Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1999 Index > Meeting 99/05

National Bangers Rising Stars Round 1 Group A Hot Rods Supreme Championship Qualifying Round 1 Lightning Rods Supreme Championship Qualifying Round 1

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Group A Hot Rods
With a line up far larger than expected after their Easter outing, the Group A Hot Rods had an extra race added at the Supreme Qualifier at Arena Essex on April 11. It saw a triumphant return to Group A racing by Dave Lamb as he cranked up a heat and final double, outrunning Dave Imber in the second heat and Dave Hutchins in the final which was stopped just outside the three-quarter mark when Ian Thorndyke spun across turn one. Matt Leadbetter took the first heat after a heated battle with new bug Trevor Collins ended on turn four as Bill Witherall spun in front of them, Leadbetter getting the better line inside, while Kevin Down took the win in the consolation, a very strange race which would have fallen to Vince Vitulli had his car survived, or even Darren Sawyer had he been able to stay straight! The allcomers' handicap was just as event filled as a combination of track debris and a seized diff on the Lee Ayton car made the home straight somewhat treacherous, Collins finally picking up a trophy.

Lightning Rods
For all their late start at Arena Essex on April 11, the Lightning Rods provided plenty of action and more than a few controversies. Rob Carr returned after his big wreck the previous meeting and was slaughtered again in the first heat in a pile up that also claimed the leaders at that point including Peter Waite and Paul Carle. All was resolved, however, and Waite recovered to get the heat win while Pat Kenneally held Darren Ahern back from second only to find himself docked for contact, leaving Ahern with second and Mick Thompson third. The second heat was even hotter, especially for the unlucky Lee Page who had retired from the first race then, just as his racing luck seemed to have picked up, a fuel leak turned into a spectacular and potentially dangerous display as flames trailed from the car. With the race hurriedly stopped, the fire was put out in short order, but not before Page had treated the watching public to some spectacles usually reserved for air displays! Carle led the restart away and the racers home in that one. The final went the same way as the first heat, Waite clear in first while more than a few middle order car places disappeared onto the safety area with problems leaving a hard fought battle between Roy Rawlins, Ahern, Geoff Bowen and Brian Whiteman to decide the rest of the places.

National Bangers
Just as in previous years, the Rising Stars series for the National Bangers brought the white tops to Arena Essex in great numbers this year as they met for the first round on April 11. Both heats and the consolation boasted over 40 cars starting as each driver battled for a first three finish that would put them into the £1000 final in October. Nick Harding had the best day of it, winning the first heat and the Rawlins 2000 qualifier, though the second race provided more action as the spinning of Tony Frith on the home straight at the start proved to be the catalyst to a pile up that blocked the entire track. The restart saw most of the 42 car start rejoin, then while Tommy McGurk set about depleating the field including an awesome jacking for Darren Stern on the back straight, Steve O'Sullivan led the rest home in a nine car finish. Paul Hunter took the consolation after it was stopped for another blockage close to the end, while Pam Lacey's car burned merrily on the home straight. The final win went the way of Bradley Hampton in a brilliant last lap pass that saw him shoot inside previous race leader Sam Pearce on the back straight.

Results

0   Group A 1       174 Matt Leadbetter  /116/86/57/84/63/13/94
1   Group A 2        82 Dave Lamb        /64/77/65/175/28/91/83
2   Bangers 1        34 Nick Harding     /515/203/266/510/300/367/341/2/194/338/433
3   Bangers 2       172 Steve O'Sullivan /61/270/351/16/564/7/360/189 NOCR
4   Lightning 1     118 Peter Waite      /149/167/201/290/156/245/215
5   Group A Cons    108 Kevin Down       /168/48/5/58/100/18/49/43/22
6   Bangers Cons    183 Paul Hunter      /633/239/299/157/309/317/370/202/86/287/180
7   Lightning 2     219 Paul Carle       /177/203/149/245/215/225/201
8   Group A Final    82 Dave Lamb        /94/86/18/64/100/5/174
9   Bangers Final   341 Bradley Hampton  /564/351/61/203/300/16/172
10  Lightning Final 118 Peter Waite      /245/149/259/156/219/225/200
11  Group A H/s     116 Trevor Collins   /77/108/91/94/175/148/22
12  Bangers R2000    34 Nick Harding     /270/16 LCR=7 Stuart Wilson

Note that this meeting was NOT run according to programme.