Mildenhall Stadium Saturday May 29 2010
Pre 70 National Bangers and Reliant Robins World Qualifier

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MENTAL METAL
7 Jonny Morris Standard 10
8 Darren Owen Triumph 2000 Mk2
12 Tony Spinnewijn Mercedes 280 coupe
12 Paul Dean Vauxhall Viva HC
13 Pieter Liestra Gaz M50
17 Kyle Overy Austin Cambridge
22 Dave Vincent Wolseley 15/60
25 Mark Thomas Triumph Stag*
38 Eric Haerens Volvo 544
44 Steve Griffin Triumph 2000 Mk2
46 Wayne Pecker Humber Hawk
51 Kev Burnell Vauxhall Victor FC
55 Graham Smith Triumph 2000 Mk2*
63 Trevor Fronious Standard Vanguard Phase II
64 Barry Lee Volvo 164
67 Mark Whittaker Standard 10
67 Rickie Beasley Triumph 2000 Mk2
73 Tony Sims Morris Oxford estate
76 Ryan Scott Morris Oxford
76 Paul Sharman Hillman Minx*
78 Lee Macey Triumph 2000 Mk1*
81 Lee Greenwood Triumph 2000 Mk2
90 Joe Harboard Morris Oxford MO
91 Lee Herbert Toyota Celica*
97 Jim Madsham Wolseley 1500
98 Dale Atkins Volvo 142
101 Richard Rayner Singer Gazelle
113 Steve Sedgwick Volvo 164
117 Karl Dack Morris Oxford bubble* (DNR)
121 Mark Irons Vauxhall Ventura FD
122 James Woodley Triumph 2000 Mk2
123 Aubrey Woodley Triumph 2000 Mk2
124 Nigel Pagg Wolseley 16/60*
130 Chris White Ford Zodiac Mk4*
133 Marc Paton Triumph Mayflower
140 Mark Lee MG Magnette*
146 Dan Wigman Volvo 144
148 Ian Redden Austin Cambridge*
152 Jim Dillon Alvis
154 Tony Lawton Morris Oxford
159 Darren Scarrow Triumph 2000 Mk2
165 Ritchie Jarrod Triumph 2000 Mk2
168 Calvyn Girling Morris Oxford Traveller
188 John Reeves Morris Marina
199 Andy Dodge Austin Cambridge estate
208 Lewis Parry VDP 1300
219 Rob Beavis Austin Princess
220 Tom Pavett Rover P6
228 Matt Dean Austin Princess
233 Rob Aldridge Triumph 2000 Mk2*
234 Terry Gardiner Austin Cambridge (DNR)
236 Darren Herbert Riley 4/72*
237 Gary Nash Triumph 2000 Mk2
252 Steve Bugler Triumph 2000 Mk1
260 Keith Reynolds Triumph 2000 Mk2
261 Dom Davies MG Magnette*
262 Jason Barnard Rover P6
262 Kevin Lee Mercedes 190 fintail*
266 Callum Hall Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
269 Rick Percival Saab 99
272 Garry Murrell Triumph 2000 Mk1
281 Scott Parry Triumph Dolomite
282 Lee Treasurer Austin Cambridge A50 bubble
287 Steve Jones Morris Minor
290 Xavier Leenearts Ford Capri Mk1
303 Wayne Linsdale Triumph 2000 Mk1
303 Brian Cope MGB GT
304 Alan Tibbs Morris Cowley
310 Chas Lee Austin Cambridge A55 bubble
313 Craig Osbourn Triumph 2000 Mk2
320 Darryl Wall Austin Cambridge A55 fintail estate
325 Craig Preece Hillman Hunter
326 Shane Lynn Triumph 2000 Mk2
327 Syd Sherman Jnr Austin Cambridge A40 bubble*
333 Danny Webb Volvo 164
339 Adrian Lightbown Triumph 2000 Mk2
346 Scott Saunders Ford Zodiac Mk4 limo
347 Dave Bull Hillman Super Minx
347 Simon Wheeler Singer Gazelle
349 Lee Saunders Vauxhall Cresta PC
350 Steve Shaw Humber Sceptre (DNR)
356 Luke Radley Hillman Minx
359 Simon Rolph Standard 10
360 Jack Reynolds Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
362 Matt Godden Hillman Minx
368 Mark Annets Morris Oxford estate
382 Jack Foster Jnr Saab 99
384 John Golden Austin Cambridge
390 Ben Gibson Ford Consul Mk2
395 Joe Donworth Wolseley 16/60
414 Michael Wones Triumph 2000 Mk2
414 Lee Busby Austin 1300
445 Mark Dorrill Triumph 2000 Mk2
446 Lee Greer Triumph Dolomite
462 James Bruce Volvo 145 estate
476 Rosco Coleman Morris Cowley estate
498 Jay Curtis Triumph Dolomite (DNR)
500 John Atkins Triumph Dolomite
501 Ste Kaye Hillman Minx
503 Daniel Hollinsworth Hillman Minx*
507 Paul Ashby Triumph 2000 Mk2*
509 Les Dolan Triumph 2000 Mk2*
511 Helen Licquorice Austin Maxi
520 Derek Caton Triumph 2000 Mk2*
523 Andy Gray Volvo 144
523 John Swanborough Datsun 160B*
525 Wes Starmer Austin Cambridge
536 Scott Waite Morris Marina
538 Jake Swann Standard 10
547 Tony McNeil Hillman Avenger
566 Andy Potter Triumph 2000 Mk2
577 Dave Watton Triumph 2000 Mk2*
587 Alex Humphrey Riley 4/72
601 Lee Usher Triumph 2000 Mk2
617 Jack Overy Austin Cambridge
682 Paul Sparrow Humber Sceptre
665 Didier Callewart Ford Corsair
688 Steve Collins Austin Cambridge
715 Lee Parry Austin A35
715 Mick Prince Ford Zephyr Mk3
730 Dean Mayes Austin Cambridge
760 Mark Josey Wolseley 16/60*
814 Mark Millen Wolseley 16/60
821 Rob Bennett Triumph 2000 Mk2
825 Luke Preece Hillman Hunter
830 Lee White Ford Zephyr Mk3
837 Pete Nash Triumph 2000 Mk1
886 Adrian French Rover P6
897 Matt Battle Humber Sceptre
925 Aaron Preece Vauxhall Viva HC
931 Ricky Humphrey Ford Capri Mk1*
999 Paul Norman Austin A70 Hereford
*=used car DNR=did not race

The 18th staging of the Mildenhall pre 70 banger meeting attracted a quite sensational field of 128 cars on May 31 although four of these failed to leave the pits all night. Drivers came from all across the country with two from Scotland plus five from the continent including 13 Peewee from North Holland whose Gaz M50 was one of the evenings stars cars along with the Volvo 544 of 38 the Indian, 133 Marcy’s Mayflower and 346 Muttley’s Zodiac limo but for many the pick of the bunch was the Alvis piloted by 152 Mr Grumpy. All five of these cars were superbly presented as were many more in the pits. 

Sadly consistent rain fell at the stadium in the hours leading up to the meeting and after a dry spell about an hour before start time, the heaven opens just as heat one was assembling. With sufficient small cars for two heats, the opening heat assembled 24 cars. 511 Helen Licquorice was the first to show as she piled 359 Mr Mint into the concrete blocks while Marcy hit the rare Cowley estate of 476 Rosco Coleman on the nose. 188 Victor hit the Indian’s stunning Volvo in the same way allowing 90 Joe Ninety to ram the former and he copped a package from 446 Lee Greer in turn. 501 Basher then used his 50s Minx to hit the luckless Joe Ninety on the nose and 547 the BFA used his ultra smart Avenger to blast the former in turn. 999 Sormin’ Norman T-boned Mr Mint as 538 Swanny Jnr managed to run in 76 Paul Sharman well, the former getting an assist from the smart Sceptre of 897 the Duck as 67 Sparky laid into Stormin’ Norman. 347 Steve Wheeler and 101 Richard Rayner enjoyed a back straight head-on with the recovered Sharman blasting the former in turn but he shrugged it off to again ram Rayner on the nose. The latter took another head from 67 Sparky, the latter then doing the same to the pretty Wedge of 219 Rob Beavis. 503 Odd Job wrapped things up by firing Marcy into the wall before he buried the Indian. Licquorice guided his typically well turned out Maxi to the win from 7 Jonny Morris and the BFA.

Small cars again for heat two and a slightly bigger field of 26 with 925 Aaron Preece looking to make a flier from the front only to spin into the blocks. 682 Sparra Boy used his well presented Sceptre to bury 303 Dangerous Brian as 931 Ricky Humphreys bashed 304 Tibbsy’s Cowley on the nose. 362 Mat Godden laid into 287 Steve Jones’ Moggy as 91 Lee Herbert hut 51 Kev Burnell on the nose and 208 Magic used his well smart VDP to blast 356 Luke Radley. 310 Chas Lee and Dangerous Brian met on the nose and Herbert connected with a decent T-bone on Mr Grumpy. 290 Xavier Leenearts blasted Tibbsy with Magic also attacking the latter only to take a good shot from 327 Suicide Sid Jnr in turn before Herbert turned round and again attacked Tibbsy. 325 Craig Preece T-boned Suicide Syd Jnr before the lively Herbert blasted 281 Scott Parry which dumped the latter’s smart Dolomite into infield concrete. Suicide Syd Jnr recovered to followed-in 825 Luke Preece nicely, the latter then spun into the blocks by the stunning bubble A50 of 282 Uglee as 382 Chubby lapped the entire field en route to the win ahead of Uglee and 168 Calvyn Girling. 

Things moved up a gear for heat three which was largely A60 based and raised a field of 33, the rain stopping by this point but the shale remaining very slippery still. 154 Splitter began by piling 124 Nigel Pegg into the blocks as 390 Gibo and 98 Daktari treated the luckless 760 Jackin’ to head-ons. 140 Sass was quickly on opposite to attack 814 Mark Millen in the middle of a pit bend blockage in the early stages as Daktari used his unusual 2-door Volvo to T-bone Gibo. 462 Brucie nailed the luckless Pegg as a pile-up now formed on the road bend in which 199 Andy Dodge went head to head with 395 the West How Warrior. 12 Tony Spinnewijn was the next to pound Jackin’ as welcome returnee 236 Darren Herbert hit Sass on the nose which allowed 525 Wes to blast the former with his lush looking Cambridge. 228 Martin Dean treated the spun 617 Jack Overy to a head-on as Wes continued with a shot on Pegg. 130 Casper and Sass enjoyed a head-on, the lively Wes now treating 830 Stretch to one of the same as 22 Dave Vincent used his rare 15/60 to bury Splitter into Sass. Spinnewijn picked up Overy and followed him through the passenger doors of 500 Jon Atkinson a treat, firing the track champion up to turn round and stop 536 Knobby with a meaty head-on. 730 Deano buried Vincent as Daktari treated Overy to one on the nose. The lively Spinnewijn then buried the smart Cambridge of 688 Steve Collins as the West Howe Warrior singled out 76 the Reject for a big hit which jacked the latter nicely. The West Howe Warrior continued to enjoy a head-on with Overy but Team Black revenge came from a shot from the recovered Collins. 148 Shorty meanwhile blasted Dean in the middle of the growing pit bend head before Deano T-boned the Rejects and was blasted in turn by the impressive West Howe Warrior. Pegg rallied back for a shot on Dean as Deano turned round to hit Shorty on the nose. 73 Slaphead meanwhile landed blows on Spinnewijn and Collins en route to taking the win, like previous winners he too lapped the field, 384 Goldie second and 715 Mick Prince in third after he nailed Casper in the closing stages. 

Heat four was for the larger cars and saw the grid swell to 43 with 262 the Verger meeting 339 Adrian Lightbown on the nose early on as 44 Steve Griffin stuffed 8 Deadly Daz into the early chaos on turn four. This pile-up allowed 220 Lurch to hammer 349 Finbarr’s smart Cresta as 64 Barry the Bull buried 520 the Undertaker while 445 Mark Dorrill marked a rare banger outing with a head-on to Lurch. 13 Peewee then blasted Griffin in the same way as the Verger went against the flow to meet Deadly on the nose. 252 Boogie powered into Peewee’s Russian machine as 333 Danny Webb blasted 165 Ritchie Jarrod which helped make the pit bend completely blocked. 326 Ratty nailed 81 Numbnuts before Peewee scored on Muttley over the rear wheel before he blasted 821 Bob the Anorak’s superb turned out Triumph. 237 Nasha meanwhile buried 360 Jackstar as Deadly recovered to T-bone 266 Odd Job which left him prone to a portion from 113 Steve Sedgwick in turn. 252 Boogie blasted Deadly Daz but he copped one in turn from 566 Andy Potter as Peewee followed in 601 Usha’s stunning looking Triumph. 272 Gazza and Boogie enjoyed a head-in as did 46 Pecker and 303 Wayne Linsdale, the former’s smart Hawk then catching fire but the flames died down without the need for a stoppage. Peewee then rattled the Verger into the wall hard, inspiring the latter to turn round and meet his attacker in a big head-on. Linsdale scored on Jackstar as Webb turned round to attack Ratty. Barry the Bull and Nasha also enjoyed a head-on as did Muttley and 146 Wiggy while 78 Mad Mace scored on Finbarr. 313 Craig Osbourn attacked Webb while 260 Keefy and 509 One Lap Les landed blows on Ratty. With no way through on the pit bend the result was declared with Keefy taking the win from Dorrill and Linsdale. 

Into the consolations and with the shale starting to improve the 37 car first consolation was one of the best races of the night. Shorty set the ball rolling by thundered Leenarts into the wall by the start line which allowed Dodge to blast the latter in turn. 12 Flex stuffed Aaron Preece into the blocks and 523 Swampy T-boned Rayner, the latter taking further punishment from the Duck as Dodge sent Mr Grumpy crashing into the concrete. Coleman then turned round and blasted the spun Grumpy which wrecked the back of the Alvis in style as Wes followed Daktari in hard. Marcy crashed into Grumpy and Coleman which allowed Ball to blast the Mayflower as the recovered Aaron Preece gave Suicide Syd Jnr a solid shot. 97 Sunny Jim nailed Godden and Millen gave 665 Brutus a T-bone which allowed Mr Mint to hit the former in turn. Mr Grumpy battled on and met the Indian on the nose while Ball and Dodge met in the same way before Swampy further wrecked Mr Grumpy with a shot on opposite. Wes blasted Flex and Sunny Jim hammered the Duck which allowed Craig Preece to blast the former in turn but he took a hard hit himself from Shorty. 503 Odd Job met Ball on the nose as Marcy turned round to whack the Indian over the front wheel. The action continued as Wes and Rainer enjoyed a head-on as did Shorty and Flex before Mr Mint hit Marcy on opposite. This opened the door for Swampy to give Mint a big hit as Millen and Wes enjoyed an all A60 head-on, Shorty blasting the former in turn only to take one from the lively Swampy. The Duck blasted Swampy in turn which left him open to a cracking shot from Sedgwick, the latter then hitting Marcy on the nose. 356 Luke Radley connected on Busby only to take one himself from Wes as Sedgwick turned round and T-boned 462 Brucie. Swanny Jnr hit Busby which the latter soon repaid before he blasted Brucie to boot. Sedgwick meanwhile picked his way through for the flag and was the only credited finisher. 

Just under 30 for the second consolation and this began with a head-on between 122 Woodsy and Lurch which allowed Overy to blast the former as Numbnuts met the spun 577 Dave the Rave on the nose, Collins T-boning the Invader in turn. 17 the Little Chief then planted 55 Smiggy into the luckless Dave the Race as Muttley was punished by hits from Nasha, Dean and Spinnewijn. 67 Sonny Black was the next to assault the unfortunate Dave the Race as Spinnewijn blasted Gibo. Stretch stuffed 368 Spudgun and Smiggy in one nose as Dean treated Splitter to a head-on. Mad Mace again laid into Muttley, this time on opposite but he was T-boned by the Little Chief for his troubles with Splitter hitting the Team Black young gun in turn. Casper followed in Jarrod and Sonny Black bashed Muttley’s snapping limo. Overy met Spinnewijn on the nose as Spudgun blasted Dean and Osbourn nailed Sonny Black only to take one himself from Casper. Spudgun continued by running Numbnuts into the pit bend wreckage as Overy went against the flow to again assault Spinnewijn. Osbourn meanwhile nailed Spudgun hard but was T-boned by Nasha in turn with Sonny Black blasting him a second later. Mad Mac further wrecked Muttley on the home straight with Overy attacking 523 Andy Gray on opposite as 233 Rob Aldridge came through for the win from Sonny Black and Stretch, no other recorded finishers given. 

23 qualifiers returned for the final which was, as expected, much quieter. Boogie hit the spin Linsdale on the nose early doors only to take a similar hit himself from the super smart Triumph of 159 Scarrow Boy. The BFA tagged Victor over the rear wheel as Boogie took another head-on, this time from Godden. Licquorice’s challenge for second ended when she met Morris on the nose as Prince followed the BFA in a treat, Boogie then blasting the latter with the Avenger then bursting into flames to bring the race to an early end. Chubby took his second win of the night ahead of Licquorice and Greer. 

A quite incredible 54 cars returned for the Accumulator qualifier and as expected it was mayhem from the word go. In the early chaos the Indian met Wheeler on the nose as pile-ups formed on both ends of the raceway. Spudgun and 414 Michael Wones enjoyed a head-on as Griffin followed Overy in hard on the pit bend. Sunny Jim hammered the luckless Wheeler as Woodsy jacked Spudgun a treat. 25 Tombo used his Stag to T-bone Wiggy, Wes also attacking the latter as Swanny Jnr scored on Sass. Stormin’ Norman now turned round and blasted Wes as Jackstar buried himself in the boot of Aaron Preece. The West Howe Warrior turned round and attacked Boogie and Numbnuts also came on opposite to blast Tombo. Overy set about Wiggy as the track became completely blocked at the end of the back straight. Sedgwick laid into Boogie before the former jacked Basher a treat. The Little Chief and Wiggy met on the nose and Sparra Boy hit Licquorice only to take one in turn from Numbnuts who was then hammered by Overy. With no way through on the back straight Smiggy was declared the winner and we officially moved into the DD. Wes was the first to show with a hit on Sedgwick as Greer attacked Smiggy. Sedgwick battled back to blast Overy as Smiggy was pounded by Wes, Numbnuts and Sedgwick, the latter going on to T-bone Greer. Spinnewijn then extracted himself from the heap and duly went on the rampage starting with a head-on to Sedgwick. He then shrugged off a hit from Overy to again hit Sedgwick on the nose before he tagged 261 Dom Davies over the rear wheel. Spinnewijn then delivered hits to Greer, Sparra Boy and Smiggy before the Merc expired leaving just Sass and Sparra Boy who had precious little left. Thus a dead heat was awarded between the latter two while Spinnewijn was named the best entertainer. 

Heat one: 511 Helen Licquorice, 7, 547, 269, 188, 446, 359, 362, 133
Heat two: 382 Jack Foster Jnr, 282, 168, 362, 290, 682, 327, 523, 347, 825
Heat three: 73 Tony Sims, 384, 715, 12, 22, 587, 130
Heat four: 260 Keith Reynolds, 445, 303, 44, 349, 159, 67, 252
Consolation one: 113 Steve Sedgwick
Consolation two: 233 Rob Aldridge, 67, 830
Grand Final: Foster Jnr, 511, 446, 384, 113, 445, 233, 303, 349, 168
Accumulator qualifier: 55 Graham Smith
Into Destruction Derby: 140 Mark Lee and 682 Paul Sparrow 

A most decent field of 24 Reliant Robins gathered for their final World qualifier although two of them failed to race. It was a somewhat cosmopolitan line up with 851 Adam Storr and 854 Karl Pickworth from the midlands, 87 Barry Richards from Mendips and 103 Paul Fairman and 485 Gary Archer also covering plenty of miles from Kent. 

The tricky conditions led to a manic start in heat one with Richards falling over immediately to bring the yellows out almost before the green fell while 28 David Donavan found the fence. The race resumed with 161 Wayne Byrne fencing 272 Martin Vella as 552 Karl Douglas buried Storr and 553 Daniel Douglas attacking running mate 195 Pete Bowley. 554 Chalky Douglas then collected the stricken 272 Mert head-on as Pickworth and Bowley all crashed into 85 James Ellis, shortly followed by 552 Blacknuts. Richards rolled for the second time to bring the yellows back out, 275 Phil Rowbottom blasting Pickworth while the caution flags were out to earn a black flag while 04 Kevin Tatham received a load up when he went on opposite to further assault the latter. The race resumed with 185 Ben Oliver fencing 485 Gazza as 355 Mick Walker took the win after a good scrap with 66 Steve Willis and 576 Colin Aldred who were next home. 

Just one less for heat two and a better start for Richards who fenced Bowley while 161 Mr Burns sent 30 James Donavan into a full roll on the road bend. Fairman attacked 272 Mert while Pickworth and Chalky Douglas traded blows. Fairman had Storr around as Rowbottom fell over to bring the caution flags out although this didn’t stop Chalky Douglas from attacking Pickworth only to roll himself but he was disqualified nonetheless. The race resumed with 66 Pork Pie having 16 Ray Layton out as Ellis fenced Richards and 576 Porkey powered into Storr, the latter taking further damage when he was hit by Fairman. Ellis continued to spin James Donavan before the former hit the lurking Storr heavily by the start line, Bowley then crashing into Storr head-on before James Donavan fell over on the back straight to bring the yellow flags back out. The final laps saw Walker fence 185 Killer while Porkey piled Walker into Mert leaving 552 Blacknuts clear for the win ahead of Layton and 96 Ian Robins. 

Just 11 made it back for the final with Blacknuts slapping the Armco at the start as 66 Pork Pie removed Layton on two occasions. Gazza ran head-on into the spun David Donavan as Daniel Douglas lunged at Richards to try and take the lead but this allowed Robins to slip past them both although Daniel Douglas quickly past him and opened up a useful lead. Gazza fenced Fairman before the former was spun by Blacknuts as Pork Pie crashed into the spun Rowbottom. Daniel Douglas meanwhile had James Donavan out en route to taking the win from Richards, Robins cruelly expiring with a lap to go which handed Layton third while Fairman rounded things off by crashing into the fence by the start line to get onto two wheels. 

Heat one: 355 Mick Walker, 66, 576, 16, 553, 96, 103, 161, 552, 554
Heat two: 552 Karl Douglas, 16, 96, 553, 66, 485, 275, 103, 185, 28
Grand Final: 553 Daniel Douglas, 87, 16, 103, 96, 30, 28, 275

Once again an amazing entry of classic car bangers and some superb machinery and even higher standard of presentation although the entire evening was spoiled to a degree by the unfortunate weather. Full credit is deserving to all the drivers who entertained as best they could and provided a standard of racing which was every bit as good, maybe marginally better, than the conditions would have allowed, both formulas managing a couple of cracking races on the night with some big and memorable hits dotted around in the banger programme. 

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