Mildenhall Stadium Saturday May 23 6.30pm
The 23rd annual Pre 70 Banger Meeting
featuring Tony 'Chainshaw/Oz-Cut' Osborne and 503 Dan 'Odd Job' Hollingsworth Memorial Trophies
and Reliant Robins World Championship QF

Page updated May 22: Pre 70 National Banger entry list updated

PAGE INDEX

Meeting Introduction

Pre 70 Bangers (updated May 22)

Reliant Robins   

General Meeting Information  

MEETING INTRODUCTION

The countdown is on to what is always one of the highlights of the season at RDC Promotions and Mildenhall Stadium with the 23rd annual pre 70 banger classic car meeting on Saturday May 23 which will also feature the final World Championship qualifying round for the Reliant Robins. 

Once again the annual pre 70 night will play host to some memorial events as we remember those sadly no longer with us with the Tony Osborne and Daniel Hollingsworth Memorial trophies which will be presented to the winner of the Destruction Derby and the night's hardest trier and best all rounder respectively.

On top of the Pre 70 National Banger racing, the three wheeled dare devils of the Reliant Robins will also be in action, not only in their latest round of their 2015 points championships but in their final 2015 World Championship qualifying round in what is set to be a very important night for the Reliants.

This page has been designed to bring you everything you need to know for this great meeting with as much relevant information as we can including the current entry list for the pre 70 banger meeting. 

Either scroll down the page to read the entire page or use the quick links below to go to the information you need.

If there are any questions this page does not help in answering them please either e mail us on wastedmc@btopenworld.com or call RDC on 01268 412299. 

PRE 70 BANGERS

Introduction

The Odd Job and Tony Osbourne Memorial Trophies  

Pre 70 Banger entry list (updated May 22)

Past Reports   

Roll of honour   

History of the Pre 70

Introduction

We are now just weeks away from the 23rd annual Pre 70 bash at Mildenhall on Saturday May 26. It's unlikely we'll ever topple the record breaking turn out of 152 cars in 2006 but the indications are good that we will have another healthy turnout with some impressive cars being promised once again.

This marks the 23rdstaging of this annual event, one of the original features of the RDC fixture list and now one of our most popular meetings. There are few events staged anywhere in the National Banger world in 2015 that have been in existence for two decades and this is now the longest running classic car event in the sport.

This year's event will once again see the drivers racing for a pair of memorial trophies for Tony Osborne, known more commonly as Chainsaw or Oz Cut who sadly passed away in early 2014 and Daniel Hollingsworth who was tragically killed in a road accident in 2011. The Tony Osborne trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Destruction Derby while the Odd Job trophy will go the way of the nights hardest trier or best all rounder. 

We have once again decided to take an old school approach to this year's list and all we are revealing are the names and numbers of the drivers booked in, the cars they have to race will remain a surprise until the night itself and there are one or two drivers promising some excellent material for the night. 

Please note that this list is not a comprehensive one. As many of you will be well aware at RDC we do not keep totally accurate lists of information :-) so please take this list as a guide one. 

Also please note that even if a driver has not booked in before hand they will still not be turned away. Also please be aware that bookings are still being taken and there are no restrictions on the number of cars we have.

To book in call 01268 412299 or 07850 683953 or e mail wastedmc@btopenworld.co.uk For information on which cars you can race and engine swaps call RDC on the given numbers. All ORC drivers are welcome and day licenses are available for non ORC drivers costing £25.

Please note that despite the new ORC ruling in 2011 allowing any 2Litre Ford engine to be used as a transplant in a RWD National Banger, we are keeping to our former rules regarding engine swaps at this meeting so there are to be no Zetec or similarly modern engines. A Crossflow or Pinto engine may be used without getting prior permission and other engine swaps may be considered by permission must be gained from RDC first but again no Zetec or modern engines.  All cars should fit the middle weight range of the National Banger rules, however limo and hearse versions of cars within the weight limit are permitted and special consideration may be given to cars which are over the weight limit but are deemed unsuitable for unlimited meetings because of their size and age. Similar consideration may be given to smaller cars which were not made pre 70 but are also unsuitable for any other event. FIn all cases, if you are unsure please check, do not just assume the car will be ok as we will turn away cars which don't make the criteria. Also nas introduced for the 2014 event is the Mk3 Cortina will be permitted as will the Lada Riva and turning round and attacking on opposite will not be permitted until the final race of the night. 

The Odd Job and Tony Osborne Memorial Trophies

For the fourth year the Pre 70 Banger meeting at Mildenhall will see the presentation of the 503 Daniel 'Odd Job' Hollingsworth Memorial Trophy.

The trophy will not be determined by traditional means but given that when it came to banger racing Daniel was not exactly a traditionalist it is almost ideal that his memorial trophy will be determined by somewhat unusual means.

But most importantly we believe the winner of the trophy will do so in a manner which Odd Job himself would have very much approved off.

The trophy will once again go to the driver deemed the 'hardest trier' or best 'all rounder' of the night. A driver who brings a top car with a nice paint job and uses it well throughout the night, whether it be with race winning results, full contact driving, big hits or someone who has no luck but continues to try their hardest and repeatedly fixing their car for another race.

This means that anyone can win what will surely be a coveted trophy and we are certain the winner will be very proud of their achievement. 

164 Jack Turner was presented with the trophy in 2011, 520 Derek Caton won in 2012, 311 Lee Bradbury took the silverware in 2013 and 322 Thomas Fox was the winner in 2014.

The 2014 pre 70 meeting saw the introduction of the Tony Osbone Memorial trophy. 

Tony, known more commonly as Chainsaw or Oz Cut who sadly passed away in early 2014. In more recent times Tony was best know as a leading help in the racing careers of his sons, Craig, Brett and Scott, Craig being the 2014 Mildenhall Track Champion, but prior to this Tony was a regular racer in the sport at several local raceways including Mildenhall and given his affection for pre 70 cars, Triumph 2000s in particular, this was the ideal setting for his memorial meeting. 

His memorial trophy will be presented to the winner of the Destruction Derby in reflection of his enjoyment of these events and was won in 2014 by 288 Carl Sowter

Pre 70 Banger entry list (list updated May 22)

While all drivers will be welcome on the night we do ask on this occasion for drivers planning to race to please book in to assist with both the planning and promotion of the event. Drivers can book in by e mailing us on wastedmc@btopenworld.com or call RDC on 01268 412299 (ideally between 9.30am and 12.30pm Monday to Friday) or with Michael Coventry direct.

As detailed earlier in the week, this week we have been in communication with all the drivers booked in and we can confirm that every driver listed below has reconfirmed their booking this week. Furthermore all the drivers listed below have confirmed to us the car they plan to race Saturday to allow us to pre plan the splits for the heats. With the information we have at present we are expecting a somewhat uneven split of cars for the heat races with the second heat for the medium sized cars looking likely to have a much smaller grid than heat one for the smaller cars and heat three for the larger cars. Also with all drivers welcome on the night, there is a small chance that we might have to split the heats for the smaller or larger cars (if either heat has many extras on the night and all those booked in do honour their bookings) meaning two heats for these groups could be run, albeit with smaller grids. But again we want to stress the chances of this happening are fairly small. Also, as detailed earlier in the week, we are hopeful that numbers and time will allow us to run two consolation races (which the qualifiers from the heat are encouraged to race in), again keeping the smaller and larger cars at least apart for another race, and an Allcomers race immediately after the final. If this is achievable it will offer all drivers three races prior to the Accumulator qualifier and DD and with that mind drivers drivers are being urged to not 'write other cars off' in the heat races to try and ensure all drivers get some race time from these special cars racing this Saturday.  

4 Sam Nice
5 Jeffrey Woolford
15 Ryan Murphey
22 Dave Vincent
25 Mark Thomas
27 Will Longford
38 Eric Haerens
72 Billy Bond
82 Ben Beasley
90 Adrian Harboard
95 Anton Martin
97 Jim Maddison
105 Billy Standing
108 Kieran Jefcote
114 Tim Spinks
127 Mark Challis
132 Robert James
155 Sam Coote
197 Peter Dodge
205 Mike King
206 Dave King
218 Tony Chapman
220 Tom Pavitt
237 Gary Nash
261 Simon Hogg
261 Dom Davies
272 Garry Murrell
288 Carl Sowter
310 Karl Allen
311 Lee Bradbury
312 Brad White
313 Craig Osborne
313 Scott Elden
316 Sam Dace
317 Callum Jacobs Click here for our interview with Callum
322 Thomas Fox
328 Dan Lathan
329 Michael Carter
332 Chris Reed
336 Nigel White
343 Lewis White
346 Scott Saunders
349 Lee Saunders
357 Paul Reid
360 Jack Reynolds
384 John Golden
388 Taylor Sowter
401 Trevor Filmer
414 Lee Busby
527 Danny Gardiner
547 Tony McNeil
551 Alan Jackson
577 Alfie Lee
581 Simon Fixter
587 Alex Humphrey
597 Andy Ashman
599 John Hendy Jnr
605 Adam Collenette
666 John Farmer
673 Darren Fendley
757 Tom Farren
785 Dom Ambrose Click here for our interview with Dom
787 Mike Amoss
837 Peter Nash
841 Phil Jennings
860 Christian Doughtry
883 Jack Filmer
884 Tom Filmer
898 Andy Battle
913 Brett Osborne

Past Reports

Click on the following quick links to read reports from previous pre 70 banger meetings at Mildenhall through our reports library

22nd annual pre 70 meeting on May 24 2014

21st annual pre 70 meeting on May 25 2013

20th annual pre 70 meeting on May 26 2012

19th annual pre 70 meeting on May 28 2011

18th annual pre meeting on May 29 2010 and Click here for some video highlights

17th annual pre 70 meeting on May 30 2009 and Click here for some video highlights

16th annual pre 70 meeting on May 31 2008

15th annual pre 70 meeting on June 2 2007

14th annual pre 70 meeting on June 3 2006

13th annual pre 70 meeting on June 4 2005

12th annual Pre 70 meeting on May 29 2004

11th annual Pre 70 meeting on May 31 2003

10th annual Pre 70 meeting on June 1 2002

9th annual Pre 70 meeting on June 2 2001

8th annual Pre 70 meeting on June 3 2000

7th annual Pre 70 meeting on June 5 1999

Roll of honour

History of the Pre 70 
(Taken from the 'From Small Acorns' feature in Wasted issue 10)

The basis of the Mildenhall Pre 70 event stretches back to promoters Ron and Dave Coventry’s involvement in former PRI venue Crayford. Ron was heavily involved at the racetrack spending many years as the racing manager and both had spent several seasons competing there in bangers and other formulas.

When RDC first started promoting at the Suffolk shaleway back in 1993 its meetings were held on Friday nights just like Crayford’s were which is when the brothers decided to recreate the spirit of the Kent venue by holding the Pre 70 meeting.

The concept was to have cars like the ones which raced at Crayford racing on Friday nights, on the shale under the lights.

Sadly the maiden event on June 4 didn’t capture drivers imaginations as much as was hoped for and just 23 cars assembled for battle. In 2002 the record was smashed for the event as a whopping 109 cars packed the pits for the classic car night. But it didn’t happen overnight.

1994 was a rise to the mid 40s but this dropped again in 1995 to just 29 on a rain soaked evening. Then without warning the popularity of the event exploded in 1996 with a much improved field of 78 cars. It got better still in 1997 with 83 cars and although the 71 car field in 1998 was a little lower it was still a strong showing. 1999 should have really been something special with the 100 car barrier broken for the first time but sadly the rain clouds opened just before start time and never let off all night spoiling the occasion. 2000 brought an 88 car field and in 2001 the numbers dipped to just below 70 but things bounced back in style last year with the record breaking 109 car turnout.

Dave Coventry believes the secret is not changing what they believed to be a winning formula. He said: “We always wanted this to be a Pre 70 meeting designed for smaller cars. In the early years it would have been easy to drop the meeting or change it but we stuck at it and I think now we have a reputation for being one of the best places to bring a small classic and have a good night’s racing with it.”

Over the years the night has seen some of the finest machinery so brace yourselves because here comes a quick run down of the best cars seen so far.

In 1993, 209 Kev Waller raced his first Mk2 Ford, a Zodiac, which he would follow up with numerous Mk2 Consuls while 205 Andy Gates had a pretty Bubble A55 Cambridge. In 1994 8 Vince Wolf entertained with a Wolseley 4/44 which he had to start by winding up the handle and later rolled over. 88 Alan Read stole the show for the first time in 1995 with a smart Austin 2200 hearse and he did it again in 1996 with his rated Mk3 Zephyr hearse. 88 Speedy was again in form in 1997 with his ultra rare Mk3 Zephyr estate but 126 Roy Bramley stole the show with his Triumph Mayflower and got all four wheels off the deck when he met 372 Martin Scully’s A60 in a titanic head-on. In 1998 we saw the event’s best car yet when 359 Simon Rolph rolled back the years with his Austin Seven, Speedy meanwhile impressed us again with his Triumph Renown. 1999 will sadly be remembered for being the really wet year when 247 Martin Butts stole the show with his awesome Phase 2 Vanguard. 520 Derek Caton had car of the meeting the following year with his Vauxhall 14 which proved to be quite quick before it rolled and in 2001 the honours were shared between 547 Keith Utting’s F-Type Victor and 564 Mark Cooper’s tasty Mk1 Consul. Finally in 2002 the pick of the bunch was 548 Kevin Utting’s A70 Hereford and 152 James Dillon’s Mk2 Zephyr estate. Superb stuff. 

There have been plenty of fond memories along the way too and the meeting has attracted some of the sport’s biggest names plus plenty of long distance travellers including the Welsh based Crunch Bunch who made their first appearance in 1995, 263 Jon Wyatt from the South West, Ringwood’s 300 Jon Ayles and the Mob’s 152 Mr Grumpy and 155 Scott Hamilton from Scotland who came last year.

We must not also forget another Scottish based driver, 502 John Wallace who was involved in an incredible barrel roll in 2002.

The meeting has also become known for some spectacular rollovers, 709 Ivan Latham’s near triple in 2000 quite possible the biggest.

The stage is set for the 2003 event and although it remains to be seen if the 109 car record can be beaten the early indications are that there will be plenty of vintage to enjoy what is now one of RDC’s highlights on the calendar

RELIANT ROBINS

It’s been a long running tradition at our annual pre 70 National Banger evening at Mildenhall Stadium that joining the classic car bangers on the bill are the 3 wheeled dare devils of the Reliant Robins as they join us for round three of their Mildenhall Track Championship which is also, perhaps more significantly, their final 2015 World Championship qualifying round ahead of the championship itself on July 18. 

In a way the Robins are a suitable second formula for this meeting for a few reasons. Firstly the Reliant Robin first went into production into 1973 which in a small way carries on the classic car theme of the event but they will surely also continue the theme of serving up some most enjoyable and entertaining racing as well and this meeting in particular has produced some fine Reliant meetings in years gone by. 

There are many theories as to why. There is no arguing many drivers thrive on the opportunity to compete in front of a packed house and with the pre 70 night traditionally one of the most popular nights of the year at Mildenhall there is no denying the Reliant drivers will be eager to catch the attention of the fans on hand with their unique style of racing. Throw in the importance of the meeting with the final chance to both qualifying for and improve your grid position for the World Final and that this meeting has a habit of attracting one or two unusual drivers who we rarely see in the formula at RDC and there is often a good mix of spice for this mid-season Reliant meeting at RDC. 

A full meeting preview for the Reliant Robins will follow shortly

GENERAL MEETING INFORMATION

Meeting format

Admission Prices    

Directions

Greyhound racing

Overnight Camping

Contact Details

Meeting format
(please note the meeting format is subject to change)

6pm
Grand Parade of Pre 70 National Bangers and presentation of top car awards
6.30pm
Race 1: Pre 70 Bangers heat one (small sized cars)
Race 2: Pre 70 Bangers heat two (A60 sized cars)
Race 3: Pre 70 Bangers heat three (Triumph 2000 sized cars and larger)
Race 4: Reliant Robins heat one
Race 5: Pre 70 Bangers Consolation
Race 6: Reliant Robins heat two
Race 7: Pre 70 Bangers Grand Final (qualifiers only)
Race 8: Reliant Robins Grand Final
Race 9: Pre 70 Bangers Accumulator qualifier into Tony Osbourne Memorial Destruction Derby

There will be no graded starts in any of the races. An Incarace draw will be used for the final but in the remaining races it will be first come, first served. We are giving drivers a bit more freedom and flexibility to choose where they line up. We understand the pre 70 meeting is not like any other meeting of the year and this will allow drivers in the slower, smaller and more rotten cars to line up towards the back of the grid if they feel. However we are trusting the drivers not to abuse the system and hope to see drivers in more competitive cars line up in the main body of the pack and we also hope to see champions and established top drivers position themselves towards the rear of the field, rather than attempting to secure the front row of the grid. 

Secondly we also understand that the meeting attracts a great deal of smaller pre 70 cars which drivers may not wish to use in the final against larger and faster cars. With that in mind drivers who qualify in the first heat of the programme (the heat for smaller cars) will have the option of racing in a consolation instead of the final should they wish.

Admission Prices
Adults £15
OAPs £9
Under 14s £6
Under 5s Free
Family ticket £36 (two adults and up to three under 14s)
Admission prices include car parking and special 20 page programme

Directions
From the Barton Mills roundabout on the A11, turn towards Mildenhall on the A1101, follow the road to a small roundabout and then follow the sign for West Row. This road is 2.5 miles long and you pass RAF Mildenhall on your right, at the end of the road turn left towards West Row and then first right which is signposted Mildenhall Stadium. The stadium is a mile down the road on your left and the car park is the first entrance by the big tyre. For the pit area, go past the stadium and take the road down the side of the stadium.

The A11 can be accessed from the M11 at Junction 9 or use Junction 14 onto the new A14 (formerly A45) and follow the signs for Norwich A11. The A14 is also accessible from M6, M1 and Harwich.

The post code for the stadium is IP28 8QU

Click here for more detailed directions on how to find the stadium

GREYHOUND RACING

Anyone planning to travel to Mildenhall Stadium the night before this meeting may be interested in joining us at the stadium on the Friday night (May 22) where there will be a greyhound meeting. 

RDC have a fantastic deal where drivers can get a reduced admission for themselves and their guests to the dog meeting.

By producing an ORC log book (or a Saloon Stockcar or BriSCA F2 Stockcar log book) drivers can get admission to the greyhound meeting for themselves and all their guests for just £2 a head which includes a race card. Normal admission for the greyhound meetings is £5. 

The greyhound meeting will be a great way to kick off the bank holiday weekend and these meetings at Mildenhall and always an excellent night out for the whole family. The Fenman bar will be open as will the fish and chip shop and the restaurant is open although tables must be booked, for more information call RDC on 01268 412299. 

Overnight camping

Overnight camping is available at Mildenhall Stadium both on the Friday and Saturday night for no additional cost to racers, however we do ask that drivers intending to stay the night before of the night of May 23 to inform RDC by phone or e mail. 

Guests joining us on the Friday night may be interested to know there will be a Greyhound meeting at the stadium. 

Alternatively if you are looking for overnight accommodation in the local area please contact RDC and we will be able to assist in some contact details for local Bed and Breakfasts and hotels. 

Contact Details

If there is any information you have been unable to find about this event on this page then please contact RDC either by calling 01268 412299 or 07850 683953 or e mail wastedmc@btopenworld.com

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