Arena Essex Raceway - Meeting 05/09 Sunday, May 1, 2005 Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2005 Index > Meeting 05/09

Mk.III Granada Bangers Lightning Rods Supreme Championship Qualifier Outlaw Hot Rods

Lightning Rods
Things started well for the Lightning Rods at their May 1st Supreme Qualifier, especially for Dan Amos who hit the front twice during the first heat. It didn't last, however, as he fishtailed out of turn four, clouted Gary Madgwick on the home straight and lost his outside front wheel, thus bringing the race to an end three laps short, Stuart Ruff taking the first trophy. It was Mark Deacons' turn for a win in the second heat as his fight for the trophy becam a little oveheated as second place Stuart Palmer was given several warnings by the clerk of the course for avoidable contact. The race also saw some crashes, especially when Darren Cardy and Steve Powell ended up spinning together across turn one in the closing stages. The hits didn't stop there with a number of shoves leading to warnings and despairing gestres from the trackside officials despite a lack of any penalties from the steward. Ruff made it two out of two in heat three, winning well clear of Paul Harris whilst Lee Morrow sneaked up a place in the final yards to third.

To follow...

Outlaw Hot Rods
Race one at the Outlaw Hot Rod meeting at Arena Essex on May 1 went to heat and final double winner from the previous meeting, Andy Steward, who held off Stu Hammond for the whole of the race which was cut short after Tony Moss hit the back straight wall. Moss made up for it in the second heat, grabbing second place behind Simon Smith in a somewhat pedestrian race with only an early scramble between Steward and Chris Wood and a late attempt on Waine Souter by Gary Stow on the last corner which ultimately failed. The final seemed to have been decided early as Steward spun out on the nose of Souter in the opening laps, but there was more to it than that snce none of this takes into account the smoky remains of Fred Smith who held a big pack of cars at bay and ultimately obstructed the lead, allowing Souter to close and almost grab the win in a thrilling few laps at the end, Simon Smith just closing down the racing line in time as the race ended.

Mk.III Granada Bangers
A win for Paul Hunter, one of two, started the Mk.III Granada Bangers off at Arena Essex on May 1, his win coming against the backdrop of yet more confrontation between the Runners and the Rats, Roy Laybourn being slaughtered by Matt Fuller before Jason Jackson took on son Steve, though both were damaged more by the slam from Mick Bradbury on turn three after Jackson picked Laybourn Jnr. up on the back straght, the Rat slammng his brakes on to avoid a big jacking. Hunter made it heat and final as ten cars lined up for what turned out to be more of a Rod race than a banger race, the only real contact being Simon Smith who spun his brother Phillip on turn one inside after the race had finished. Malcolm Fuller and Jason Jackson provided some mild competition for second place and Roy Rawlins seemed to be attempting to inject some excitement but in the end just conked out. Fuller the elder went on to win the sparsely populated Rawlins qualifier, Sam Rigby getting the last car award.

Last car: 323 Sam Rigby

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

© 2005 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways