Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1999 Index > Meeting 99/25

National Bangers Rising Stars Series Round 4 PRI Hot Rods Ministox

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Ministox
A glut of drivers turning up for the Ministox racing at Arena Essex meant that the August 8 meeting needed an extra heat to fit them all in. The first race, which was classed as a novice race, saw Chris Smith win on his debut run, well clear of Simon Smith and Nicholas Brown. Race two and the blue jump start was sat on heavily by the starter, James Avison starting in front when all was under way but to characterise his days' racing he ended the race early. Simon Smith took over but was unable to hold off Lawrence Davey by the end, though he did manage to hold Lee Smith back to third. The last heat saw an excellent drive from Vic Bilkey, squeezing between Daren Cardy and Colin Thorndyke to take a lead which he kept to the end, Cardy following with Thorndyke in tow. However Cardy would get his revenge as he inherited the lead in the final as Avison dropped back and out, Bilkey only able to grab second while the excitement was back in third where Daniel Sanderson was clinging to third, Ray Harris looking to snatch it but found too many obstacles between him and Sanderson to make it before the line.

PRI Hot Rods
Race one for the Hot Rods at Arena Essex on August 8 seemed to be in the bag for Philip Mansell, but as has been the case for most of the season, his car was unstable and blew out close to home, leaving the first win with Stu Hammond who had made good progress through the field. Hammond would make it a heat and final double after Jimmy Bryan spun out on the pit bend in the main event, dropping back to fifth, eventually sixth, Dave Fry unable to catch Hammond by the end. Dave Hitchen picked up the last race after going outside Alan White, though he was pressed home by Julian Scott, who closed right up on Hitchen towards the end of the race.

National Bangers
The Rising Stars Banger series at Arena Essex proved as popular as ever as a number of unexpected names popped up for round 4 on August 8 including prolific Banger builder Steve "Skid" Woodward and previous World Championship runner-up Rob Kitchener, who took second spot in the first heat, though Tony Steventon took first spot, having built up a massive early lead, while Dave Lightbody, who had been very influential in the last team round for the Rabbits, got third place. Apart from Skid, Sonny Sherwood, the current Mildenhall track champion, had a representitive out in the form of Vic Sherwood in an ex-Mushy car, while a number change was the only difference in the ex-Non-Ford champion Dale Street, though his race only last a quarter lap as he ended up on Pete Vines' nose on the start line, neither able to move. Jason Randall finally took the win after much changing of leaders during the race. A slight cock-up in the result was resolved in the consolation which Street took ahead of Ashley Halliday and Richard Day in a race which was curtailed when Tommy McGurk flew down the back straight and into Paul Whiteman on the pit armco. McGurk was loaded for that one and awaits penalties. The final was a heavy hitting affair wit only five cars finishing out of the thirty-six that started - thirty-seven qualified but Kitchener did not race again that day - led home by Dale Street with Jonny Roofer and Vic Sherwood following along with Joe Warner and Jason Mills still running while Dave Lightbody was loaded. A problem with Dean Ryan stopped the Rawlins qualifier part way but the restart saw more hits including a big jacking for Marc "Munch" Davies from Paul Dann by the pit gate. Heat winner Randall took the lead halfway and kept it to the flag, then the final destruction boiled down to a Mark Harding vs. Vic Sherwood head on. Both died after it, so a dead heat was called.

Results

0  Ministox 1     584 Chris Smith       /549/505/518/88/20/111/129/360/160
1  Bangers 1      316 Anthony Steventon /410/427/434/32/187/509/287/309/285/112 NOCR
2  Bangers 2      235 Jason Randall     /239/147/551/584/128/420/416/194/218/211/386/325
3  Bangers 3      Race cancelled
4  Ministox 2       9 Lawrence Davey    /584/64/25/62/41/549/527/360/599
5  Hot Rods wu      8 Stu Hammond       /3/21/51/117/9/77/71/103 NOCR
6  Bangers Cons   592 Dale Street       /292/228/93/28/214/100/337/390/278/306/353/149
7  Ministox 3     111 Vic Bilkey        /518/528/16/129/62/64/25/599/350
8  Hot Rods FINAL   8 Stu Hammond       /20/71/21/3/117/77/103/51 NOCR
9  Bangers FINAL  592 Dale Street       /434/218/128/287 NOCR
10 Ministox FINAL 518 Darren Cardy      /111/360/25/62/16/88/527/584/129
11 Hot Rods hs      3 Dave Hitchen      /77/51/21/20/71/8/117/9/103
12 Bangers R2000q 235 Jason Randall     /218/584 LCR=DEAD HEAT 584/218