Mildenhall Stadium
Sunday July 24 2016
RDC's One Wild Weekend
Saloon Stockcars National Championship, 2Litre (no Mondeo) National Bangers
Suffolk Open and BriSCA F2 Stockcars
40 Saloon Stockcars returned for the
second day of their National Championship with much hard work taking place
overnight which included numerus engine changes and ultimately only 17 contested
the last chance race which included 306 Daniel Parker who barely made it
in time, having been one of those to change an engine from the Saturday while 22
Karl Petters was less fortunate and among those to miss the race. 321 Marcus
Skeels wasted no time in spinning 190 John Wagstaff only to be turned into the
wall by 777 Alan Ainslie as 182 Rob Heanes charged at 248 Will Makins to take
the lead with 147 James Dexter then charging at the latter which put 448 Martin
Kibble into the wall. 6 Simon Welton lunged at Ainslie to move into ninth as the
first of the big guns on the score sheet and he did the same to 270 Matt Fuller
for another place as 499 David Aldous did the same to 641 Willie Skoyles Jnr and
Kibble fenced Fuller before the reds flew with concern for 321 the Frog. 6 Welly
wasted no time in barging past Dexter on the restart as Aldous did the same to
Heanes and at the front 733 Kyle Picton muscled past 733 Kyle Picton for the
lead. 600 Barry Russell, another who had changed engines, and Artherton then
combined to dump out Welly, the former emerging to join Aldous and Skoyles Jnr
in the race for second . 190 Waggy charged at Heanes and 888 Shane Emerson
removed Kibble as a desperate Welly lunged at Heanes trying to get back into the
top eight but it back fired massively as he rolled himself in the process to
bring the race to an early end. Picton the winner from Skoyles Jnr and Aldous.
Defending champion 499 David Aldous led the 28 qualifiers out for the
National Championship before taking his place on row 12 with 131 Timmy
Barnes securing pole position, 570 Simon Venni alongside and 158 Shane Davies
and 538 Jake Swann on row two. After two rolling laps the race exploded into
life in the most action packed way. Barnes dived at Venni to secure the lead
exiting the first bend as behind all hell broke loose. 399 Cole Atkins span 349
Michael Allard and 386 Daniel Petters removed 525 Wes Starmer while 730 Deane
Mayes claimed 181 Sam Mallet while Atkins was stuffed into the wall by 800 Scott
Greenslade, the latter then spun by 641 Willie Skoyles Jnr and shoved down the
home straight by the pack. 218 Jacob Downey grabbed the lead on the road bend
but back on the pit bend Venni charged at him to take the top spot and just
behind Barnes lunged at Davies which in turn fired 218 Cracker into the wall and
into Atkins as 428 Lee Sampson barged past 157 Max Stott and 538 Swanny Jnr.
Another huge push behind saw 499 Dave Aldous fire into 733 Kyle Picton and 600
Barry Russell which in turn span 888 Shane Emerson who collected Atkins as well
while 777 Alan Ainslie removed 190 John Wagstaff. Barnes moved back into the
lead but Venni charged at him only to see the reds fly to assist Atkins and with
only two laps completed a complete restart was ordered and amazingly only Atkins
failed to make the grid. Another huge push into the first bend saw Venni fire
into Barnes as behind 124 Ollie Skeels fired into Swanny Jnr and Davies with
Venni taking the hardest hit from the wall as Skeels dumped out Swanny Jnr and
Russell removed Picton. Davies emerged in the lead as Skeels lunged at Barnes to
take second and a huge push on the back straight in the mid pack ended with 525
Wes getting dumped out by 360 Carl Waterfield and Stotty before the bumpers went
in behind and the latter was stuffed with Aldous by Skoyles Jnr and 217 Sid
Magewick. 128 Craig Banwell then pinched Waterfield into the wall by the start
line before he span 190 Waggy into the wall at the end of the home straight
which would again bring the reds out and again not enough laps had been
completed and so it was a second complete restart. This one saw more casualties
with Greenslade, 888 Shin, Cracker, Davies, Waggy and Wes now joining Atkins on
the infield and 181 Sam Mallet wasted no time in attacking Stotty as Skeels
charged at Barnes and Deano turned around Banwell who was collected by 386
Daniel Petters as Picton removed Aldous and Barnes came back at Skeels with a
big lunge to fence his rival. Stotty removed Sampson who was hit by Skoyles Jnr
as Mallet grabbed the lead from Barnes and Allard. Barnes lunged at Mallet to
rattle him into a half spin and Skeels again targeted Barnes and turned him into
the wall and in the chaos Waterfield emerged as the leader from Stotty and 220
Casey Englestone. 304 Martyn Parker turned Venni and Skeels into the infield
blocks only to be spat into the fence heavily by the pack on turn three as
Stotty barged into Waterfield which fenced him on the road bend with the reds
flying again with concern for Parker and Waterfield. This time enough laps had
been completed to make it a lap sheet order restart and 17 cars remained and
remarkably 16 of them were on the lead lap, only Venni being a lap down at the
rear of the line. Stotty led from 220 Philo Jnr, 730 Deano, Magewick, 306 Daniel
Parker, 386 the Joker, Sampson, Allard, Mallet, Skoyles Jnr, Russell, Swanny Jnr,
Ainslie, Banwell, Skeels and Picton. Deano instantly attacked Philo Jnr to take
second as Parker was fenced by the Joker and Skeels did the same to Ainslie with
Allard slipping past the Joker for sixth as Swanny Jnr charged at Parker with
Skeels moving in to fence the former as Deano lunged at Stotty to became the
races latest leader only to come under immediate fire from Philo Jnr who took
over as a result and then Sampson barged past Magewick and Deano to force his
way to second. The Joker and Mallet were the next to spin as Sampson raced into
the lead as Stotty also span from contention while Deano charged at Philo Jnr in
a bid for second but sent himself spinning on the slick conditions. Russell
dumped ut Skoyles Jnr to climb to fifth with Allard now third and Magewick
fourth as the Joker collected the stricken Deano. Banwell came under heavy fire
from Skeels and Magewick as Sampson led the field to half way having now opened
a useful advantage. Philo Jnr was second ahead of Allard, Magewick, Russell,
Parker and Picton with Venni lunging at Parker while Swanny Jnr dumped out
Stotty and Skeels hooked out Philo Jnr which extended Sampson advantage which
was now over Allard who then came under fire from Magewick in the race for
second as Swanny Jnr fenced Philo Jnr. Magewick grabbed second as Deano came
under fire from Mallet while Swanny Jnr continued to hound Philo Jnr and would
eventually spin him. With five to run Sampson was half a lap ahead of Magewick
but the race for third was on between Russell and Allard with Parker in fifth.
Russell edged in front of Allard and looked to challenge Magewick and take the
place but the latter and Allard both came back at the Scotsman and bundled him
wide to relegate him to fourth. Swanny Jnr again span Philo Jnr as Sampson
motored to the title with a fine drive where he clearly mastered the conditions
better than anyone else. Magewick was second and on the last bend Russell lunged
at Allard and in a phot finish pipped him for third. Parker, Skoyles Jnr, Picton,
Swanny Jnr, Skeels and Venni completed the top 10 as Sampson celebrated with
donuts before being joined by his family in what was a clearly massively
emotional victory for the now two time champion.
With it deemed not to be sufficient cars to run the planned consolation and
qualifiers only final, the remaining race were switched to an all in format and
the consolation made a heat race with a massive field of 31 cars which
was every bit as good as it promised to be. There were early spins for 218 Jacob
Downey, 26 Tommy Barnes, Waggy, 128 Craig Banwell, Kibble and 800 Scott
Greenslade as 386 Daniel Petters span the Frog and he was collected by 158 Shane
Davies as 22 Karl Petters launched Waggy into the wall hard. 538 Jake Swann
dumped out 888 Shin with Karl Petters leading the way as the spun 399 Cole
Atkins was clobbered by 570 Simon Venni and Kibble fenced Welly which also
claimed 360 Carl Waterfield and up front Petters span Artherton to regain the
lead but it was Picton who then shot through and into the top spot as 220 Casey
Englestone squeezed 124 Ollie Skeels into the fence only to then spin along with
Atkins as Artherton span Kibble into the infield wall. Barnes dumped out 349
Michael Allard as new champion Sampson dive bombed Davies with Picton moving in
to spin the former as 730 Deane Mayes assaulted Allard and Karl Petters lunged
at 220 Philo Jnr. 386 the Joker moved into second and Petters came under fire
from 131 Timmy Barnes while Davies removed 306 Daniel Parker and Shin charged at
Dexter. Philo Jnr then span both Russell and Atkins and fenced them to boot as
the Joker span from contention and Aldous removed Tommy Barnes. The recovered
Atkins lunged at Petters with Parking spinning the former and he was clobbered
by Greenslade. With five to run Picton still lead from Timmy Barnes and Welly
then battled into third as Shin lunged at Petters and fenced him very heavily.
730 Deano did similar to Shin and Timmy Barnes to the Joker as Picton claimed
his second win in a truly wild affair from Timmy Barnes and Welly.
26 returned for the Grand Final with Welly removing Aldous from the off
as 181 Sam Mallet set the pace from Atkins and 126 Harry Barnes before Russell
assaulted Philo Jnr and the Joker span. Atkins stepped up to challenge for the
lead with Dexter the next to go round while Daniel Parker removed Russell and
Philo Jnr as they continued their battle and Skoyles Jnr smashed into the
infield blocks. Sampson dumped out the recovered Russell and Skeels did the same
to Timmy Barnes as Mallet crashed from contention and Sampson span Dexter before
Venni, Aldous and Timmy Barnes crashed out in a heap. Philo Jnr hit the back
straight wall heavily as Atkins emerged in the lead with Welly then firing
Davies into the wall as Atkins Waterfield emerged in second. Fuller now fenced
Parker as Shin span Tommy Barnes and Sampson had Kibble around with Welly again
targeting Davies with a spin. The race hit half way with Waterfield now the
leader as the spun Skeels was clobbered by Deano and Picton span from contention
and Davies span into the infield wall and was hit by Tommy Barnes before 218
Cracker went in heavily on the back straight to bring the caution flags out with
just seven cars remaining on the lead lap for the restart. Second placed Allard
wasted no time in dive bombing Sampson as he tried to close on Waterfield while
Venni did the same to Welly only to come under fire from Aldous. Atkins then
charged at Russell which sent them both round as Skeels attacked Waterfield who
then collected the stricken Tommy Barnes and Allard snatched the lead with four
to run. The remaining laps saw Skeels lunge at Kibble and Venni do the same to
Shin which allowed Venni to attack the former as Allard motored to the victory
from Waterfield and Welly, Parker spinning Shin across the line in the race for
fifth in another superb contest.
Despite the late running, compounded by the damage to the fence in the last F2
race, 17 cars returned for the Allcomers with early spins for Dexter,
Picton and Sampson, the former trying to get going again only to be stuffed into
the wall by Waterfield as Mallet set the pace and Aldous came under fire from
Davies before the Joker collected the luckless Dexter. Russell and Kibble both
went round as Venni climbed to second before Aldous fired the Joker into the
wall very hard and Shin span Daniel Parker and he was collected by Russell as
Mallet led the field to half way from Venni and Skeels. Picton meanwhile buried
the luckless Dexter and he was collected by Kibble and then Mallet which gifted
Venni the lead as Waterfield went round and was also struck by Mallett as Skeels
dive bombed Picton. Aldous now lunged at Allard to take third and he then
muscled past Skeels for second and as Venni raced to the win behind Allard
lunged at Skeels and Aldous which dumped them all out, Aldous managing to
recover first and cross the line in reverse for second with Davies inheriting
third.
Last chance qualifier: 733 Kyle Picton, 641, 499, 306, 600, 888, 190, 777, 610,
192
National Championship: 428 Lee Sampson, 217, 600, 349, 306, 641, 733, 538, 124,
570
Heat One: Picton, 131, 6, 499, 349, 730, 147, 538, 570, 22
Grand Final: 349 Michael Allard, 360, 6, 733, 888, 306, 158, 124, 428, 570
Allcomers: 570 Simon Venni, 499, 158, 349, 181, 600, 888, 220, 360, 733
The 2016 2Litre (no Mondeo) Banger Suffolk Open raised a fine field of 75
cars, although a couple failed to race, which was massively more than what was
expected, the field swelled by 14 extras who were able to race their RWD cars
from the previous night (as did a handful of those who were already booked in)
plus another near 20 extras on the day who far outweighed the nine no shows/late
cancellations, the sole RWD car on hand which hadn’t raced the night before
being a BMW 318 for 76 Terry Mansfield. All cars are Focus’ unless otherwise
stated.
Just under 35 for heat one with 619 Mike Knight (estate) turning 588 Paul
Bailey (Vectra) into the infield blocks as 90 Adrian Harboard used his Mk3
Granada limo to turn 14 Steve Stalwood (C class) into the fence before 81 Carl
Scarrow Jnr (Bluebird) drilled 566 Tony Pallett (Astra estate) into the wall and
859 Terry Archer (Primera) buried 37 Dave Lewis (Civic) and 148 Ian Redden
(Bluebird) in one go with the reds then flying to assist the stranded 754 James
McDonald. The race resumed with 326 Shane Lynn (Mk3 Granada) burying 188 John
Reeves (Primera) and 276 Adam Rowell (Bluebird) before 619 Chingey perhaps
unwittingly trashed the empty car of McDonald and was duly leathered by a wicked
hit from 14 Stig. Things turned quiet until later in the race when 212 Jack
Maryon (Omega) powered into 394 Harry Hill (estate) and ran him in to boot
before 329 Michael Carter (Mk3 Granada) buried both Archer and 790 Nathan Young
(Omega). 178 Kieran Bowman (Almera) then collected Carter and was hammered by
790 Nafe who continued to lean in 587 Alex Humphrey (Primera). 175 Karl Corbsy
(estate) treated Carter to a head-on as 688 Steve Collins (Primera) survived a
last bend lunge from 287 Dean Quinsee (Rover 600) to take the win with 587 Humps
third.
35 for heat two and 317 Brad Cushion (IS200) fenced 233 James Carter
(Civic estate) before 95 Anton Martin (Omega) stuffed both 317 Callum Jacobs
(Cavalier) and 95 Jade Harboard (Omega) as a pile-up formed on the road bend
before 316 Sam Dace flattened the smart Focus of 548 Amanda Game while 175 Laura
Bulldeath (Civic) assaulted fellow lady racer 419 Laura Quadling (Cavalier) with
9 Ben Cox (Cavalier) then piling 123 Aaron Phillips’ Almera into 419 Mossop. 3
Daniel Ellis (Rover 214) landed a blow on 313 Scott Elden (Calibra) as 119 Davey
Cox nailed 21 Dan Walker (Accord). Things then exploded as 375 Alex Hensby
(Astra) picked up and drilled 26 Dan Holmes’ Vectra into Game which also claimed
Bulldeath with 551 Brett Jackson (Escort estate) blasting Hensby and staying in
his boot to run him in on the road bend. Ben Cox then nailed 317 Little Cush
which claimed 313 Scottie Dog as 119 Cruncher trashed 551 Jacko Jnr with the
reds flying with concern for the latter to bring the race to an early end. 183
Karl Thorpe winning in his smart Focus from 209 Tom Waller (Bluebird) and 338
Terry Garrod (Almera).
Despite more than ample repair time the consolation entry was a little
disappointing with just 22 cars but it still delivered the action. Lewis began
by stuffing Bailey into the spun 51 James Licquorice (Zafari) as Archer fired
into 288 Stacey Reeves (IS200) and 116 Nat Cohn blasted Nafe with a T-bone
before things exploded on the pit bend when 959 Aaron Keoghan (Bluebird)
collected Archer and was duly destroyed by a stunning hit from Licquorice who
then took a rated hit in turn from 327 Mick Maskall Jnr (E class) ad 528 Lee
Vaughan (Mk3 Granada) zeroed in for a brutal head-on to Licquorice. Bowman
inflicted more damage to 959 Fester with Rowell turning round to blast Archer
with a T-bone before 116 No Luck Nat arrived for a hard hit on 327 Little Legs
and he was named by the game Bowman with the reds then flying with a fuel leak
for Vaughan. A depleted field for the restart and 90 Joe Ninety turned the
Cavalier of 19 Joe Mullarkey into the fence as Licquorice blasted the lurking
902 Rhys Mills (C class) with a T-bone and Rowell administered a hard revenge
hit on the former as up-front 566 Zippy Jnr and 26 Hacker enjoyed a superb fight
for the lead. Nafe meanwhile zeroed in for a bruising head-on to the lurking
Bowman and rammed the Predator a second time on the nose as Zippy Jnr took a
hard fought win, Hacker having to settle for second and Lewis third, just seven
finishing.
A near full field of 27 qualifiers for the Suffolk Open and 319 Shaun
Clarke (Cavalier) began by burying 817 Kurt Jacobs and Hacker before 587 Humps
powered into and removed 212 Mario Kart and 319 Clarkey continued to turn 288
Doris into the fence as 287 the Boy turned Ellis into the infield blocks as
Humps stuffed Lewis. 183 Thorpey found the spun 328 Dan Lathan (Mk3 Granada) for
a head-on as 188 Victor turned Clarkey into the fence and he was collected by
Cruncher which allowed 339 Jack Garrod (Escort) to nail Clarkey as in the race
for the lead 97 Jim Madison stuffed the Boy into the wreckage by the pit gate to
take the lead, Cox then taking a mental lunge at the recovered Boy to send him
spinning. 97 Sunny Jim then drilled 317 Stress into the pit gate which handed
Cruncher the win as Victor flattened Ellis on the home straight which brought
the reds out for the latter. A lap sheet order restart was needed but this
proved short lived as Lathan followed Carter in magnificently on the pit bend to
again bring the reds out to allow the latter a safe exit from his wreck. Barely
double figures for the restart and the Boy emerged on opposite to blast the
leading Cruncher with Humps then stuffing the latter which allowed Cruncher to
regroup and deliver a head-on with Garrod arriving on the scene to destroy the
Boy with a savage head-on. 326 Ratty found Nafe for a hit as Cruncher set about
the Boy on opposite with Cox meeting the latter on the nose before Nafe evened
the score on Ratty. 148 Shorty came through the mayhem to win a fine race from
Lewis and Humps, Lathan and Victor the only other finishers.
Despite the meeting now reaching the seven hour mark it was hugely pleasing to
see 25 return for the Accumulator qualifier and they did not disappoint
those who waited to see it. Hill began by running in 317 Little Cush as 418
Steve Jode buried Sunny Jnr and Cruncher smashed Phillips with a head-on.
McDonald weighed in on Jode as 338 Wingnut thundered in Bulldeath to bring the
reds out for the latter. The race soon resumed with Lewis firing into and
spinning Stress as Joe Ninety opened his account with a package on Cruncher
before Joe Ninety now flattened Chingey before in a true highlight of the
weekend, 817 Stig fired into and buried brother Stress, the pair then
frantically trying to encourage the approaching traffic to nail the other and
ultimately it was Sunny Jim who arrived to flatten Stig with Joe Ninety also
laying in with a big hit to the latter. Lathan found Nafe for a head-on as
Mossop scored on Joe Ninety and Sunny Jim drilled Hill into the pit bend wall
superbly with Jode also laying into Chingey. The remaining laps proved quiet
with the flag falling on Garrod but a subsequent check confirmed Shorty as the
winner from Wingnut and Garrod. Into the DD with Jode planting the
struggling 85 James Ellis (IS200) into Sunny Jim with Dace blasting the former
only to be hammered by Shorty who went on to finish Mossop. Sunny Jim caught
fire on the infield and a wicked head-on between Shorty and Lathan saw the
former also catch fire leaving Garrod and Lathan to enjoy another big head-on,
the former expiring and the latter firing up to take the win with Joe Ninety the
best entertainer.
Heat one: 688 Steve Collins, 287, 587, 898, 97, 148, 326, 188, 328, 36, 212, 790
Heat two: 183 Karl Thorpe, 209, 338, 349, 319, 339, 3, 317 (Jacobs), 9, 817,
233, 119
Consolation: 566 Tony Pallett, 26, 37, 317 (Jacobs), 19, 790, 288
Suffolk Open: 148 Ian Redden, 37, 587, 338, 188
Accumulator Qualifier: Redden, 338, 339, 27, 328
Destruction Derby: 328 Dan Lathan from 339 Best entertainer: 90 Adrian Harboard
The second day of One Wild Weekend saw an almost identical number of BriSCA
F2 Stockcars than the previous night with 66 cars, the number boosted by
four drivers who were not on hand the previous night and it was good to see the
entire Dutch contingent in action again, again credit to 124 Ollie Skeels who
raced in both stockcar classes.
22 for heat one and 977 Dave Massey wasted no time in barging past 5 Josh
Coleman as 849 Triston Claydon set the pace and 55 Courtney Finnikin removed 774
Steve Flatt as Massey banged wheels with 166 Tony Cordiner while H231 Pete Schut
suffered a spin. 630 Justin Parker moved into second and then raced into the
lead before the caution flags flew for Massey who had remained stranded on turn
two after his clash with Cordiner. Clayden came under immediate fire from 987
Sam Brigg on the restart as 488 Liam Bentham fired into H116 Barry Bauer and
Coleman shot 150 Mark Thoms into the wall as 124 Marcus Skeels fired Clayden
wide for third but came under immediate pressure from 606 Andy Plmer as 259
Simon Farrington span. Parker led the race into the final five laps as Palmer
moved Brigg wide for second, the latter then cruelly spinning from contention
with Palmer landing a last bend hit on Parker but was able to ride the hit out
and take the win with Skeels third.
One less for heat two with 282 Ant Riley sending 331 James Di’Guillio
crashing into the wall as 235 Bradley Blyth and 471 Malcolm Kaye span in a
chaotic start with 414 Josh Rayner setting the pace only to spin and hand 735
Mick Haworth control and he came under pressure from H10 Jelle Tesselaar and
their fight allowed 19 Martin Ford and 136 Kyle Taylor to close with Taylor
slipping past Ford for third as 226 Billy Webster span 298 Jake Walker and he
was hit by 289 James Waterfall as Tesselaar moved into the lead before 449 Mark
Dorrill lunged at Rayner which took them both into the wall. 38 Dave Polley
bested 81 Mark Clayton for sixth and 823 Sam Wagner fired 417 Allan Weston wide
for fourth, the latter then losing another spot to Webster as Polley leapfrogged
Taylor when he overcooked it. Wagner meanwhile shot Dorrill into the fence as
Webster was dumped out by 413 Richard Rayner as Tesselaar claimed the second
Dutch win of the weekend with Ford an Polley next home.
23 for the third heat and the click track conditions claimed its share of
victims at the start with 623 Rob Dobie, 282 Ant Riley, 351 Gavin Mason and 715
Scott Aldridge all first lap spinners and 987 Sam Brigg set the pace as 447
Richard Hamsphire collected the stricken Mason and 905 Rob Mitchell dumped out
93 Stu Sculthorpe. 962 Graham East went round and was hit by 190 Chris Morley
before 724 Tom Pell and 441 Mick Branston tangled and span, followed by 376 Daz
Seneschall. Brigg raced into the lead as the race hit half way while the
recovered East was fenced by 212 Jak Hall and Riley attacked the leading Brigg
which allowed 103 Carl Issit to close but he dumped Riley out with a spin and
Brigg edged away again and took the wi with 597 Barry Clow third and 377 Daz
Shaw just beating 968 Micky Brennan for fourth.
17 cars for the first consolation with Sam Brigg quickly firing 692
Andrew Bottomley wide for the lead as Riley fired Hall into Blyth in the race
for second, 741 Luke Branston then crashing up and over Riley which sent them
both crashing into the infield blocks and Massey span as he tried to avoid them.
Dorrill lunged as Walker which sent them both spinning as Blyth did the same to
recovered Branston and Walker came back with a revenge attack on Dorrill which
took them both out to the fence. 704 Graham Crouch removed the luckless Branston
as Webster moved Thoms wide to break into the top four and Brigg raced to a
comfortable win from Blyth and Mick Branston.
Just 15 for the second consolation with Josh Rayner setting the pace
before he was moved wide by Di’Guillo for the lead with Seneschall then firing
Aldridge wide for second while Rayner Schut suffered spins as did Di’Guillio and
H103 Chris van der Elst moved up the inside of Aldridge for second with Mitchell
snapping at his heels, Schut going round again, this time with Richard Rayner as
Mason and Aldridge also suffered spins. Mitchell eased past van der Elst for
second just before half way, the second half proving somewhat processional save
van der Elst being shunted into the fence by the back marking Di’Gullio which
would cost him a qualifying place as Seneschall raced to the win from Mitchell
and Sculthorpe.
A near full field of 30 qualifiers for the final with Weston going round
early on and collected by Haworth as 233 Rob Aldridge also span and Blyth set
the pace as Clayton got stuck into Neil Brigg which Seneschall dumping them both
in the fence which also claimed Coleman as Mitchell, Polley and 788 Steve
Mallinson crashed out in a heap on the pit bend to bring the reds out with a
complete restart ordered with 24 cars still standing for it. Aldridge tangled
with Clow on the restart as Sculthorpe span Waterfall who was collected by
Wagner as Sam Brigg set the pace with Clayton quickly into second as Skeels span
and was hit by 219 Chris Mitchell before Mick Branston span Ford on the exit of
turn two, the reds them flying with fear of a fire for the latter which perhaps
mercifully proved unfounded and this time a lap sheet order restart was needed
with Sam Brigg leading the field with the top 12 all starting bumper to bumper
at the front. 108 Jon Riley immediately fired Blyth wide for third but Coleman
did the same to the former as Seneschall and Branston tangled and Skeels span
Chris Mitchell and he was collected by Aldridge as Tesselaar went round as well.
The leading Briggs came under pressure from the back marking Chris Mitchell as
the race hit half way with Clayton second from Blyth, Coleman and Issit with
Blyth coming through on the inside to take second from Clayton who then lost
third to Coleman with Issit them racing into third before a big crash on the pit
bend saw Tesselaar and Clow crash out and they were joined by Blyth and
Seneschall which brought the caution flags out just ahead of the final five
laps. Coleman restarted the race on the bumper of Brigg but the latter was able
to pull away as 488 Liam Bentham lunged at Clayton to take third only to come
under immediate pressure from Wagner before Issit went up and over Clayton which
also claimed Webster and Clayton was dumped out by Brennan. Coleman meanwhile
connected on Brigg on the last bend but the latter rode the hit out to take a
superb win with Wagner third.
Despite the meeting running an hour later than hoped for an impressive 32
returned for the Grand National with Clow sent spinning by Coleman from
the off as Chris Mitchell removed Tesselaar and Issit went round and was
clobbered by Brennan before the back straight saw Ford pinched into the wall and
he hit a post at nigh on full throttle, stopping the car dead in its tracks in a
truly scary incident which brought the reds out to assist Ford but it also led
to a significant delay to repair some great damage done to the wall in the
vicious crash. The race resumed with Walker spinning Taylor as Bauer fired into
Mallinson while Ant Riley made the running from Blyth with Dorrill inheriting
third when Hall retired and behind Clow moved Shaw wide for a place as Dorrill
eased past Blyth for second. Rob Mitchell then crashed up and over the spinning
H12 Bart Verhoef as Riley led the field to half way and continued to hold the
advantage into the final five laps when things escalated into a fine conclusion
to the weekend. Neil and Sam Brigg both span and Blyth dumped out Shaw as Riley
cruelly went round with three to run. John Riley happily inherited the lead with
Coleman charging at Dorrill to take second but it allowed Riley to edge away and
he claimed his maiden Mildenhall win from Coleman as behind all hell broke loose
on the final bend with a large pile-up claiming several podium chasers and so
Bauer inherited third.
Heat one: 630 Justin Parker, 606, 124, 488, 788, 5, 219, H116, 55, 150
Heat two: H10 Jelle Tesselaar, 19, 38, 823, 136, 81, 417, 735, 298, 289
Heat three: 887 Neil Brigg, 103, 597, 377, 968, 108, 233, H126, H129, 376
Consolation one: 987 Sam Brigg, 235, 441, 226, H159, 150, 158, 977, 55, 212
Consolation two: 376 Daz Seneschall, 905, 93, 289, H103, 331, 941, H12, 413, 962
Grand Final: Sam Brigg, 5, 823, 488, H116, 377, 124, 108, 136, 219
Grand National: 108 Jon Rile, 5, H116, 298, 226, 219, 289, 788, 968, 823
For the second day we enjoyed some quite superb racing on track but the edge was
taken off things somewhat by the meeting taking an hour longer than hoped for to
complete, the toll of just seven of the 17 races going flag to flag with no less
than 15 race restarts (11 of which involved reassembling drivers in a grid or
race order) plus the constant need for much watering due to the uncomfortably
hot weather and compounded by the delay to repair the fence after Martin Ford’s
alarming crash. Away from this disappointment there was much to enjoy on the
day, the Saloons again stealing the show, their middle three races being
absolute stunners while we enjoyed a particularly lively Banger session which
featured several memorable hits and again the F2s impressed, their qualifying
heats maybe not the same standard as the night before, perhaps suffering from
the slick conditions, while the last two races were superb.