1600cc Bangers Series 1 Final Ladies Bangers Qualifying Round 3 Lightning Rods Outlaw Hot Rods

Ladies Bangers
The third Ladies Banger Championship qualifier on June 4 at Arena Essex ended somewhat messily when Sarah Murphy went for a roll on turn one; a meagre one- pointer, but enough to bring out the red flags for an early finish, the race going to Danielle Laybourn. Danielle, who managed to get victory despite an early spin out, finished ahead of erstwhile start marshal Sharon Ashworth who had tried her hand in the previous meeting but had to pull out with a seized engine. This time the donor of the car had remembered to put some oil in! Third place went to Ladies Championship veteran Tracey Woolner.

Bangers
The march of war continued apace at Arena Essex on June 4, the 1600cc Banger Series, part one, being decided amid the continuing showdown between the Gladiators, Bad Company and anyone else that had a grudge. There were also a few visitors, one of which, Terry Ogden, getting the wrong end of Dave Barwick. Ogden, a charity driver on a day licence, was stopped by the Bartman on turn three in a relatively hit light race that went to Paul Korpiela. This closed the points up in the series, especially as the points leader going into the final meeting of the series, Jason Jackson, was spending his weekend out of the event courtesy of a one meeting ban he had picked up the previous week. The second heat was far heavier, although it was noticeable that Roy Laybourn, normally one to watch where Gladdy-bashing is concerned, was keeping his distance until, as luck had it, he sustained a flat tyre and plunged right in. Son Steve, however, was in there from the start, meeting up with Charlie Court. John Poulton took the race, the eight finishers including Ian Smith who had also stayed clear of the majority of the mayhem. Said mayhem continued into the consolation race, including a short flying lesson for Darren Smith, whilst day licence driver Peter Lock came home in first place, much to his surprise. The final was delicately balanced as far as the series points were concerned and a fourth place finish for Phillip Cullen, coupled with Boxer's absence, meant victory overall in the first series for Cullen, with third place for Paul Korpiela behind brother Ricky being insufficient to pass Jackson. The race itself was won by Mark Woolner, who would also go on to win the Rawlins qualifier, again holding off Paul and Ricky Korpiela who would then go on to contest the last car award, Paul taking it this time.

Lightning Rods
The June 4 meeting at Arena Essex for the Lightning Rods was a little unusual in that it featured no white top drivers. This made things a little easier for the yellow grades, John Christie taking advantage of this in the first heat, holding off Pat Kenneally to win. Bruce Wilcox continued his recent run of form in the second heat, taking the win there though, in both heats, Darren Cardy ended up in trouble. Cardy had, in fact, been the subject of a stoppage in the first heat after he was turned to the kerb by the pit gate, and had been at the head of a pile up out of turn four in the middle of the second race. Kenneally went one better in the third heat than he managed in the first, getting past Christie, though Alfie Smith pressured Kenneally all the way to the line. Christie was again in front in the final until he was turned in on turn one, collecting a number of cars including Kenneally and Smith. The fight for second suddenly became the fight for the lead as Steven Willis held the racing line against Stuart Palmer, which is how it ended, with third place going to Cardy in his only finish of the day.

Outlaw Hot Rods
Greg Moore held off Dick Burtenshaw in the final of the Outlaw Hot Rod meeting at Arena Essex on June 4. It was quite a struggle, with Burtenshaw, the driver in form at present, all over Moore and Gary Stow through most of the later stages of the race. Terry Hunn had won the first heat, having taken the lead at the half way point with Stow in second, whilst Burtenshaw took the second heat in a race marred by an oil slick that was left by Tony Moss following an engine problem that would also see Moss unable to finish the final.

Last car: 241 Paul Korpiela

Crashnet Photos

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

© 2006 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways