Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2000 Index > Meeting 00/08

National Bangers Rob Belchamber Memorial Pocket Rocket Legends 1300 Stock Cars

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1300 Stock Cars
Arena Essex saw a reasonable turnout of 1300 Stock Cars for its April 24 domestic meeting and a return to form by John McGirr who motored through easily for victory in the warm up, though he had to sit out most of the final as his car gave in after hitting Graeme Mackey early on. The final went the way of Simon Welton, another notch for the young ex-Ministox ace who is showing promise as he starts to climb up the grades. McGirr was back in the Sprint Finish race however, grabbing the lead from early front runner Andy Brown two laps from home.

National Bangers
The Rob Belchamber Memorial for Bangers has been a staple of the Arena Essex calendar since 1983, with a host of important PRI stars its past winners. It was Steve O'Sullivans' turn to defend the title this year, though from the way that the competitors took to it on April 24, it was never going to be easy. This included the latest installment of the infamous war that has lain the Suicide Squad low this year; heat one featured a massive pair of head-ons for Brian McGuiness by John Harding and Dave Lightbody in the Raceway Tavern fence. Ian Smith was first winner of the day, while Mark Ruskin extended his lead in the drivers' championship with a win in the second heat, again featuring yellow bashing action as new Squad Ray Sharrod was pinned by Stuart Wilson and Chris Clark while Wooster Smith, recently back in action for the Rabbits, took care of John Randall, stuffing a t-bone in before John Harris could sling a hit in before Luke Radley pinned one on Randall's nose, though the biggest hit had to be Richie Ahern sniffing Mark Day's diff on turn three. Steve Macklin should be used to wrecking as a former Firecracker champion, and he showed it in the consolation as Clark went mad in the wrong direction, his best hit being in the side of Barrie Gower that time out.

With no sign of the defending champion, it was business as usual in the final, Dean Conyard being crushed in the fence while Mark Bunting stuffed one in on Sonny Sherwood who decided that a little anti-clockwise action would make up for an early demise in the race. Lee West was already making progress through the field at this point when the race was stopped for Radley who had rolled over by the pit gate onto his roof. Bernie French led the restart, Bob Dunn drove into a wall, then the pile up started which took many of the front runners out of the frame temporarily but helped West to the lead from which he would not be shaken, though Harding and Billy King had to dive for it from the last corner, Harding just grabbing second spot over the younger Condom driver. West had built up quite a lead by the end, though he did give a scare when he took a little time out to jack Darren Nash, who had already been pinned by Tommy McGurk. Macklin returned in the Rawlins qualifier to grab a place in the traditional £2000 season ender, then John Harding took care of Paul Whiteman to grab the last car spot.

1  Bangers 1       336 Ian Smith         /49/53/4/515/348/217/235/250/160 NOCR
2  Bangers 2        32 Mark Ruskin       /42/203/15/6/183/30/356/252/418 NOCR
3  1300 Stx wu     748 John McGirr       /606/664/600/697/771/699/705
4  Legends 1         4 Daniel Rutterford /213/6/7/8/69/5/2
5  Bangers Cons     72 Steve Macklin     /23/546/331/564/427/16/169/588/26
6  1300 Stx Final  600 Simon Welton      /771/697/664/606/699/777/799
7  Legends 2         6 Ian Hales         /69/7/4/8/213/88/5
8  Bangers Final     6 Lee West          /160/49/331/23/32/183/42
9  1300 Stx Spr.   748 John McGirr       /671/697/705/699/606/771/658
10 Legends Final     6 Ian Hales         /4/7/5/69/88 NOCR
11 Bangers R2Kq     72 Steve Macklin     /336/217 LCR=160 John Harding

Legend entry (according to official entry sheet)

  2  Martin Burford
  3  Steve Baker
  4  Daniel Rutterford
  5  Arthur Bright
  6  Ian Hales
  7  Trevor James
  8  Derek Hales
 49  John Illyat
 69  Paul Simpson
 88  Chris Pye
213  Des Chandler
482  Jason Cooper

Officials: Mrs. Hales, Philip & Helen Moseley