Arena Essex Raceway - Meeting 05/07 Sunday, April 17, 2005 Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2005 Index > Meeting 05/07

National Bangers Lightning Rods 1300 Stock Cars

Lightning Rods
The April 17 Lightning Rod meeting at Arena Essex hadn't even started when we had the first incidents. Perhaps Steve Willis and John Crowther will remember to fasten their bonnets in future! This only seemed a fitting prelude to the racing which started with a 25 car first heat which was stopped twice with various collisions and saw Dan Amos spin off the lead after the second restart as turn two got slippery, Pat Kenneally grabbing the front of the race amongst the various spin outs, whilst Gary Madgwick managed to hold Dale Atkins and Mark Mackenzie off for second place. Richard Norman finally overcame all to win the third heat, only Garry Deacon managing to hang on to him as he characteristically stormed home, Pork Pie Willis concentrating on holding on to third spot (and his bonnet) with some pretty heavyweight drivers behind him, Mark Mackenzie just sneaking Darren Cardy for fourth on the line but unable to do better than that. The day really belonged to Deacon, who managed a heat and final double. He first swept home ahead of Willis in the second heat then took the final in a tense climax to the days' racing, beating out Norman and Mark Collins.

Bangers
Michal Outen may have won the first race in the National Banger meeting at Arena Essex on April 17, but all eyes were on turn four in that race as John Randall made a brief return from retirement, providing a major contribution to the scrap pile there which also cost Andy Reynolds the race trophy. John Harris returned to his OSH colours to go for a few including Waz Barber, whilst Roy and Steve Laybourn were yet again stopped by the Runners, the first hit by Jason Jackson being the start of a mauling that would eventually see Harry Rawlins also stuffed before Randall put repeated hits on the younger Laybourn, getting black flagged in the process. The second race was a little quieter, though Craig Farrow and his teammate did stop the immaculately turned out Neil Bracegirdle in a race that also saw the return of Sonny Sherwood to his local circuit after 18 months.

The consolation saw quite a few Gladiators come out, though they mostly came out for the wrecking, two ending up squishing Simon Warner on the pit bend, whilst Sam Rigby took Wayne Cotterill head on. Phil Cullen won the race easily, only nine cars finishing in all. The win for Lee Madden in the final, however, was pretty convincing, Sherwood only able to get to second spot ahead of Outen before the race ended. The was a fair amount of wreckage to be found, including Gary Wilson who was already out of it after another bit of shunting on turn four before Lee West decided to finish the job. The day topped out with some awesome hits in the Rawlins 2000 Qualifier, won by Jason Jackson. Jackson was given joint possession of the last car award along with Matt Fuller when the destruction derby section of the heat was abruptly stopped when Harry Rawlins was accidentally hit in the drivers' door.

1300 Stock Cars
An increase in numbers at the April 17 1300 Stock Car meetng at Arena Essex including a few new drivers saw an improvement in the race quality, including a great race for the first race trophy as Paddy Palmer had to survive a faile attempt to shift ex-Ministox driver Scott Waite off the front by Lee Palmer who ended up spun on the home straight one lap short of the end of the race. Paddy then went on to win a hit laden final, taking the lead from Billy Kavanagh late in the race, whilst early leader Dan Klyn clung to third spot in a race that saw only eight cars survive. All seemed well as the cars started their last race, a helter-skelter, until they reached the first corner, Darren O'Leary clipped the kerb, lost the inner front wheel, balanced on the two nearside wheels for several yards before finally rolling over two corners. The restart eventually went to a Palmer but not to Paddy, Lee Palmer grabbing the lead from early leader Chris Hunt to take the last win of the day, at least keeping it in the family.

Last car: 331/188 Matt Fuller

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

© 2005 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways