Report by Mark Paulson
Pics by Damien Widdows

Marham’s 391 Jake Banwell continued his superb start to the season with his second consecutive final victory in the 2-Litre Saloon Stock Cars at the Norfolk Arena, King’s Lynn on Saturday, 15 March. Also on the cards was a double helping of Bangers. Almost 60 Micro Bangers and 35 2-Litre (non-Mondeo) Bangers provided top-notch entertainment, with 85 James Ellis and 8 James Jackson winning the main races. Arguably the biggest crash of the day was in the Saloons though, as 349 Michael Allard balanced his car on its nose before crashing back down to earth.

2-Litre Saloon Stock Cars

A slightly down on average 30-car turnout meant an all-in meeting format was adopted, with the pre-meeting race for white and yellow graders a stand-alone race. The 13 cars made a messy start which saw the white grade claim a big advantage. 192 Robert Heanes built a big lead but 218 Jacob Downey’s stunning machine was clearly quickest of the yellows. He fought his way through the pack, reeled in Heanes and spun him from the lead with two laps to go. 270 Matt Fuller drove a strong race to come home second, with 538 Jake Swann third.

All but one made it out for the first heat proper. Heanes and Fuller had a good battle for the early lead, while Downey again looked pacy as he carved through the field. As Fuller spun Heanes, Downey nipped through into the lead. Fuller then spun himself, allowing Downey to stretch his advantage. Of the bigger names starting further back, track champion 499 David Aldous and runner-up 641 Willie Skoyles Jr were making the most progress. Aldous swept into the lead with five laps to go, but Downey looked set to hold on to second. That was until the final bend when Skoyles charged inside and 216 Dan Booth took advantage of Downey’s slight delay to spin him out and claim third. It was a cruel end for the Wisbech man who watched the whole field sweep by.

A similar number returned for heat two, with another slightly messy start seeing the whole red grade black-crossed for jumping. Downey was again the man on the move, quickly up to third before spinning. A caution was then called to assist to Fuller was stranded side-on, on the back straight. 800 Scott Greenslade led away the restart, with the now-lapped Downey immediately unlapping himself. Skoyles, 349 Michael Allard and 161 Billy Smith also quickly passed the erstwhile leader. Skoyles would go on to take the flag from the hard-chasing Aldous, but both would be docked two places for jumped start, gifting Allard the win. It was his first win in the formula on a shale track although he was clearly a little embarrassed at the circumstances: “Not a real one,” he said. 428 Lee Sampson’s champion status (as opposed to red) meant he escaped censure and claimed second.

A handful didn’t return for the final. Aldous found himself spun into the pit gate early on, from where he limped to the infield and retirement. Scotsman 74 Tam Tweedie was the earlier leader, with Clive Grief Memorial winner 391 Jake Banwell quickly into second. When Tweedie spun Banwell hit the front from 360 Carl Waterfield and Sampson. With those two bearing down, many might have expected Banwell to be reeled in or wilt under the pressure. But he showed prodigious pace to once again overcome some disappointing heat results, and was never challenged on his way to the win. Sampson passed Waterfield on the penultimate lap but both were in fact a lap down. So 158 Shane Davies came through for second, from 220 Casey Englestone, Smith, 6 Simon Welton and Downey. “Any race win is a good race win,” said the victor, before playing down his chances of success in the major titles: “I’m only a yellow top.”

Over 20 cars survived to take part in the allcomers race. Having just been watered, the greasy track proved a handful. Banwell was one of several early spinners, and the plating took a pounding. Waterfield tried the wet-weather wall-of-death approach, and whilst it was certainly quick it wasn’t sustainable. The tricky conditions almost certainly played their part in an almighty crash on the back straight. 214 Tom Yould and Allard were sent into a violent series of synchronized rolls. Yould ended on his roof, while Allard’s car finished up going end-over-end and balancing on its nose for what seemed like seconds, before coming crashing back down to earth on its wheels. Both drivers were quickly out and unharmed, if understandably a little shaken.

The complete restart had 17 cars remaining and was led initially by Heanes. When he spun, Downey took over before Aldous moved ahead with four laps to go. He eased to the win, with Downey holding on to second and 22 Karl Petters third.

The results leave the consistent Skoyles at the head of the track championship after two round. Banwell is second, with 40 of his 45 points coming from just two races. 306 Daniel Parker, Aldous, 18 Jamie Clayton and Davies complete the top six at this early stage of the season.

2-Litre (non-Mondeo) Bangers

The 35 cars present showed plenty of variety, as would be expected at a non-Mondeo meeting. Perhaps the most popular car was the Ford Focus, with standard hatchback versions being joined by estates and saloons. There were several Hondas, Nissans and Vauxhalls, with 791 Nicky Young turning out a particularly smart late-model Vectra. A number of people carriers added to the variety, while National Points champion 338 Terry Garrod turned out a late-model Almera. 128 Andrew Shipp returned his smart Toyota Celica while 392 Sam Baines was the only runner in the venerable Nissan Bluebird.

Heat one had 31 cars on track and began with 286 Dan Phillips following in 127 Dale Gamage. 390 David Gibson did the same to 871 Liam Read who rolled on impact, bringing out the reds. ‘Gibbo’ was at it again after the complete restart, putting away 511 Jack Licquorice, on his way to claiming the race entertainer award. Running mate 392 ‘Baino’ was also in destructive mode, and with red and chequers coming out, it was 924 Mark Rook who claimed the win from 8 James Jackson and Shipp.

Only a few less returned for heat two, where 557 ‘Paranoid’ Paul Bowen dished out a big follow-in on 149 Wayne Bailey and 319 Shaun Clarke together. Gibbo put away one of the Phillips brothers, with reds then coming out to check on Gamage. 17 cars survived for the complete restart, where 597 Andy Ashman blitzed the spun Licquorice. 90 Simon Chapman led from the front and was still ahead when the reds and chequers came out together. Bowen held off a determined challenge from 791 ‘Spud’ who ended up losing a wheel and causing the final stoppage. Bowen deservedly claimed the race entertainer award.

Just over 20 survived for the final. 837 Martin Wesby kicked things off by putting 212 Richard Maryon away. Baino then blasted the latter before 601 Chris Medler did Bailey. Baino piled in, followed by 604 Ross Cooper, Gibbo, Licquorice and 337 Ashley Garrod in a superb wrecking train, claiming Baines and Cooper entertainer awards. Out front, Jackson led from start to finish, to claim the win from Terry Garrod and 22 Dave Vincent.

Six returned for the DD. An impressive five car wrecking train on the back straight led to reds to check on Licquorice. Four restarted, with Baines – who had done well to pull his car back out – outlasting 307 Jon-Joe Cunningham and Medler for the win.

Micro Bangers

The big entry of Micros led to a full format meeting and some very lively action, with only two of the five races having more than six finishers. 37 Dave Lewis raced to a full contact win in heat one. Gibbo and 110 Garrie Mirza were named race entertainers. Gibbo had put 256 Waddingham into 380 Luke Johnson, who had just followed in 117 Terry Bradley. The latter’s Grave Diggers team-mate Mirza earned his by putting away 247 Jon Bailey, amongst others. 43 Nicky Bishop followed Lewis home in second and celebrated by putting away 247 Ryan Clarke on the run-down lap.

The second heat was even more lively. After an early restart Ashley Garrod followed in 376 Jason Farthing, while brother Terry was doing similar at the other end of the track. The leading 363 Michael Knowles tangled with backmarkers, one of whom was 369 Scott Taylor, who then got blasted by another Grave Digger, 113 Sam Richards. 479 Joel Allen put in 338 ‘Wingnut’ extremely hard, earning him one of the entertainer awards, before 114 Adam Jackson piled in the back. With all the mayhem just four cars were left running and it wasn’t clear what the order was. After the chequered flag was thrown the lapsheets were checked and Ashley Garrod declared the winner from UK Champion 551 Brett Jackson.

The earlier carnage meant only 20 returned for the consolation. A big pile-up formed on the scoreboard bend, leading to a wrecking train featuring Knowles, 9 Bruno Norman and 191 Luke Leedell. 601 Bling was blown up a number of times as just three cars were left circulating. The ‘Rocket’, 886 Lewis Stark took the win from 895 Wilson Hall.

So few finishers in the heats meant that even with entertainers also qualifying, only 13 qualifiers made it on the track for the final. They still kept things lively though, beginning with Waddingham being put away. Knowles again led until getting caught up with backmarkers. That allowed 85 James Ellis and he raced away to the win. Meanwhile Gibbo hit Knowles and was then blasted by Mirza. The latter went on to do Allen, allowing Gibbo in for a big revenge shot. Ellis celebrated his win by blasting 112 Darren Prestage as he crossed the line. Bishop was second and Lewis Stark third, with Allen named the entertainer.

The allcomers race saw 25 cars return to the track. Reds were called for early on when 181 Bobby Pooley rolled and then again to check on 125 Charlie Dean. 100 Callum White took plenty of hits throughout as Ellis raced to his second win and claimed the entertainers award to boot.

Ellis’s wins means he leads the Micro Banger UK Championship qualifying points chart and the overall National Points. Having won the Reliant Robins points last year, the former Banger National Points champion says this is his last year of racing. He will be looking to go out on a high and has made a good start. With James Jackson not Trackstar licenced, Vincent heads the early points for 2-Litre Banger World Championship qualification.

Racing returns to the Norfolk Arena on 29 March with an all Brisca affair – the F1s, F2s and Ministox are all in action. The Bangers (in 1500cc form) and Saloon Stock Cars both return a week later, on 5 April.