United Downs Raceway - Sunday 28th August 2011

This year's Blockbuster served up the kind of hard-hitting action that fans of National Bangers dream of, and yet despite the ferocity of some of the hits, the day's racing was conducted in a terrific jovial spirit.  The day also featured a warm tribute to former racer, Mark Hobday, who had died just over one month ago.  Supporting action from Saloon Stock Cars and Ministox also contributed to a truly memorable day in west Cornwall.

National Bangers

In the opening heat, 162 Brett Ellacott bundled the stretch Limo of 111 Ray Rowe around the pits bend wall, whilst 820 Martyn Perkins led much of the way.  However, a late run by comeback star 225 Richy Edmonds showed there is life in the old dog yet, and he overhauled Perkins.  Edmonds was overjoyed at renewing acquaintances with the chequered flag.  Just six cars went the distance, with a lot of the action having come at the turnstile end, including another comeback racer, 224 Steve Williams landing a heavy blow on 190 Steve Bailey, and 648 Jamie Smith's trashing of stalwart 97 Roger Deer.  The action really was cranked up a notch in heat two, beginning with a roll on to his side on the home straight for 747 Nicky Seery.  On the re-run, there was a sensational hit on the back straight.  239 Steve Carter had attacked 28 Neil Osborne, and then was a sitting target for 241 Liam Cracknell.  However, with Carter still effectively attached to Osborne, it left him prone to chief Bear 421 Nigel Riley administering a stonking hit on Carter's eye-catching Rolls Royce.  Only four drivers made it home, with Cracknell taking the win from 451 Nigel Belfield.  For the Blockbuster final, qualifiers lined up at the front of the grid, with all other drivers invited to join the rear.  Thirty drivers on track made for an impressive sight, and there was no shortage of action.  Right at the start, Nigel Riley emphatically trashed the Granada Hearse of 47 Marcus A'Lee, and Steve Bailey did remarkably well to steer away from clobbering Riley, who had indicated his concern for A'Lee.  Cracknell buried 45 Anthony Croshaw, and 99 David Spooner did likewise to 179 Stu Nightingale.  Out front, Ellacott led much of the way from 262 Buddy James, but just after halfway, 521 Ash Riley managed to spin Ellacott into a turnstile bend pile-up, and 528 Alan Hunt pounced to pick up the lead.  Nigel Riley landed an enormous hit on 508 Steve Ashby, that saw the Bear's car spectacularly lift its tail in the air.  The race was stopped with Ashby requiring assistance.  Just seven cars were left going, and on the restart, Hunt sped away to victory, with Ellacott in pursuit.  Buddy James and 202 Mike Kilford completed the top four.  In the Allcomers, Bailey followed in Nigel Riley, but was walloped in the turnstile bend by Ash Riley, which triggered a succession of crashes at that end of the circuit, which had the fans cheering their delight.  Meanwhile, Edmonds had blasted Nigel Riley head-on at the pit gate.  Hunt won again, as the only car left running.  Ten cars limped out for the DD, in which 841 Tom Perkins saw off Osborne and Ellacott to take the win.

Saloon Stock Cars

The 11 car entry for the third of the three Saloon Stock Car dates this year at St Day was a little lower than hoped for, but still produced some close racing .  At the start of the meeting, newly crowned World Champion 1 Eddie Darby was invited to lead the Grand Parade, as he displayed the gold roof and his new number for the first time.  The opening white and yellow grade race brought a convincing win for 240 Tony Gould.  Darby inherited the victory in heat one after 103 Chris Horwell was docked a place for jumping the start.  It was 65 Ian Willis who continued his fine August form, to comfortably win heat two and then Willis withstoods pressure from Horwell to take the Final too, with Darby charging through strongly late on to clinch third.

Ministox

With a southwest double header of Championship titles to be had over the August Bank Holiday weekend, it was no surprise to find a good showing of travellers from East Anglia and beyond.  Accordingly, 25 youngsters assembled for the Cornish Championship - the best car count in the south west this season.  On his track debut 108 Mark Cooper took the first heat, but the joy was short lived as he failed post-race weighing, which promoted 177 Billy Banwell to first place.  After 121 Marcus Skeels had taken heat two, Cooper bounced back from his earlier disappointment to win heat three.  With there having been a star grade lock-out of wins in the heats, that helped to produce an interesting grid for the Final, with top the points scorers from the heats, Skeels and Banwell, sharing the front row.  The lesser lights could not keep 155 Sid Madgwick and 156 George Boult at bay though for long, and the star grade pair hit the front on the second lap.  Madgwick held off Boult until there was a yellow flag after a rollover on the home straight for 989 Joe Marquand.  Boult had just taken the lead at the time and went on to hold off Madgwick all the way to the flag whilst 942 Steve Gilbert, who had put in a spirited display to lead at one stage, finished as the best of the westcountry contingent with third place. 

Saloon Stock Cars 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
W&Y 240 65 103 100 637 995
Heat 1 1 65 103 30 100 401 995 2 240 637
Heat 2 65 199 103 401 1 30 2 100 995 nof
Final 65 103 1 199 2 401 30 240 nof
Ministox 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Heat 1 A&B 177 986 994 156 198 979 128 129 989 945
Heat 2 B&C 121 155 128 932 903 177 198 942 935 994
Heat 3 C&A 108 942 167 121 932 155 156 910 903 989
Cornish Championship 156 155 942 129 198 128 991 903 108 932
Grade Awards W 994 Y 121 B 128 R 155
National Bangers 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Heat 1 225 820 162 45 99 169 nof
Heat 2 241 451 262 508 nof
Blockbuster 528 162 262 202 360 221 nof
Allcomers 528 nof
King of Crash/DD 841
Best Presented 241 239 451 162 190 528
Furthest Travelled 266 384 221 421
Oldest/Rarest 101 451 239 269
Wrecker of the Day 421
Hit of the Day 190 on 521
Most Wrecked Car 47
Overall Trier 648
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