Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2009 Index > Meeting 09/11

Lightning Rods
The Dave Meningen Memorial was inaugurated a few years ago to remember a Lightning Rod driver that drove at Arena Essex for many years before his death. This year, the title went to Bovingdon regular Dale Atkins.

Terry Rollings added to his win the previous evening by grabbing the front from Travis Cope early in the first heat then holding on for the win despite a waved yellow that occurred after Roy Rawlins spun on turn two three laps from the finish. Jason Jackson, making a welcome return following his banger injury earlier in the season, made the best of the waved yellow restart, managing to grab third before the end, John Randall hanging on behind him to force Dave Imber back to fifth. It looked like a repeat performance as Rollings again took the lead from Cope early in the second heat but Imber was quickly up this time and, after getting past Cope, he gave Rollings a shove on turn four to grab the lead. This wasn't the biggest shove of the race, however, as Jackson was moving up quickly along with Andy Brown, the pair unable to get ahead of Imber and both ended up spinning on turn two, a number of following cars also held up leaving Gary Greenland in a distant third. Randall was loaded for the biggest hit of all as, following a partial steering loss, he spun Ben Murray out on turn four. The steward loaded Randall up for his efforts. Although Imber made the best of his pole position in the Dave Meningen Memorial final, he was unable to hold the lead for long as Atkins and Greenland came forward, Atkins passing Greenland then both passing Imber for an easy victory.

Group A Hot Rods
There was plenty to talk about with the Group A Hot Rods at Arena Essex on May 4, the main final win going to Mark West.

Taking some time out from his 1300cc Stock Car commitment, Paul Haralambou pulled away to victory ahead of a real boiler of a race including a two way fight between Mark West and Steve Gooch for third and Dan Moulton and Dave Lamb for fifth. There were a few crashes including Chris Smith who ended up in the fence on the back straight and Dennis Howes who ended up in Lee Hall's rear end on turn three following a multiple car crash. A crash also featured in the second heat when Smith dropped his sump across turn three, the two lead cars, day licence driver Matt Smith and Michael Nicholls, ended up in the pit fence along with a number of other cars leading to a stoppage and an order restart. Moulton would eventually get the win, following West past Gary Kirby on the restart then grabbing the lead shortly after. West won the final by pulling ahead from pole then fending off Moulton. The close fight that ensued between Moulton and Rob West came to a head before the mid point of the race as the two cars collided, Moulton pulling off with damage while Rob West continued, albeit with a flapping bonnet. Gooch managed a late surge to get third from Steven Lawes.

Bangers
Bank Holiday Monday at Arena Essex meant team racing for the PRI bangers, an element missing for the last year or so but one that was welcomed back that day in the form of a 4-man, 1600cc event eventually won in a classic last ditch finish by the Wreckin Krew.

Phil Smith managed to grab the narrow lane on turn four to take the win for the Wreckin Krew. The heat leaders, the Condoms, were held at bay, Ian Smith doing away with the last pink car on turn four, leaving the black team, Team Dunno, up against the Gladiators and the Wreckin Krew. On the last corner, it was down to Phil Smith of the Krew and Alfie Lee of Team Dunno to try to get to the gap left by the wrecking on turn four first. Smith managed to get through, leaving Lee in the mess to recover in sixth but, with team mate Mark Munson in tow, it was enough to make the required points to win this first challenge meeting. Team Dunno consoled themselves with second place ahead of the Gladiators in third. This followed some crash filled racing which gave a win to Shane Davies for the Condoms in the first heat and Harry Stevens for Team Dunno in the second but had left the Condoms in command at the end of the heats, hence the amount of Condom bashing in the final as both Wreckin Krew and Gladiators attempted to stop the former PRI champions. Following a win for Phil Smith, who managed to outrun a late hit out by Lee Hughes, the destruction derby was brought to a temporary halt as Dean Andrews hit Jeff Smith head on in a devastating attack, though he managed to leave his car under his own steam.

Last car running: 513 Sean Harvey

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© 2009 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways