Crashnet > Reports Index > PRI 2009 Index > Meeting 09/17

Bangers
It was a visiting Spedeworth driver that eventually won the 2l Banger meeting at Arena Essex on June 7 in a hair raising final that saw its fair share of action right through the day.

Danny Stevens took the first win ahead of a determined run by Lee West after an early duel with John Seex who dropped back as the race went on. Lewis Harvey took third with only light hitting in this early run though Paul Staples came off worst with Elliott Smith on the home straight as the pair went into the wall as Smith lost his direction in traffic. Things got tricky on the second heat as the cars were turned to race the wrong way round, and got trickier as oil was dropped on turn one, David Osborn running Karl Douglas into the wall at the bottom of the home straight, the Craig Oliver car coming off worst as he lost it coming round turn one to finish up in the back of the dead Blacknuts car. Phil Milner made good progress to win ahead of first heat winner Stevens. Clyde Williams nipped across from Spedeworth to win the main final but had quite a ride on the way to his win, including a two wheel stunt on the home straight! The big fight for the line was between Williams and West with Alfie Lee also contesting the front until he was spun on turn four in the closing stages. Osborn also resumed his antics with Blacknuts on turn two early in the race, neither making the end of the race. Just as with the van banger meeting, the last car effort was left to a showdown between Marcus Sprawling and Craig Oliver though Sprawling struggled more and more as the event continued, Oliver eventually ramming Sprawling out of commission. The race segment was taken by Alfie Lee.

Grand Prix Midgets
Gordon Pooley led the Grand Prix Midgets home twice during the June Cochrane Memorial meeting at Arena Essex on June 7, their only appearance at the circuit this year.

He came out as the winner of the first heat, staying out in front ahead of Neil Clarke while early leader Leon Retchless faded back through the field while Klaus Kilianski and Phil Retchless battled midfield for fourth place, Retchless unable to quite get the better of Kilianski. The second heat was something of a disaster, Leon Retchless causing a restart when he stalled on the first attempt, while Dan Pooley caused a second complete restart when his rear inside wheel came off, apparently when his wheel nuts and studs came out. Indeed, the Pooley family had a bad time of it when Gordon broke down mid race while Jonathan went into the pit wall. Leon Retchless led early on again but faded as Kilianski pulled past late the race for an easy win ahead of Clarke. Gordon Pooley managed to hold an easy lead through much of the race, with Jonathan Pooley coming up through the field to finish in third behind Marc DeLand who successfully managed to hold Jonathan off in the closing stages. Dan Pooley made a promising start at the start but was unable to make it through to the top three by the end.

Lightning Rods
Jack Woodroffe managed to dominate the heats in the Lightning Rod meeting at Arena Essex on June 7 but was cruelly denied a change at a final win in a heated race that eventually saw a win for John Randall.

Woodroffe won flag to flag in the first heat, Trevor Draynor taking too long to get past Chris Reeve to catch up while a number of high grade drivers also got stuck at the back, Randall managing to get up to fifth but spent much of the closing stages in battle with Roy Rawlins over fourth place behind Dave Imber. Woodroffe managed to win again in the second heat, well ahead of the main field though Reeve dogged him all the way through the race, Draynor and Imber catching up by the end.

The final started badly for Woodroffe as Imber hit him repeatedly up the back from the start, both cars sliding off on the back straight to let Draynor free in front. Terry Shelvey raced up to take the lead after a few laps but engine trouble forced Shelvey from the circuit a few laps later. Jason Jackson moved up to pressure Draynor but he ended up hooking under Draynor's front wing, allowing Randall an easy trip through to the front from turn four from where he led to the end, Dale Atkins managing to find his way to second ahead of Jackson and Draynor while, further down the field, Gary Greenland managed to hold off Lee Morrow in a battle that lasted for much of the race while Rawlins held the pole sitter Woodroffe to tenth. Imber pulled off after a few laps following his contact at the start.

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© 2009 Chris Johnson (Crashnet) / Promotasport Raceways