Last updated: 25^th February 2016 12:33 

Report: Mark Paulson

Pictures: Matt Bull www.racepixels.co.uk

Points: Steve Lovick

Essex driver 830 Lee White capped an excellent season in Bangers by leading Team Mates to victory in the annual Christmas team bash for Micro Bangers at the Adrian Flux Arena on Bank Holiday Monday, 28 December. 130 Chris White and 46 Colin Coupland both played their part in an impressive display to defeat local favourites Team Jackpot and Team Bash. Also in action were the Two-Litre and 1300cc Stock Cars. Wisbech’s 218 Jacob Downey scored a heat-and-final double in the former after Georgie Harris had claimed the category’s first charity ladies race. Swaffham-based 337 Ashley Garrod impressed in the 1300s, winning the main event on his first appearance in the formula, driving a borrowed car.

 

Micro Bangers

There were more than 100 little cars in action, split into nearly 40 teams of three. Each team competed in one of the first three heats and one of the next pair before the all-in final. With a number of late arrivals, just 24 cars made it on track for heat one, despite a delayed start to accommodate the stragglers. That was won by 674 Luke Childerhouse (Team Bash ‘B’), despite an impressive drive from 328 Daniel Lathan (Team Jackpot ‘B’) that took him from the back of the field to the front within two laps, before eventually coming home second. 504 James Simpson (Team Gray) provided some action by dumping 389 Charlie Garrod (Team Jackpot ‘B’) into 43 Nicky Bishop (Wild Boyz) before getting blasted himself by 11 Ryan Leeks (All Counties Coat Hangers), earning the latter the race entertainers award.

The remaining two heats in the opening round both featured over 30 cars. In the first, 691 Ryan Bartrum began a lively day for Team Havoc – who also won the award for best presented team – by following in 634 Ben Green (Team GGS), with 355 Mick Walker (Team Jackpot ‘D’) also going in hard. After a complete restart, with the field almost halved in size, 818 Tiff Collins (Team Red and White) got stuck in by blasting 390 David Gibson of the defending champion outfit, the Mad Hatters, after his engine blew. Gibbo’s team-mate 399 Jonny Atkin suffered a similar fate while leading the race but kept his car running to take the win from Collins and Bartrum, with 316 Sam Dace (Scrap Yard Boys) named race entertainer.

Heat three also required a complete restart after 181 Bobby Pooley (Team DTs) suffered a big hit, that after commentator 974 Alistair Oxby (Intimidatorz) had been blasted into the scoreboard bend plating. Team Jackpot ‘A’s 338 Terry Garrod livened up the restarted race with two laps to go when he took in National Points rival 673 Darren Fendley (Team Bash ‘A’), setting up the latter for a big shot from Garrod’s team-mate 339 Jack Garrod, with Terry then coming round for another shot on the following lap. 337 Ashley Garrod (Team Jackpot ‘A’) came through for the win, which put the brothers in strong contention after the first round of heats, with Team Bash ‘B’ the overall leaders.

Heat four’s 44 cars yielded the predictable carnage, with hits too numerous to mention. 392 Sam Baines (Mad Hatters) managed to dish out two follow-ins, on one of the Team Jackpot cars and 10 Ben Collins (Team Red and White). Baino was then blasted by the lively Bartrum which helped the latter earn an entertainers award. Out front, 830 Lee White (Team Mates) raced to the win from team-mate 46 Colin Coupland.

Heat five was begun by 326 Shane Lynn blasting 186 Chris Loveridge (Team SHB ‘B’) but out front, the Garrod brothers were heading for a big score with Terry leading Ashley until the former got caught up in the road bend shenanigans with Team Bash. Ashley went on to win from 311 Garry Lown and Childerhouse, which left Team Jackpot ‘A’ at the top of the pile but with several more teams still in contention.

More than 50 cars took to the track for the final, with big hits going on all around. A red flag was called to assist Simpson after he had been blitzed by 219 Robert Betts (Predators), with 37 cars taking the restart. The carnage continued thereafter, with very few cars left running. Ashley Garrod looked set for a hat trick at one stage but faded to fifth and final finisher. 142 Jack Lower came through for the win but Lee White and Coupland’s second and third places were enough to overhaul Team Jackpot ‘A’ and clinch success for Team Mates, with Team Bash ‘B’ finishing third in the standings.

Team Bash still had something else to celebrate as Darren Fendley held onto his lead at the top of the National Points, to claim his first Trackstar silver roof, reward for a superb season that had already seen him crowned World Champion in Two-Litre Bangers.

 

Final Standings

Team Mates 68

Team Jackpot A 48

Team Bash B 31

No Mates 25

The Muppets 25

Mad Hatters 19

Team DTs 18

Team Scrap Co 16

Team Bash A 16

Team Havoc 15  (Winners of Best Presented Team)

All Counties Coat Hangers 15

Team SHB B 14

Team Blue and Black A 10

Team Parnell 10

Team Gray 8

Team Issues B 8

Crowsons 7

Scrapyard Boys 4

Team Focus 4

All Counties Young Guns 3

Predators 3

Team Bash C 2

Team Zigga 1

 

 

Two-Litre Saloon Stock Cars

Proceedings began for the big Saloons with the first ladies race, run in aid of the FORDS charity and organised by Marie Mayes. It featured 17 cars, graded according to experience, with Marie herself racing husband Deane’s 730-machine. Ministox graduate 998 Lauren Overy started from the front and she took full advantage to build a big lead, twice wiped out by yellow flags for 304 Elaine Turner and 22 Heather Carcary. On the second restart, Overy’s lack of rear-wheel drive experience finally caught her out when she spun away the lead, allowing 306 Georgie Harris – racing for the first-ever time – to move ahead. The youngster kept a cool head to take the win from the rapidly closing 218 Jodie Grief, who showed impressive pace, and 147 Hannah Thompson. 124 Caroline Garner and 321 Natasha Street both demonstrated their experience with impressive speed and style but ultimately both were involved in too many incidents to challenge for honours. With over £2000 raised for FORDS, the event was a big success and is set to return in mid-summer next year.

The meeting proper raised 37 cars, although sadly three failed to race, both 22 Karl Petters and 124 Ollie Skeels because of ladies race incidents. Skeels and brother 321 Marcus Skeels had smartly re-panelled machines, while newcomers 509 Richard Colk (graduating from Bangers) and 628 Richard Smith (from 1300cc Stox) also turned out smart motors. Heading the list of those trying out the formula for the first time was National Banger superstar 247 Lee ‘Bro’ Clarke in the spare Mayes car, while 368 Royston Elbourne was out in Steve Santry’s car which looked in excellent condition considering how long it had been laid up. 369 Chris Teale was in the ex-Chris Masters car, 388 Liam Santry returned in an ex-Michael Allard motor and 385 Roy Gedge piloted the Wayne Cottrill machine. 19 Darren Mansi, 327 Clayton Mallett and 425 Tom Balls (ex-Kris Woods car) completed the newcomers although sadly Balls failed to race.

The usual King’s Lynn two-thirds heat format was adopted, with the first race reserved for more than 20 white and yellow graded drivers. 270 Matt Fuller led until he collected a spun Mallett on the back straight, which let 179 Stephen Usher ahead. There he stayed to win from Fuller and the impressive Clarke.

The yellow grade sat out heat two for which 26 cars gridded. 192 Robert Heanes led much of the way, with plenty of drivers spinning themselves out or getting caught up in other people’s incidents. 428 Lee Sampson, 306 Daniel Parker and 360 Carl Waterfield were all delayed early on, while 730 Deane Mayes, 6 Simon Welton and Colk were among the spinners. 304 Martyn Parker and son Daniel began to make good progress through the field until each was delayed by incidents with Teale and 111 Andrew Arthurton respectively. Heanes continued to lead until getting caught up in a bend three pile-up which allowed 386 Daniel Petters, Marcus Skeels and 218 Jacob Downey through. Petters retired after tangling with Richard Smith, and Skeels suffered a pair of spins, allowing Downey to ease to victory from 350 Thomas Parrin and 641 Willie Skoyles Jr.

Without the well-subscribed white grade, heat three raised just 17 cars. 912 Andi Newman led from start to finish as the quiet track made for a lack of incidents from which the blue and red graded drivers could take advantage. Parrin once again came home second, ahead of a good scrap between Welton and Daniel Parker, which saw the pair clobber the bend one marker tyres after crossing the finish line locked together.

The 23-car final was led away by 537 Tom Alsop from Daniel Petters and Heanes, as a pile-up on the third bend of lap two claimed several. Alsop was delayed when Teale spun in front of him, which let Heanes through, but Alsop quickly spun the 192-car. That let Downey into the lead, with the 218-machine then clearing off into the distance, winning by a large margin from Waterfield and Parrin.

 

1300cc Stock Cars

The 22-car entry included 337 Ashley Garrod in the borrowed Wes Freestone car and a return to 1300cc Stock Cars after many years for 74 Caroline Garner, driving Kevin McClagish’s car. There were also first appearances for 246 Richard Baggaley and 570 Rob Gymer.

Heat one was claimed by 838 Ady Wales from the yellow grade after he slipped inside 342 Ryley Freestone. The impressive Garrod charged through to second place with Freestone third. Garner had looked quick before tangling with Baggaley which led to yellow flags to assist the latter.

Wales doubled up in heat two after spinning Freestone from the lead with three laps to go. The race only lasted another lap as Freestone was left stranded facing the traffic, leading to a red-and-chequered finish. 341 Austen Freestone came home second, with 316 Danny McCluskey third.

Ryley Freestone again led the way in the final but was hunted down and passed by Garrod – who had retired early on from heat two – around half distance. Garrod survived a scare three laps from home when 22 Ian Cowern half-spun him, and went on to take the flag from 333 Daniel Weavers and the scrapping Freestone brothers, Ryley just prevailing over Austen.