Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1998 Index > Meeting 98/06

Meeting No. 6, Monday, 13th April 1998 Plastengrave Bangers incl. Essex Jaguars Ladies Bangers 1300 Stock Cars Ministox

Ministox
A spectacular rollover ended the first Ministox heat at Arena Essex on Easter Monday, Colin Hodson emerging from the wreck. This triple on the pit bend happened toward the end of the heat which was awarded to Ray Harris ahead of Lee Smith and Neal Gardiner. Things calmed down a bit in the second heat, though controversy reigned in the result as Gardiner was dropped a couple of places for jumping the start and Barry Radcliffe was disqualified for contact which left Mitchell Terry in first with Dave Devine and Alistair Pizzey collecting the rest of the trophies. A couple of false starts later in the final and Devine was back to winning ways, eating up the field, finally passing outside Gardiner - who later retired with a flat - to take the victory well ahead of Lee Pearce and Craig Bromley, who had a good charge toward the end of the race.

1300 Stock Cars
It was commentator Rob Porter's turn to feel the wrath of the steward in the first 1300 Stock Car race of Easter Monday at Arena Essex and no doubt he heard all about it as he retired to the Race Control as he was docked two places for jumping the start. Meanwhile, a tight first heat was taken by Mark Thompson in the closing stages ahead of Derek Mortimer while early leader Grieg Cheeseman rolled around for third. The final was a different affair from previous meetings as Chris Whiteman was unable to make any headway, so ending his winning streak in the formula, the win going to Lynda Beaumont who even managed to pass current track champion Andrew Davies in the process. John Sawyer followed at a distance with Derry Monk unable to improve on third place. Monk was to find a target in the helter-skelter race as he relentlessly harassed former Lightning Rod champion Steve Cassar. Cassar tried to slow Monk down in some tactics gleaned from his years in the Dirty Half-Dozen, but Monk survived to take sixth place, but one has to wonder about the future racing prospects of the two. The race went to Sawyer ahead of Steve Hall and Mortimer.

National Bangers
The Plastengrave Bangers met up again at Arena Essex on a cold Easter Monday, starting with another round of the Essex Jaguars Ladies Qualifiers which was won by Elaine Witherington after a last stage scuffle with eventual second place Trina Wade, with third place going to Lynda Beaumont driving a Phil Hudson special from the back of the grid.

Mark Newman was on form again in the main racing, pulling off his first heat and final double to top the points in the series. He won the first heat easily in a big wrecking race well ahead of the remaining field as his chasing rivals were taken out one by one. John Harris followed at a distance in second with Ian Ardley in third. The second race was taken by Gordon Surgeoner despite every attempt to catch up by Chris Whiteman who ended the race second ahead of Cowboys Garry Deacon and Graham Lindfield. Surgeoner took the lead mid race when he caught and spun Dean Bateman on the crowded pit bend. Steve Evans took a rough consolation which was stopped early on when Kev Harland had his Viva HC folded up around him on the Aveley bend, Rich Harding loaded for the offence. But there was no stopping Newman as he lapped to third for a yellow roof next time out, Lindfield following with Glen Seago trailing in third. Newman would have been further ahead but for a spin on turn two. Stuart Ruff finished the Rawlins 2000 qualifier first, then the destruction started. Ruff was taken out by the remains of Buzz Kelsey while Lindfield and Deacon started on Peter Salter. Salter survived to remove Lindfield but Deacon carried on regardless to take on Keith Wildman in a series of back straight shots that ended when a badly aimed head on attempt by Wildman took Wildman's steering out and pinned Deacon, though Deacon got enough movement to secure last car running status.

Results

Event                 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 11th 12th 
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1   Grand Parade
2   Ladies Bangers    284   33   37  188  266  250  508  487  280  398  104  366
3   Ministox 1         25   64   88  120  111   17  317   56   41   22
4   Bangers 1         401  418  114  164   42  391  206  135  232  339  242  295
5   1300 Stx w/u      622  697  612  704  743  725  797  673   57  724
6   Bangers 2         296   55  101  104  510  130  102  464   24  365  188  250
7   Ministox 2         86   17   62   88   3    31   49   25  120   20
8   1300 Stx Final    750  709  643  674  622  655  664  697  619  673
9   Bangers Cons      280  433  331  120  268  487  356  266
10  Ministox Final     17   23   49   62   31   3    5   121   41   25
11  Bangers Final     401  104  268  418  130  510   55  101
12  1300 Stx H/S      709  797  697  674  673  643  658  664  608  296
13  R2000             260  101  104  LCR = 101
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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.