Smeatharpe Stadium - Sunday 8th September 2013

Report by Steve Linfield

One of the biggest dates of the season at Smeatharpe Stadium with the coming of the 31^st annual Bangers Championship of the World with its running on a traditional early September date.  There was a definite Autumnal feel in the air, but the day stayed dry and the large crowd on hand were treated to some hard action and racing from the National Bangers with support coming from the Saloon Stock Cars and ORCi Ministox.

National Bangers (unlimited cc)

The entry in the unlimited National Bangers was not quite as high as hoped, with several no shows which is often the way unfortunately, but was one shy of 40 cars and was of high quality with plenty of the big names from up and down the country and plenty of home based ones too, irrespective of whom they are registered with currently and were thus representing.   As ever there were some superbly turned out cars with the pick of them being 204 Charlie King, 162 Brett Ellacott, 282 Lee Treasurer and 384 John Golden whilst the latter had the car that was deemed the oldest and rarest with a Mk2 Granada.  Yes, you did read that correct, and shows how time is marching on for many Banger followers!  For the record, 348 Sonny Sherwood and 410 Dan Galley had similar cars and 409 Joey Collins raced an older Mk1 version but they were each “used” and thus ineligible for the award.

First up there was the Last Chance Qualifier for those present who were not seeded in and 341 Andrew Jones came through to win, in a very smartly presented Lexus Soarer.  There were eight finishers and it was decided that all of these would progress through to the day's main race.  As per the norm, the public draw took place down by the start finish line.  It was to be young gun 17 Kyle Overy who drew pole position with Jones alongside, 514 Marty Eighteen and unlimited debutant 333 Craig Partridge on row two whilst of the fancied runners (no pun for) defending title holder 331 Jason ‘Boxer Jack’ Jackson found himself on 26, Ellacott on 21, 190 Steve ‘Pikey’ Bailey on 16 and 239 Steve ‘Nemesis’ Carter on 13.   Just as was the case in 2012 it was a very fast and yet hard race.   Overy was the leader in the early stages until he was spun.  Other spinners and early casualties were Boxer Jack who was spun by 99 David Spooner and the latter also accounted for both Pikey and Jonesy.  Suffice to say what was given was also taken.  247 Lee ‘Bro’ Clarke also took on the DWO and stopped Pikey and also Ellacott.  At the front of the race, Carter took over from Overy and very quickly opened out a big lead, putting in the laps and didn’t get involved in the battles that his DWO team mates were embroiled into.  However, it very nearly found him when Clark put his car directly in Nemesis’ path which left 239 with no choice but to go in with a hit.  This moved 247 out of the way and appeared to not hinder Carter.   Ellacott also found time to continue a more locally based battle when he stopped 114 Nick Courtier on the home straight.   The last quarter of the race saw things quieten down with Nemesis clearly set on victory, which he achieved by quite a margin.  However on the run down lap the engine in the 239 car blew spectacularly which proved how close and lucky he ultimately was.  This was Carter’s first World title in Banger racing.   After a full check on the lap charts, 204 King was declared in second, 348 Sherwood in third and outgoing title holder Jackson fourth.

The first Allcomers saw plenty more action, and was declared a lap early when Carter (whose team had changed an engine in between races) delivered a huge hit on 648 Jamie Smith at the end of the home straight.  Boxer Jack was set to win anyway, after a battle with 382 Jack Foster and then he duly followed it up with another victory in the second Allcomers.   The DD unfortunately only saw two cars but the duo – Jones and Carter – made it a very memorable if short, sharp and brutal one as they went for an absolutely monster head on.  It stopped both in their tracks but Jones was able to just reverse off and he was therefore declared the winner.

Saloon Stock Cars

The Saloon Stock Car entry was as to be expected with the European Championship weekend less than a week away but it did include 401 Steve Webster from Sheffield and he certainly added to the day.  In the first heat he caught race long leader 460 Cliff Friend in time for a big last bend lunge, which to Friend’s credit he just held for the victory.  In heat two Webster caught Friend a lap earlier and went in for the lunge and successful hit to take the victory.   The Final saw Friend get into a lead he was never to lose.  Further back Webster had a good battle with both 56 Georgie Boult and 916 Luke Thomas, but it held up the progress of all three.  It was to be Friend’s heat and Final double of wins.  995 Ben Goddard made second and Webster was third.

Ministox

For the Ministox it was the Devon Championship, a title dating back to 1987 with a glittering array of names that went on to big things in Stock Cars and Bangers.  With several drivers all reaching the retiring age this season, entries have dipped on recent ones but on this occasion it did include East Anglian 321 Marcus Skeels.   With the points from the heats determining the grid for the main race the youngsters had it all to go for.  916 Keiran Bodie led from flag to flag to win heat one and then in heat two 907 Cameron Lawrence came from the back of the grid to the front to win.  This placed him on pole for the main race with 987 Ethan Pope alongside, Cornish Champion 986 Sophie Fasey on the second row along with Skeels.   At the flag fall Fasey dived at Lawrence and sent him wide on turns one and two.  Behind, however, Bodie had been spun into the wall and was left facing the wrong direction.  The yellow flags were called in perfectly reasonable time, but unfortunately it was too late for the pack to slow sufficiently in time and in a classic case of Murphy ’s Law the leading trio of Lawrence, Fasey and Skeels all headed to him more or less three abreast.  The unfortunate Bodie was collected heavily head on by Skeels.   He was left somewhat shaken and given time to be released from his car.  The complete re-run was minus both he and Skeels.  Fasey once again tried her best to get on terms with Lawrence, but couldn’t land a strike this time.  Cameron was away and gone and when Sophie’s car expired after the halfway point the race, the Devon title was his and he went on to become the youngest ever winner of the race too.  989 Joe Marquand made second and 910 Tom Cadby third.