Smeatharpe Stadium - Saturday 2nd July 2016

Brown & Out – The One Two Go Show, gave a fitting farewell and tribute to Shane Brown – multiple champion in National Bangers and Saloon Stock Cars.  At the start of the meeting, the disappointing number of no-shows in the National Bangers had everyone wondering if the event was going to fall flat, but they need not have worried, as the action served up had a packed pits bend crowd purring in appreciation and roaring their approval too.

Pre-meeting, Shane was led on the parade by his son Archie – suitably bedecked in his own Karting race gear; he was introduced to the crowd; he was given a run as a passenger in a couple of Drift cars; and he welcomed all drivers who attended, by presenting them with a commemorative mug.

National Bangers

Just under 30 big cars assembled for the first race, in which 254 Richard Beere and 190 Steve Bailey diced for the lead, whilst all around them, there were some spectacular crashes, with 46 Cliff Friend having his Yank bundled into the pits bend wall, and Shane Brown delivering a trademark follow-in to 352 Carl Belfield in the west bend.  Bailey overhauled Beere late on to take the win.  Bailey won again in heat two, which only had two finishers, as a result of a jacking train unlikely to ever be repeated.  Bailey was parked in the back of 382 Danny Hunt, who had blitzed 162 Brett Ellacott, after he had stormed into Shane Brown, who was already parked in the side of 333 Craig Partridge.  With 239 Steve Carter also involved, that made for no less than five drivers who have worn a gold roof as World Champion, and there they were, piling head long into one another, very much to the praise of the crowd, who cheered loudly with each subsequent addition to the train.  The final saw 388 Taylor Sowter and 733 Danny Stroud in particular, whilst returnee 724 Gus Carter delighted the crowd with his antics.  In his eagerness to entertain, Carter transgressed the rules, to the letter of the book, but his crashing was without malice, and was bordering more on naughty than dangerous.  As he exited his car, the crowd let Carter know what they thought of his efforts, with the vast majority cheering wildly.  Ellacott passed 17 Carl Overy in the closing stages of the restarted race, to win, with 452 Anthony Sleeman the only other finisher in third.  Despite an absence of over ten years, Carter showed no lack of zest for crashing, as he won the end of night eight car DD for good measure, and sportingly handed his winner’s trophy to a spectator.  Those that didn’t race, missed out on something a little bit special, but those who were present, were regally entertained.

Saloon Stock Cars

Boosted by some long distance travellers; notably ORC and National Champion 499 David Aldous, the Saloon Stock Cars produced some compelling race action.  White graders 248 will Makins and 448 Martin Kibble led off heat one, which was to ultimately bring a win for 730 Deane Mayes.  Heat two was arguably the most exciting Saloon Stock Car race at Smeatharpe this season.  For so much of the race, 475 Ben Sealy looked in control.  However, after a battle with his fellow stars, Aldous earned the right to track him down, and in he charged with an ambitious last bend lunge.  Aldous just connected.  Sealy looked to have held on, but then spun, and as Aldous looked to go round him, the two cars slid to the fence, and that opened the door for 276 Ben King to steal past on the inside line and grab a fortuitous win.  Aldous also featured in a remarkable conclusion to the final.  158 Shane Davies had built a commanding lead, and looked safely out of harm’s way as he stormed into the pits bend for the last time.  However, Aldous still tried the most audacious of last bend lunges.  He propelled himself into turn three at a rate of knots, missing Davies, but then braking for all he was worth, to just about glance off the unsuspecting backmarker, 84 Carl Boswell.  All who witnessed it nearly sucked the clouds out of the sky as they held their breath – that was how dramatic it was.  Davies won, Aldous somehow stayed on track and held on for second, whilst 199 Phil Powell completed the top three.

Ministox

Another fine showing by the youngsters saw just less than 20 drivers racing, with 927 Owen Robbins racing on his home circuit for the first time.  In heat one, 943 Hannah Esau proved uncatchable once she had hit the front in the first half of the race.  Unfortunately, 988 Harry Sheppard took quite a pounding on the home straight, and that ended his evening early.  Heat two saw 987 Ethan Pope victorious.  After a fabulous run of results on the road at away venues, Pope duly landed his first Smeatharpe win of the season.  Pope then went on to win the final too, leading home 907 Cameron Lawrence and 667 Tommy Farrell.  The points Pope accrued for the evening, were enough to send him to the top of the Autospeed Points Championship.