Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1998 Index > Meeting 98/08

Meeting No. 8, Sunday, 26th. April, 1998 National Bangers Rob Bellchamber Memorial Trophy 1300 Stock Cars Ministox

Ministox
April 26 and the Ministox met again at Arena Essex for three races beginning with a back to front victory from Mitchell Terry ahead of Joe Bullen and Dave Devine. Devine was to have a good days' racing all in all though the twice stopped second heat did not give him nor the other red grades much time to gain places, a brace of accidents leading to an early finish and a first ever Arena win for Ben Bland with first across the line Joe Springett given second for a jumped start and Neil Gardiner taking up third. Bland was to win the final race too, though only by holding off Bullen in a close finish that saw Bland win by just half a car from Bullen with Terry in close attendance as well for third and Devine in fourth.

1300 Stock Cars
It was very wet on April 26 at Arena Essex and the choice of tyre pressures was critical for the 1300 Stock Cars. Those who chose correctly stayed on the track, especially in the first "white tope" race won by Rob Porter after early leader Glenn Bragg succumbed to the spinning sensation three laps out, Bragg having to settle for second. Porter managed to win as a result of steady driving, Bragg's example being followed by many of the more adventurous drivers until a reasonable dry line emerged. The second race, an experts race, was all about a battle between Chris Whiteman, Phil Wise and Derry Monk which started midfield. Wise was left in midfield as th battle moved on, Monk managing to overcome Whiteman only for Whiteman to spin Monk out then take the lead from Marcus Pollard who dropped back after a series of shunts. Whiteman secured victory while Monk had to wait for a place in later races. He waited then pounced in the final, dumping all before him to win comfortably, outpacing Whiteman this time while Dave Collin took a few scalps, notably Wise, for second, Whiteman only managing fifth to add to his points haul for the year. That race was a little marred at the start when a big smash up took Bragg out, though honourable mention should be made for the Cheese Roll, or Grieg Cheeseman, who led for a fair while until dumped off by Monk before t-boning Mark Browne who was spinning across the Aveley turns. Monk didn't leave it at that, taking the helter-skelter too, spinning Whiteman back down to fifth to do it while Derek Mortimer had his best drive of the day in second and Mark Thompson added a third to his record of impressive performances.

National Bangers
National Bangers The Rob Bellchamber Memorial for National Bangers took place during the April 26 meeting at Arena Essex starting with yet another victory tour around the circuit for Chris Whiteman as he ran through from the back, stopping only once to put Stuart Johnson into the armco on the home straight, with Russ McAngus and Andy Burrough following behind. Phil Hudson decided to try something new for this heat and his N reg Scorpio Ultima, a first for Arena, got him to sixth. The second heat was taken flag to flag by Dean Bateman ahead of Phil Stevens and Ken Knight. The Memorial race itself was an allcomers' affair which saw Jason Jackson dumped all over which defending holder Don Anderson rolled out shortly after the race started, meaning that a new champion would emerge. The eventual winner just happened to be Phil Stevens who dumped out Bateman before halfway to take on the lead, staying ahead despite even Whiteman's best efforts. Meanwhile Hudson was taking care of business, putting his not so immaculate Scorpio to use by obliterating Darren Witherington, though a quick wrong way search just before the reds revealed nothing further to hit. The meeting ended with the first Rawlins 2000 Spinners' Special of the season which was won by Burrough from John Harding and Hudson before the usual free-for-all where Balders finally lost out, Harding knocking his back end away for the last car running award.

Results

Event                 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 11th 12th 
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1   Grand Parade
2   1300 Stx 1        715  714  673  640  728  686  612  776
3   Ministox 1         86   90   17   31   64   62   56   34   7    28
4   Bangers 1          55   21  429  160   91   37  391  597
5   1300 Stx 2        655  674  619  697  633  658  612  777
6   Bangers 2         130   53   43  418   15  546  401  147
7   Ministox 2        M25   29   88   7    86   17   6    64   62   41
8   1300 Stx Final    643  725  697  704  655  622  658  747
9   Bangers Final      53   55   43   91  401  429  160  418
10  Ministox Final    M25   90   86   17   28   6    88   25   29  111
11  1300 Stx H/S      643  697  622  674  655  704  703  725
12  R2000 S/S         429  160   37  LCR=160
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Abbrevs: R2000 S/S - Rawlins 2000 Spinners' Special Qualifier
         Stx - Stock Cars/M denotes RDC registered car where identical numbers exist
         NOCR - No other car running/LCR - Last car running
All results subject to confirmation by promotion.