Mildenhall Saturday July 12 2008
RDC's Big Night Out
Unlimited Bangers Suffolk Open Championship and Ministox Suffolk Open Championship

MENTAL METAL
19 Joe Mullarkey Mercedes 280 coupe
20 Andy Burbridge Rover P5
22 Dave Vincent Austin Westminster A110
33! Simon Reed Daimler Majestic Major limo
49 Martin Waterman Ford Mustang
69 John Cope Toyota Crown Custom
85 James Ellis Lincoln Town Car limo
88 Alan Reed Rover P5
96 Liam Brinton Jaguar Mk10*
101 Richard Rayner Rover P4
104 Mick Siddalls Rover P5
113 Aaron Brown Toyota Supra
117 Karl Dack Vanden Plas 4Litre
133 Karl Day Jaguar 420G
138 Tom Chilton Rover P4
140 Mark Lee Rover P5*
148 Ian Redden Austin FX4 taxi
165 Steve Chopping Rover P4
166 Guy Chopping Rover P4
168 Calvyn Girling Toyota Crown
179 Jamie Phillips Datsun 300C
188 Matt Fuller Toyota Crown Super*
192 Stu Warby Daimler DS420 hearse*
204 Andy Bailey Toyota Cressida*
215 Nick Bull Datsun Laurel*
217 Neil Smyth Chevy Monte Carlo
225 Chris Bull Toyota Supra*
262 Jason Barnard Rover P4
265 Stewart Foster Datsun 300C
267 Martin French Rover P5 coupe*
273 Kevin McClagish Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
277 Des Owen Ford Granada hearse
285 Sean Dyer Rover P5
303 Brian Cope Plymouth Barracuda
311 Lee Bradbury Datsun 280C
320 Paul Seymour Toyota Crown*
334 Steve Court Ford Granada hearse
362 Matt Godden Rover P5 coupe
365 Mick Harden Ford Granada limo Mk2
377 Ashley Tompkins Toyota Crown
379 Ade Clifton Ford Granada hearse
384 John Golden Wolseley 6/110*
397 Stu Sandell Rover P5
401 Steve Hemmings Austin Westminter A110
414 Lee Busby Ford Granada hearse
425 Martin Stopher Rover P5
426 Paul Horwood Chevy Caprice estate
435 Dan Wilkins Chevy Caprice estate
439 Danny Sutton Rover P5*
487 Craig Farrow Granada coupe
488 Duane Collins Austin 3Litre
501 Ste Kaye Mercedes W123 limo
503 Daniel Hollinsworth Rover P4
512 Lewis Harvey AMC Rambler Cross County Station Wagon*
520 Derek Caton Rover P4
542 Craig Oliver Ford Mustang*
553 Justin Garman Ford Granada limo Mk1
589 Simon Smith Lincoln Continental MkV coupe*
595 Andrew Tarn Ford Granada limo Mk2
604 Ross Cooper Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
617 Jack Overy Toyota Crown
791 Nicky Young Ford Granada limo Mk2*
814 Mark Millen Vanden Plas 4litre
841 Phil Jennings Rover P5*
879 Reg Reed Rover P4
917 John Millen Toyota Crown*
924 Matt Millen Rover P5
*=used car

The 2008 staging of the unlimited banger Suffolk Open Championship raised a simply mind blowing field of just under 160 cars to Mildenhall on July 12 with visitors from almost every major promotion in the country with the Gladiators turning out a surprise eight strong showing and they were the strongest in numbers on the team front alongside the Predators and the WI Engineering factions, the latter outfit impressing greatly with a fleet of five Rover P4s which elsewhere the Midnight Runners and Blooz Boyz were also represented. As you can see from the attached list of Mental Metal the line up of material in the pits was nothing short of awesome with an incredible selection of rated tin which a great number of drivers excelled with their paint work for the night. Narrowing the top tin and paint down to 10 for the cash awards was a pretty tough task but ultimately the Rollers of 273 Mad Mouse and 604 Ross Cooper, the stretched Lincoln of 85 James Ellis, 487 Bungle's stunning coupe, 397 Boo's beautiful P5, the Westies of 117 Kamikaze, 401 Psycho and 814 Mark Millen, 303 Copey's 60s Plymouth and 33! the Legend's epic Majestic limo took the awards, the latter two considered to be the nights best cars. An additional 30 drivers were rewarded with a trophy for their effort with either top cars or paint while in addition to the aforementioned list 200 Wayne Holton and 606 Liam Weedon had interesting Jaguars with a coupe and used XJ-S respectively. Meanwhile the Granada entry included an impressive seven Mk1 saloons from 05 Carlos Perez, 79 Ricky Twell, 237 Gary Nash, 307 Jon Joe Cunningham, 547 Tony McNeil, 807 Chris Murfin and a used one from 146 Dan Wigham while 509 Les Dolan had a beefy BMW 7 series.

Following the grand parade 34 cars assembled for heat one with 364 Sean Winchester using his smart Mk2 Granada to put away 426 Slap's tidy Chevy as 206 Dave King (XJ) nailed the Mk2 Granada powered 53 Dave Palmer and 311 Helm opened his account with a package on 130 Chris White (Volvo 940). 168 Calvyn Girling powered his Crown into the luckless Slap but the latter fired back to attack Incarace young gun 196 Ben Harrison (Mk2 Granada) as 170 Darren Teal (Mk2 Granada) scored on the sublime P5 of 425 Martin Stopher. Slap continued his recovery with a stiff head-on to the spun 46 Wayne Packer (Mk2 Granada), the latter then copping a T-bone from 837 Martin Wesby (Volvo 240 estate) while 512 Shaggy nailed Slap in an all Yank affair. 331 Jason Jackson (Mk2 Granada estate) fired Teal into the wall as 525 Wes Starmer (Volvo 240 estate) ran 542 Craig Oliver into team mate 549 Phil Smith (Volvo 240 estate). 188 Smoker used his Crown from the previous weeks UK v Europe team race to attack the spun XJ of 224 Dave Canham before 190 Steve Bailey (XJ) opened his account by T-boning Slap. 88 Speedy used his trademark Rover P5, another well smart car, to hammer Palmer as 190 Pikey continued his assault with a T-bone on Shaggy before 206 Kingy put away 207 Michael Woodward (Volvo 240 estate) and 361 Chris Walden (Volvo 240 estate) fired 557 Adrian Jaggard (Volvo 740 estate) into the infield blocks. 730 Dean Mayes (Volvo 240 estate) rammed Teal head-on on the top bend before Pikey homed in on 437 Chris Bailey (Mk3 Granada) and 331 Boxer Jack stuffed 207 Compo into Shaggy's Yank head-on. Canham scored on Bailey firing the latter up to nail 557 Stalky on the nose. However Bailey then took a stiff head-on from Kingy with 133 Karly blasting the former in turn only to take one himself from Pikey which ensured the latter took the entertainer award in this race. Boxer took the flag with 361 Wally and Pikey next home. 

A massive field of 45 for heat two and Ellis made a beeline for 414 Lee Busby delivering a splintering hit to the hearse as Millen whacked 206 Phil Milner (Volvo 240) over the front wheel leaving the latter open to a package from 508 Harry Bradbury (XJ). 12 Paul Deane (Mk2 Granada) scored on 553 Garmo as 206 Turkish bounced back to hit 20 Baldy's ultra smart P5 and 503 Odd Job hammered the Volvo 240 estate of 54 Richard Hayward. Mad Mouse picked up and followed 189 Richard Myshrall (Mk2 Granada) in superbly on the pit bend before 520 the Undertaker treated Garmo to a head-on. Meanwhile things exploded on the road bend with a massive pile-up forming in which 303 Wayne Linsdale (XJ) scored on 165 the Reaper and Ellis blasted the lush Volvo 240 estate of 415 Scott Cornish. 379 the Worm gave Mouse a storming hit but copped it from 192 Fat Head in turn as 348 Sonny Sherwood (Volvo 240 estate) went in on the Reaper while 54 Bandit recovered to score on the tidy Rover P5 coupe of 362 Matt Godden. 507 Dan Brown (XJ) nailed Myshrall but took one from 166 the Old Cowboy in turn as the pile-up continued to grow with 547 the BFA using his stunning Mk1 to T-bone the luckless Busby. 19 Dove Toe Joe gave 508 Led Head a hard hit as 12 Flex belted Mouse on the nose and 237 Nasha went in hard on Bungle in a battle of the cool Granadas. 924 Matt Millen weighed in on Nasha in turn with a big shot but took one in turn from 119 Davey Cox (Volvo 240 estate) as 70 Simon Needle (Mk2 Granada) briefly stopped the lapping 58 Martin Dalton (Mk3 Granada estate) with a head-on. Matt Millen finished Nasha with a second belting hit before the Ant Hill Mob man attacked the Reaper. 17 Nick Sweet (Mk2 Granada) then clipped the Undertaker and crashed into Flex allowing Cornish to nail the former as Ellis gave 119 Cruncher a meaty shot. Matt Millen turned round to attack the Undertaker as 148 Shorty turned round for head-ons with Cruncher and Dalton, the latter survibing a head-on from the Undertaker to take the win. The rest of the places were determined on laps completed and Cruncher and 545 Karl Hough (Mk2 Granada) were next home, Ellis taking the entrtainer prize.

45 again for heat three which was just as brutal. 138 Tommy Gun wasted no time in dishing out a roof bending hit to 336 Nigel White (Mk2 Granada) from the word go as Dolan assaulted 439 Sutty's Wimbledon Pre 75 P5. 266 Callum Hall (Volvo 740 estate) picked up 267 Frenchy who latched onto 96 Brat, taking them both in as 69 Copey used his lush Crown to nail the equally stunning Roller of Cooper. 225 Bully buried the luckless White and Tommy Gun continued his campaign with a shot on 69 Copey as 79 Twelly used his smart Mk1 to lay into 501 Basher's stretched Merc. 401 Psycho now used his stunning Westy to administer a big hit to 100 Andrew Panks' Volvo 740 estate while 214 Tony Abrehart (Mk2 Granada) stuffed 384 Goldie's well travelled 6/110 before 800 Tom Hannah (Mk2 Granada estate) picked up 204 Andy Bailey and ran him into Psycho. 22 Dave Vincent used his raw Westy to bury the smart Volvo 240 estate of 175 Karl Korsby while 700 Tony Cartwright (XJ40) went in hard on Bully. 879 Wrecked Reg then belted the spun 380 Bradley Evans (Mk2 Granada) with a head-on and 277 Des Owen did the same to Vincent. Goldie meanwhile treated Bully to one on the nose triggering a superb wrecking train on the top bend. 365 Mick Harden blasted the Team Blast 6/110 but took one in turn from the cool Oztin of 488 United who copped it from 791 Spud's well used Mk2 Granada limo with Corsby completing the train. The latter escaped the scene leaving Spud open to a package from the on form Tommy Gun as Owen met the spun Bailey on the nose but he took one himself from Corsby. 215 Young Bully blasted the Wacky Racer in turn as Psycho met Goldie in an all Westy head-on. Spud rallied back to piled Wrecked Reg into Corsby head-on with 275 Chris Cooper (XJ40) nailing the former to trigger another fine wrecking train, this one on the pit bend. Harden was again involved as he blasted Corsby only to take one in turn from Young Bully whose Laurel was nailed by 370 John Cobbold (Volvo 240 estate). Owen's hearse was then obliterated by a stunning hit from 602 Shaun Cooper (Volvo 940) while the luckless Spud was T-boned by Vincent. Psycho then wasted Young Bully with a roof bending hit as Basher picked up 269 Dean French (Volvo 240 estate) and followed him into the vacated Panks allowed Psycho to give the Invader a big hit. The reds then came out but it turned out to be a false alarm with the driver in question actually perfectly fine and with only a handful of cars still running the race was declared, the result taken from the last completed lap so Cobbold marked his unlimited debut with a win from Young Bully and 602 Mr Moody, Tommy Gun taking the entertainer award. 

With a few failing to contest a heat it was down to 30 for the final heat but still the action came. 271 Dean Goodall (Mk2 Granada) got the ball rolling with a hit on the estate of 536 Scott Waite as 595 Andrew Tarn picked up 54 Martin Lawton (Volvo 740 estate) and ran him in, 536 Knobby bouncing back to stick it to the typically well turned out 217 Mad Irishman although this allowed 303 Copey to open his account with a package on the Cowboy although this allowed the Legend to give the rated Plymouth a hard hit in turn. 595 Drew used his stunning Granada limo to score on 125 Lee Overy (Mk2 Granada estate) with Boo piling the Mad Irishman's Chevy into the latter but this did allow 125 Hitler to turn round and give Drew a revenge hit. 435 Action Man used his smart Caprice estate to weigh into the tidy Crown of 377 Hammer, 117 Kamikaze zeroing in for a head-on to the latter and he buried the ASBO pilot into the road bend fence backwards. This left the door open for 303 Copey to nail the superb looking 117 4R as 200 Steve Farrell (Mk2 Granada) connected with a fine hit on 54 Splat. 334 Courty buried 617 Jack Overy's very late Crown on the top bend, firing the latter up to decimate Splat a storming shot a lap or so later while Action Man fell foul of a stiff hits from 303 Copey and Hammer, 303 Copey then nailing the latter to boot before the Barracuda was destroyed by a savage shot from Overy. Boo meanwhile followed 200 Noon in well on the pit bend as 222 Matt Logan (Mk2 Granada) did the same to 115 Gary Rose (Mk2 Granada estate) on the road bend allowing the Legend to give the Barton Boy a fine shot. Perez gave Boo a revenge hit for the Blooz Boyz before 179 the Leg-End administered a stonking T-bone to Noon only to take one in turn from the Legend. 99 Ritchie Ahern (Mk2 Granada) meanwhile threw his car to the win in grand fashion ahead of 262 Buddy James' Mk2 Granada and the impressive Courty. 303 Copey took the entertainer award this time. 

No quite 40 cars for the first consolation with 730 Deano making a beeline for 285 Mr Misery's ultra smart P5 from the off as 19 Dove Toe Joe used his beefy Merc to follow-in 166 the Old Cowboy. 402 Gav Mission (Volvo 740 estate) marked his first meeting in five years by burying Pecker as Smoker blasted 782 Glen Boyce (Volvo 240 estate). Myshrall met Compo on the nose as 161 Karl Totham (Mk2 Granada estate) blasted the BFA only to take one in turn from Deano. 196 Ben Harrison (Mk2 Granada) met the smart Volvo 240 estate of 229 Ritchie Holmes on the nose to trigger yet another big pile-up, this time on the pit bend and once again the majority of the field were more than happy to pile in in the approved manner. 525 Wes was the next to punished Pecker as Matt Millen hammered 589 Smiffy Jnr with a head-on and Kingy was the next to assault Mr Misery, the former then sticking it to Wes as well while Bully turned it around to attack Smiffy Jnr before meeting Kingy on the nose. Helm showed no fear to the size of Slap's Yank and dished out a big hit as Matt Millen again attacked Smiffy Jnr before 159 Darren Scarrow used his tidy Volvo 240 to assault Siddalls P5. Smiffy Jnr bounced back to hit 782 Gladis as Siddalls recovered to hammer Sutty in an all P5 encounter before 179 Shaun Rushton (Mk2 Granada) impressed with hits on Kingy and Smoker. Young Bully also stuck it to Kingy with Smoker hammering the Wild Boyz Laurel in turn, Kingy arriving for a T-bone on the latter before Smiffy Jnr laid into the Midnight Runner leaving the Gladiator Lincoln open to a simply titanic shot from Kingy. With the track now completely blocked the reds came out, Scarrow taking the win on the grounds of being the only car really moving and having done the most laps, Smoker and Smiffy Jnr awarded the places on the laps they had completed while Kingy taking the entertainer award. 

43 cars assembled for second consolation and the action continued to freeflow. White met Turkish on the nose early on as once again a pile-up quickly filled the it bend in which 130 Casper nailed 140 Sass only to tae one in turn from Bailey as Boo administered a T-bone on Led Head and Shaggy hammered unlimited rookie 136 Ash Pexton (Volvo 240 estate). The Mad Irishman treated Cooper to a head-on while 180 Mark Foster (Mk2 Granada) hammered 888 Jack Hills' Volvo 240 estate and Baldy blasted 266 Odd Job. This allowed Compo to maul the Clanger P5 in turn as 223 Brett Harrison (Mk2 Granada) laid into Shaggy, leaving the latter prone to a further hit from Cooper. Mark Millen now slammed into Baldy as 223 Bushy continued to impress with a shot on Hills and a T-bone on the luckless Baldy with Mark Millen connecting on the Incarace star in turn. This allowed Compo to lay in with a head-on to Bushy a second later as White scored on Hills who was having a rotten time before Cooper dished out a simply stonking length of the straight blitz to the wide open Garmo. 807 Murf used his immaculate Mk1 to blast the Roller in turn as the Mad Irishman gave Casper a big hit. 82 Wayne Quinn (Mk2 Granada) turned round to blast Turkish with Mark Millen nailing the Gladiator with a head-on which left Turkish open to a big hit from 348 Mushy. Casper bounced back to score on Odd Job as 82 Quinny continued on opposite with a hit on Godden. Mushy again pounded Turkish as Godden fell foul of Odd Job and Quinny and 12 Flex enjoyed a head-on. Mushy kept on going with shots to Odd Job and damage magnet Godden, the former shrugging it off to assault 17 the Bruce which the Barton Boy quickly avenged with a head-on. Mushy now gave Stalky a meaty hit before he attacked 830 Lee White's very smart Volvo 940. 649 Dan Foreman (Mk2 Granada estate) rejoined the event to meet Lee White on the nose as Mushy scored on Godden en route to taking the win, the latter the only other credited finisher with Cooper taking the entertainer award this time. 

30 qualifiers returned for the final with Cobbold in the wars early on, taking hits from 837 Martin Wesby (Volvo 240 estate) and 917 John Millen before Pikey hit the spinning Mr Moody over the front wheel. Psycho then went round on the back straight and Cruncher zoomed in for a monster T-bone although he was leathered in turn by a storming hit from the recovered Mr Moody. Smoker gave the Aftermath livewire a big hit in turn as John Millen connected on the spun Volvo 240 of 176 Ady Gibbs. 269 Popeye laid into the Legend as Cornish sent Tommy Gun crashing into the infield blocks. Helm met 176 Gibo in a big head-on on the back straight before 99 the Cheat vaulted the blocks on the home straight in spectacular fashion. Ellis turned round to hit Cobbold before the former dished out a big T-bone to Mr Moody which also claimed John Millen. The Legend wasted Mr Moody in turn with a belting hit and a lap later Vincent fired into the awesome Majestic and buried it into the side of Ellis' Lincoln. Wesby then T-boned the lurking Ellis and Popeye hit the latter head-on before Overy destroyed Ellis with a monster T-bone at the ed of the home straight. Dalton meanwhile held off 39 Steve Moore (XJ) in a good scrap for the title and Winchester took third, Ellis' efforts rewarded with his second entertainer award. 

Sadly the carnage and clearing up periods had more than taken their toll and it was gone 11.30pm when we reached the final event, the programmed changed so the Accumulator qualifier would run into the DD, rather than being held as two different events. Despite the late hour 45 drivers returned for the final event and the Accumulator began with the Legend putting Teal in the wall as Dolan nailed Flex with a head-on only to take one himself from Wesby. Dove Toe Joe blasted the latter in turn but took one himself from the impressive Legend Majestic as Overy turned it on again, this time with a meaty hit to Mr Misery. Holmes scored on Scarrow and 113 Arry sent Cobbold crashing into the inner blocks as Pikey hammered the Mad Irishman. 262 Jason Barnard leaned Quinny into the wall as Cobbold blasted Nigel White with a head-on allowing the Mad Irishman to nail the latter and he took one in turn from 262 the Verger. Pikey took the win from fellow west countryman Arry and 361 Wally was third and we moved into the demo. Overy started with a hit on Holmes before Arry scored on the Verger while Pikey turned round to hit Quinny. Holmes blasted the Verger and Pikey now assaulted Nigel White only to take one in turn from Arry as the lively Holmes blasted Teal. 503 Odd Job connected with a T-bone on Pikey as 69 Copey blasted Mr Misery and Action Man clobbered Mushy leaving the latter prone to a big hit from Pexton. Bushy fired into Basher as Scarroe enjoyed a head-on with the pretty P4 of 101 Richard Rayner. Pikey and the Reaper met in similar fashion as Mushy evened the score on Action Man and the BFA hit Rayner on the nose. Mushy later hammered the BFA as Teal and Rayner went head to head, Mark Millen hitting the former in turn as Goldie T-boned Wally allowing Mark Millen to set about the latter. 180 Sparky had rejoined and was black flagged for being on the infield for too long but Goldie and Mark Millen finished him themselves as Mushy dished out a wicked head-on to Stalky. Mark Millen T-boned Mushy in turn as Wes rejoined the event and T-boned Mark Millen. The latter then traded blows with Mushy on the infield leading to them both being disqualified which left Goldie as the last legal runner and he was declared the winner. Overy and Bushy scooped the final entertainer awards of the night while the Worm received the hardest trier prize and the Legend the most devasting driver award. 

Heat one: 331 Jason Jackson, 361, 190, 917, 364, 88, 53, 311, 224, 133
Heat two: 58 Martin Dalton, 119, 54, 85, 415, 487, 17, 924
Heat three: 370 John Cobbold, 215, 602. 176, 501, 401, 269, 22
Heat four: 99 Ritchie Ahern, 262, 334, 39, 617, 115, 33!, 05, 397, 179
Consolation one: 159 Darren Scarrow, 188, 589, 267
Consolation two: 348 Sonny Sherwood, 362
Suffolk Open Championship: Dalton, 39, 364, 361, 188, 617, 22, 269, 33!, 425
Accumulator qualifier: 190 Steve Bailey, 113, 361, 547, 217, 262
into Destruction Derby: 384 John Golden

A bumper field of 46 Ministox gathered for their Suffolk Open Championship, the entry boosted by a decent showing of visitors from Spedeworth and Incarace.

21 cars for the opener and a clash of the visitors to begin with as 191 Jimmy Galloway removed 212 Ben Bate leaving 352 Connor Spall to make the early running as 329 Reece Laybourn had 206 Mitchell Hawkins out, the latter recovering to spun 303 Lewis Jefcote before he also spun the leading Connor which caught out the second placed 316 Danny McClusky although the latter made it through into the lead. 343 Dan Rose span out 353 Jack Licquorice before 163 Tom Noughton removed Galloway which saw them crash into the fence taking Jefcote with them while up front 153 Marty Lake took the lead at half way. 313 Timmy Barnes put then bumper in on Galloway which sent him and McClusky spinning and gave Barnes the lead as Jefcote recovered to spin 387 Ollie Ovenden. Barnes meanwhile raced to the win from 366 Matt Noughton and 370 Kyle Overy, a last bend lunge from 161 Billy Smith on Lake earning him fourth. 

A bigger field of 25 cars for heat two which enjoyed a very lively start. Things began with 328 Craig Banwell spinning 326 George Childs as 310 Chas Lee made the early running this time before 317 Bryson Walker removed 327 Mick Maskall and Lee spun 390 Karl Morris which also claimed 322 Thomas Fox before Banwell span 325 Emma Millen. 351 Lewis Byron spun Banwell in turn which saw him struck by 384 Jacob Foster as 330 Jack Thompson took over the lead while Lee was spun by 308 Alec Hannay before the reds came out to assist the stranded 367 Tom Keep and a complete restart was ordered. 349 Todd Payne wasted no time in spinning Thompson for the lead on the restart as Banwell again removed Millen and 381 Craig Upson put the bumper in on Lee. Foster sent 331 Rob Gamble around with 301 Tom Wellham squeezing Hannah into Gamble, the latter recovering to spin 334 Adrian Court into the infield blocks. Court recovered to spin Childs as Banwell flicked out Thompson as Payne survived a late race altercation with 350 Thomas Parrin to chalk up the win with Wellham and 355 Sid Magewick next. 

28 returned for the consolation with Thompson spinning the luckless Millen from the off as Ovenden set the early pace and Thompson was sent into the fence by Maskall. Court fired into Hannay and Childs punted Licquorice into the Armco as McClusky spun 320 Karl Kelly out. Ovenden came under fire from Banwell which cost both places and promoted Spall into the lead before the race came to an early end when Jefcote shed a wheel in the final five laps, the result declared with Spall the winner from Ovenden and Banwell. 

26 qualifiers contested the title race with Rose spinning 314 Jo Annison from the word go leaving Ovenden to lead the opening laps before the reds came out with 102 Billy Bond stranded at the end of the home straight. The second attempt suffered a false start but this didn't stop Laybourn and Rose putting the bumper in on one another but the third attempt saw the race go the whole distance. Banwell made the early running with Payne and Hannay in pursuite as Overy attacked 340 Wes Freestone and Walker assaulted Gamble before Barnes span Hawkins. Payne moved into the lead as Barnes continued by fencing Laybourn while Wellham fired into Madgwick and Ovenden moved past Hannay and into third. Barnes next target was Rose as Overy shunted aside Laybourn and 381 Craig Upson spun from contention. Banwell moved back into the lead as Payne dropped down the order with Ovenden and Spall his nearest rivals, Banwell finding the time to fire the recovered Upson wide as Annison dived in on Ovenden to take third at the half way mark with Barnes now up to fifth. Madgwick removed Tom Noughton while Barnes did the same to Ovenden to claim fourth as elsewhere Smith spun Hannay. Annison moved into second now relegating Spall with Barnes passing the latter with five to run by which point Overy and Wellham were into the top six. Barnes claimed second a couple of laps later as Tom Noughton removed Upson. Hawkins then span Hannay which delayed Banwell and allowed Barnes to close right up but Banwell held on while Barnes was nailed by the back marking Hawkins, Smith then attacking the latter. Meanwhile Banwell held his nerve and kept his cool to take the title, Annison second and Overy third from the back of the grid. 

Sadly owing to the late hour because of the levels of carnage and clearing up from the unlimited bangers the programmed Allcomers had to be cancelled. 

Heat one: 313 Timmy Barnes, 366, 370, 161, 153, 343, 102, 204, 217, 329
Heat two: 349 Todd Payne, 301, 355, 314, 381, 317, 382, 340, 308, 310
Consolation: 352 Connor Spall, 387, 328, 308, 383, 331, 206, 329, 310, 210, 353, 212
Suffolk Open Championship: 328 Craig Banwell, 314, 370, 301, 317, 349, 387, 340, 313, 161

A quite storming night of action but once which came at a price, finishing not long before midnight although completing an eight race unlimited banger programme with four Ministox races featuring almost 200 cars was always going to be time consuming and certainly one or two areas will need looking into for next years event in a bid to finish at a better hour. On the plus side both formulas were in tremendous form, the banger providing what could well be the biggest unlimited turnouts anywhere in the sport this season and a very strong contender for one of the meetings of 2008 with some epic hitting all night long. 


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