Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2008 Index > Meeting 08/20

This year's Festival of Speed at Arena Essex was somewhat drawn out as many of the races became delayed as the drivers were more competitive than ever.

The longest delay occurred in the first race of the day, the first heat of the four man Banger Team Tournament which was surprisingly well attended including a number of notable drivers from the current Unlimited World Champion to the former PRI World Champion and track legend, Kev Wilsher. The first heat was delayed twice, including a lengthy stoppage when Steve Hayward was heavily fenced at the bridge end of the circuit. The second heat also suffered following a double hit on Lee Woodard, the first hit from Wilsher when sent him to the fence at the top of the home straight followed by a massive t-bone by team mate Ty Poulter. As for the racing, Team Mush took a big lead with Billy King winning the first heat and captain Sonny Sherwood winning the second heat, though Jason Jackson led the final event home in a comeback for his team that nearly toppled Team Mush from the top spot. Team Mush just held on with help from the captain to win by only two points ahead of the Midnight Runners. That just left a demolition derby that started as a head on scrap between the Suicide Squad and the Midnight Runners but, once the last Squad had been battered, Matt Fuller won out over his team mates as the last car running.

All the other formulas were racing for the Chick Woodroffe Memorial trophies. First run in 2002, the event commemorates the life of the man behind Arena Essex and Promotasport Raceways, Roy "Chick" Woodroffe, who died in late 2000. Starting with his involvement in speedway and stock cars, he first started promoting oval racing in Kings Lynn and had successfully promoted at many different circuits before Arena Essex.

This would be the third time that Chris Smith had won the Chick Woodroffe Memorial, and a successful defence of the title he won last year, though much of the action was behind him as Dave Lamb, also a previous winner in this event, fought with Dan Moulton over second place. All seemed to go Lamb's way until the lead cars approached the back markers where things got messy with Dennis Howes holding the inside line, allowing Moulton to squeeze through for a brief lap to second spot before Lamb managed to perform the same manoevre to secure second place in the result. The race had also been the subject of a restart following a collision between Dave Hutchins and Martin Mayling on the pit bend. The support race was taken by Dave Hopper after rounding Howes who was going backwards down the field while Nick Hill and Simon Simmons went into the wall on turn one at the start of the race for no clear reason, and Smith ended up in a racing argument with Jack Tuffin following a spin in the middle of the race.

The Outlaw Hot Rods also had to be restarted as Chris Rabbitt bounced off the wall early in the Memorial, though Dick Burtenshaw had a fairly easy time of it from pole position while Roy Rawlins managed to shake off Richard Simmons for second place. Simmons dropped back to fourth behind Lee Griffiths while another racing incident when Stu Hammond took out Glen Rossiter cost Hammond two places. Tommy Field, a relative newcomer to the formula from South Woodham, took the support race though he had to hold off some determined driving from Griffiths while Simmons was elevated to third after Salvo Falcone was docked two places for spinning Rossiter out.

Jason Jackson managed to take his first title race in a Lightning Rod with banger cohort, John Randall, behind him in their Memorial race. Yet another race that had to be restarted following a pile-up on turn two which featured Dave Imber and Dave Finch amongst others, the restart wasn't so promising for pole sitter Ben Murray who had been leading comfortably before the restart. He eventually took some damage after clipping the back straight wall as he tried to hold on against Terry Shelvey as the more seasoned drivers bundled past, Sam Pettitt eventually pinning third place down while Paul Strawson, one of a number of drivers from the Clacton area, managed to grab fourth after a gruelling battle with Dale Atkins. The support race went to Roger Dormer while an early scrap in the race between Mark Collins and Sonny Sherwood left Collins in second place and Sherwood on the infield with damage following a collision.

Possibly the most controversial race was the Chick Woodroffe Memorial race for the 1300cc Stock Cars which, at one point, seemed all sewn up as Jack Wheelwright spun Paul Haralambou and took a commanding lead. Wheelwright had led until just short of half way when Haralambou ran inside to grab the lead but, as is always the case in contact racing, it didn't stop Wheelwright from spinning him out and, with Haralambou clawing back to second spot ahead of Jack Tuffen, the result seemed to be set. That, however, took no account of last year's winner, Phil Wise, who saw Wheelwright coming and, rather than get spun, Wise let the younger driver pick him up then put his brakes full on, bringing them both to a stop and allowing Haralambou to cruise past for an easy victory. Wheelwright crossed the line in second place but an ill-advised hit on his tormenter, Wise, after the red flags meant an immediate disqualification, Tuffen elevated to second place and George Heath put up to third. Wheelwright had his revenge in the "Dash for Cash" support race, pushing past Darren Pratt before overtaking Wayne Plumb who had led most of the race to that point.

© 2008 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways