to be
added to the programme.
Overseas lap trials session one: H47 Patrick Tersteeg (17.436), NI312 (17.796),
H24 (18.421), NI925 (20.483), NI944 (21.925)
Overseas lap trials session two: H124 Wim Peeters (16.341), H129 (16.501), H30
(16.649), H116 (16.918), H24 (18.421)
Overseas lap trials session three: Peeters (14.777), H116 (14.876), H129
(15.065), H30 (15.157), H47 (15.209)
Consolation Semi-Final, 560 Luke Wrench, 289, 788, 219, 225, 136, 452, 871, 177,
741
Heat two: H103 Chris van der Elst, 81, 259, 735, 728, H218, 449, H29, H389, 93
World Championship: H124 Wim Peeters (662***), 38, H129, 124, NI925, 219, H24,
13, 441, NI944
Consolation one: 226 Billy Webster, 823, 578, H389, 846, H47, 55, 977, NI747,
372
Consolation two: 103 Carl Issit, 647, 298, 905, 995, 150, 597, 283, 93, 377
Grand Final: 449 Mark Dorrill, 259, 647, 226, 298, H29, 441, 177, 823, 741
***=disqualified from result following post-race checks but has confirmed he
will appeal the decision, therefore the remaining places remain unchanged until
the appeal has been heard
The annual all Granada National Banger meeting attracted a cracking field
of just over 60 cars, perhaps all the more impressive given the forecast and
conditions on the day with just five no shows/late cancellations from the final
entry list who were replaced with more than twice as many extras on the night
and once again the Mk2 was the favoured motor making up well over half the total
entry with 11 fresh ones which included limos from 17 Kyle Overy, 108 Lewis
Jefcote and 662 Dalton Smith, the latter two being well smart as were the
saloons of 209 Tom Waller and 390 David Gibson and the estates of 235 Danny
Williams and 620 Guy Whitehead. Other cool motors were the Mk3 hearses of 206
Dave King and 757 Tom Farren and the limos of 96 Amber Daniels and 800 Lee Meary
which were both unpainted while 90 Adrian Harboard returned his from the RWD
session and the lone Mk1 was a used one from 528 Alan Hunt. There were some
impressive travelling efforts, but none more so than 388 Steve McGrath and 957
Gary Jackson from Ireland.
As is tradition the first heat was for the Mk1 and Mk2s and was met with
a big 34 car grid but just as the race was about to start the heavens opened and
the rain fell thankfully for the last time on the day but it more than spoiled
the race. 235 Loose Head turned 291 Mick Turner into the wall as 224 James
Burrows nailed 811 Pete Winter and 17 Chiefy found sufficient grip to trash
Turner with a fine hit while welcome Bear visitor 221 Justin Riley wrecked 329
Michael Carter (estate). 508 Harry Bradbury stuffed 95 Anton Martin to complete
a lively start to the race before 221 Motormouth was turned into the wall by 327
Mick Maskall Jnr and his team 232 Justin Pollard was buried by 620 Mr G. 188
John Reeves (estate) opened his account by powering into and spinning Martin
before he nailed 508 Led Head and he then assaulted 129 Jon Brooks. 327 Little
Legs turned Loose Head into Mr G before 388 Little Stevo turned round and
stopped 747 Rob Cloke with a head-on and Martin blasted the latter as well
before 188 Victor concluded his performance with a roof bending hit on
Motormouth which earned him the entertainer award as Little Legs took the win
from 811 Pistol Pete and Victor.
22 for the almost all Mk3 and Mk4 based second heat but it proved to be a
livelier affair, in no small part due to the tricky conditions. 888 Lloyd Stark
met the spun 378 Jordan Leonard on the nose which triggered an immediate pile-up
in with 148 Dean Jackson nailed 481 John Willis (estate) and 206 Kingy blasted
887 Rob Browning (estate) which left him open to a package from 817 Kurt Jacobs
as 328 Dan Lathan landed a shot on the super smart looking 103 Jack Deacon with
96 Bam Bam nailing the former in turn as 90 Joe Ninety added 746 Tony Jarvis to
the misery. 21 Jason Colbert now nailed Kingy as Farren blasted Bam Bam with
Kingy now coming under attack from the recovered Ted as 148 Dean stuffed Farren
into 817 the Stig. 21 Jamie McAngus (estate) nailed Deano on the rear wheel, the
latter taking a second such hit from Lathan as the recovered Kingy blasted
Willis with the track now completely blocked by the pit gate. 88 Lyndon Stark
assaulted the luckless Willis and Neery scored on Farren with 317 Callum Jacobs
also nailing the latter’s hearse as Kingy continued with a package on Neery as
Ted blasted Lathan. This triggered another train of hits in the blockage as 88
Fat Face blasted Ted with 317 Stress and Kingy coming in behind before 67 Rickie
Beasley used his Mk2 to deliver the best hit of the race with a solid hit on
Kingy. 673 Darren Fedley found Lathan for a shot and he was nailed in turn by
Neery and Ted also weighed in on Lathan. With the track again completely blocked
and 88 Fat Face just yards from the line the race was declared with him winning
from Beasley and Lathan, Kingy the best entertainer.
Pleasingly 35 cars returned for the consolation by which point conditions
had greatly improved and things began with 290 Stef Bailey (estate) turning
Meery into the fence as Bam Bam cracked the spun 622 Jack Baker in the front
wheel and 143 Dan Rose turned round to attack Farren while 898 Andy Battle (Mk3)
fenced 817 Stug and Beasley piled 103 Jacko into the former while Led Head
zeroed in on the fenced Stig for a big hit as a pile-up formed by the start line
in which 528 Jethro found Mr G for a hit. Joe Ninety cracked the spun 800 Tom
Hannah with a head-on as Little Steveo blasted McAngus and was pasted by a big
hit from Bailey as the track became completely blocked on the home straight. 661
Sean Smith nailed Baker with a T-bone and 390 Gibbo assaulted the latter before
Neery turned round to attack 800 Romeo and 617 Jack Overy fenced 622 Garry Webb
before 349 James Guppy (estate) also assaulted Neery and Led Head blasted Dalton
Smith before 224 Bugsy Jnr scored on Farren who took further abuse from Rose
with Battle nailing the latter before Jacko turned round to target Joe Ninety.
27 Terry King scored on Farren with the impressive Led Head blasting the former
as Bailey hammered Farren and Overy scored on 209 Tombo. McAngus now met Sean
Smith on the nose and Neery added Gibbo to the heap with 622 Gazza ending the
race with a fine hit on Bugsy Jnr as Overy took the win from Colbert and Waller,
Led Head the best entertainer.
25 cars for the qualifiers only final with Beasley cracking the spun
Neery in the rear wheel as 37 Dave Lewis hot the spun Bailey head-on and Pistol
Pete drilled the fenced Loose Head with a fine hit, the former continuing to
nail Willis on the nose. Kingy stuffed Gibbo and 281 Lewis Tingle in one move
with Tombo arriving to blast the latter before Ted lunged wildly at Lewis taking
them both into the wall. Tombo then followed Bailey in superbly as up front
Colbert, Kingy and Beasley enjoyed a great scrap for the lead. Willis connected
on the recovered Ted with Led Head nailing him in turn before Bailey turned
round to land a revenge attack on Tombo but it left him open to a stunning blitz
from Beasley. Tombo continued to trash Led Head with a roof bending hit and he
turned round to inflict more damage on the 508 motor as Colbert raced to a fine
win and behind a wild last bend lunge from Overy on those battling for second
saw him snatch the runner’s up spot with Beasley hanging on for third, Tombo the
best entertainer.
Just shy of 20 returned for the Accumulator qualifier with Tombo turning
Little Steveo into the wall as Pistol Pete set about both Victor and Neery which
allowed Little Legs to nail Victor. 232 Water Boy weighed in on Little Legs but
was nailed by Pistol Pete which set the Bear up for a rated blitz from Willis
who was destroyed in turn by the recovered Little Legs while Latham hammered
Neery. Tingle hammered Motormouth as Little Legs smashed Pistol Pete into the
infield blocks with Tingle taking the win from Lathan and Tombo. Into the DD
and 210 Callum McKee was immediately on opposite to hit 888 Starky on the nose
and Victor duly hammered the latter while Tombo buried Fat Face. Victor did
another lap and again weighed in on Starky, the luckless TSR man taking a
further hit from Tingle as Beasley zeroed in for an absolutely mental hit on
Tombo with Victor then thundering Neery into the former before the reds flew to
assist Little Stevo who’d been destroyed in an unseen hit on the road bend. The
event resumed with Victor hammering Lathan a Fat Face went against the flow to
target Jacko. Lathan meanwhile reeled in Tingle and followed him in superbly but
it left him open for a belting hit from Victor who was nailed in turn by Jacko.
Lathan got going again and T-boned Victor with Jacko doing the same to Lathan
which allowed Victor to recover and repay Lathan with a head-on before meeting
Jacko in similar fashion, Victor then blasting Lathan from which no-one moved
and so having delivered the final blow Victor was named the winner Little Legs’
efforts in the race earning him the entertainer award.
Heat one: 327 Mick Maskall Jnr, 811, 188, 22, 37, 129, 235, 281, 528, 95 Best
entertainer: 188 John Reeves
Heat two: 88 Lyndon Stark, 67, 328, 317, 673, 746, 206, 249, 757, 800 (Neery)
Best entertainer: 206 Dave King
Consolation: 617 Jack Overy, 21 (Colbert), 209, 528, 620, 221, 622 (Webb), 290,
898, 224, 887 (Browning), 96 Best entertainer: 508 Harry Bradbury
Grand Final: 21 Jason Colbert, 617, 67, 88, 206, 898, 148 (Jackson), 328, 37,
528 Best entertainer: 209 Tom Waller
Accumulator QF: 281 Lewis Tingle, 328, 209, 188, 67, 888, 103, 800, 327
Destruction Derby: 188 John Reeves from 328/103 Best entertainer: 327 Mick
Maskall Jnr
In spite of the miserable wet weather in the hours leading to start time it was
hugely pleasing to see 31 Saloon Stockcars gather for the first night of
their EA Championship weekend with just two no shows from the final entry list,
although one failed to race all night, the numbers boosted by lone visitor 28
Ian Govier from the west country and the formula debut of 111 James Reid.
29 cars for the opening heat, which following the F2 World Final meant
the drivers enjoyed some of the better conditions of the night but they were
still far from perfect but improving all the time. Reid received a warm welcome
to the formula as he was spun by 499 David Aldous and clobbered by 537 Tom Alsop
which triggered an immediate pile-up claiming 448 Martin Kibble, 350 Thomas
Parrin, 327 Clayton Mallett, 425 Tom Balls and 502 Tyler Bloomfield with Alsop
emerging in the early lead and 192 Rob Haines bested 19 Darren Mansi for second
while 610 Trent Artherton span 800 Scott Greenslade and 682 Paul Sparrow fenced
360 Carl Waterfield as the recovered Reid claimed 6 Simon Welton only to be
dumped out by 327 Timmy before 126 Harry Barnes lunged at and fenced Aldous.
Haines challenged Alsop for the lead but it allowed 399 Cole Atkins to slip
through and into the lead as 131 Timmy Barnes span Bloomfield into the infield
blocks as Alsop evened the score on Haines, spinning him and he was struck by
Balls. 888 Shane Emerson also span as 349 Michael Allard removed 730 Deane
Mayes. Timmy Barnes moved into second from Alsop and 306 Daniel Parker with
Aldous close behind as Parrin span 730 Deano and he was struck by 217 Sid
Magewick. Aldous barged his way past Harry Barnes as Artherton was fenced
heavily by Mansi. Atkins led the field into the final five laps ahead of Timmy
Barnes, Daniel Parker, Alsop, 304 Martyn Parker and Aldous. Alsop now charged at
Deano but span shortly after as Atkins span Timmy en route to the win from Timmy
Barnes and Daniel Parker, Aldous firing 349 Michael Allard wide for fourth with
just eight surviving to the end, Magewick ending things by spinning 389 Ryan
Santry.
A drop to 24 for the second heat including 270 Matt Fuller who’d missed
heat one but his issues returned and he expired on the home straight as the
green fell bringing the reds out immediately for a complete restart. Alsop led
the restart from Haines and Bloomfield as Timmy Barnes lunged at Greenslade and
forced him into the wet stuff on the outside. Haines retired and 22 Karl Petters
moved into second as Magewick removed he luckless 6 Welly and 888 Shin dive
bombed Artherton and Timmy Barnes did the same to Daniel Parker. Alsop continued
to lead from Petters and Harry and 26 Tommy Barnes as Aldous lunged at Atkins to
force a way through and Martyn Parker span Allard. Tommy Barnes moved into third
with Aldous, 360 Carl Waterfield and Harry Barnes on his tail before Magewick
lunged at and span 682 Paul Sparrow who was collected by Martyn Parker. Allard
removed Greenslade and Timmy Barnes fenced Daniel Parker. Alsop led the field to
half way with Petters still second and Aldous now third as Shin dive bombed
Waterfield in the race for fifth. Aldous did the same to Artherton as he closed
in on the lead and inside the final five laps he fired Alsop wide to take
control as Artherton went in hard and Marty Parker removed Allard with Aldous
storming to victory from Alsop and Petters.
The final had the added bonus of carrying the Tucky Munster Memorial
trophy with 21 contenders and Timmy immediately span Parrin only to then be
fenced by Tommy Barnes as Mansi dive bombed Harry Barnes for the lead which also
allowed Alsop to take second as behind Haines and Balls tangled and Aldous began
his charge with an aggressive move past Greenslade and Alsop came under fire
from the recovered Harry Barnes while Magewick fenced Timmy. Alsop battled his
way into the lead with Mansi second ahead of Petters, Atkins, Tommy Barnes and
Martyn Parker before Parrin spinning Santry sent Alsop into the fence and Mansi
pounced, spinning him to regain the lead as Magewick dive bombed Deano and Harry
Barnes hooked out Mansi to become the latest leader on lap six. Aldous span
Martyn Parker into the infield blocks as the recovered Mansi had Petters out.
Tommy Barnes moved into second with Atkins third as Santry hooked out Deano and
Tommy Barnes removed Balls before Atkins’ challenge was dented by a fencing from
Reid. Tommy Barnes took the lead from Harry at half way with Aldous third ahead
of Allard and Welly. Atkins butted heads with Mansi as Aldous climbed to second
and then barged past Tommy Barnes for second as Parrin fired Santry into the
wall and Deano charged at Daniel Parker with Magewick then targeting Santry.
Aldous led the field into the final five laps from Allard, Tommy and Harry
Barnes, Allard, Welly, Atkins and Daniel Parker. Harry Barnes then attacked
Aldous and got him sideways but this in turn caused Allard to collect a dead car
and with Aldous surviving in the lead, Allard’s race came to an end. Atkins span
from contention as Harry Barnes continued to spin Martyn Parker while Aldous
took the memorial trophy from Tommy Barnes and the late race mayhem helped Welly
take third.
Heat one: 399 Cole Atkins, 131, 306, 499, 349, 304, 682, 350
Heat two: 499 Dave Aldous, 537, 22, 360, 399, 217, 26, 389, 800, 126
Tucky Munster Memorial Final: Aldous, 26, 6, 730, 306, 217, 350, 304, 126, 389
A good evening of racing, bordering on very good at several times and one worthy
of a higher rating considering the conditions but a night where it was hard to
wonder what the night could have been had the weather gods been on side and it
was the greatest of shames that the biggest race of the night and weekend was
the one arguably worse affected by the conditions as was the final qualifying
event for said race. Nonetheless those on hand witnessed one of the most
impressive World Final victories seen in recent memories and the second half of
the F2 programme saw them almost at their best, the all Granada Bangers were
lively throughout with some memorable hits when the conditions improved and
while the conditions restricted them from truly hitting their top form, the
Saloons were once again in blinding form.