Dover Raceway May 31 2010
Rookie Bangers Crazy Day and Caravan Race, Bangerstox Southern Championship and Super Rods Kent Championship 

The annual Crazy Day for Rookie Bangers raised a fine field of just over 55 cars on May 31 although a few of these were exclusively for the caravan race. On the car front there was a little to get excited about, 500 Bill Wenham providing some RWD interest with a used Volvo 340 while long distance visitor 312 Tom Reynolds debuted a VDP 1300 and 726 Wayne March returned a 1950s Minx. 

The first crazy race was an in line chained pairs event which raised eight teams but this was soon reduced to seven when 24 Stu Buddle rolled in the opening stages to bring the reds out. A big lunge from 10 Sam Topley and 500 Wild Bill fenced 188 John Reeves and 88 Kevin Askew with 296 Paul Jennings blasting the former who soon parted ways with his team mate. 312 Turbo then caught fire on the home straight which brought the race to an early end with 165 Ritchie Jarrod and 199 Darren Mouser the winners ahead of 188 Victor and Askew and 73 Karl Taylor and 198 Dean Warriner.

A whopping 44 cars contested the second crazy race which featured a Le Mans Start and this was a much more livelier affair. 14 Yoxe White attacked Marsh from the start as a massive pile-up formed at the end of the home straight. White escaped this and duly vaulted the back straight banking while 59 Nathan Port was another to crash into the banking while Askew buried 140 Maria Bodiam. 248 Ian Bugden then stuffed 766 Rolly into 107 John Hogby as 239 Andy Swift nailed 113 Steve Sedgwick. Meanwhile a pile-up formed on the bottom bend in which 239 Swifty took a big lunge at 117 Alex Hammond before Wild Bill scored on 222 Karl Kelly. 328 Mark Hughes meanwhile earned a load up when he thundered 103 Ricky Bromley into the bottom bend wreckage before 37 Barry Arnold stuffed 53 Martin Charles. 25 Paul Ring meanwhile buried Taylor by the start line as 58 Fred Childs planted Jarrod head-on into the spun Hammond before 199 Mouse stuffed Wild Bill. Topley lunged at and fenced Victor before 32 Ricky Hughes assaulted Martin Charles and 449 Billy Crittenden blasted 63 Shane Bullen head-on en route to the win from Victor and 20 Andy Burbridge. 

An accident in the public car park resulted in the ambulance having to leave the raceway and a delay of over an hour meant 30 drivers were able to repair for the third crazy race which was on the figure of 8 and was another lively affair. 61 Ken Hollamby crashed into the banking early on as Jarrod tagged Hogby over the rear wheel. 254 Joanne Willson did a spectacular full roll on the intersection but landed on all fours and the action continued with Kelly blasting Fred Charles. Marsh and Topley met head-on which allowed Mouse to blast the latter as Bugden fenced Warriner which allowed Martin Charles to T-bone the former and he was nailed in turn by Crittenden. White and Jarrod went head to head as Taylor enjoyed a lively spurt, first burying Sedgwick before he buried 62 Rick Ridley into 54 Jason Blackford. White then connected on 376 Alan Hewitt on the crossover, rolling the latter onto his side to bring the race to an early end. Victor was declared the winner from Crittenden and 54 Blackie. 

The final crazy race was a dash which raised 24 starters and still the action flowed. Port buried Taylor early doors which also claimed Arnold as Hogby crashed into the banking. 105 Chris Jacobs began the DD early turning round to blast Arnold only to take one over the rear wheel from 32 Widget in turn. Jacobs brushed it off to meet Sedgwick head-on which stuffed the latter up the banking. Arnold chased Jacobs on opposite and delivered a blow before 296 Martin Bowmaker met Taylor on the nose. 312 Turbo then also turned round and blasted Jacobs just as Widget lined the latter up and they met head-on with an almighty impact. Mouse and Topley also enjoyed a head-on as 28 Mark Robertson turned round to attack Sedgwick, Turbo battling on to hit the former on the nose but he was then blasted by Blackie in turn. 266 Keith Merryweather took the win from Blackie and the handful of survivors contested an official DD. Blackie attacked Hogby but a head-on from Merryweather finished him. The latter then enjoyed a head-on with team mate Rolly with Hogby ramming Merryweather in turn. Meanwhile 28 Panda had caught fire and thus a dead heat was awarded between Merryweather and Hogby. 

The afternoon concluded with the annual caravan race but sadly 51 Colin Boswell proved to be a non starter leaving eight drivers to do battle. 661 Aaron Harris was the first to show, spinning Buddle but his caravan still stood although 123 Steve Allen moved in to wreck Harris’ van. Harris battled on to trashed 346 Scott Saunders’ van while Allen destroyed Buddle’s van. 20 Baldy’s vintage looking van was the next to collapse as 264 Carl Pritchard won the race from the aforementioned Baldy and we moved into the DD. 346 Muttley took a massive lunge at the van of Allen, which allowed 978 Jack Norris to T-bone the latter’s van and wreck it. Baldy meanwhile destroyed Pritchard’s van as Muttley chased Allen down the back straight and connected with a wild lunge at Allen which not only destroyed his van but left the Management man stuck on his trailed. Buddle ploughed into the wreckage on turn two with Baldy and Pritchard laying into him in turn as Norris also crashed into the wreckage leaving just Allen running and he celebrated his win with a hit on Muttley who was named the best entertainer. 

Crazy Race One (in line chained pairs): 165 Ricthie Jarrod/199 Darren Mouser, 188/88, 73/198, 20/34, 123/140, 62/239
Crazy Race Two (Le Mans Start): 449 Billy Crittenden, 188, 20, 500, 295, 37, 73, 107, 266, 199
Crazy Race Three (Figure of 8): 188 John Reeves, 449, 54, 266, 296, 62, 113, 73, 105, 239
Crazy Race Four (Dash): 266 Keith Merryweather, 54
Into Destruction Derby: Merryweather and 107 John Hogby
Caravan Race: 264 Carl Pritchard, 20
Into Destruction Derby: 123 Steve Allen

Round three of the Bangerstox track championship was also the 2010 Southern Championship meeting and raised another fine field with around 45 cars in action. This included another two new names to the season, 66 Kev Hook making a welcome return to the formula with it’s first Ka while 22 Olly Evans debuted in a very smart Nova. 

The championship was up first and was open to the top 24 in the points after the first two meetings with 22 qualifiers on hand. The random draw placed 11 Brian Willis on pole alongside 28 Mark Robertson while defending champion 26 Ant Williams was placed on the penultimate row. Willis made the start with row two starter 63 Shane Bullen on his tail as we enjoyed a thrilling battle in the opening lap. Robertson dropped off the pace at the start which caused a little drama for those behind, 9 Chris Young collecting him and hitting the fence while 47 Barry Sunter spun in the melee. 15 Jay Powell quickly moved into third from row three with row four starter 29 Craig Groombridge in fourth. Onto lap two and Bullen moved into the lead as elsewhere 50 Ray Walker span and Sunter became the first retirement. Groombridge hauled himself into second as 3 George Forbes battled his way to fifth from row five before Groombridge stormed to the front on lap three. Young was the next to retire as lap four saw Powell became the fourth leader with still little between the first five. Willis was back to second and Groombridge had dropped to fifth with 65 Chris Bull now starting to move up while Williams was up to ninth. 98 Neil Jones suffered a spin as Bull and Forbes spent time in fourth, the latter then losing time when he tangled with the spinning Robertson. The race his half way by which point the lead trio, Powell, Willis and Bullen had broken away leaving Forbes, Bull and Groombridge scrapping for fourth. 32 Gary Austin was also making progress from the very back, passing 96 Andy Chapman for 10th before Williams leapfrogged 64 Aaron Harris and 61 Ken Hollamby to move into seventh only to cruelly spin in the final stages, a similar fate which befell Bull. Powell meanwhile saw his lead eroded away when he struggled with the back marking 95 Paul Chapman but although Willis was able to close he had to settle for second, Groombridge and Forbes taking the remaining podium spots. 

21 white grade drivers contested heat one with 60 Clive Port an instant retirement as 55 Clint Millen made the running. Drama saw 62 Steve Cross collect the stricken 69 Andy Bucket and the former was then spun after a clash with 21 Glen Burney. 80 Stacey Griffiths moved to the front but there was no stopping Hook who carved through the field and duly took the lead and motored to the win with Millen and 31 Paul McMahon getting the better of Griffiths to take second and third respectively. 

One less for heat two which was for the graded cars and it was 83 Paul Apps who set the pace before retiring shortly after as 27 Michael Godfrey suffered an early spin. Forbes inherited the lead and never looked back as he raced to the win after a good tussle with 58 Owen Childs. Forbes ultimately broke away with 37 Del Jarman working hard to reach second but he was unable to get close enough to mount a challenge, Austin equally impressive in his drive to third from the back. 

20 cars again for the third heat, again open to the white grade with 71 Jason Fagg an early spinner as Griffiths enjoyed another spell at the front. She was passed by Evans who duly kept his cool and reeled off the laps for a fine win. Meanwhile Hook made fine progress from the back and took an excellent second ahead of 13 Tracey Gilbert which was her best finish to date. Elsewhere and 16 Jake Stokes got two wheels onto the banking while McMahon and Burney crashed heavily on the back straight. 

15 graded cars for the last heat with 23 Darren Young the pace setter but Forbes was again in fine form, starting from the back of the yellow grade he pursued Young for many laps before grabbing the lead and he took over and raced to his second win. Harris got the better of Young in the second half for second while Austin and Jarman again made fine progress, but a half spin for the latter cost him much time and ultimately Austin was the best red top in fourth as elsewhere some controversial exchanges between Hollamby and Willis spoils an otherwise fine meeting for the formula. 

Southern Championship: 15 Jay Powell, 11, 29, 3, 63, 32, 64, 61, 96, 23
Heat One: 66 Kev Hook, 55, 31, 80, 33, 24, 21, 22, 34, 82
Heat Two: 3 George Forbes, 37, 32, 64, 58, 23, 15, 29, 11, 9
Heat Three: 22 Olly Evans, 66, 13, 55, 33, 80, 82, 31, 24, 62
Heat Four: Forbes, 64, 23, 32, 15, 29, 9, 37, 96

Another consistent field of 12 Super Rods assembled for their Kent Championship which included another two new drivers for the season, namely 04 Ricky Williams and 17 John Shilleto.

The title race was first with the drivers starting in track championship order and this allowed pole starter 41 Pete Emson to take the early lead. 21 Kev Hickey used the inside to slip up the inside of front row starter 121 Nigel Goodwin as 14 Frank Gough made early progress, passing 76 Oliver Jarvis. At the rear of the field 8 Trevor Wright span and was collected by 7 Dave Ward as 88 Jason Anderson got the better of Goodwin on the inside for third although there was still next to nothing between the front runners. Anderson now challenged Hickey on the outside for second as Goodin battled defending champion 77 Mark Shingleton for fourth. At half way Emson led from Hickey, Anderson, Goodwin and Shingleton with absolutely nothing between them. Anderson finally got the better of Hickey for second but sadly this was where the racing became two close. Emson drifted wide, possibly from a nudge from Hickey and this also sent Anderson wide. However Goodwin saw his chance and dived up the inside of Hickey but they both tangled and went wide allowing Shingleton to take over but he took went wide and Goodwin reclaimed the lead and was able to finally pull away for the win, Shingleton having to settle for second while Hickey got the better of Gough and Anderson in a fine duel for third, Shilleto beating Jarvis on the line for eighth.

All 12 returned for the first Allcomers with Jarvis blasting away from the front and not putting a wheel wrong en route to a faultless flag to flag win. Behind Goodwin worked hard again to claw his way to second with Anderson equally well deserving of third. Shingleton had to settle for sixth, a result which could have been far better after a great start was erased when he was in the wrong place at the wrong time of a three way scramble to avoid Williams who suddenly lost speed on the home straight. At the rear of the field 28 Andrew Donavan bested Emson and Hickey in the race for seventh. 

Down to 10 for the second Allcomers with Wright slapping the Armco at the start but he recovered in second behind Jarvis as Donavan and Ward battled for third. They both tangled and Hickey squeezed up the inside and he dived into second before Donavan tangled with Emson which allowed Anderson to steal fourth. Hickey meanwhile made his move on Jarvis with three to win and he took the win, Anderson getting the better of Jarvis on the final lap for second while Shingleton passed Ward on the final bend for sixth.

Kent Championship: 121 Nigel Goodwin, 77, 21, 14, 88, 28, 41, 17, 76, 04
Allcomers one: 76 Oliver Jarvis, 121, 88, 8, 14, 77, 28, 41, 21
Allcomers two: 21 Kev Hickey, 88, 76, 17, 28, 77, 7, 121

Aside from the unfortunate and unavoidable delay during the meeting (we are pleased to report that we understand all those involved were given the all clear at hospital) this was a great afternoon’s entertainment. The Rookie Banger Crazy Day entertained as only it can with all the crazy races, save the pairs race supplying some fine action before one of the better caravan races plus two quality title races from the Bangerstox and Super Rods. 

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