Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 1999 Index > Meeting 99/37

National Bangers Grand Slam Lightning Rods Ministox

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Ministox
It was the Ministox' last meeting of the year at Arena Essex on October 24, with the first race seeing Scott Lock just hold off Paul Murphy while Steve Laybourn picked his first trophy up in third. The second race was finished quickly as things started getting rough with a number of visitors joining our own folk. Joe Bullen pulled up in first place ahead of Murphy and Darren Cardy after some close racing between the front pair. The third heat saw the early lead from James Avison change hands until finally Neal Gardiner took over, Mark Nathan pushing hard all the way home. It was Lee Smith's last race at Arena Essex before he graduates out of the formula, one of many that have left the formula this year due to age, and he made sure that it was a memorable race as he carved his way through the field for one last winners' trophy while second finisher Tubbs Butler was docked for contact, leaving Bullen with second and Laybourn in third.

Lightning Rods
The Lightning Rods raced their last at Arena Essex in 1999 on October 24 with a well represented three race meeting. Heat one went to Clint Brazier after early leader Nathan Bone spun himself by the Tavern, while Darren Ahern had to settle for second, unable to close up in time. Brazier took the second heat as well, while Bone held off John Crowther in second spot, then went on to win the final, Rob Carr threading through the field well to second place with Ahern in third spot in a race made somewhat dicey with a light rain falling just before the race started.

National Bangers
October 24 was Grand Slam time for the National Bangers at Arena Essex, with all the running titles being decided. One title was already decided as Phil Hudson turned up with "Points champion" written on an immaculately turned out Cortina which he was to smash up in the course of the meeting.

Champion of champions: Hudson wasted no time as he jetted through the packwith Sonny Sherwood in tow for the first win of the day, while attention was also on Andy Burrough and Brian McGuinness. With the word in the pits being that the Squad/Cream war was still on, it was no surprise when the pair met head on and proceded to put each other out of the race.

Rising Stars series: Things looked well for veteran Bob Kitchener as he took the lead in the 41 car start then stretched it to an almost impossible length until he met with the wrecking that was going on around the Tavern turn on his last lap, notably Sam Pearce, allowing Spike Dray through to win, Kitchener managing to recover for second. There was some argument after the race with some hint being made about team racing but the steward did not see this occur.

Rawlins 2000: There was some concern as Brian McGuiness was rescued from his wreck, but he emerged well enough after RDC visitor Andrew Davies took the lone Squaddie into the fence on turn one hard off the start. Considering that McGuiness had Davies, two Rabbits and a host of Cream lined up with ill intentions toward the Suicide Squad it was a wonder that McGuiness did not get more pounding before the reds came out, and led more than one onlooker to speculate where the rest of the Squad had gone. The race belonged to ex-British Champion Sonny Sherwood after coming through the field to outrun Dave Lightbody at the halfway point, another ex-Champion John Harris picking up third place while Brad Theaker was taking a hiding on the pit bend, a thump from Jason Jackson then a full bodied head on from Jason McMahon.

The remaining races were allcomer events, the consolation being a spinners' special. This eventually went to Danny Wade while the majority of the hitting went the way of Steve O'Sullivan who was being wrecked by the Creams and also took a t-bone from Orgles champ Tony Shelvey. Billy King also got a big stuffing when Dean Bateman jacked him, then Jason Randall jacked Bateman! The Grand Slam was stopped midway after Phil Stevens gave Mark Woolner one jack too many, this being the last in a line of jacks including Woolner on Tony Abrehart, Burrough on Davies and Davies on Randall. The restart five lap dash was still full of wrecking right up to the end, winner Wade carrying Stuart Wilson over the line in a wreck attempt after Wilson had spun Wade on his last turn. The race became a destruction derby after that and while Wade pulled out, Harris, Wilson and Pearce started playing in the wreckage, Harris and Pearce finally taking each other out when Harris t-boned Pearce full on.

1  Bangers Champion of Champions  37 Phil Hudson    /348/347/417/172/183/260/34/290/110/326 NOCR
2  Ministox 1 (W/Y)              564 Scott Lock     /512/527/20/549/8/87/558/7/528
3  Bangers Rising Stars series   528 Spike Dray     /133/4/597/410/334/128/172/147/214/564 NOCR
4  Ministox 2 (Y/B/R)             90 Joe Bullen     /512/518/88/9/I24/111/25/I9/I1
5  Lightning Rods 1              340 Clint Brazier  /149/219/200/104/203/268/201
6  Bangers Rawlins 2000 Final    348 Sonny Sherwood /427/418/37/275/415/429/7/284/290 (NOCR)
7  Ministox 3 (W/B/R)             88 Neal Gardiner  /I9/564/527/64/I24/549/518/16/20
8  Lightning Rods 2              340 Clint Brazier  /131/200/291/199/149/170/219
9  Bangers Spinners Special Cons 334 Danny Wade     /R147/564/418/528/263/429 NOCR
10 Ministox Final                 64 Lee Smith      /90/527/41/50/512/518/111/I9/88
11 Lightning Rods Final          131 Nathan Bone    /104/149/340/245/156/445/167
12 Bangers Grand Slam Final      334 Danny Wade     /418/7/564/230 NOCR LCR=7 Stuart Wilson