Report by Mark Paulson
Lee ‘Bro’ Clarke won the Unlimited Bangers World of Shale Championship, ahead of a strong field at the Norfolk Arena, King’s Lynn on Saturday night, 31 August. Like the 2-Litre Banger World Final earlier in the month, it proved to be a 1-2-3 for visiting drivers, although like then Clarke is a relative local, hailing from the east of the county. The only lady in the main field, Polly Reade, won the meeting final ‘Masters’ race, while 14 other ladies took to the track in the sole Unlimited outing of the year for the Lady Bangers, which was dominated by Bridgett Woolley. The mighty 2-Litre Saloon Stocks were also in action, contesting their Bumper Trophy which was won by local lad 26 Tommy Barnes.
Unlimited Bangers
An impressive 72 Unlimited Bangers (not including the 14 examples raced only in the Lady Bangers), were in the pits. Many were used, with top fresh cars belonging to 851 Adam Storr (Lincoln Town Car limo) and 51 Simon Heilds, who returned his 1977 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon that didn’t run at Axe-stinction. A last chance qualifier preceded the main event of the night and was led all the way by 21 Jason Colbert in his well-used Scorpio. 19 Joe Mullarkey was spun out of second by 399 Jonny Atkin with three laps to go. As he missed out, the three remaining qualifying spots went to 27 Terry King, 197 Glenn Woodward and 800 Tom Hannah. Big names to miss out included 382 Jack Foster Jr and former champions 119 Davey Cox and 811 Pete Winter.
A full 42-car grid lined up for the World of Shale Final, with the Incarace draw giving 280 Simon Goodale pole, with entertainer wildcard qualifier 700 Gareth Cushion alongside. Row two was made of 85 James Ellis and 673 Darren Fendley, with 370 Mark French and 717 Jack Tuffen lining up on row three. At the start, Goodale was immediately spun out of contention by Fendley who took up the lead. Further back, Storr set out to spice things up, firstly taking in 313 Craig Osbourne. He then reversed into Heilds, with several leading runners getting caught up in the carnage. Storr remained in station on the exit of the fourth bend throughout the race and would cause plenty of trouble. Unlimited Banger World Champion 331 Jason ‘Boxer Jack’ Jackson was one of his victims as Storr reversed across the track, walloping him into the infield. Jackson got going again but only after a delay.
Out front, one of the favourites 148 Ian Redden was spun out second place as Fendley, 898 Andy Battle (having started 10th) and 247 Lee Clarke (from grid 11) then battled over the lead. Clarke reeling both in and passed them in his well-used Lexus Soarer to take up the running. Bro had a scare when Ellis spun in his path but he survived and actually extended his lead. Behind him, 99 Ritchie Ahern was making rapid progress in his Scorpio and moved ahead of Battle and Fendley to be shown in second with three laps to go. He was rapidly catching Clarke with his sideways style but just ran out of time as Clarke took the flag and the title. Ahern transpired not to be in contention, with Battle and Fendley therefore completing the top three, ahead of top home driver 572 Paul Scully. 266 Al Roskell claimed the race entertainers award for a big follow-in on 22 Dave Vincent.
Over 30 cars returned for the consolation, with 43 Nicky Bishop t-boning 322 Tom Fox. There was big action on the exit of bend two as 469 Michael Scally went in hard (earning him an entertainers award) with Storr, 411 Daniel Pegg and one of Scally’s Wildboyz’ team-mates. Meanwhile, the spun Fox was done by Heilds and Cushion, as 451 Willy Blackwell spun 888 Shane Emmerson to take the lead. He streaked away out front for a clear win from former WoS champion 160 Shayn Winsor and Foster.
The qualifiers-only World of Shale Masters meeting final was led all the way by 185 Polly Reade in her Volvo 240. She drove a tidy race to steer clear of trouble and take the win. Closing in towards the end, but not fast enough, 206 Phil Milner came second, ahead of Colbert and Battle. The all comers race proved much more lively and had to be halted when Scully shed a wheel on the home straight. 79 Ricky Twell led away the restart and proceeded to win from the super-sideways style of Redden who was catching fast. 549 Phil Smith finished fourth behind 2-Litre World Champion 328 Daniel Lathan and celebrated by putting Heilds in hard on the run-down lap.
Two-Litre Saloon Stock Cars
There were 36 Saloons present to contest their annual Bumper Trophy meeting, with generous prize money on offer courtesy of a whole host of sponsors. 301 Tom Welham continued his good form by winning the 11-car white and yellow grade race with ease. 257 Timmy Aldridge was second, ahead of 356 Anthony Filby on his first outing for a while.
The first heat proper had 33 cars, with the late-arriving Barnes brothers not yet present. Welham again led but was forced out with a broken wheel guard. That allowed veteran 417 Fred Powell ahead. Although the local driver had to deal with a number of star drivers unlapping themselves after being caught up in previous incidents, he held on to take the win, only for his gearbox to break after taking the flag, ending his racing for the night. 730 Deane Mayes was second, ahead of the speedy 499 David Aldous.
Up to 34 cars for heat two, where Welham again led the early laps. He was, however, turned heavily into the fence, allowing 115 Scott Aldridge into the lead. He was almost taken out as collateral damage as 349 Michael Allard took in 512 Darren Barnett very hard, but survived to continue the trend of lower graders holding on out front. Aldous this time made it to second with Barnes brothers 131 Timmy and 26 Tommy third and fourth.
The 33-car final for the Bumper Trophy saw plenty of big pile-ups. The first brought out red flags and then the complete re-start was halted by a caution period with Welham once again ahead. Immediately behind him was Aldous who had been caught out in the trouble, with the other white and yellow graders still well-placed at this early stage. Aldous immediately unlapped himself and set about some quick laps to try and haul himself back into contention. Welham was gradually caught and passed, first by Tommy Barnes and then by brother Timmy, with the pair tangling and falling out of contention. Tommy Barnes started to pull out a big lead, while 306 Daniel Parker moved up to second in one of his best meetings since having to start right at the back as English Champion. He was however spun out by 18 Jamie Clayton with just a lap and a half to go. Barnes held on to win from Clayton and 570 Simon Venni. Parker did well to recover four fourth, with Aldous an amazing fifth, having made up a complete lap.
The closing all comers race saw 23 cars return to the track. A caution period saw the race resume with 192 Robert Heanes in front, with the lapped Allard and Aldous next in the queue, and Timmy Barnes placed second. The two backmarkers immediately unlapped themselves but it was mayhem behind. As things settled, it was 158 Shane Davies who found himself leading before 152 Chris Fountain fought through. He pulled away but the battle for second was very hard-fought. Clayton and 428 Lee Sampson were in contention before spinning with a lap to go, with Tommy Barnes and Daniel Parker coming through to complete the top three behind Fountain.
Unlimited Lady Bangers
Among the 14 competitors in the Ladies’ annual run-out in unlimited machinery were a handful of fresh cars, mainly Jaguars and Volvos. Top car by far was 67 Charlotte Whittaker’s Bentley Turbo R, while Daniel Hewitt had a Lexus 200. Also worthy of mention, although both returned from the Pre-1970 meeting a fortnight earlier, used were the classic cars of 319 Jodie Grief (Triumph) and 661 Suzie Lambe (Rover P4).
Many of the ladies have very little experience of piloting rear-wheel drive machinery and so there were plenty of spins. 730 Marie Mayes won heat one from 660 Bridgett Woolley, before the latter took both remaining races, including her first ever win in a final. 762 Kerry Thurgill also impressed on her way to a pair of second places, while Whittaker, Hewitt and 4 Steph Street each claimed a third place finish.