United Downs Raceway - Saturday 30th December 2023

Despite several bouts of unpleasant weather, Banger Bonanza Cornwall served up a deluge of action for racegoers at the United Downs Raceway, St Day.

Bangers

Fittingly, on the day of their Supreme Championship, the Bangers produced their highest car count since the start of the season.  Ten drivers contested the Last Chance qualifier, which saw 121 Ryan Buddle charge to a flag-to-flag victory with 459 Dean Blight the runner-up.  60 Andy Bulled survived a tangle with 165 Graham Middlewood, to claim third, whilst debutant 95 Dan Bonney was a casualty of that skirmish, as he crashed out on the home straight.  All eight of the finishers in the Last Chance race were invited to join the rear of the grid for the Supreme title race.  Disaster befell 786 Grant Harris, as he lost second gear on his way to the grid.  As the front of the grid headed down the back straight, pole sitter 206 Matt Brewer shot clear, well before the green flag had been shown.  Less than half a lap later, he received the black cross to confirm he was under observation (for the jump start).  Over the formative laps, Brewer did drop back, with 621 Scott Kendall and Cornish Champion 230 Tom Shilling occupying the front two places.  Yet, Kendall’s race came to an end before the midway stage, and Brewer overhauled Shilling to regain the lead.  The turnstile end of the track was especially treacherous, with 8 Darren Rundle’s static car causing a chicane, and other cars littered about made it a challenge to pick a clear route through the wreckage.  This contributed to the gap between Brewer and Shilling fluctuating.  However, Brewer stayed clear of any attack, to take the chequered, with Shilling, then Bulled and 182 Nathan James, the next to finish.  Brewer knew he was in hot water for the start of the race, and there was further drama when Shilling failed post-race scrutineering.  With Shilling removed from the result, and Brewer docked two places, Bulled was promoted to first place.  Bulled thus became Supreme Champion, having begun the day as an entrant in the Last Chance qualifier.  James was declared as runner-up, and Brewer sportingly accepted his two place penalty which dropped him to third.  Even though just ten cars gridded for the consolation, the race was most unruly.  Bonney ran aground at the start, as 156 Howard Cross took the lead.  He was reeled in by 18 Corey Karkeek, and Cross was then spun around.  556 Pete Hollis spun Rundle, whilst Karkeek cruised to victory at the front.  The Halfpint Trophy final was another thrilling race.  Dean Blight and 198 Owen Nichol set the pace, and they were still the lead duo as the race moved into its second half.  53 Chris James, Karkeek and Brewer led the chase of the white tops, but when Blight spun, Nichol was untroubled as the clear leader.  Brewer moved from fourth to third, and then to second, but starting the last lap, he appeared too far back from Nichol.  However, Brewer was focused on a last bend attack, and he executed it perfectly.  Brewer clouted Nichol, who spun.  Holding firm, Brewer glided past to take the win, from Bulled and James, whilst the unfortunate Nichol took out his frustration on his steering wheel.  There was almost a repeat finish in the Allcomers race.  After some heavy crashing involving 11 Grubby Frankson, 266 Scott Gillbard, Chris James, 31 Liam Shipway and Nathan James, the race was halted to allow attention to Shipway.  When the race resumed, there were just three laps left.  Nichol led from Hollis and Brewer, but heading into the final bend, Brewer again lunged at Nichol.  Disappointingly for Nichol, he again spun, and was unable to restart.  Brewer, though, was caught up in the spin, and that left the door open for Hollis and Bulled to nip by for the top two places.  Six cars contested the Destruction Derby, which finished with Frankson as the sole survivor.

Old Skool unlimited cc Bangers

Although one or two drivers failed to make the meeting, the grid of big cars for the Supreme Championship made for a most impressive sight.  Mechanical issues robbed 282 Steve Hunt of the chance to chase honours from the front row of the grid.  Instead, 114 Nick Courtier gridded alongside pole sitter 186 Lewis Fasey, and when the green flag fell, it was Courtier who edged ahead.  Behind him and Fasey, however, there was a most chaotic start, particularly so for 954 Jamie Beere, who was spun towards the fence at the turnstile end, even before he passed the green.  Courtier’s lead lasted just a lap, however, as he tangled with 383 Andre McLellan, but as soon as Fasey got back ahead, 582 Corey Hunt launched his attack to grab the lead.  Fasey responded again, regaining the lead as Hunt fell down the order.  362 Johnny James emerged in second, before he was relegated by 246 Ryan Sparks.  As the laps ticked by, the gap between Fasey and Sparks, and then the chasing group, ebbed and flowed, but without Fasey looking as though he was about to come under attack.  However, that all changed on the penultimate lap, as Fasey was delayed by backmarker 738 Steve Tippett.  Sparks saw his chance and pounced.  Carrying greater momentum, Sparks tore into Fasey as they crossed the line to start the final lap.  Sparks shoved Fasey wide, and as they sped down the back straight, Sparks was too wily for the teenager’s attempt to brake and cut in behind him.  Sparks held the inside line, and Fasey was unable to mount an attack.  Sparks took the chequered, Fasey was the runner-up, and 278 Shaun Brokenshire completed the top three.  Steve Hunt was able to grid for the first of two Allcomers races, and at the end of a high speed race, he placed third, with his grandson Corey Hunt in second, and Steve’s son, 382 Danny Hunt the winner – a real family affair.  Torrential rain greeted the drivers for Allcomers 2, but the drivers did remarkably well to see, let alone race, and get so many finishers.  Steve Hunt took the win, which atoned somewhat for his misfortune at the start of the meeting.

Back 2 Basics Bangers (unders)

There was a cheery diversity to the sprinkling of cars used in the Back 2 Basics Bangers.  Having previously raced a Smart car at the last meeting, 415 Sean Gillett was at the wheel of a VW Golf this time, and he stormed to victory in the opening heat which had featured a trio of newcomers.  31 Alfie Rogers failed to finish, but 114 Carla Courtier and 69 Austin James placed sixth and seventh respectively.  Heat two was chaotic, with cars spinning out regularly.  Gillett looked on course for a second win, but on the penultimate lap, backmarker 311 Simon Rogers spun him around on the back straight.  That left the door open for teenager Alfie Rogers to swoop for an unexpected victory.  The final was relatively uneventful, but a good late surge by 793 Ashley Richards saw him get past long-time leader 756 Troy Hooper, with Gillett just pipping Hooper for second on the last lap.