Arena Essex Raceway - Meeting 05/02 Sunday, March 13, 2005 Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2005 Index > Meeting 05/02

National Bangers Group A Hot Rods 1300 Stock Cars

National Bangers
It was a little surprising to see PRI World Champion Wayne Cotterill at the March 20 meeting, but he wasn't alone as the first race also saw Jack Overy and John Millen turn out for a fairly heavy session of what turned out to be Gladiator bashing, hits going in large on all corners. The first race was eventually taken by Nathan Roberts, although he almost lost out late in the race when he was almost headed by Overy who was actually looking to thump Lewis Price. Luckily, both cars had good brakes! Millen followed the winner home at a distance, though there were more dead than racing by the end.

The final was restarted once after John Golden came off worst in a crash on the home straight. A number of other cars also failed to restart, especially Overy's beast which was squashed on the bridge bend courtesy of Simon and Ian Smith. Dan Weller managed to fend off allcomers until Gary Greenland spun him out on the pit bend but the speed and expertise of Lee Madden was the telling factor as he jetted through the field to take the final trophy, Millen and Jason Jackson following at speed in a 9 from 32 car finish. Ricky Kopiela won the final race of the day, the Rawlins 2000 qualifier, whilst Jimmy Randall put up a strong attack against the remainig field to take the last car award, getting into the main event in October the hard way.

1300 Stock Cars
The first 1300 Stock Car race of the season was better remembered for the penalties and the reasons for them than the win by Paul Haralambou, a race he managed to take as Clark Wells was denied by Barry Radcliffe and a hit to the wall on the bridge end, one of two attacked cars, the other, James Avison, being taken out to the centre by James Radcliffe after the Radcliffe brothers double teamed him around turns one and two. Both Radcliffes were loaded pending further penalties, a funny way to advertise their cars, two of many up for sale. Haralambou then went on to make heat and final, staying far enough ahead of Paddy Palmer to win the final after spinning early leader Billy Kavanagh.

Group A Hot Rods
A new talent was uncovered in the Group A Hot Rods as they raced for the first time in 2005 at Arena Essex on March 20. Getting a triple win, starting in the first heat, Paul Smith was easily the man of the meeting. He caught up and passed early leader Mark West in that first heat, West hanging on for place ahead of a determined race from Steve Gooch who managed to wrestle third spot from Nick Hill in the final laps. The second race was all about who could pass Nichola Bearman at the front, coupled with who could keep going despite the oily corners. More than one star grader ended up leaving the circuit in pieces, only nine cars surviving. West was denied a win for the second time as he got stuck behind Bearman, Hill catching and passing only for Chris Smith to catch both and squeeze through for the win on the last corner. Smith made it a double in the last heat, earning an automatic grade change by outpacing the field, whilst Sam Warner held out on the line after a determined chase by Gooch and Jason Griffiths. Nobody would have expected Paul Smith to do it again as he was sent to the back of the white grades, but he managed after West ended up in a smash as Lee Hall went spinning inside turn three. It was then a scramble amongst the front runners to get going again, Smith managing to sprint away with Gooch on his tail. Despite all his experience, however, Gooch was unable to pass in the three laps left to him, and Paul Smith left the circuit with three trophies.

Last car: 208 Jimmy Randall

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Also see Matthew Bull Photography for official photos of this meeting.

© 2005 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways