Mildenhall Stadium Saturday May 14 2016
National Micro Bangers, BriSCA F2 Stockcars World of Shale QF and V8 Hotstox Supreme Trophy and World QF

A very respectable field of 63 Micro National Bangers gathered at Mildenhall on May 14, a number made all the more decent considering the meeting was only announced a month before in place of the Unlimited EA team championship which was sadly cancelled due to the low numbers. The field was swelled by nearly late bookings and extras on the night but sadly these numbers were cancelled out by a dozen late cancellations and no shows which was most disappointing with a very local based line-up, the further travelled once again the Kent based RDC drivers plus 837 Martin Wesby from the Midlands with TSR and Spedeworth also represented.

30 cars for heat one with 744 Liam Barton burying 354 Darren Bewers on the road bend which also claimed 662 Dalton Smith and 551 Brett Jackson arrived to absolutely decimate 354 Dabs with a stunning hit before 352 Ben Mynott latched onto 187 Andy Marshall who already had a hold of 143 Aaron Mann and planted him into Smith before the reds flew to allow Dabs a safe exit from his wreck. The restart began with 246 Jimmy Butts running in 313 Scottie Elden and Marshall buried himself in the back of Butts which left him embedded in the 246 machine but no-one fancied nailing him as well. Barton continued to run in the luckless 313 Scottie Dog as eventually the vulnerable Marshall proved a target too good to resist and 565 Darren Quadling landed a hard hit with 724 Nigel Birchan also nailing Marshall. 677 Matt Bradshaw then ran in 37 Dave Lewis and continued to bury 37 Dave Lewis which left him open to a fine hit from 51 James Licquorice who was then blitzed by a rated shot from Smith which was eclipsed by a truly ballistic hit from Barton, the reds then flying for Smith and just as they did 36 Ricky Lewis burst into fire on the infield in a very nasty looking blaze. The second restart was predictably very quiet save Dave Lewis spinning 155 Sam Coote into the infield wall with the race stopped again a lap of so from the end with a wheel on the track and Mynott was named the winner from 326 Shane Lynn and 673 Darren Fendley.

A couple more for heat two but this was quieter with 729 Joe Smith running in 712 Kev Hook from the off and the latter was destroyed by a wicked hit from 741 Charlie Daniels as 56 Travis Kiddy fenced himself and crashed into Hook with the reds then flying to allow the latter a safe exit from his wreck. A complete restart was ordered and this began with 32 Alan Wombwell stuffing 469 Martin Baxter into Hook’s wreck as 341 Paul Johnson attacked 123 Tony Hutton with 623 Ricky Hutton attacking the former in turn before 32 Asbo buried 370 Bill Parrish and they were collected by 794 Scott Martindale and this helped cause a small pile-up on the road bend in which 741 German Jnr nailed 338 Terry Garrod while Parrish turned Baxter into the wall. Up front and 99 Ricky Garrod span 375 Alex Hensby for the lead but German Jnr then lunged at Garrod on the final bend and span him and the recovered Hensby came through for a maiden National Banger win from the recovered Garrod and 175 Karl Korsby. The race ended with 142 Jack Lower attacking 174 Callum Henderson which allowed 168 Steve Morse to administer a hard hit on the former.

Even with no extra repair time being offered 27 made it back for the consolation with 123 Curly assaulting 353 Clarkey from the off, the latter then also coming under fire from 659 Stu Bird as the luckless Scottie Dog was run in again, this time by Wesby while 799 Tim Rees turned Birchan into the fence, the former going round and getting hit head-on by Baxter before the reds flew for the stranded Wesby on the home straight. A complete restart was ordered and Bird set this going by spinning Rees into the infield blocks as Birchan cracked the spun Mann in the rear wheel and Barton then dumped Curly into the latter as 32 Asbo found Birchan for a hard hit and 623 Tricky nailed 459 Todd Archer. Asbo continued with a package on 300 Jack Goldsmith as 162 Rob Wheatley fenced Baxter and German Jnr nailed Clarkey as the mayhem on the pit bend continued to grow. Tricky added to the misery as he ran in 162 Kyle Pothecary and Asbo smashed Baxter into the wreckage with Goldsmith falling foul of the wreckage and getting trashed by Parrish and he was destroyed by Barton with German Jnr then crashing into the heap when he lined up the latter who was able to flee the scene. The action then disappeared for a couple of laps until Tricky ran in Barton allowing Morse to nail the latter as 674 Luke Childerhouse came through the carnage to win from 25 Matt Black and Ricky Lewis, the race ending with Tricky nailing Archer only to take one in turn from Marshall.

The qualifiers only final had the smallest grid of the night with 24 cars and was the quietest of the evening’s races with Ricky Garrod nailing the spun Childerhouse with a hard head-on as Lower was spat into the infield blocks by the traffic and Mann fenced Kiddy. 135 Donny Mann attacked Black as the leading Mynott did the same to Kiddy which allowed 72 Breeze Atkins and Garrod to close in the race for the lead. The highlight of the race came on turn one as 661 Aaron Harris, who got a late assist from 760 Harry Spencer thundered in 144 Jordan Godfrey as Garrod moved into the lead but was spun by Mynott which allowed Atkins to take over and she held on for a maiden National Banger win in her maiden National Banger meeting with Mynott surviving a last bend attack from 17 Kyle Overy for third.

The very high amount of stoppages in all formulas meant the Accumulator qualifier started a couple of minutes after 11pm which again meant drivers had no extra repair time but still 26 made it back with the reds out yet again in the opening seconds of the race as Rees performed a complete roll by the start line. The race resumed with Licquorice finding Kiddy for a shot as 326 Ratty followed Fendley in hard on the road bend. Ricky Garrod turned Aaron Mann into the wall as 337 Ashley Garrod and Bird clashed which resulted in the latter hitting the wall and Quadling arrived to nail 337 Pretty Boy with Spencer then assaulting the latter as Baxter turned round and located 338 Wingnut for a hit. Barton also turned round and powered into Henderson as Ratty span Dave Lewis crashing into the infield wall but it was Garrod who claimed the win to make up for his earlier near misses with Black second and Ratty third. The DD started with Hensby homing in on Wingnut before the reds flew with Spencer signalling all was not well. The event restarted with Godfrey attacking Black only to come under fire from Hensby as Ratty fired into and span Baxter while Henderson targeted Licquorice. Ratty then turned round and Hensby was happy to meet him in a fierce head-on which triggered a cracking train of hits as Kiddy flattened Hensby and was pasted in turn by hard shots from Capt Slow and Licquorice with Baxter then nailing the latter and taking a rear wheel hit from Godfrey as he tried to flee the scene. Black was the next to arrive and he drilled Godfrey before he was hammered by Henderson with Capt Slow returning to the scene to pound the Shunter. Kiddy now returned to the pile and nailed Black before Baxter went in and copped a rated hit from Capt Slow. Kiddy then weighed in on Hensby which left him open to a shot from Kiddy as Godfrey got hold off Capt Slow and smashed him into the infield blocks but the latter quickly recovered and chased down his attacker on opposite and stuffed him. Baxter meanwhile connected with a T-bone on Kiddy and Capt Slow set about the latter in the same way only to take one himself from Godfrey. The latter then crashed into the heap by the start line and was smashed with a T-bone from Baxter but Godfrey battled on to repay him with a head-on which left Godfrey open to a massive hit from Capt Slow and a T-bone on Godfrey left him immobile. Capt Slow then smashed Baxter into submission with a series of hits from all angles to claim the win and he celebrated with a couple of hits on the game Godfrey. Capt Slow was also named the entertainer award winner with entertainer points going to Godfrey, Licquorice and Barton for their efforts.

Heat one: 352 Ben Mynott, 326, 673, 72, 37, 328, 155, 760, 162 (Wheatley), 135
Heat two: 375 Alex Hensby, 99, 175, 142, 661, 168, 338, 144, 56, 17
Consolation: 674 Luke Childerhouse, 25, 36, 143, 168, 623, 469, 744
Grand Final: 72 Breeze Atkins, 352, 17, 326, 175, 673, 155, 328, 338, 143
Accumulator qualifier: 99 Ricky Garrod, 25, 326, 135, 155, 37, 328
Destruction Derby: 155 Sam Coote from 469

Round three of the BriSCA F2 Stockcar track championship was also the first World of Shale qualifier of the season at the raceway and raised a healthy, if slightly disappointing field of 43 cars which while the best of the season so far was set to be somewhat higher had it not been for a number of cancellations in the days running up to the meeting. Once again many of the shale regulars had covered plenty of miles to attend as had 464 Matt Linfield from the south and there were welcome returns to Mildenhall for 37 Tony Smith and 70 Brian Shadbolt after some time, these two of several drivers making their first Mildenhall outings of the year while 888 Rob Shenton made his track debut.

22 cars for heat one with 471 Malcolm Kaye an immediate spinner as 235 Bradley Blyth set the pace only to collect the recovering Kaye as Shadbolt span and was struck by 124 Ollie Skeels, the latter left stranded on turn two to bring the reds out with a complete restart ordered. 18 cars remained with Blyth among the early retirements and 417 Allan Weston went out early doors as Linfield came under fire from 788 Stephen Mallinson as 150 Mark Thoms moved into the lead and 441 Mickey Branston fired 341 Drew Lammas wide for third and further back Linfield charged at 177 Glenn Scott which opened the door for 226 Billy Webster to leapfrog them both. 259 Simon Farrington now stepped up to challenge Lammas for fourth as 524 Michael Wallbank span 225 Tony Blackburn who was struck by Webster and 66 Tom Neat jumped to fourth before the reds flew again for a KO’d Weston on the road bend. Thankfully he was able to walk away and Thoms led the lap sheet order restart which still had 16 cars in the race but second placed 166 Tony Cordiner was immediately off the pace and dropped down the order. Farrington fired into Neat but it allowed 377 Daz Shaw to pass them both for third as Branston challenged Thoms for the lead and took the top spot as the race hit half way. Shaw fired Thoms wide for second and 905 Rob Mitchell then moved the latter wide for third as 136 Kyle Taylor lunged at Mallinson in the fight for a minor place which allowed Neat and Thoms to nip past as Blackburn fired Farrington wide for fourth before 710 Brett Townsend went round on the road bend and ripped a wheel off in the process to bring the reds out and with the race in the final five laps the result was declared with Shaw victorious from Mitchell and Branston.

One less for heat two with early spins for 331 James Di’Gullio and 26 Gary Ford as 597 Barry Clow removed 715 Scott Aldridge and he was collected by 104 Rob Cowles with 606 Andy Palmer and 233 Rob Aldridge also going round followed by 5 Josh Coleman for a chaotic start with 81 Mark Clayton quickly taking the lead as 283 Gary Allen tangled with 442 Graham Kerry in the race for second and 103 Carl Issit moved 662 Steve Wycherly wide for fifth before 871 Mark Simpson clashed with 623 Rob Dobie delaying his otherwise excellent start. Clow lunged at Palmer but could only get him sideways as Kerry tangled with Allen and span him into the fence, the former then collected heavily by Simpson which brought the reds out to assist Kerry. Sufficient laps had been completed for a lap sheet order restart which was led away by Clayton with Issit already into second but Clayton held the advantage as the race hit half way and Palmer fired Allen wide for fifth before challenging Wycherly for fourth. Issit was able to wrestle the lead away from Clayton after the latter put up a tremendous fight but Palmer was closing fast, firing Simpson and then Clayton wide to move into second. Clayton then fired into the back marking Di’Guillio but it saw him lose places to Simpson and Wycherly as Palmer made contact on Issit on the final bend but it wasn’t enough to dislodge him and Issit held on to win in a very exciting finish with Simpson third.

The heats had taken their toll and only 17 of the 23 non qualifiers were able to return for the consolation with Cordiner lunging at Blyth for the lead but it was Allen who came through to lead at the end of lap one with Cordiner then firing into Blyth again as they battled for second and this allowed Ford to close and move the latter wide for third but Blyth stood his ground and came back at Ford as Lammas had Wallbank around and Coleman fired Smith wide. Ford moved into second as Webster punted Shenton wide which allowed Taylor to come through, Shenton then spinning and crashing into the infield blocks by the start line to end his race. Webster used his bumper to take third from Coleman with Taylor joining their fight as the race hit half way with Ford now the leader and he motored to the win with Allen holding his nerve for an excellent second and Webster triumphed in the race for third.

Just Thoms failed to make the final leaving 27 qualifiers with Allen the sole white grade driver and he duly led the field away as 219 Chris Mitchell span on the first bend and Wallbank clashed with Neat and then came under fire from Ford as elsewhere Scott tangled with 728 Carl Pilkinton. Allen came under pressure from Lammas over the lead which allowed Neat to close to and move into second as Issit attacked Simpson, rattling him into a half spin and Clayton also crashed out and 13 Gary Ford fired into Blackburn and rattled him into a half spin. Allen held the lead from Neat, Lammas, Wycherly, Farrington, Gary Ford, Taylor, Branston and Linfield as Cowles was the next to spin and Scott was fired out of the way by Issit with Lammas doing the same to Wycherly in the race for third. Up front and Neat tangled with and fenced Allen and this caused the former to spin Wycherly as he dived for the lead and he was collected by Allen ending his challenge and Farrington emerged in the lead on lap five ahead of Lammas, Taylor, 741 Luke Branston, Gary Ford and Mickey Branston. Blackburn lunged at Andy Ford and they crashed into the stricken Wallbank as Palmer was another to fall by the way side. Farrington led the field to half way ahead of Lammas, Taylor, Luke and Mickey Branston, Gary Ford, Linfield and Simpson but the reds flew seconds later as Lammas collected a spun car exiting turn four which flipped him into his roof. A lap sheet order restart saw Farrington lead with the top seven unchanged but the back marking Clayton started behind Farrington and was immediately a factor as he stood his ground to those behind. Elsewhere and Webster came under fire from Smith and Gary Ford clashed with Scott. Simpson had climbed to fourth as Mallinson got stuck into Webster and Rob Mitchell did the same to brother Chris before he fired into Webster but this only caused him to spin himself and he was clobbered by Chris Mitchell and Linfield. With five to run Simpson muscled his way into second as Luke Branston fired Taylor wide for third before the leading Farrington was dumped out of contention by the back marking Mickey Branston. Simpson was gifted the lead and fired Clayton wide with a big hit, possibly thinking he was on the lead lap, as he raced to the win in an excellent contest ahead of Taylor and Luke Branston.

24 returned for the Grand National with an early pile-up forming on the road bend as Allen set the pace before there were further spins for 447 Richard Hampshire and 623 Rob Dobie. Mickey Branston climbed to second from Clayton and Skeels with Clayton firing Branston wide for second as the Mitchell brother grappled over fifth and behind them Taylor lunged aggressively at Blackburn. Skeels now challenged Clayton for second as Allen led the race to half way. Luke Branston eased past brother Mickey for fifth as Clayton reeled in Allen and challenged for the lead but an attack from Clayton saw him half spin and Allen was able to pull away again with less than five to run and his lead was continued when Skeels battled into second and Rob Mitchell challenged Clayton for third. Pilkington then span and was hit by Skeels to again allow Allen to edge away as Taylor and Blackburn tangled and hit the wall before the reds flew for the stricken Pilkington who had also shed a wheel and with the race in the final five laps Allen was declared the winner, his first in the sport, Rob Mitchell and Skeels taking the podium spots.

Heat one: 377 Daz Shaw, 905, 441, 225, 259, 788, 177, 464, 160, 66
Heat two: 103 Carl Issit, 606, 871, 662, 81, 741, 219, 728, 13, 104
Consolation: 26 Gary Ford, 283, 226, 136, 5, 341, 524, 37, 166, 233
Grand Final: 871 Mark Simpson, 136, 741, 103, 788, 226, 662, 377, 219, 905
Grand National: 283 Gary Allen, 905, 124, 81, 871, 225, 136, 741, 788, 377

The third annual visit of the V8 Hotstox to Mildenhall once again saw their Supreme Trophy up for grabs and the meeting a world qualifier and this helped raise a cracking field of 28 cars, their best at Mildenhall to date and a number made all the more impressive given the distance the majority had travelled to attend with several making their maiden trips to Mildenhall in the formula.

19 cars for heat one with early spins for 182 Dave Cheetham, 500 Scott Bodily and 352 Rory Foster as 575 Darren Cottrill fenced 498 Olly Spencer leaving 117 Rob Scriven to take the early lead before 82 Ashley Geary collected the spun 456 Jedd Stirk, the caution flags then flying to assist the stricken Geary. A lap sheet order restart began with 409 Luke Maw fire into 482 Martin Fletcher only to come under immediate fire from 157 Adam Joyce in the race for second while 288 Jon Brown attacked 394 Chris Claire. Scriven led the field to half way with Joyce now second ahead of Maw, 298 Tom Spencer and Brown with the latter spinning Spencer for fourth as Joyce eased into the lead just ahead of the five to go signal. Claire removed Fletcher as Maw and Brown joined Scriven in an excellent fight for second and behind 222 Guy Jolley, Cottrill, 1 Kevin Stuchbury and 211 Pheobe Wainman were battling over fifth. Brown sent Maw spinning to second third as Joyce raced to the win with Scriven in second, the final action coming when Foster fired into Claire and Joyce celebrated his win by spinning Tom Spencer.

One less for heat two with 450 Sam Mee, 535 Nick Jagger and Claire early spinners, the latter collected by Maw before Bodily and Cheetham also went round leaving 478 Shane Geary at the front and 281 Lee Summers already into second as 355 Bryan Andrew removed Maw and Brown climbed to third before he slipped passed Summers for second before the race hit half way with Jolley into fourth and Cottrill fifth. Geary then got tangled with the back marking 26 Hayley Williams, Claire and Andrew which allowed Brown to close in but Geary would not be moved and produced a superbly determined drive to keep Brown at bay and their scrap allowed Summers to close in and with five to run there was also a great scrap raging for sixth between Tom Spencer, 137 Sam Jacklin and 328 Michael Bowell. The battle between Geary and Brown not only allowed Summers to close but Jolley and Cottrill as well setting up a thrilling five way fight for the lea. Brown landed another hit on Geary but still the latter would not be moved as Jolley fired Summers wide for third which allowed Cottrill to slip through. Having survived another hit from Brown, the pressure finally got to Geary who drifted wide on the road bend and Brown was through with Jolley on his heels but he would also go wide and Cottrill grabbed second but there was no catching Brown who marched to the win, Geary’s efforts earning him fourth after a superb effort.

One less again for the third heat with Fletcher setting the pace this time until he was spun aside for the top spot by Shane Geary but Fletcher held on for second before Stirk and Scriven crashed out at the end of the home straight in their race for third and with the cars locked together and seemingly unable to part the caution flags were again thrown. Geary led the restart with a pair of back markers between him and the second placed Jacklin and Wainman already into fourth, the first action coming when Boswell tangled with Fletcher costing the former time as Jacklin charged at Geary to take the lead just before half way with Wainman third ahead of Stuchbury, Joyce and Foster before Geary cruelly expired. Andrew then tangled with Fletcher and they both span as Wainman stepped up to challenge Jacklin for the lead as the race entered the final five laps and she eased into the lead but Jacklin charged at her on the road bend which saw them both crash out and Joyce happily inherited the lead. Stutchbury was second and fired Fletcher wide as he tried to chase down the leader who moved the recovered Jacklin out of his way as he stormed to his second win of the night, Stirk ending things when he span into the infield wall, Stuchbury was second and Mee third.

The Supreme Trophy was open to all and saw all but one of the original field for a packed field, the biggest grid for the formula since their return to the stadium and it did not disappoint. Fletcher, 242 Joe Nickolls and Stirk were early spinners leading Bodily to set the pace as a back straight pile-up claimed Summers, Mee and Claire and with seemingly no chance of them getting out of their predicament the reds were thrown and a complete restart orders which saw the field reduced to 24, Joyce among the early retirements. Jagger got the ball rolling by firing Cheetham into the fence as Bodily span Stirk to regain the lead and Summers dumped out Scriven. Jagger moved into second ahead of Fletcher, Claire, Cheetham and Jolley as Cottrill fired into Shane Geary and Summers attacked Williams. Claire had climbed to third and Jolley to fifth with Jacklin sixth and the latter continued his progress with a big attack on Cheetham as Jagger muscled his way into the lead on lap four. Maw lunged at and span Wainman as the race for second reached fever pitch between Jolley, Claire, Jacklin and defending champion Cottrill with Jacklin emerging in the spot before he was overhauled by Jolley with Brown now bursting into the scene and establishing himself in third. The race hit half way and as it did Jolley hit the front from Jagger, Brown, Jacklin, Cottrill, Summers, Mee, Tom Spencer and Williams but a hit from Cottrill sent Jacklin down the order as Brown connected on Jagger to take second while Summer charged at Mee to gain a place but things came to a grinding halt when the yellow flags flew to assist Jagger who’d come to a halt on the road bend and just before they did Brown was sent spinning by the back marking Stirk which ended his hopes. With just over five to run Jolley headed the restart with Cottrill on his bumper, two back markers between them and the third places Tom Spencer who had a one back marker cushion between him and Mee who also had one back marker between him and the race for fifth between Stucthbury, Mew, Boswell and Summers. Jolley made a clean get away to break away from Cottrill as behind Williams fenced Jacklin to the fence as Jolley romped to the win ahead of defending champion Cottrill and Tom Spencer in a quite brilliant race.

The decision to run fifth race for the V8s, offering the drivers a fourth race was more than vindicated when a quite superb 21 drivers returned for the Grand National and they ended their night in quite ballistic fashion. Foster tangled with Claire from the start all but ruining their chances and leaving Fletcher to set the pace as Joyce fired Brow wide and Shane Geary battled his way to second ahead of Bodily, Cheetham, Maw and Williams who had made an electric start. Maw now charged into third only to tangled with Williams which handed places to Olly Spencer and Joycce before Foster fired 136 Rob Jacklin to the fence with a bit hit. Olly Joyce then did the same to Joyce which allowed Williams to leapfrog them both as Geary dumped out Fletcher in a bid to take the lead but span himself and was collected by Foster and Williams burst out of the chaos on the road bend to take the lead only for the reds to then fly with concern for Geary. A lap sheet order restart saw Williams lead with Olly Spencer second and a back marker between them and the race for third between Joyce (who at this point was mistakingly being shown as one lap down), Wainman, Maw, Boswell, Stuchbury and Cottrill. The race resumed with some absolutely storming laps as Spencer delivered a big hit to Williams but she dug her heels in and held on for Spencer to deliver a second, even bigger hit which took them both wide and Joyce was able to power through on the inside for the lead. Elsewhere and Bodily span aside Cheetham as Williams tangled wheels with Stuchbury. Into the final five laps and Olly Spencer charged at Joyce for the lead with Wainman able to squeeze past them both to get her nose in front but Spencer fired Joyce into her entering the road bend and it took all three crashing out and Maw emerged to take them lead with Stuchbury on his heels. Mee sent Andrew spinning as Maw held off Stuchbury to win another quite brilliant race, the recovered Spencer third.

Heat one: 157 Adam Joyce, 117, 288, 409, 222, 575, 1, 211, 281, 394
Heat two: 288 Jon Brown, 575, 222, 478, 281, 298, 328, 450, 355, 26
Heat three: Joyce, 1, 450, 352, 328, 26, 211, 242, 137, 355
Grand Final: 222 Guy Jolley, 575, 298, 1, 450, 409, 355, 281, 26, 137
Grand National: 409 Luke Maw, 1, 498, 26, 575, 222, 328, 450, 298, 500

For the third week in a row, this was another hugely entertaining affair with all three formulas enjoying some fine form and hardly a bad race among the bumper 15 race programme. Arguably it was the visiting V8 Hotstox who took top billing on the night but much like the Saloon Stockcars the previous Saturday, not because the other formulas weren’t on form but simply because they were that good, the drivers excelling on a circuit which is seemingly very well suited to them, their Final and Grand National as good as any stockcar race we have seen this season. On a similar note the F2s were impressive, perhaps their best meeting of the year to date, highlighted by another storming final and a typically entertaining Micro Banger session highlighted by the rated hits in heat one, the very entertaining consolation and hard hitting DD. The only drawback was that the last race unfortunately started a few minutes later than it should have, this a direct result of a quite incredible 15 race stoppages with restarts (eight being lap sheet order restarts) with just four of the evening’s 15 races going flag to flag without a caution.

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