Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1998 Index > Meeting 98/05

Meeting No. 5, Sunday, 12th April 1998 PRI Superbangers PRI Hot Rods Group A Hot Rods

Group A Hot Rods
The day belonged to debut driver Michael Vitulli at Arena Essex on Easter Sunday as he stormed the Group A Hot Rods. In his first heat he lapped up to 9th place well ahead of Gary Finch and Darren Christie. Gary Christie took the second heat ahead of another promising new driver, Andy Johnson, with Vic Hope managing third after Dave Finch dropped out sick in the closing stages. Glenn Salmon, former National Superstox champion, seemed a promising prospect in the consolation though a contact penalty and an early spin sent him down the race order to ninth as Paul Smith took an early lead and kept it to the line with Matt Haines and Steve Mills chasing while Ian Haines almost rolled on his way to the line, out of the places. But it was another victory for Vitulli in the final as he easily outpaced the field, only Gary Rouse able to get on terms and unable to close enough to do any better than second with Finch following some way behind that. Probably the unluckiest driver of the day was Paul Smith who made good progress in each of his races only to die out as his Fiesta conversion let him down. Salmon made up for his earlier problems by slaughtering the field by half a lap in the last race of the day, the Helter-Skelter, with Rouse doomed to second place again ahead of Steve Holmes. The Group A Hot Rods return on May 3.

PRI Hot Rods
The turnout of PRI Hot Rods is improving with double figure fields now taking the track at Arena Essex, as they did on the Easter Sunday meeting. Adam Scott took the win from the back in the first heat after Nelson Love blew up having lead most of the race while Phil Barlow survived some problems with Paul Simmons to get second with Rick Fray in third, while Simmons, who crossed the line behind Scott, was knocked back to fourth for his contact. The second race was extremely close as Scott again charged through the field and missed out on a second win by "a coat of paint" as he crossed with winner Stu Hammond, the pair having a last charge down from the fourth turn, leaving Simmons in third. Hammond had led from a pole start and just floored it on the last corner to stay ahead. Scott was not to be denied the final, however, though again he picked up the win as a result of the race leader dying, this time Simmons who died on the last lap to leave Scott clear to the line ahead of Dave Hitchen and Hammond. The PRI Hot Rods return with the Group A's on May 3.

SuperBangers
The first appearance for a formula is always a tense moment. Worries about rules, numbers and such, will it work or won't it. So it was with the first ever appearance of the new PRI formula, the SuperBangers. Sixteen cars booked in for three races of this throwback formula with cars varying from Cortinas to Mk.3 Granadas and variations between, some new names as well as old ones taking an interest including ex-Banger specialist Jamie Dyckhoff in his Brentwood Show special, though his best finish was second in the first heat behind Jumbo Kingsmill with Steve Jones following in third, three of a group who seemed to take this formula well despite its strict limited contact rule. Dyckhoff dropped out during the next race and took no further part in the meeting while Jones and Kingsmill continued where they left off in the first heat in a big battle which left Kingsmill trailing Jones with Tony Shelvey making up for his crash in the first race by getting third here. Chris Whiteman had borrowed an ex-MacAngus World Final car as he subbed for Al Jennings and had been unimpressed by the car before the meeting, but had managed fourth in each heat. The final changed all that as Kingsmill pulled away from Jones who was having cornering problems only to spin as Whiteman approached him in the closing stages to eventually win. Don Anderson followed Whiteman to finish in second with Kingsmill having to settle for third but a reasonably successful day for the mech, with Shelvey following ahead of Steve Macklin; the reigning Firecracker champion having a dizzy time in his Cortina. The SuperBangers return for another go on May 3.

Results

Event                 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 11th 12th 
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1   Grand Parade      
2   Gp A 1             89   65   84   63   49   12   91  174
3   Gp A 2             83  110  100  108   13   3    94   5
4   PRI HR 1          119   17   21   51   5    6    3    8
5   S/Bangers 1        52   36   30   55   15  391   72  256
6   Gp A Cons         121   93   23   2    73   55  122  200   7   190
7   PRI HR 2           8   119   51   3    6    5    21   4    17
8   S/Bangers 2        30   52  347   55   15  391   72  256
9   Gp A Final         89   63   65   73   13  110  108   3
10  PRI HR Final      119   3    8    6    5    21   15  NOCR
11  S/Bangers Final    55   15   52  347   72  391  NOCR
12  Gp A H/S           7    63   49   65  200   99  100   89
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Abbrevs: Gp A - Group A Hot Rods/Cons - Consolation/R2000 - Rawlins 2000 Qualifier
         PRI HR - PRI Hot Rods/S/Bangers - PRI SuperBangers/H/S - Helter-Skelter
         NOCR - No other car running/LCR - Last car running
All results subject to confirmation by promotion.