National Bangers Group A Hot Rods Ministox

National Bangers
A heat and final double for Billy King at Arena Essex on March 19 in a National Banger meeting that didn't throw up too many surprises. Nathan Roberts continued his own season success with a heat win and a fair number of points elsewhere, whilst there wasn't much in the way of wrecking as such until the Rawlins 2000 qualifier, won by Mark Marchant, in which Matt Fuller was mobbed by Mark Want amongst others, Jason Jackson jumping back into his car and driving out to even up the score. Although Jackson was announced as the last car running, the fact that he had got out of his car at the end of the racing section of the race later led to a disqualification, though Jackson had not accepted the award anyway, the last car award going instead to Want.

Group A Hot Rods
In a three race meeting, the Group A Hot Rods returned to Arena Essex on March 19 with plenty of gusto. Maybe a little too much in some cases, as Al Thorndyke discovered to his own cost as, in the first heat, he managed to get into second position only to be spun into the home straight fence during a three way fight for position with Mark Nichols and Simon Simmons during the closing stages. Although no blame was attached, and Thorndyke emerged unscathed and smiling from the wreckage, his distinctive orange Citroen was completely crushed in front and Thorndyke took no further part in the meeting.

Simmons took that race and did pretty well to get to third in the second heat, Chris Smith getting to second with last seasons' champion Dave Lamb out in front in a relatively uneventful race dominated for much of its length by Nichola Bearman who managed to hang on to fourth place. Lamb, however, would end up much like Thorndyke in the final, hitting the fence on turn one, one of a number of cars that would end up stopping short of the finish line. The race was, in fact, declared as Mark West collided with Ian Jardine short of the full race length, by which time early leader Nichols had spun himself out on the pit bend to let Steve Goosh through for the win.

Ministox
The Ministox had obviously been eager to get back to Arena Essex, since their first race on March 19 featured plenty of thrills and, most particularly, spills including the first rollover of the season by Robert Browning, who had caught the kerb a little too much and went over on turn one. Jordan Salmon took the first heat easily, though the fight for second place was close as Danny Stevens held out against Roy Laybourn. The second heat was a little more sedate, with a close win for George Simmons ahead of Harry Stevens, Jack Wheelwright in for third. The consolation would go to George Goodearl following a declaration after Bobby Clark was spun on turn four and hit head on. Browning wasn't the only rollover that day, however, as Jamie McAngus also went belly up on the same bend, this time following a close call with Billy Hobbs. A promising start by Joe Coultish, and one by Salmon, were both cocked up in similar fashion, Harry Stevens coming through to win the first final of the season ahead of Goodearl and a good recovery by Coultish. Salmon did make up for it in the declared allcomers race ahead of Wheelwright and Danny Stevens after the race was stopped when the final winning Stevens was spun in a dangerous position by Hobbs.

Last car: 116 Mark Want (originally announced 331 Jason Jackson, but was later disqualified for rejoining the race after getting out of his car).

Crashnet Photos

Click on thumbnail for full size picture in new window

 
Also see Matthew Bull Photographic for more photos from this meeting.

© 2006 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways