Arena Essex Raceway - Meeting 04/14 Sunday, May 30, 2004 Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2004 Index > Meeting 04/14

Group A Hot Rods Dean Kemp Memorial Outlaw Hot Rods Ministox

Group A Hot Rods
It was something of a day of mishaps for the Group A Hot Rods at Arena Essex as they met for the Dean Kemp Memorial meeting on May 30. Whilst the first event went smoothly enough, 1300 Stock Car man Paul Haralambou grabbing the inside line late in the race to win it ahead of Andy Beverton and Dave Lamb, long time leader Bill Witherall dropping down to seventh after going a bit wide. The second heat, however, was anything but. It seemed that all was going well with Bradley Sullivan leading the field ahead of a nice field of higher grades until Ricky McCatty blew his engine immediately ahead of the lead group, dumping his sump around the pit bend. With no time to do anything about it, Sullivan managed to turn his car around to halt himself, only to be picked up and slammed into the turn three armco by Clinton Groom, followed quickly by Chris Smith, Gary Rouse and Lamb. Indeed, with so many cars dead, the restarted race was reduced in length and Witherall managed to grab a trophy after all while more than one team was feverishly working away in the pits to get something ready for the final. Chris Fuller managed an easy win in the third heat ahead of a last minute drive by Steve Gooch, putting Mark Cook back to third, but the final proved just as momentous. If McCatty was unlucky with his engine, or Groom with big crashes in two formulas this year, you can spare a thought for Lamb who, having worked to get his car running for the final, ended up in exactly the same spot in the fence, this time after getting caught by a spinning Haralambou car. He was furious, but there was little that anyone could do! Nicky Bearman made good progress throughout the race but would eventually lose out to the eventual winner, Steve Smith, who drove well from the back, pursued by Rouse who had also reconstructed his car after the second heat crash, Ben Eastmead and Nick Hill following them.

Outlaw Hot Rods
Jimmy Bryan continued his assault on the drivers' championship at Arena Essex in the Outlaw Hot Rods on May 30, winning the first heat of the day in a battle with the distinctive Audi TT of Stu Hammond in a race that was affected by a brief shower just before the start. Dave Fry spun out in that heat but would return in the second with a drier racing line and a better grid position, Bryan retiring after losing a door in an argument with a somewhat loose pit bend which was still affecting the racing following an earlier incident with the Group A formula. Terry Bell took the lead early in the meeting final and held it all the way, breaking away from the field while Bryan managed to overcome Hammond with Fry in tow in a close tussle through the race along with Chris Wood, who made a terrific effort before his car let him down, though he did at least accompany Bell on the pace car as he took his third place points championship trophy for 2003!

Ministox
With the current points leader suspended, it was time for a few new faces to take trophies in the Ministox meeting at Arena Essex on May 30, Darrel "Fat Boy" Smith being the one to take two winners' trophies to start with, holding off Danny Morrow and Kerri Witherington in the first heat and easily winning the helter-skelter race ahead of Scott Waite, while Jack Tuffen nicked the third place trophy from Kerri on the last turn. The second heat of the day was scrambled somewhat as the trio that led most of the race ended up in trouble as Charlie Court ended up being spun out by Tom Waller, for which the latter was disqualified from the race, Waite managing to hold on as cars spun around him and Danny Stevens and Stuart Palmer found their way to the front as replacements. Andrew Taylor found an inside line on Brad Turner in the consolation to win there, with Court finally getting a trophy in third, before Palmer easily took the final trophy with Billy Hobbs a distant second from Paul Scully.

Points after meeting 04/14

Please note that the points shown are unofficial and are given as a guideline only. For the official standings, you should consult the monthly newsletter or contact the PRI Office during office hours on (01708) 867728.

Also see Matthew Bull's website for more pictures from this meeting!

© 2004 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways