Arena Essex 00/34

Meeting 00/34, Sunday 24th September 2000

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Group A Hot Rods Supreme Championship
Outlaw Hot Rods Open Picnic
SuperBangers

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Outlaw Hot Rods
September 24 saw a downpour which, had anybody actually entertained the idea of having a picnic on the day of the Outlaw Hot Rod Picnic Open, would have seen people scrurrying for cover to watch the comestibles float away in the sand-coloured wash. Why "picnic"? Well, originally, this was to be the launch of the formula that actually saw its first outing at Arena Essex back in June at the Festival of Speed. However, even with the atrocious weather, the formula still put a good show on, both heats going to Julian Scott in his showroom Fiesta, both times outrunning veteran everything-driver Alex Maclean driving the ex-Bryan PRI special. Roy Rawlins managed third in each heat, the first time cleanly, the second heat marred a little when a number of cars collided on the back straight. The final was far more exciting, however, as a dry line started to develop, and Maclean again managed to get a good start with Neil Reeve in pursuit. Reeve would eventually be disqualified for contact, the final straw being his clip on Scott which effectively killed Scott‘s clean sweep attempt. It also let through Mark Lisowski who promptly set to work catching the leader, a car length between them at 4 laps, half a car at 3 laps then Lisowski tucked in to avoid hitting the Des Stainer car, Stainer being disqualified earlier for a shot on Colin Crocker but still racing. Maclean took the win with Rod Brewer following Lisowski home.

Group A Hot Rods
The Supreme Championship meeting for the Group A Hot Rods at Arena Essex on September 24 was marked by two things; close racing and lots and lots of rain. When Gary Rouse led the last chance qualifiers home in the first event, it was in a torrential downpour which left more than one driver struggling just to stay on the track, the rain starting as the cars lined up. Rouse was to show his wet weather credentials on more than one visit to the track, lapping to third in the last chance race ahead of Gary Christie, then scything his way up from the back of the grid in the Supreme Championship Final to second place in an epic race which saw heartbreak for Dave Devine who grabbed the lead in the opening lap then pumped up an awesome lead only to be wrecked when Gary Thomas shunted into him in a tangle on the Aveley bend. Although he gamely tried to keep going after the waved yellows were withdrawn, Devine had a rear wheel jammed up in the body of his Fiesta which made the car totally useless in the corners even in the wet conditions. Dean White took up the lead from there while Tony Moss bundled through to second spot. The racing got hectic at that point with Rouse and Moss going for the front only to be held back by White, then Moss found an outside line that got him ahead leaving Darren Clement fighting with Rouse and White over second place. Clement was a little too free with the front end, however, and a back marker spin put Clement down from his finishing position of second to fourth, Rouse getting his second place ahead of Mark Browne who had motored up in the closing stages, White spinning out of the result close to home. Barry Miles took the consolation, using a clever pass to get ahead of Jim Richards whose Corsa died a lap from home, while Lee Ayton managed to shut Richards and a few others out in the meeting final, only Jason Villa managing to make a realistic challenge but unable to hold onto the slippery wide line. Darren Clement made up for his Supreme drive with a helter-skelter win over Barry Miles. Miles should have won it but threw it away in the last two laps when he hit the pit gate, getting the corner wrong each time, and that after outrunning Richards who again didn‘t last the race out, Terry Bearman getting his best finish on the day in third behind Miles.

SuperBangers
Twenty-five SuperBangers turned out at Arena Essex in the rain on September 24 in the inappropriately titled "Warm up" race which saw a first win for Gary Palmer with the improving Micky Thompson and John Alder behind. The "Sprint" race belonged to Alder as he easily dashed home ahead of Barry Wilsher and Terry Shelvey, whilst the main event saw Graham Heard pull a quarter lap or more ahead of Wilsher and Shelvey to win.

Results

1  Gp A Last Ch    63 Gary Rouse     /83/64/48/94/163/155/5
2  Outlaws 1       77 Julian Scott   /47/5/51/121/8/22/140
3  Presentation   
4  Gp A SUPREME    92 Tony Moss      /63/67/197/57/91/108/9/102/83/82/94
5  Outlaws 2      *** CANCELLED
6  Sbangers wu     38 Gary Palmer    /167/60/68/153/87/58/90
7  Gp A Cons       77 Barry Miles    /85/24/5/90/43/163/155/99/33/23/64
8  Outlaws 3       77 Julian Scott   /47/5/12/319/21/22/121
9  Sbangers Spr    60 John Alder     /90/87/40/167/68/188/38
10 Gp A Final      43 Lee Ayton      /5/83/85/102/67/163/108
11 Outlaws Final   47 Alex Maclean   /22/259/121/21/20/316/110
12 Gp A hs        197 Darren Clement /77/91/67/102/33/82/108
13 Sbangers Final 397 Graham Heard   /90/87/60/89/387/40/38