Fantastic night of action on 17 March - Full Report!

There was a fantastic night of action at the Norfolk Arena on Saturday 17 March with racing coming from the Micro Bangers, 2L Stock Cars, 1300 Stock Cars and Lady Bangers.

Merit Awards in the Micro Bangers went to 157 Brett Watkin, 621 Scott Goodyear, 730 Deane Mayes and 791 Nicky Young with super smart efforts also in the hands of several other Green Army members together with 69 Jonny Wilkinson and 790 Nathan Young.

Supers smart effort from 791 Nicky Young

The first race for the Micro Bangers was open to White & Yellow top drivers only. 779 Adam Barrett was the early race leader. The first lap started with a pile up developing on turn three which saw a few members of the green army team getting involved with 157 Brett Watkin delivering a good shot and 70 Pete Burlton also blowing up a green army car. 49 Mark Heilds ran in 10 Ben Hunt whilst 851 Adam Storr blew up 211 Kevin Skill. 127 Phil Markham was then blown up with a big shot from one of the green army with the 851 Storr then landing a shot on the latter with 421 Graham Aspinel also then getting involved in the action. Up front fellow green army star 779 Barrett continued to lead with team mate 49 Markk Heilds moving into second place. 157 Brett Watkin then got picked up and followed in by 281 Lewis. Green army captain 621 Scott Goodyear was then followed in hard with a big burial from 601 Chris Medler and Goodyear was then nailed again by 262 Chris Waters. 779 Barrett completed a flag to flag victory from 49 Heilds and 711 Clayton Mallett driving very well to complete the top three.

A lot of damage in the white and yellows saw a rather depleted field come out for the first heat proper which was led in the initial stages by 202 Martin Pannett whilst the early action saw 557 Liam Jaggard being spun out by 21 Jason Colbert in the battle for second and the returning Jaggard was immediately spun out by 611 Joe Geeves. 58 Karl Parry then copped a huge hit in the front wheel just before the luckless Jaggard was nailed hard by 218 Steve Gray. Up front 202 Pannett was still leading but was coming under sustained pressure from 21 Jason Colbert and just before the half way stage it was Colbert who powered through to take the lead. 202 Pannett was demoted to second but was immediately ran wide by 280 Simon Goodale who took up second place. Pannett was then taken around by 119 Davey Cox. The back marking 376 Jason Farthing was spun around by 280 Goodale who continued to battle with Colbert for the lead at the head of affairs. Farthing was then collected by 791 Nicky Young and 730 Deane Mayes engaged Farthing in a huge head on. Entering the final tow laps 390 Gibson and 119 Cox had joined the top two in battling for the lead but it was the wily Colbert who held on to take the chequered flag whilst entering the final lap 337 Ashley Garrod was followed in by 566 Tony Pallett in a monstrous way.

557 Liam Jaggard is nailed by 218 Steve Gray

The second heat for the Micro Bangers was led away by 300 Danny Harper as 157 Watkin hit a marker tyre and 202 Martin Pannett was blown up by 791 Nicky Young. 851 Storr ran in 87 John Garner whilst 32 Egor went in with a big t bone shot on 310 Sam Barrett as a mini pile up developed with 49 Mark Heilds going in with a big shot and then being nailed by 851 Adam Storr which then saw the race being suspended with some concern for Heilds. Once Heilds was safely out of his car the race then had a complete restart. This was led away by 10 Ben Hunt whilst 779 Barrett was wound out by 69 Jonny Wilkinson. 300 Harper soon hit the front from 711 Mallett and 421 Graham Aspinal. A couple of laps into the race 421 Aspinal took the lead whilst 99 Ricky Garrod nailed 157 Watkin which left both cars well and truly stuck together. 69 Wilkinson came through to take the lead as 711 Mallett collected the 99 Garrod car. 390 David Gibson and 119 Davey Cox came out of the pack to challenge 69 Wilkinson for the lead. As the top three converged together, 390 Gibson went for the outside line as 119 Cox put the bumper in on Wilkinson which saw him spin round and delayed Cox enough to give Gibson some breathing space which he kept to take the chequered flag with Cox coming home second and Nicky Young third.

The final began with 99 Ricky Garrod clashing with 566 Tony Pallett. 376 Jason Farthing was an early casualty as 218 Steve Gray took the lead. 03 Ant Baker was picked up by 791 Nicky Young and followed in at speed. 110 Brett Judge found himself under attack from 390 David Gibson and the former was spun around as Gray continued to lead with an exemplary display of driving from 711 Mallett and 119 Davey Cox who had moved into third. Mallett then dropped out of the running and 119 Cox also found himself in trouble when he tangled with 376 Farthing and was the victim of a big shot from 110 Brett Judge. 218 Gray held on for the win with 390 Gibson taking second and celebrating by taking around 157 Watkin with 22 Dave Vincent rounding off the top three.

218 Steve "Goober" Gray won the meeting final

The destruction derby was a short but lively affair and began with 32 Egor meeting 70 Pete Burlton on the nose and Egor was then blitzed by 730 Deane Mayes. Mayes then exchanged a solid head on with 70 Burlton with 58 Karl Parry then meeting Mayes with a couple of head ons as well which finished him off and Mayes then finished off Burlton with a solid T Bone to win the DD.

The first race of the day for the 2L Stock Cars was for their White & Yellows Race. 130 Joe Gladden was the early race leader whilst 800 Scott Greenslade and 192 Robert Heanes both found trouble on the opening lap. Gladden built up a decent advantage over the first two laps but then tangled with the backmarking Heanes which spun him round and even though he went down the back straight backwards he was still leading before 637 Mick Bulldeath went past him. Bulldeath’s lead lasted a lap before 40 Lester Freestone whilst behind Lester and making eyecatching progress was 115 Scott Aldridge. Aldridge moved away from the pack and behind him there was then a terrific scrap for second and third place involving 164 Neil Kent, 233 Rob Aldridge, 728 Kris Woods and 40 Lester Freestone with Kent eventually finishing second and Woods third.

115 Scott  Aldridge (entre) won the 2 L Stock Car Stars of Tomorrow from 164 Neil Kent (right) and 728 Kris Woods (left)

The second heat for the 2L Stock Cars was open to white, blue and star graded drivers but also included a quartet of yellow top drivers who had failed to make the white and yellow race. The green flag saw 637 Mick Bulldeath lead them away as a big pile up developed on turns one and two which claimed many fancied runners including 149 Jamie Sampson, 191 Shaun McMillan, 616 Billy Smith and 641 Willie Skoyles. 130 Joe Gladden soon moved to the head of affairs whilst returnee 116 Diggy Smith found himself in trouble in the early stages. Up front Gladden was moved wide by a determined attack from 538 Jake Swann and it was Swann who moved ahead as 156 Darren Goudy found himself turned around. Swann only stayed at the head of affairs for a lap before he too was spun out and chaos reigned around him as another seven or eight cars piled in. 192 Robert Heanes hit the fence hard and an engine fire and a shaken Heanes combined to see a caution period being introduced to the race. Once a shaken Heanes was removed from the track the race restarted with 131 Timmy Barnes leading the way. Lone Scotsman 777 Alan Ainslie was doing very well to be up to second but a lap later he was demoted to third place as Timmy’s brother 26 Tommy Barnes moved through into second place. The restart also saw many of the star graded drivers trying to gain an immediate advantage which saw cars four or five abreast around the track whilst another pile up emerged which saw red tops going here, there and everywhere! Whilst chaos was reigning all the way around the track Timmy was being reeled in by his brother Tommy and just before the half way stage Tommy hit the front as he was momentarily slowed by the marking 698 Danny Colliver. There was then no brotherly love between the Barnes siblings as over the next six laps they weighed into each other at every possible opportunity and swapping positions at the head of affairs in a thrilling battle up front whilst negotiating the carnage and chaos which was happening all round the track. With three laps to go 26 Tommy Barnes managed to get some breathing space at the front whilst 131 Timmy was forced to fight a rearguard action to keep the baying hoardes of drivers at bay with 360 Carl Waterfield leading the challenge. 26 Tommy went on to take the flag whilst 131 Timmy was successful in retaining second place whilst 360 Waterfield came home in third place and a fantastic drive by 777 Alan Ainslie saw him come home in fourth place.

There was plenty of action in the 2L Stock Car races

With no white tops in the third heat it was 6 Simon Welton who led them away. A good move by 499 David Aldous from the very back of the grid saw him sweep past all of the red tops with the exception of 219 Luke Grief on the first bend! The race was already developing into another hectic affair which was definitely not for the feint hearted. 131 Timmy Barnes soon hit the front and he was enjoying a great battle with 6 Welton and 570 Simon Venni. Welton eventually managed to force a way back past 131 Barnes to retake the lead but Timmy immediately came back at the new leader to retake the lead and this compliment was once again repaid by Welton at the next bend  - as Timmy mounted another challenge he forced Welton wide once again and Welton’s challenge then evaporated when he hit 728 Kris Woods on the nose. Whilst all this was going on there was chaos once again reigning everywhere. 499 Aldous and 149 Sampson started to chase the leader who still had a sizeable advantage but the Aldous challenge evaporated when he was spun by 120 Shane Brown. 149 Sampson never get close enough to land a real telling blow and 131 Barnes held on to take a fantastic win.

131 Timmy Barnes was a race winner

The Saloon Final saw 130 Joe Gladden lead the way once again. Another hectic series of opening laps saw many casualties around the raceway but once things started to settle down it was. 538 Jake Swan was running in second place but launched an attack on a lap down 149 Sampson which took both cars out of the running. That then saw 428 Lee Sampson and 6 Simon Welton move through into second and third place respectively but these were making little impression on the leading Gladden who was still pulling away at the head of affairs. Gladdon was maintaining momentum but suddenly found himself facing the wrong way when he was attacked by a lap down 311 Steve Newman and this handed the lead to 428 Sampson from 6 Welton and with 219 Grief now making serious progress into third place. Sampson started to move away from his pursuers but he then also fell foul of backmarking cars and found himself being pushed sideways down the back straight and this allowed 6 Welton to take the lead but no sooner did Simon hit the front that he was planted into the wall by traffic and this then handed the lead to 219 Luke Grief from a recovered 428 Sampson and 6 Welton. Sampson was doing everything he could to reel in the leader and tried to fire the backmarking 616 Billy Smith into the leader but only succeeded in delaying 6 Welton which allowed European Champion 499 David Aldous – who had started the grid as the very last car – to move into third place. Cars were flying everywhere all round the track and going down the back straight with five laps to go 219 Grief was forced way off line and 428 Sampson took advantage to move back into the lead. Grief had not led this for so long to give up without a fight and he launched a big attack on Sampson which saw Sampson go round and taking advantage of everything to move into the lead was 499 David Aldous. Grief tried to retake the lead from Aldous but David was not to be denied his first final win of 2012 with Grief taking second place and 120 Shane Brown completing the top three in what was a simply stunning Saloon Stock Car Race.

A happy 499 David Aldous (centre) won a truly epic final from 219 Luke Grief (r) and 120 Shane Brown (l)

276 Wally Walden was the early leader of the first 1300 Stock Car heat. 88 Lyndon Stark having his first outing in the formula did not get the best start when he was turned around by 142 Lee Farrell and then had several other cars run into him. 381 Liam Easter soon moved up into second place with 09 Buster Ketteringham also moving through well. Walden and Easter battled for the lead and a clash between them sent Walden towards the fence which he climbed up and nearly rolled but he kept on going but lost several places. Easter led with Ketteringham challenging him for the lead and moving through stylishly from the blue grade was 573 Shane Moat. 177 Chris Masters and 653 Gemma Rainer were then involved in a big crash whilst 09 Buster hit the front from 381 Easter and with 573 Moat closing all the time.  A brief suspension then followed with to retrieve a loose wheel which was in a dangerous position. With the grid all bunched up the restarted race saw bumpers fly in all over but it was 09 Buster who continued to lead but the driver to lose out most in the restart was 381 Easter who was squeezed down the wall on the back straight. With three laps to go 573 Moat dived in with a big barge on 09 Buster and it was Shane who took up the running but Buster refused to throw in the towel and as they entered the final lap Buster has once again nosed again with British Champion 216 Dan Booth also starting to rapidly close. Entering the final bend 573 Moat went in with the big hit which moved 09 Buster wide and allowed Shane to take the win with 216 Booth also sneaking through for second place and 09 Buster recovering for third place.

The 1300 Stock Cars also had an action packed night

235 Danny Rainer was the early leader of the second heat. He was soon challenged by 276 Wally Walden who hit the front but he was then quickly taken out by an attack from Rainer in an attempt to retake the lead which saw 381 Liam Easter take advantage as he came through in front. The big challenge to Easter came from 09 Buster with the chasing pack some way off being led by 215 Ben Yould and 447 Richard Hampshire. 86 Sean Haller was taken around by 235 Danny Rainer and was then hit on the nose by 216 Dan Booth. With three laps to go the pressure being applied by Ketteringham paid off as he took the lead from 381 Easter. 573 Moat went for another big lunge further down the field to move ahead of 142 Farrell whilst 214 Tom Yould went pirouetting out of contention.

381 Easter made the early running in the final from 276 Walden. 276 Walden then hit the front a lap later and he started to stretch away at the head of affairs. The top two moved away from the rest with 215 Ben Yould and 09 Buster Ketteringham enjoying a good scrap for this place and they were clear of the rest of the pack. 381 Easter mounted another challenge and came through to take the lead with four laps to go as 09 Buster emerged as the principal challenger to Easter and he was being followed by 215 Yould but neither of the yellow tops could get close enough to Easter who took the chequered flag.

381 Liam Easter won the 1300 Stock Car Final from 09 Buster Ketteringham and 215 Ben Yould

319 Jodie Grief was the early race leader of the first Lady Bangers Heat from 85 Kate Calver and 95 Jade Harboard. 969 Suzie Barrie and 67 Charlotte Whittaker soon came through from the yellows to take up second and third place whilst 345 Karen Lown was looking strong from the blue grade. Lown moved up to second place on the seventh lap and took the lead from Grief two laps later. 319 Jodie remained in second place until a lap to go when she spun which left her with nothing to show for a great drive and saw long distance traveller 969 Suzie Barrie come home in second place with Gold Roof Champion 150 Terri Mace rounding off the top three. 

345 Karen Lown (centre) won the first Lady Banger Heat from 969 Suzie Barrie (l) and 150 Terri Mace (r)

95 Jade Harboard took the lead in the second ladies heat at the drop of the green flag with 969 Suzie Barrie and 67 Charlotte Whittaker soon moving through into second and third place.

95 Jade Harboard, 67 Charlotte Whittaker & 969 Suzie Barrie battled side by side for the duration of the second heat

These three were then involved in a race long battle for supremacy with 95 Haroard hanging on to take the chequered flag from 67 Whittaker and 969 Barrie. 477 Amy Brown was the leading star grade driver in fifth place.

95 Jade Harboard was back in the winners circle

762 Kerry Thurgill was the first casualty in the final when she was spun out by 4 Steph Street whilst Steph was in turn hit by her sister 444 Tasha Street. 969  Suzie Barrie visited the fence after a bit of a push involving her 179 Stacy Lightfoot and 61 Louise Geeves. Up front it was 319 Jodie Grief who led the way from 85 Kate Calver and these two had broken away from the rest of the pack. The two leaders were battling hard and after a couple of laps both sailed into the stricken 444 car in a big way with a caution period then being called. 61 Louise Geeves led them away on the restart but following a couple of laps she was wound out by 3 Danielle Hewitt who took the lead and led a superstar train which also included 477 Amy Brown, 150 Terri Mace and 74 Caroline Garner. Garner made a mistake with a couple of laps to go and lot of time trying to avoid 24 Vicky Lounds which 3 Danielle went on to win from 477 Amy.

Top 3 in the Lady Banger Final which was won by 3 Danielle Hewitt from 477 Amy Brown and 150 Terri Mace

The 2L Stock Cars were quite simply epic once again with all of the other three formulas also putting on a fantastic show. 15 races were finished in less than four hours which given the amount of damage and action was a superb turn around by our team.