Mildenhall Saturday May 31 2008
Pre 70 Bangers and Reliant Robins World Qualifier

For the seventh year running RDC’s annual classic car session raised a triple figure entry with a fabulous field of 130 pre 70 bangers filling the Mildenhall pits on May 31 and once again drivers from across the country travelled to the event including a large turn out from the Mob from north of the border. There was quality as well among the entry with perhaps the best material selection the meeting has ever seen, many people’s choice of cars of the meeting being the pre war motors of 85 James Ellis and 152 Mr Grumpy who paraded a 1933 Standard 10 and 1935 Austin Ascot respectively. However it could be argued that 362 Matt Godden PC Cresta estate was the rarest car on display while the returning 88 Speedy did not disappoint with a sublime Mk3 Zephyr hearse and 179 the Leg-End’s Mk4 Zodiac limo was also a rated find. It wasn’t the only limo on hand with 565 Mark Carter impressing with a Wedge hearse while 63 the Mourner’s Wolsely 4/50 was also an epic find. These drivers were all rewarded with small cash prizes for their efforts as were 15 Lee Collins and 821 Bob the Anorak for their Sunbeam Talbot 90 and Phase II Vanguard while a further 20 plus drivers received trophies for the top paint and cars. 

Before we go any further here is complete list of the pre 70 banger entry

4 Shaun Fields Wolsely 1500
10 Sam Topley Hillman Super Minx
14 Colin Lacey Triumph 2000 Mk2
15 Lee Collins Sunbeam Talbot 90
19 Joe Mullarkey Austin A40
22 Dave Vincent Wolseley 16/60*
24 Ian Mallinson Austin Cambridge 
39 Steve Moore Triumph 2000 Mk2
54 Martin Lawton Wolsely 1500
63 Trevor Fronious Wolseley 4/50
67 Mark Whittaker Vauxhall Viva HC
73 Tony Sims Austin Cambridge A55 bubble estate
76 Paul Sharman Himman Super Minx
83 John Clarke Vauxhall Viva HC (DNR)
85 James Ellis Standard 10
88 Alan Reed Ford Zephyr hearse Mk3
95 Dave Ford Triumph Dolomite
98 Elliot Beaman Austin Cambridge A55 bubble
100 Andrew Panks Ford Cortina Mk1
101 Mike Forrester Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
117 Karl Dack Triumph 2000 Mk2
122 James Woodley Morris Oxford
125 Roy Preece Triumph 2000 Mk2
137 Lee Turner Triumph 2000 Mk2
140 Mark Lee Austin A40
146 Dan Wigman Triumph 2000 Mk1
148 Ian Redden Triumph 2000 Mk2
152 Jim Dillon Austin Ascot
154 Tony Lawton Singe Vogue estate
155 Scott Hamilton Rover P6
157 Tam Gordon Rover P6
163 Robert O'Connell Singer Gazelle
165 Steve Chopping Triumph 2000 Mk2
166 Guy Chopping Triumph 2000 Mk2
169 Len Brinkley Triumph 2000 Mk2*
179 Jamie Phillips Ford Zodiac limo Mk4
180 Mark Foster Morris Marina camper
182 Robert Hole Standard Vanguard
188 John Reeve Austin Cambridge estate
186 Vic Crabb Singer Gazelle
197 Pete Dodge Volvo Amazon
198 Marcus Goldsmith Triumph Dolomite
200 Wayne Holton Ford Cortina Mk2
203 Andy Dodge Vauxhall Victor FB
204 Charlie King Mercedes 190 fintail
206 Dave King Rover P6
214 Lee Vincent Triumph 2000 Mk2
217 Neil Smyth Triumph 2000 Mk2 (DNR)
223 Brett Harrison Austin A95 Westminster
226 Craig Badger Volvo Amazon
237 Gary Nash Triumph 2000 Mk2
237 Lee Millhouse Volvo 144
262 Jason Barnard Triumph 2000 Mk2
262 Kevin Lee Mercedes 123
262 Pete Robertson Triumph 2000 Mk2
265 Jamie Percival Rover P6
268 Glen Seago Ford Zephyr Mk3
271 Mark Dalgarno Rover P6
273 Kevin McClagish Ford Consul Mk2
274 Tom Grantham Morris Marina
278 Tom Hill Ford Capri Mk1
300 Paul Stern Vauxhall Victor FB
303 Wayne Linsdale Triumph 2000 Mk2
303 Brian Cope Hillman Minx
304 Dale Rainer Triumph 2000 Mk2*
311 Gary Lown Morris Marina
320 Darryl Whall Austin Cambridge A55 fintail
326 Paul Miller Hillman Super Minx
336 Nigel White Triumph 2000 Mk2
346 Scott Saunders Morris Oxford
349 Lee Saunders Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
350 Mark Watts Austin Allegro
359 Simon Rolph Vauxhall Viva HC
362 Liam Friel Wolsely 16/60
362 Matt Godden Vauxhall Cresta PC estate
363 Sam Trim Austin Princess hearse*
377 Ashley Tompkins Sunbeam Rapier
379 Danny Evans Triumph Dolomite
384 John Golden Wolseley 16/60*
397 Stu Sandell Wolseley 15/60*
399 Darryl Smy Ford Popular (DNR)
401 Steve Hemmings ZB Magnette*
425 Martin Stopher Rover P6
435 Dan Wilkins Triumph 2000 Mk2
439 Danny Sutton Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
440 Pete McVay Morris MO Oxford
440 Roger Sugden Triumph 2000 Mk2
445 Mark Dorrill Triumph 2000 Mk2*
448 Chris Smith Standard 10
454 Dan Thompson Hillman Minx
456 Steve Allen Ford Consul Mk2
460 Lewis Barber Volvo 164
473 Mark Nicholls Morris Oxford
488 Duane Collins Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
489 Ricky Pittman Triumph 2000 Mk1
489 Keith Silley Triumph Dolomite
499 Phil Rainsford Ford Zephyr Mk4
503 Dan Hollinsworth Hillman Minx*
508 Harry Bradbury Austin Cambridge
509 Les Dolan Triumph 2000 Mk1
520 Derek Caton Ford Zephyr Mk2
528 John Fogg Hillman Super Minx
536 Scott Waite MGB GT
547 Tony McNeil Wolseley 15/50
557 Paul Bowen Sunbeam Rapier
560 Aaron Rolph Triumph Dolomite
565 Mark Carter Austin Princess limo
587 Alex Humphrey Triumph 2000 Mk1
606 Liam Weedon Wolseley 16/60*
665 Stu Scarlett Morris Oxford*
673 Darren Fendley Rover P6*
687 Nigel Overy Morris Oxford
710 Ben Wilkins Morris Oxford
715 Mick Prince Triumph 2000 Mk1
715 Lee Parry Austin A35
731 Danny French Austin Cambridge A55 fintail*
748 Dave Wilmott Hillman Minx
761 Nat Cohn Rover P6 (DNR)
800 Tom Hannah Triumph 2000 Mk2
801 Jack Foster Saab 99
807 Chris Murfin Wolseley 16/60
814 Mark Millen Austin Cambridge*
821 Rob Bennett Standard Vanguard Phase II
837 Pete Nash Triumph 2000 Mk2 estate
837 Martin Wesby Volvo Amazon
886 Adrian French Volvo 144
897 Matt Battle Vauxhall Viva HC estate
924 Matt Millen Morris Oxford estate
969 Paul Beaumont Morris 1800
*=used car DNR=did not race

The evening began with two heats for the smaller cars and there were 25 for the first heat which started controversial with the feuding 67 Sparky and Ellis continuing to lap before the latter nailed the former just as the rolling lap began. 10 Sam Topley hammered Collis as Ellis and Sparky now met on the nose while 326 Paul Miller used his smart Minx to assault Topley. 180 Sparky used his cool Marina camper to T-bone the lush Rapier of 377 Hammer while 379 Danny Evans turned round to hit Ellis but the latter bounced back to lay into 4 Shaun Fields. 198 Marcus Goldsmith attacked the Mourner with the latter replying by spinning the Mendips man which left him open to a monster T-bone from Hammer. Sadly this knocked the Wacky Racer out and brought the race to an early conclusion with 801 Jack Foster taking the win from 489 Keith Silly and 528 the Professor. 

Just 22 for the second heat with 278 Sex Pest using his immaculate Capri to attack 203 Andy Dodge as 440 Pedro became the first rollover of the night to bring the reds out. Just as the reds were shown 274 Tom Grantham hit Bob the Anorak before taking an even latter shot from 748 Totter which earned the latter a black flag. Dodge again came under fire on the restart, this time from 557 Paranoid’s Rapier as 200 Skippy ran in the rated Standard of 182 Robert Hole before 223 Bushy rolled his bubble Westy on the top bend to again bring the reds out. Dodge’s rough ride continued on the third attempt, taking a hit from Pedro as Bob the Anorak caught the spinning 186 Vic Crabb in the door. This saw 401 Psycho nail Bob the Anorak as Pedro had a go at 969 Paul Beaumont only to fence himself in the process with Hole blasting the Mob man in turn before 19 Dove Toe Joe brought the reds out again when he rolled his A40 on the top bend. Just nine were left for the restart which turned into an action-less eight lap dash won by Grantham after a good tussle with Beaumont and Bob the Anorak came third. 

Things moved up a gear for heat three which was mainly for A60s and raised a much larger field of 37 cars. 206 Kingy set the ball rolling by burying 73 Slaphead while 157 Tam Gordon attacked 814 Mark Millen and 520 the Undertaker used his cool Zodiac to fence 439 Sutty before 508 Led Head turned it on with stiff T-bones to 807 Murf and 265 Percy. 188 Victor butted heads with the spun 397 Boo while 837 Martin Wesby put away the tidy A60 of 473 Mark Nicholls allowing 122 James Woodley to nail the latter as 346 Muttley scored on 22 Dave Vincent. 363 Trummer powered his Wedge hearse into Muttley hard as 606 Boomer blasted Speedy and Gordon scored on the luckless Percy in an all P6 affair. Muttley then rolled onto his side on the back straight but was fortunately shielded by 384 Goldie allowing the Management man to exit without the need for a stoppage. 362 Tilly used his stunning 16/60 to administer a meaty T-bone to Boomer only to take a hard hit from the Undertaker in turn. Victor then blasted Murf as 320 Darryl Whall used his smart A55 to attack Kingy with the Spedeworth star shrugging it off to burying Victor as Speedy hammered Murf. 204 Charlie Boy powered his Fintail Merc into Tilly with Mr Happy laying into the latter a second later. The race turned quiet for a couple of laps before things exploded on the back straight. Victor burying Nicholls into Muttley’s upturned car ripping the latter’s tender A60 apart. Godden then powered into Charlie Boy who homed in on Victor resulting in Nicholls going into the post at the end of the home straight which snapped his A60. Murf put away Kingy as the reds came out to assist Nicholls who was trapped in his wreck. 731 Frenchy took the win from Speedy and 665 Stu Scarlett. 

The final heat was mostly for the Triumph 2000s and larger cars and raised 32 starters and was another fine affair. The race began with 886 Shades laying into the well presented Viva estate of 897 Matt Battle as 304 Dale Rainer followed in 148 Shorty on the road bend as 509 Les Dolan buried 349 Finbarr allowing the recovered Battle to nail the Invader as 146 Wiggy buried 166 the Old Cowboy. The Leg-End picked up Rainer who latched onto 14 Babyface putting the latter in the wall hard as 488 United scored on Dolan. 137 Lee Turner blasted the Leg-End before 39 Peanut zeroed in for a cracking shot on 489 Ricky Pittman. Dolan then rolled by the start line to bring the reds straight out and a complete restart was called for. The race resumed with TSR young gun 673 Darren Fendley meet the spun 587 Humps on the nose as birthday boy 435 Action Man buried 715 Mick Prince as then duelled for the lead. 214 Skeeter hammered Wiggy and 837 Mr Happy tagged the spinning Action Man. 237 Nasha zeroed in on 262 Pete Robertson while 117 Kamikaze treated 460 Lewis Barber to a solid hit only to take a Bad Company revenge hit from Turner. Prince went in on the latter in turn but he took a fine package from the lively Peanut. Action Man recovered to dish out a T-bone on the spun Robertson while 125 Roy Preece hit the Leg-end on the nose. Kamikaze again laid into Barber but took one over the rear wheel from Skeeter but Kamikaze battled on for another shot on the Bad Company Volvo. They then met on the nose before Turner turned round to attack the RDC livewire. Wiggy then picked up Skeeter and thundered him into Robertson with United then blasting Skeeter only to take a killer shot from Peanut. The reds then came out with concern being shown for a driver and the race was declared in favour of Mr Happy from 445 Mark Dorrill and Wiggy. 

26 starters for the first consolation with Babyface trading hits with Battle early on as Millen put away the cool Standard 10 of 448 Mad Chris and Led Head continued his lively night with a shot on Battle. 924 Mark Millen attacked the Mourner and sent the epic Wolzy into the inner wall before Vincent punted 226 the Badger into Babyface, the latter rallying back to meet 262 Kevin Lee’s Merc on the nose before Battle treated the Mourner to one on the nose. Babyface continued his show with a head-on to 237 Lee Millhouse as Mad Chris nailed Battle and Humps put away Dove Toe Joe and Dodge on one go. Lee recovered to score on Battle as Miller hammered Dove Toe Joe with the former then spotting the spun Mourner and administering a meaty T-bone. Shorty meanwhile recovered from a spin from Humps and survived blowing a hose on the final bend to take a fine full contact win from the closing Vincent and 710 Bunge. 

A much larger field of 38 cars contested the second consolation and Pedro got the ball rolling as he buried Shades while 165 the Reaper blasted Kamikaze and 456 Stevo used his cool Consul to give 303 Wayne Linsdale a T-bone helping to cause a home straight pile-up. The returned 268 Glen Seago met the luckless Linsdale on the nose as Victor blasted Preece before 715 Scott Parry went in on Shades only to roll his A35 on impact and bring the reds out once again. The action resumed with Stevo following in the Reaper and Seago in one move as Rainer blasted the spun Bushy on the nose. We then enjoyed a fantastic wrecking train which began when Prince buried Kamikaze into Hammer. This allowed Stevo to meet Kamikaze on the nose and he was blasted in turn by Rainer. Victor hammered him a second later but took one from the smart A60 from 687 Nigel Overy with 197 Pete Dodge dishing out a cracking hit on Overy only to take one from 397 Boo in turn. Linsdale battled back to nail Evans as Kamikaze dug himself from the heap to hit Shades on opposite before 311 Golden Boy blasted Sutty which in turn fenced Evans. Golden Boy continued to attack Linsdale as Sutty recovered to blast the Reaper as 273 Mad Mouse held off Fendley for the win, Golden Boy taking third only to be trashed by Bushy just as he crossed the line. 

A cracking field of 40 assembled for the qualifiers only final which was another action packed affair. Vincent started with a hit on Fendley before Bushy scored on Skeeter and an early pile-up formed on the home straight while the luckless Fendley was T-boned by Matt Millen. Dorril then buried 180 Sparky which rolled the camper and brought the reds out, Prince hitting Mouse on the nose just as the flags were shown. The race resumed with Prince coming under fire from the stunning 15/50 of 547 the BFA before Kingy scored on the spinning Woodley while Stern followed in 155 Mr Nervous which also claimed Humps. Shorty continued to be lively as he buried Nasha and Peanut in a short space of time before the BFA zeroed in on Bob the Anorak. The Professor hit Stern and Bunge laid into the BFA as Tilly turned round to meet Speedy in a solid head-on. Bunge picked up Vincent and bundled him into Tilly with the former then T-boning Speedy to further splinter his epic hearse. Frenchy hit Tilly over the front wheel as the BFA powered into Bunge but the former was buried by Wiggy in turn. Bunge continued to impress with hits on Frenchy and Tilly as Humps met team mate 503 Odd Job head-on. Bunge stuffed Dorrill and Shorty on the top bend while Godden gave Woodley a solid shot. Foster lapped the whole field en route to an impressive win in his rapid Saab with Goldie and Kingy completing the podium places. 

A quite sensational field of 64 cars returned for the final event of the night although only half contested the Accumulator qualifier. Pedro was the first to strike with a package on Seago as Linsdale met Godden on the nose with Dolan blasting the former in turn as Carter used his rated Wedge to hit Fields on the nose. 98 Elliot Beaman blasted Carter in turn but was trashed by the rated Bungle who took a fierce hit from 425 Martin Stopher resulting in 98 and 710 getting plenty of air time as 271 Mark Dalgarno rolled his Rover on the top bend to bring the reds out once more. Seago delivered a revenge T-bone on Pedro on the restart as 169 Lenny Boy buried Dodge on the pit bend to trigger another epic series of hits. Psycho blasted Lenny Boy before the BFA picked up 101 Mike Forrester and buried him into the Predator. 336 Nigel White went in hard on the 15/50 in turn but he took a killer shot from Charlie Boy whose Merc was leathered by Bushy. Wiggy went in on the Westy hard before he was blitzed by Godden, Dorrill completing another superb train. Godden repaid Dorril with a stiff T-bone before the latter scored on Vincent on opposite sending the latter into a cracking full roll. Dorrill then took a swipe at Kingy before Action Man blasted the former on the nose en route to second behind the victorious Kingy. Into the demo and Miller wasted no time in blasting Evans as Action Man scored on Percy only to take a killer hit from the lively Miller in turn. We were then treated to another superb train on the back straight as the Badger jacked Stern in style only to take a fierce hit from 359 Mr Mint. Evans blasted the latter in turn as alongside this Godden picked up Nasha and thundered him into the Badger. Elsewhere and United nailed 262 the Verger but took one from Barber in turn with Frenchy blasting the PRI man a second later. 54 Splat attacked 100 Andrew Panks and Matt Millen and Prince went head to head. Frenchy dished out head-ons to both Led Head and Mark Millen as 95 Dave Ford weighed in on Kamikaze. Frenchy continued with a shot on 180 Sparky as Mr Grumpy and Ellis traded blows, albeit on the infield. Back on the track and Mark Millen blasted 180 Sparky head-on as Turner hammered 560 Aaron Rolph and dumped him into a dead car. Mark Millen again assaulted Frenchy, this time with a T-bone although the latter soon hit back on the Ant Hill Mob man. Vincent now hit Frenchy on the nose before the former met Matt Millen in similar fashion. Fields buried himself in the boot of the latter as turner hit Mr Grumpy head-on on the back straight as Mark Millen silenced Frenchy with a head-on for the win before celebrating with a head-on to Ellis who limped onto the track for the final hit of the night, Frenchy getting some compensation with a smart car award. 

Heat one: 801 Jack Foster, 489, 528, 448, 152, 163, 503, 180
Heat two: 274 Tom Grantham, 969, 821, 154, 547, 300
Heat three: 731 Danny French, 88, 665, 814, 122, v362, 157, 206, 384, 362
Heat four: 837 Pete Nash, 445, 146, 488, 237, 440, 214, 39
Consolation one: 148 Ian Redden, 22, 710, 587, 155, 350, 814, 924, 63, 359
Consolation two: 273 Kevin McClagish, 673, 311, 271, 439, 125, 223
Grand Final: Foster, 384, 206, 148, 146, v362, 440, 488, 445, 122
Accumulator qualifier: 206 Dave King, 435
Into Destruction derby: 814 Mark Millen from 731

A superb field of 33 Reliant Robins gathered for their final 2008 World qualifying round, the entry including Stinkbridge pairing 350 Dan Peel and 409 Carl Pears plus Ministox graduate 499 Tom Atkins. 

The programme began with half car heats and 17 cars contested heat one which saw 215 Michael Croxon hit the spun 285 Sean Dyer head-on and briefly roll the latter onto his side as 29 Steve Donavan did a full roll before he was clobbered by 66 Steve Willis. 409 Carlos rolled 30 James Donavan onto his roof and 350 Dano also wound up upside down to bring the yellow flags out for the first time. The race resumed but it was short lived as Carlos toppled over 490 Lee Barnard and 576 Colin Aldred buried 351 Tut Knowles as the yellows came out to tend to 490 Barny, 576 Porkey being black flagged when he rolled 339 Lee Pullen during the caution period. The race restarted with 553 Daniel Douglas attacking Dano but he rolled himself in the process and this time the race was terminated early as we were in the final three laps but not before 75 Pete Burlton fenced 215 Michael Croxon. 285 Mr Misery came back from his earlier crash to win from Carlos and Pullen with just six finishing. 

One less for a quieter heat two which amazingly went flag to flag without any caution periods. The early action was restricted to spin outs as 291 Dean Haddon removed 470 Simon Lattimer and 399 Darron Atkins removed 96 Ian Robins as 122 Lee Waddington fell onto his side. 143 Sam Begley had a pop at Darron Atkins and 211 Lee Cowley attacked Lattimer which in turn sent Tom Atkins to the wall. Robins was the next to assault the luckless Lattimer as 211 Steptoe rolled onto his side. 85 James Ellis put Lattimer onto two wheels as a thrilling finish saw Ellis and Darron Atkins battle for the lead only for the former to crash full pelt into the stranded 69 John Cope launching himself into a full roll. Darron Atkins won with Ellis recovering for second and 143 Screamer third, Darron Atkins celebrating by attacking Tom Atkins. 

Heat three was open to all cars and raised a big field of 27 cars with 291 Stiff providing some humour by getting his car onto two wheels on his way to the grid. Early drama saw Carlos roll James Donavan who was collected by 93 Chris North as Steve Donavan also went over to bring the yellow flags out. The restart was a short lived affair thanks to Carlos inverting Mr Misery as 447 Sam Reynolds also fell over as elsewhere 16 Ray Layton sent Ellis spinning. Things resumed with Douglas leaning Waddington into the fence as the lively Carlos rolled 554 Chalky Douglas before rolling himself and with this yellow flag being issued in the final three laps the race was declared with Daniel Douglas taking the honours after the top two on the road, Knowles and Porkey were dropped a place each for passing during the caution period. 

Down to 25 for the final which saw the biggest rollover of the evening. 398 Lea Atkins attacked Waddington from the off as James Donavan rolled again, this time performing a 1 ¼. 433 Andy Parker fenced Croxon as Pullen fell onto his side as did Waddington while Mr Misery did a corking double rollover which helped bring the yellow flags out for the first time. The race resumed with Daniel Douglas burying Screamer as Pullen again tumbled onto his side to bring about another caution period. The next attempt also didn’t last long as Porkey attacked Carlos while Lattimer rolled onto his roof, bringing the yellow flags out yet again. The race resumed with some big crashes to end the night, Ellis doing a high speed double before Screamer launched Tom Atkins into a double roll, the former then sending Daniel Douglas into a 2 ¼ roll which brought the reds out as we were inside the final three laps. Porkey was declared the winner from Darron Atkins and Knowles. 

Heat one: 285 Sean Dyer, 409, 339, 351, 554, 433
Heat two: 399 Tom Atkins, 85, 143, 398, 16, 96, 499, 447, 470
Heat three: 553 Daniel Douglas, 351, 576, 339, 66, 122, 143, 93, 96, 490
Grand Final: 576 Colin Aldred, 399, 351, 553, 66, 433, 410, 16, 93, 554

A quite sublime evening of action with both formulas in great form. The pre 70 entry boasted the best quality in cars we have ever seen and they did not disappoint with many memorable moments and an awesome final race while the Robins delivered their high standards of trademark action, all in front of a packed house. 

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