Mildenhall Stadium Sunday September 11 2016
Another Wild Weekend
BriSCA F2 Stockcars-a tribute to #623 Rob Dobie, National Bangers Hot Shots Championship and Saloon Stockcars EA Championship

Following the events of the previous evening it was perhaps no great surprise to see the BriSCA F2 Stockcar numbers drop for the second day of Another Wild Weekend and while the 70 strong entry was a little disappointing it was still a very impressive number and included nearly 20 drivers who had not raced the previous night (including two Dutch drivers) taking the total of F2s over the weekend to around the 110 driver mark although a number of drivers had shared cars over the two days.

The afternoon was a special dedication event for 623 Rob Dobie and with that in mind the first heat was a special white grade based affair with all the afternoon’s white grade racers plus a handful of yellow grade drivers who had been white in 2016 to try and help balance the heats out and together they raised 25 cars and they took to a raceway which was in near perfect condition which was both welcome and frustrating in equal measures after the difficult night before. Things began with 283 Gary Allen firing into 414 Josh Rayner which in turn sent 471 Malcolm Kaye spinning while 774 Steve Flatt removed 331 James Diguillio as 431 Andy Gibbs set the pace from the front from Rayner and 369 Mick Ford and 345 Gary Taylor suffered a spin and then clashed with Kaye when he re-joined the race. 692 Andrew Bottomey also suffered a spin as Gibbs led the race to half way with Allen now second. Weston worked his way to fourth during the second half but there was no catching Gibbs who took the win while the last bend saw Rayner lunge at Allen to try and take second but he went wide and Allen beat him in the race to the line while 88 Stefan Millar, Flatt and 235 Bradley Blyth all crashed out after taking the flag, collecting Ford in the process and leaving him winded, the latter compensated with the unluckiest driver trophy while H109 Tom Hendriks was named the hardest trier.

The rest of the field were split over the next two heats which were void of white tops and 23 cars contested heat two with 578 Mark Gibbs, 55 Courtney Finnikin and 925 Paul Wilson all suffering spins as H29 Cor Schutter and 41 Dennis Middler butted heads while 728 Carl Pilkinton and H389 Mike Sijbers span, the latter collected by sole remaining Irishman NI747 Bradley McKinstry. 290 Jay Tomkins clashed wheels with 26 Gary Ford as did 676 Neil Hooper and 527 James Riggall and they crashed into the infield blocks. Surviving the mayhem was 259 Simon Farrington who led as 177 Glenn Scott span H103 Chris van der Elst in the race for second before Ford removed Finnikin and the equally luckless Middler went round and was struck by H305 Ron van Wamalen which brought the reds out for the stricken Scottish champion. Farrington led the restart away and continued to lead to half way ahead of Scott and Webster as H116 Barry Bauer fired Finnikin into van der Elst, the latter racer hitting the wall hard but able to continue as van der Elst and H84 Christiaan Smidt were dumped out by 377 Daz Shaw. The top three remained unchanged as Farrington took the win from Scott and Webster.

20 for the final heat with 81 Mark Clayton setting the pace as in the fight for second 887 Neil Brigg span 597 Barry Clow and they were collected by 124 Ollie Skeels as 136 Kyle Taylor had 289 James Waterfall out. There were further spins for 93 Stu Sculthorpe and 298 Jake Walker as 103 Carl Issit carved his way to the front and Clayton got stuck into 618 Ben Lockwood as 449 Mark Dorrill span from second and into the infield blocks handing second to 5 Josh Coleman ahead of 13 Andy Ford as the hit half way and it stayed in that order until five to go in which time Clayton attacked both 788 Stephen Mallinson and Walker. Clayton’s lively race continued as he clashed with H47 Patrick Tersteeg and they hit the wall before Brigg span Walker leaving the latter stranded across the track and with the race inside the final three laps the chequered was dropped a lap early with Issit the winner from Coleman and Ford.

Again there were sufficient cars for two consolation races and 19 cars contested the first consolation with the reds out early on with concern for the spun 376 Darren Senechall but it proved to be a false alarm and he took part in the restart to battle 724 Tom Pell and 212 Jak Hall for the lead as Skeels clashed wheels with Blackburn. Pilkinton then went round and was collected by 735 Mick Haworth, Mallinson and Skeels and the latter was left stranded and so the reds flew and another complete restart was needed. Just a dozen cars remained at this point with 290 Jay Tomkins spinning Blackburn who was hit by Mallinson as Seneschall set the pace from Bottomley with van der Elst climbing to third and behind Tersteeg eased passed Brigg and into fourth but the latter came back at the Dutchman with a lunge as they fought for the spot. Seneschall then lost pace and van der Elst emerged in the lead as Tomkins span McKinstry as Seneschall came under fire from Sijbers and Tersteeg fired into and rattled van der Elst to take the lead and he went on to win with Sijbers completing a Dutch 1-2-3, Brigg besting Seneschall in the closing stages for the final place in the final with Seneschall compensated with the white grade award.

A couple more for the second consolation with 597 Barry Clow clashing with Dorrill from the off as van Wamelen span and 941 Jamie Lane barged his way passed Flatt for the lead but it was in vain as Dorrill came back and span Clow who was collected by Smidt to bring the reds out for the stricken Clow and a complete restart was needed. This began with spins for the luckless Smidt and Kaye as Flatt set the pace but he expired on the road bend and then caught fire and again the reds flew but this time sufficient laps had been completed for a lap sheet order restart with Clayton leading from Waterfall and Shaw as behind Hooper fired 581 Daniel Fallows wide for fourth and Shaw did the same to Waterfall for second which allowed Hooper and Fallows to move through as well as the race hit half way and shortly after Shaw punted Clayton wide for the lead and elsewhere Waterfall dumped out Dorrill. Hooper meanwhile reeled in Shaw and landed a last bend hit leading to a wild scramble to the line with Hooper barely beating Shaw home, both doing well to avoid crashing and Fallows was third, Hendricks the best white top this time.

All 32 qualifiers contested the Grand Final with van der Elst an early spinner as was Weston and Miller, the latter collected by 413 Richard Rayner as Taylor and Scott went round and were clobbered by 741 Luke Branston and with Taylor and Scott unable to get moving the waved yellows were thrown at the earliest opportunity with Allen leading for the restart. Blyth quickly overhauled Thoms for second as Coleman span aside Gary Ford and Bauer and Webster tangled before Gibbs fired Thoms wide to move into third. 925 Paul Wilson span aside van der Elst as Blyth eased into the lead on lap eight with Allen then spinning from contention as did 560 Luke Wrench while Josh Rayner was spun by Sijbers. Blyth led the field to half way ahead of Gibbs, 13 Andy Ford, 823 Sam Wagner and 38 Dave Polley as van der Elst span Coleman but they both crashed into the fence as Gibbs span Blyth in the fight for the lead on lap 14 but it delayed him and allowed Andy Ford and Wagner to close with Polley besting the latter for third a lap later and the luckless van der Elst was spun by Wilson and Wrenc wiped out Bauer. Wagner regained third before Hooper and Andy Ford crashed out spectacularly leaving Gibbs clear for a fine win from Wagner and Polley, Richard Rayner and Allen picking up the awards for the best white grade drivers.

The weekend concluded with the O’the Border Trophy Grand National and was fully subscribed, the 32 car field pleasingly representing everyone who wished to take part with no-one denied the chance to race. Pell was an early spinner as Allen fired into Diguillio while Josh Rayner span and DiGullio lead despite the attack from Allen who was in second with Webster and Riggall crashing out in a heap which brought the yellows out at the earliest opportunity to assist them. Taylor span at the start and was pasted by the pack while Lockwood also span and was clobbered by Pell and 37 Tony Smith as Dorrill emerged in the lead from Blackburn and Coleman but they tangled and lost time and Wilson and Allen moved into the top three before Diguillio span into the infield blocks. The race hit half way and was followed by spins for McKinstry and 447 Richard Hampshire (in his first race of the afternoon) and they were followed by H129 Michael Schutter and Shaw. Dorrill led the field into the final laps with Wagner now third before Gary Ford span Webster and shoved him sideways down the back straight and this triggered utter carnage at the end. Chris van der Elst collected Webster with Tomkins and H29 Cor Schutter among those to crash in and they were joined by the luckless Dorrill amongst many other with Wagner finding a way through the mayhem to score the win from Coleman and Walker.

Rob Dobie Tribute Heat: 431 Andy Gibbs, 283, 413, 417, 88, 235, 150, 413, 987, 735
Heat two: 259 Simon Farrington, 177, 226, 741, H116, 578, 925, 26, H29, H84
Heat three: 103 Carl Issit, 5, 13, 136, 823, H10, 38, 560, 788, 124
Consolation one: H47 Patrick Tersteeg, H103, H389, 887, 376, 41, 290, NI747, 212, 692
Consolation two: 676 Neil Hooper, 377, 581, 298, 81, H129, H305, 618, 527, 37
Grand Final: 578 Mark Gibbs, 823, 38, H47, 298, 925, H389, 103, 413, 741
O’the Border Trophy Grand National: 823 Sam Wagner, 5, 298, H116, 103, 449, H305, 26, H10, 283

The 2016 Hot Shots Championship raised a very decent field of just under 55 National Bangers with a Vectra the sole non Mondeo/Cougar and it was interesting that just eight drivers raced on both nights meaning the sharp end of 100 banger drivers raced over the two days, full marks to 103 Jack Deacon who was on his second fresh car of the weekend. It was also pleasing to report another accurate entry list with six no shows/late cancellations but there were more than twice as many extras on the day.

32 young guns contested the title race which was sadly spoiled by dusty conditions (an incredible contrast to the previous night) and began with a huge push into the pit bend resulting in a massive pile-up by the start line with 316 Sam Dace (Cougar) fencing rookie 220 Freddie Dann heavily which saw the latter fly up the wall as 89 Joe Barratt found 785 Dom Ambrose for a solid hit although the reds were soon out with a fire for 144 Jordan Godfrey. The race resumed with 212 Jack Maryon burying 619 Mike Knight and 27 Terry King (Cougar) allowing 444 Charlie Jackson to blast the former as the leading 10 Ben Collins (Cougar) cracked the spun 354 Josh Vowden in the rear wheel, the latter ripping out a rear leg in the process which handed 87 Damien Matthews the lead but he tangled with rookie 911 Rob Lowman which allowed the determined Collins to regain the lead as behind 599 Matty Butcher lunged at 327 Mick Maskall Jnr in the fight for third. Collins span Lowman into the wall as 327 Little Legs dive bombed 599 Matty in the fight for the lead before the reds flew with concern for Lowman. The race restart with 269 Tom Morris burying 220 Tom Pavitt which also claimed Dann and 212 Mario Kart before 587 Adam Rolph stuffed 339 Jack Garrod and 142 Jack Lower. Little Legs charged at 103 Jacko in the race for third but it allowed 623 Ricky Hutton to snatch the spot as Jacko took out his frustrations on 36 Ricky Lewis with a blinding follow-in. The final laps proved quiet with Matty racing to the win from Matthews and 623 Tricky, Little Legs surviving a last bend lunge from Jacko to take fourth.

The remainder of the races were open to all and 42 cars gathered for the first Allcomers which start in epic fashion with a huge push into the first bend, 192 Terry Nightingale and 514 Chas Taylor copping the brunt of it as they went in hard at the front of the pack before 142 jack Lower picked up 9 Bruno Norman who latched onto Lowman who was thundered in flat out before Matthews added 303 Jacob Bromley to the heap with 817 Kurt Jacobs nailing 144 Bungle before the reds flew with Lowman in trouble. The race resumed with 619 Chingey following in 720 Martin Webb before 27 Telbert attacked Mario Kart which in turn buried 11 James Spriggs and 326 Sahne Lynn with 269 Mozza then thundering Jackson into the luckless 11 Penfold before 123 Tony Hutton crashed 108 Lewis Jefcote into Watt. Jackson rallied back to smash 132 Robert James into the ultra-smart looking 459 Todd Archer with the lively Mozza dealing the latter a head-on. Jacko starred again as he thundered Chingey in superbly before Garrod found Mozza for a solid hit with the reds flying for some debris on the home straight and just as they did Tricky connected with a fierce hit on Chingey, the result declared with 220 Lurch the winner from Telbert and 898 Andy Battle.

Impressively 37 cars returned for the second Allcomers with Bungle fencing 16 Dan Fisher from the off and Jacko added Mario Kart to the pile-up which had soon former and the equally impressive Tricky thundered in Rolph before Matty trashed 16 Popeye with the reds flying with concern for 677 Matt Bradshaw on the toad bend. The race resumed with Nightingale tangling with Dace which allowed Taylor to blast the former with a hard hit that triggered a pile-up as 141 Gary Lee followed in 913 Brett Osborne and 220 Lurch stuffed Vowden. 123 Curly turned round to attack Bromley with 141 G Man powering into the latter before Tricky added Battle to the growing mess and G Man continued with burials on Lurch and then 132 Bubbles. 338 Terry Garrod found 785 Dom Ambrose for a shot, the latter then T-boned by the on opposite Bubbles as Vowden attacked Taylor and was duly flattened by Battle with 116 Nat Cohn stuffing G Man into 785 Diminoc. Bubbles continued with a package on Dace leaving a fine scrap up front between Matty, Battle and Jacko to end things and a late lunge from Battle on Matty saw him take the lead and the win with Jack and 339 Jack Garrod the placemen.

20 returned for the Accumulator qualifier with Toddy burying Popeye and Matthews from the off which allowed the on form Tricky to deliver a rated hit on Popeye but he copped it in turn from 338 Wingnut who was nailed heavily by 817 Stig with Bubbles blasting him in turn. The latter emerged from the heap on opposite to target 51 James Licquorice as G Man lunged at 108 Squeaky and Tricky attacked Little Legs who picked up and thundered in Toddy while the luckless Squeaky was stuffed by 116 No Luck Nat which left the latter up to a big hit from Tricky. Little Legs continued to nail Taylor before things went quiet. Some action at the end as Tricky turned round to assault Squeaky and he took one in turn from 768 Danny McSweeney as G Man took the win from 370 John Cobbold and 188 John Reeves beat 326 Ratty and Battle in the race for third. Into the DD and G Man celebrated his win with a savage head-on to McSweeney, Stig meeting Tricky in an equally brutal encounter. Ratty arrived to drill G Man with Battle blasting him in turn as Little Legs shared head-ons with Matty and Ratty and Battle went head to head with McSweeney which allowed Matty to nail the former. Ratty rammed G Man with a T-bone and Matty assaulted McSweeney with Bubbles zeroing in for a hard hit on the former which allowed Battle to also attack Matty as did McSweeney before Little Legs caught fire to bring the reds out but not before McSweeney landed another hit on Matty. The event restarted with G Man and McSweeney trading hits before the latter was blasted by Matty while No Luck Nat met G Man on the nose. Matty and McSweeney enjoyed another head-on with No Luck Nat also laying into the latter before he fired into Matty who battled on to meet McSweeney on the nose. No Luck Nat finished McSweeney and traded hits with Matty at which point Bubbles fired up and delivered a wicked hit to No Luck Nat and with no-one moving a dead heat was decided between No Luck Nat and Matty, Tricky the best entertainer.

Hot Shots Championship: 599 Matty Butcher, 87, 623, 327, 103, 89, 269, 27, 817, 212
Allcomers One: 220 Tom Pavitt, 27, 898, 132, 327, 370, 623, 339, 103, 108
Allcomers Two: 898 Andy Battle, 103, 339, 599, 326, 623, 51, 327, 116, 220
Accumulator qualifier: 141 Gary Lee, 370, 188, 326, 898
Destruction Derby: 116 Nat Cohn and Butcher Best entertainer: 623 Ricky Hutton

Championship day for the Saloon Stockcars in the EA Championship saw 28 drivers in action but it was a somewhat different entry to the previous day 993 Mick Maskall Jnr and 502 Sam Bloomfield making their formula debuts in the Rob Steward and Tyler Bloomfield cars while 386 Daniel Petters raced his father’s car with his still out of action while 525 Wes Starmer joined the entry to make the weekend total 34 drivers.

All 28 cars for heat one with 360 Carl Waterfield firing into 682 Paul Sparrow which in turn fenced 304 Martyn Parker as 350 Thomas Parrin and 389 Ryan Santry suffered spins followed by 386 the Joker and 349 Michael Allard leaving 126 Harry Barnes to lead while brother 26 Tommy butted heads with 111 James Reid and 270 Matt Fuller span aside 610 Trent Artherton. 800 Scott Greenslade moved into second ahead of 888 Shane Emerson and Tommy Barnes as 525 Wes removed the luckless Joker and Tommy Barnes raced into second. 499 Dave Aldous lunged at Fuller and fenced him while 248 Will Makins combined with Wes to spin Reid out and Bloomfield also went around with Reid spinning 993 Little Legs who was collected by 730 Deane Mayes, the latter crashing into the infield blocks as a result with 306 Daniel Parker and Fuller. Aldous now barged past 306 Daniel Parker and Allard did the same to 537 Tom Alsop as Makins fired into Martyn Parker which in turn fenced Greenslade but it was Makins who came to a halt to bring the yellow flags out but not in time to prevent Tommy Barnes from spinning Santry. Harry Barnes led the restart from Shin and Aldous and the race restarted at half way with Shin quickly into the lead as Alsop charged at Artherton and Waterfield did the same to Allard before Aldous barged past Shin for the lead just ahead of the race entering the final five laps. 217 Sid Magewick barged passed Harry Barnes for fifth with Allard also passing the latter as Tommy Barnes forced his way past Shin for second, the latter then cruelly spinning as Harry Barnes turned Artherton into the blocks leaving Aldous to take his third consecutive win from Tommy Barnes and Waterfield.

Down to 23 for heat two which started with an almighty push into the pit bend and 19 Darren Mansi more than copped the brunt of the impact which brought the reds out immediately. The rest of the field made the restart with Waterfield an early spinner as Santry hooked out Parrin and Bloomfield fenced 425 Tom Balls as Tommy Barnes span and was hit by Deano while Wes had the Joker around and Bloomfield and Makins suffered spins. Tommy Barnes now barged past Parrin as Allard hooked out Martyn Parker and Sparrow also span. Harry Barnes set the pace with Shin forcing his way past Heanes for second, the latter then spun by Martyn Parker as Greenslade also span as did Wes and Harry Barnes just after Shin had take the lead but he was then fenced heavily by Tommy Barnes as Martyn Parker clobbered the spun Parrin. 399 Cole Atkins emerged in the lead from 730 Deano and Allard as Balls fenced Heans and Magewick lunged at Martyn Parker which fired the latter up to spun Santry. Deano eased into the lead just after half way at which point things settled down, the Joker spinning Harry Barnes as the race entered the final five with Allard now second and Atkins battling Daniel Parker, Aldous and Magewick for third with Aldous eventually breaking through and also besting Allard in the final stages for second but there was no catching Deano who took the win.

Aldous comfortably topped the weekend’s points and so started the 19 car EA Championship race on pole position with Harry Barnes spinning Martyn Parker from the off as Wes removed Greenslade and the Joker hooked out Little Legs as Parrin also span as Aldous made his getaway from the front and behind Deano lunged at Daniel Parker for second and Atkins suffered a spin. Tommy Barnes rattled Daniel Parker into a half spin and Magewick finished the job with Sparrow turning Shin into the latter as Aldous continued to edge away from the chasing Deano with Allard third ahead of Tommy and Harry Barnes and Sparrow. Deano barged past Little Legs as he tried to close the gap and Martyn Parker lunged at and span Waterfield as Aldous forced his way past Balls and Deano rattled Parrin into a half spin as he muscled his way past, the caution flags flying just after the race passed half distance for a stricken Parrin with Allard just snatching second from Deano as the flags flew. Aldous had lapped everyone up to sixth at this point with six back markers between him and Allard and Deano on the restart, Tommy and Harry Barnes and Sparrow the other three still not lapped while Martyn Parker, Balls, Waterfield and Magewick completing the top 10. Daniel Parker wasted no time in firing Deano into Allard which allowed Deano to lunge at the latter and regain second while Sparrow barged passed Fuller and Harry Barnes to take fifth. Balls and Little Legs were spinners as Aldous fired Shin out of his path en route to a commanding win from Deano and Allard, Tommy Barnes and Sparrow the only others to finish on the same lap as Aldous, Deano and Allard ending the action as they span Harry Barnes and fenced Martyn Parker respectively.

Heat one: 499 David Aldous, 26, 360, 217, 349, 537, 304, 126, 399, 28
Heat two: 730 Deane Mayes, 499, 349, 306, 217, 360, 399, 888, 525, 682
EA Championship: Aldous, 730, 349, 26, 682, 126, 304, 306, 217, 399

A fine day of racing with no bad races among the 14 race programme and several crackers to be found amongst them, all three formulas delivering some great racing during the day but it was hard to not question what might have been had the conditions been as favourable 24 hours earlier.

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