Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2009 Index > Meeting 09/16

Rookie Bangers
A return to racing at Arena Essex for Gary Brown resulted in a heat and final double for the Romford driver in the May 31 Rookie Banger meeting.

Billy Standing took the first heat as only six cars finished the twenty car start, many ending up in a pile up on turn two as Dan Gardiner turned his car and took Matt Lewis head on, a move that got Gardiner a load up from the steward. The second heat was a close run thing at the front as Gary Brown managed to hold Harry Stevens back, though Stevens managed a few pops at the back of the returning Brown which again saw a number of crashes though not as many retiring drivers. The final had to be restarted following a two pint rollover from the smallest car in the meeting, the Lee Floyd driven Metro, which rolled after being put up the wall by Darren Mouser on the home straight. Brown took the race ahead of a good effort from David Reynolds in second, only six cars coming home in what was a really frantic race that saw much of the field wrecked including a devastating head on effort from Billy Saunders on Martin Peters on the pit bend and plenty of damage at the other end. The destruction derby was won eventually by Nathan King, though the brilliant wrecking effort by Dean Skoal was recognised with a best wrecker award.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars
The BriSCA F2 Stock Cars made a welcome return on May 31 with an international cast including Danny van Wamelen and Jellie Kurtsjens from Holland and Peter Baer of Germany, stopping over at Arena Essex for a few races following their involvement in the Saturday night racing further north. There was also mixed fortunes for our local drivers as Darren Phillips of Canvey Island took two of the trophies on the day, while Chris Stobbs of Benfleet took a trophy of a different kind when he crashed mid-meeting.

All eyes were on Chris Bradbury, Mick Sworder and David Polley in the first race, making good progress through the field but, with the race all but over, a crash by the pit gate when Benfleet-based driver Chris Stobbs got the corner wrong eventually catching Dutch visitor Danny van Wamelen, causing a quick stop. The race went to Darren Phillips, who was in the process of holding off Mick Sworder at the time. Justin Parker just held out at the front of the second heat following a waved yellow delay following a crash on the back straight when Dave Franklyn spun approaching the bridge bend with four laps to go, while Matt Linfield also had to bow out with a broken rear axle. The waved yellow brought many of the red tops into range of the front of the race, Bradbury just failing to take the win from Parker, with good finishes also from Polley, Ian Chalkley, Chris Roots and Sworder following Bradders home. The final was, however, a real sight to behold as Roots took his second final in as many appearances at Arena Essex, fighting off the attentions of Tom Smart and Sworder mid race then getting past Parker to grab the lead in the closing stages from Chalkley while Smart continued his fight, now with Bradbury and Polley. Canvey driver Darren Phillips managed an easy victory in the Grand National qualifier, taking the lead from Parker after half way with Chalkley just holding Mick Sworder off for third.

Group A Hot Rods
With the damage suffered only seven days before, it was something of a surprise to see that Lee Hall and Dave Lamb had both repaired their Group A Hot Rods in time for the May 31 meeting, Lamb showing exactly what he was capable of during the final as he hared away to victory.

Paul Haralambou took the first heat easily from the front but, as sometimes happens, much of the action was behind him as Lamb and Dan Moulton fought forward, having trouble passing David Hopper, Hall and finally Dennis Howes who ended up in the back wall, bringing the race to an early conclusion. Moulton managed a good run from the back, passing long time leader Michael Nichols in the closing stages. Lamb was held back to third across the line only to be docked two places for his earlier collision with Steve Gooch which left Gooch crippled on turn four. The final was pretty much over by the first quarter as Lamb got the better of pole sitter Haralambou followed by Moulton who, though he managed to keep second, he was unable to match the pace of the Lamb car. Mark West had managed to grab third after Haralambou spun on turn two but a developing problem dropped him back to fourth behind Nichols in the closing stages.

Crashnet Photos

Click on thumbnail for full size picture in new window
Sorry, no photos yet!

Also see Racepixels for more photos from this meeting.

© 2009 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways