Mildenhall Stadium
Saturday August 27 2016
National Siamese Bangers, Ministox Suffolk Open and Bangerstox Suffolk Championship

The annual National Siamese Banger meeting saw a significant drop in entries compared to recent years with a slightly disappointing field of 17 (34 drivers) with a pair of no shows to further drop the number.

Nine for heat one and 312 Tom Reynolds & 93 Lewis Godfrey span 508 Harry Bradbury & 585 Kevin Giles and the latter were clobbered by 512 Sean & 517 Sid Cooper before 411 Matt & 551 Stu Franklin reeled in the former and span and rolled them to bring the reds out for the first time. 508 Led Head & 585 Big Ears wasted no time on the restart with a wild lunge at 130 Chris & 830 Lee White and 170 Chris Shipp & 72 Billy Bond with 130 Casper & 830 Stretch coming back to attacked Sid & Sean Cooper while Bond & Shipp attacked Led Head & Big Ears and piled them into 313 Craig Osborne & 527 Michael Norman and 10 Ben & 818 Tiff Collins with the former then fenced by Led Head & Big Ears and Shipp & Bond with Ben & Tiff Collins going over in the process to bring the reds out again. The race resumed with Casper and Stretch launching Led Head and Big Ears into a cool full roll with Shipp & Bond smashing them with a hard rear wheel hit when they landed before 312 Turbo & Godfrey delivered a T-bone. 377 Zak & 177 Dwayne Street took a near flag to flag win from Matt & Stu Franklin and Casper & Stretch, the race ending in lively fashion as Osborne & Norman ran in Turbo & Godfrey who battled on to smash Led Head & Big Ears with a head-on leaving them open to a package from Sid & Sean Cooper while Stretch & Casper took the entertainer award.

Unfortunately with a non-starter just seven emerged for heat two which became six before the green fell with 70 Sophie & 71 James Unwin expiring and never being seen again and the race was predictably poor, the only action coming when 188 John Reeves & 294 Lee Hughes fired into 510 Lee Johnson & 610 Dean Craddock en route to second which also earned them the entertainer trophies while 624 Jason Thurlow & 138 Jay Smy won with 95 Anton Martin & 116 Nat Cohn were third.

A couple of already qualified teams helped swell numbers for the consolation to nine with 188 Victor & 294 Stuntman immediately assaulting Turbo & Godfrey while Shipp & Bond fenced Sid & Sean Cooper before Victor & Stuntman span Turbo & Godfrey, the latter recovering only to be piled into 502 Steve Mills & 573 Sam Bloomfield by Shipp & Bond which span them and Victor & Stuntman zeroed in for a truly massive head-on. The two continued to push each other until Turbo & Godfrey tumbled to bring the reds out. The race resumed with 127 Helen Roberts & 511 Jack Licquorice burying Led Head & Big Ears as the fought for the lead and Shipp & Bond homed in for a rated hit on the former leaving 338 Terry & 339 Jack Garrod to battle Osborne & Norman for the lead and a last bend lunge from the former team secured them the win with Bond & Shipp third, Led Head & Big Ears the only other finishers with Bond & Shipp the best entertainers.

All 11 qualifiers contested the final with Zak & Dwayne Street battling Matt & Stu Franklin for the lead before Led Head & Big Ears powered into 624 JY & Smy rolling them to bring the reds out. Shipp & Bond picked up where they left off on the restart as they powered into Martin & 116 No Luck Nat before fencing Victor & Stuntman before Osborne & Norman lunged at JT & Smy and span them, the impressive Shipp & Bond nailing the latter as they tried to recover and they continued to run in Osborne & Norman. This allowed JY & Smy to deliver a revenge hit on Shipp & Bond, spinning them and as the re-joined they tagged the leading Matt & Stu Franklin as they passed but they survived while Johnson & Craddock fired into Shipp & Bond while Osborne & Norman threw a wheel and JT & Smy homed in for a solid hit which rolled them as well to bring the reds out. Despite seven teams still running the concluding laps were quiet with Matt & Stu Franklin taking the win from 338 Wingnut & Garrod and Martin & No Luck Nat with Shipp & Bond again the best entertainers.

Pleasingly 10 teams returned for the Accumulator but the reds were out immediately when Mills & Bloomfield were toppled over by Johnson & Craddock, more drama during the stoppage with a fire for Bond & Shipp which was extinguished and they were still able to restart. Johnson & Craddock continued on the restart to spin Martin & No Luck Nat before the rights Mills & Bloomfield were rolled a second time, this time by Shipp & Bond to end their evening. The race restarted with Ben & Tiff Collins being fenced by Sid & Sean Cooper as Osborne & Norman lunged wildly at JT & Smy to climb to second and Wingnut & Garrod ran in Johnson & Craddock with Bond & Shipp homing in to blast the latter with a head-on before they came under fire from Martin & No Luck Nat as well. Matt & Stu Franklin took another win from Osborne & Norman and JT & Smy and we moved into the DD but it was a little disappointing that not all the survivors took part leaving a smaller entry than hoped for. Nonetheless JT & Smy grabbed hold off and ran in Sid & Sean Cooper hard before the former happily met the on opposite Norman & Osborne in a big head-on. Sid & Sean Cooper weighed in for a revenge hit on JY & Smy and they continued to meet Osborne & Norman in a truly massive head-on on the back straight which saw Sid & Sean Cooper roll on impact to bring the reds out. The event resumed with just two teams left and Osborne & Norman stuck in reverse but Bond & Shipp eventually found them for a solid head-on to finish them but they sat tight for Bond & Shipp to come back and end the night and a superb showing by them with another massive head-on, Osborne & Norman compensated with the entertainer award.

Heat One: 377 Zak & 177 Dwayne Street, 411 & 551, 830 & 130, 313 & 527, 517 & 512, 72 & 170, 93 & 312 Best entertainers: 130 Chris & 830 Lee White
Heat Two: 624 Jason Thurlow & 138 Jay Smy, 188 & 294, 95 & 116, 510 & 610 Best entertainers: 188 John Reeves & 294 Lee Hughes
Consolation: 338 Terry & 339 Jack Garrod, 313 & 527, 72 & 170, 508 & 585 Best entertainers: 170 Chris Shipp & 72 Billy Bond
Grand Final: 411 Matt & 551 Stu Franklin, 338 & 339, 95 & 116, 624 & 138, 177 & 377, 510 & 610, 72 & 170 Best entertainers: Shipp & Bond
Accumulator qualifier: Matt & Stu Franklin, 527 & 313, 624 & 138, 339 & 338, 95 & 116, 72 & 170
Destruction Derby: Shipp & Bond from 313 & 527 Best entertainers: 313 Craig Osborne & 527 Michael Norman

The 2016 Ministox Suffolk Open raised a healthy field of 24 cars which was swelled by six visitors representing Incarace and PRI plus the debut of 302 Jack Smith.

All but one for heat one with 308 Molly Smithson and 329 Kegan Sampson tangling from the off as 339 Harry Atkins got stuck into 514 Abbie McGuinness while 392 Charlie Morphey lunged wildly at 304 Tony Elbourn and 331 Archie Fryatt span as 318 Codie Reeves set the pace and McGuinnes suffered a spin and Smith got stuck into 311 Mike Dobney. Morphey now lunged wildly at both 561 Aaron Totham and 320 Luke Dorling as 342 Freddie Crittenden climbed to second and Dobney held off Smith in the race for third and behind 344 Danny Elbourn got stuck into 566 Steph Sore who battled on to lunge at Sampson and make a pass. 364 David Shearing now charged at both Atkins and 315 Charlie Santry with Morphey dive bombing the former in turn which allowed Santry to come back at Atkins and Sore continued with a big attack on 259 Bradley Eltham and Shearing again set about Atkins as Reeves led the race to half way, the top four unchanged and 370 Rowan Venni up to fifth. Morphey suffered a spin and was clobbered by Sampson with Atkins spinning in the melee and Reeves then clouted Sampson but managed to retain her lead as the race entered the final five laps with Venni into third. Sore lunged at and span Smith who was collected by 390 Nina Leigh and Fryatt charged at McGuiness before Tony Elbourn collected Smith who showed no signs of moving and so the race was brought to an early end with Dobney spinning 327 Jolie Pettit into the wall as things came to an end, Reeves claiming a maiden win at Mildenhall from Crittenden and Venni, Sore taking an excellent fourth from the reds.

23 again for heat two but the reds were soon out to assist a stranded Dobney on turn two. The race resumed with Venni attacking Eltham before Crittenden lost time with a half spin allowing Smith to take the lead before Crittenden took it away with a pass on the inside but Smith regained it and Crittenden again came back with an aggressive lunge to take back the top spot as behind Atkins dive bombed Danny Elbourn and 229 Megan Petherick as Smith again lunge at Crittenden and the lead changed hands again but this battle allowed Smithson to close and she muscled into second as Danny Elbourn lunged at Atkins and 356 Harry Overy lunged at and fenced Sore, Overy continuing to do the same to Atkins just as Smith led the field into the second half with Eltham up to fourth ahead of Venni. Crittenden charged at Smithson in the fight for second but this allowed Eltham to move through and he challenged Smith for the lead while Crittenden and Smithson continued to scrap over second. Sore now charged at Overy as Smith came back at Eltham and regained the lead with four to run as Venni challenged Smithson for fourth and Sore came under attack from Morphey. Eltham again lunged at Smith to take back the lead as behind Atkins did the same to Tony Elbourn and Santry also to Smithson which earned him fifth while Eltham survived a last bend attack from Smith to win a superb race, Crittenden third and Danny Elbourn just beat Smithson to the line for sixth.

22 cars for the title race with Petherick slow off the mark as Tony Elbourn wasted no time with a big lunge at Totham and Reeves span while Danny Elbourn and Fryatt spilled onto the infield with Shearing and McGuinness span leaving Smith to lead from Crittenden and Smithson as Overy lunged at Sampson who came to a halt on the home straight to bring the reds out immediately with a complete restart ordered. Pettit lunged at Smith in the battle for third on the restart while Morphey did the same to Overy and Dorling as Crittenden set the pace and Venni came under fire from Santry. Smith continued his rivalry with Crittenden and lunged at him to take the lead but Crittenden shot back immediately to spin him and re-gain the top spot on lap three and Smithson moved into second ahead of Pettit, Eltham and Santry with Pettit then climbing to second as the well recovered Smith attacked Venni and Atkins charged at Reeves while Shearing took a big lunge at Santry, rattling him into a half spin. Eltham raced into second as Smith again attacked Venni in the race for sixth as Shearing again lunged at Santry which took them both out wide. Eltham now bested Pettit for second and Morphey charged at Atkins which opened the door for Tony Elborn and Dorling to pass as Crittenden led the field to half way but a lap later it was Eltham who raced into the lead as Morphey now attacked Totham. Tony Elbourn dumped Overy out as Danny Elbourn got stuck into Morphy but fenced himself in the process while spinning his attacker. Shearing was now into second and Sore charged at Santry to take fifth before Shearing lunged at Eltham to take the lead just before the five lap to go mark with Smith having worked hard to climb back to third. Sore now charged at Crittenden to take fourth as Pettit challenged Elthan who then cruelly dropped off the pace leaving Pettit and Smith to fight for second. Sore battled with Morphey which allowed Dorling to leapfrog her for fourth as Shearing raced to the win, the impressive Smith fending off Pettit for second and Dorling a fine fourth from the back, Tony Elbourn wrapping things up by spinning McGuinness.

Heat One: 318 Codie Reeves, 342, 370, 566, 259, 364, 320, 344, 315, 392
Heat Two: 259 Bradley Eltham, 302, 342, 370, 315, 344, 308, 356, 566, 392
Suffolk Open: 364 David Shearing, 302, 327, 320, 566, 561, 342, 318, 392, 344

The annual Bangerstox Suffolk Championship raised 28 cars but just 26 for heat one with 59 Adam and 60 Nathan Port retiring almost immediately as 94 John Armstrong took the early lead while 11 Heather Green overshot the pit bend and went in hard and 62 Phil Cook span 29 Liam Hover into her to earn a two place penalty and 46 Mark Jackson was another to hit the wall. Having established a useful lead 94 Rolly expired and 5 Dan Clubb inherited the lead before Cook went round and was collected heavily by 58 Owen Charles which brought the reds out to check on Cook. The race resumed in messy fashion with 100 Howard Belson and 64 Jake Clubb found guilty of jumping the start and receiving two place penalties and the subsequent mayhem saw 77 John Kingsley spin Jack Clubb only to be turned into the wall by 100 Howard Belson earning the former and latter penalties, 43 Steve Cross’ fine progress ended with damage from the crash which also claimed 39 Ashley Colvin and 87 Robin Miles was another retirement as 88 Nick Dash bested Dan Clubb for the lead and took the win with 492 Roy Harper third, 15 Jay Powell’s late lunge on 92 Amy Harper deemed too much and he also received a penalty.

24 for heat two with 4 Paul Harris and Rolly tangling early doors before 78 Bobby Miles became the latest to earn a two place penalty when he sent Jackson spinning as Dan Clubb led the field from Hover and Cook and a clash with Apps saw Roy Harper strike the fence before 41 Aaron Clubb squeezed past Cook to gain a place. 17 Guy Payne also earned a penalty when he sent Apps around before Kingsley struck the fence while Amy Harper and Dash made passes on 2 Keith Merryweather the latter then getting the pit bend all wrong and going in hard to bring the race to an early end with a short delay while Merryweather was treated for a leg injury. Dan Clubb took the win from Jake Clubb and Rolly.

21 for the final heat but Kingsley failed to start leaving Apps to set the pace as Hover bested a struggling Rolly for second before Dan Clubb tangled with the former who span into the fence and saw Clubb collect the evening’s latest penalty. Apps meanwhile opened a big advantage while Dan, Jake and Aaron Clubb and Charles fought hard for second and Dash made a fine outside pass on Amy Harper for eighth. 91 Ben Lawrence struck the wall as he tried to avoid Charles and Jackson when they banged wheels, Lawrence then spinning Aaron Club as he tried to re-join to earn a penalty while the latter was collected by Bobby Miles, 53 Leigh Garratt and Harris. Apps took the win with Dan Clubb second on the road but his penalty dropped him to fourth and Charles and Dash filled the top three.

Down to 18 for the title race with the grid determined by the points scored in the heats and Dash beat front row starter Dan Clubb for the early lead as Rolly clashed wheels with Aaron Clubb and Jake Clubb earned the first penalty of the race when he sent Apps spinning, Rolly then collecting a penalty as well when he sent Bobby Miles spinning and he was hit by Amy Harper as Aaron Clubb hit the fence which brought the reds out, Apps earning a dismissal from the restart when he sent Garratt into the fence after the reds had flow. Dash led the 12 car restart as Jackson challenged Charles for third, this helping Dash to open a big lead as 15 Powelly bested Lawrence for sixth and after a determined effort Charles finally lost third to Jackson who was able to overhaul Dan Clubb much quicker for second but Dash was clear and raced to his second Suffolk title. Jackson was second and Jake Clubb finished third but his penalty promoted Dan Clubb into the spot.

Heat one: 88 Nick Dash, 15, 492, 83, 91, 41, 53, 46, 92, 78
Heat two: 5 Dan Clubb, 64, 94, 41, 58, 91, 88, 29 92, 43
Heat three: 83 Paul Apps, 58, 88, 5, 46, 64, 92, 15, 91, 43
Suffolk Championship: 88 Nick Dash, 46, 5, 15, 64, 59, 9, 91, 39, 11

While it was certainly the quietest National Siamese Banger meeting to date it was still an enjoyable session with a handful of memorable moments while the Ministox again shone with three cracking races and some decent racing from the Bangerstox to make for a most decent evening.