Arena Essex Raceway - Meeting 05/13 Sunday, May 22, 2005 Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2005 Index > Meeting 05/13

2-litre Bangers Lightning Rods Ministox

Ministox
British Karting Champion Jimmy Galloway decided to give Ministox a try at the May 22 meeting at Arena Essex and proved that he had plenty of potential in this formula too as he burned past the early pacemakers, then shot up through the back markers, winning a quarter of a lap ahead of Jack Tuffin. Andrew Taylor then tried to do the same in the second race, though his winning margin wasn't quite as impressive as he took the lead past George Heath, Harry Stevens managing to take second whilst Kerri Witherington held back the field in fourth. The third heat went to Michael Nicholls ahead of Brad Turk and Jamie Lee Potter in a race that featured a four point rollover for Charlie Court inside turn three, though that certainly didn't stop him. He just took a few seconds to sort himself out, then he rejoined the race! Another bit of controversy in the last heat as Galloway held the lead ahead of Tuffin only to be spun to the wall out of turn four by beginner Bobby Clarke, allowing Tuffin to retake the lead. Galloway did his best but didn't have enough time to undo the damage. He did manage to make up for it in the final, however, grabbing the lead from the front of the yellow tops, Joe Simmons taking second from early leader Reece Laybourn who just manage to hold off Jack Harrington for third place. Big brother Roy Laybourn managed to win the consolation final, getting past T-Jay Powers after an order restart following some big crashes out of turn four, especially Jade Morrow who was stuck on the inside line. Laybourn took the win ahead of Ryan Cunningham and Jamie McAngus.

Lightning Rods
It seemed that the steward was being a little more attentive in the Lightning Rod meeting at Arena Essex on May 22 as he started to penalise against some of the contact that has been a feature of much of the racing this season. Darren Cardy was the recipient of a black flag in the first race, which was won impressively by Stuart Palmer, well ahead of Mark Deacon with Chris Chao in third, a good result for Captain Chaos in his first outing here this year. The second race was even more controversial as Palmer spun out on turn four following a determined attempt on early leader Anthony Lawrence, collecting a number of cars including John Crowther, leading to the first stoppage of the day. Lawrence did well to keep hold of second place ahead of Steve Powell but Terry Shelvey took the win in the final five laps, Trevor Draynor getting the black flag in the closing stages. Heat three went a little more smoothly, Deacon running away with the win, most of the action being over second place where Lawrence held up Chao, Powell and Richard Norman for a number of laps until he was sent flying sideways out of turn two close to the end of the race, Norman taking advantage of it to grab second place with Chao in third.

The final provided the biggest controversy as Mark Davidson sped away from the pack to be caught towards the end of the race by Lawrence. One group swore vehemently that Lawrence spun Davidson inside turn two in the closing laps, though the steward assured all that it had been Davidsons' fault for cutting across Lawrence in an attempt to block. Either way, Davidson spun to the back of the race while Lawrence held the front to the line, Chao getting his best finish of the day in second as he got past the fading challenge of Powell in the closing stages.

Bangers
The 2-litre Bangers at Arena Essex on Sunday May 22 started with a fairly quick run that saw a win for Chris Worthington (despite a push from teamy Wayne Holton at one point) though there was a few hits thanks to the ongoing rodent battle, Paul Whiteman the first casualty as he was hit in the front nearside quarter, lone rat Steve Laybourn getting a little help from Startrax visitor Graham Kiddle, though he was eventually given an illicit head on inside the pit bend by John Randall. Brother Jimmy provided the killing blow in the second race, a banana shot on Roy Laybourn following a take in by Ricky Korpiela, though the biggest hit was reserved for Lee Hughes, down for the day from Spedeworth, as he spun Jim Harding only to be jacked big time by Simon Smith down the home straight to turn one, whilst fellow visitor Aidan Parker of Incarace fame took the win. The final, however, turned into a real demolition derby as Jason Jackson took Steve Laybourn head on whilst Smith, having been removed from the running by visitor Brian Morris, decided to get his own back by repeatedly hitting his assailant, eventually bending that car in half! The race was taken by Billy King and six others, but all eyes were on the pit bend where most of the other thirty were either wrecking or wrecked. This meant that the Rawlins qualifier wasn't exactly bursting with cars but what did come out tried its best, Wayne Holton getting the first car home trophy in a shortened race which was stopped after an incident on turn one, the destruction "egg cup" going to second car home Rob Farrington.

Last car: 550 Rob Farrington

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

© 2005 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways