Arena Essex - Sunday 19th August 2012

Report by Steve Linfield

The third of the three meetings this season for Autospeed at Arena Essex was staged in searing heat and oppressive humidity, which made the going tough for man and machine, but the 14 race programme for the BriSCA F2 Stock Cars, Saloon Stock Cars, Ministox and (Rookie) Bangers all went off well with some good racing to had, despite the entries being down on what had been hoped and anticipated in some cases.

BriSCA F2 Stock Cars

The BriSCA F2 Stock Cars had the 2012 staging of the Benevolent Fund trophy as their main race and whilst there was indeed a cosmopolitan entry of cars, it was regrettable that there were a number of no-shows from those booked.  Whilst some were understandable with damage sustained the previous evening at Northampton, to book in and simply not show with cancelling is a disappointment.    It was very pleasing to see defending trophy holder 964 John Fortune, who these days is only very much an occasional racer of course make the long journey down from Scotland, and the Ben Fund Rose Bowel was suitable re-filled with roses.   It was also worthy of note to see 167 Bill Batten on his first appearance at Arena since 2007 along with several other fine travelling efforts, especially those (Autospeed) regulars from Devon and Cornwall.    With fewer numbers than hoped for, the format was re-jigged and as a result the Arena white and yellow grade final, which would have been heat one ended up as a stand-alone race.   A rouge thundery shower made the track just slightly damp before-hand and 844 Darren Phillips went on to make it three years in a row as the winner of this particular event.  254 Richard Beere had almost caught him at the flag and 302 Dale Moon was third.  As is with every white and yellow grade final, the winner received four Yokohama tyres, the runner up three, and third place two.    The Benevolent Fund trophy thus doubled up as heat one and saw the grid lined up on national points scored, leading up to the weekend, and so not necessarily in graded order and in closed grid formation.   This placed Fortune nicely up the grid, and likewise Batten whilst the other star men – who sadly amounted to only three, were at the rear of the grid.   602 James Horwell lead the pack off as a few clashed wheels on the opening lap and 183 Mark Guinchard and 830 Andrew Bennett tangled and then on the next lap there was further drama for Guinchard as he and Batten tangled up.  Both were out on the spot and with a rear wheel being ripped from the 183 car the yellow flags were ordered.  This was only on the second lap and therefore Horwell lead off 904 Ryan Cattell but Fortune was already up to third place by then.   Further back 886 Chris Bradbury saw his opportunity and landed a big hit on 154 Steve Green Jnr who bounced off of two other cars.   Whilst this gained Bradbury the places, the vastly experienced Fortune was away and gone once he had passed the two ahead.  As the race settled into its second half it was a game of chase at the front with the gap between Fortune and Bradbury ebbing and flowing, but in reality 886 never got near enough to even attempt a blow in the 964 car.  And so, Fortune became the first driver to win the trophy three times – the first being as long ago as 1985.   Bradbury was second, but this was enough to confirm the track champion for 2012 and Green Jnr was third (a full race report and photos will appear in the October issue of unloaded 7.3 magazine)    The second heat saw Bradbury come from the back of the grid to the front, and after reeling in Cattell took the victory.  The meeting Final was lead until well into the second half by 588 Matt Pettit but by then Bradbury had stormed through the pack and went on to take another win with Green Jnr second and Guinchard third.   The Grand National saw victory come down to a classic last bend move from 921 Jack Aldridge on Green to take the win.

Saloon Stock Cars

The Saloon Stock Cars were a re-addition to the programme and with this being the case, and only a week after the World Championship weekend and Kings Lynn the previous evening the entry was about as anticipated, and some very good and competitive racing was to be seen.    The results may not suggest that though with 1 Eddie Darby, fresh from his World defence on storming form as he took a hat-trick of wins.  In the first heat he was tracked all the way by 618 Stuart Shevill Jnr who had made the overnight trip from Scotland and then in the next heat, 2 Paul Tuppen took an awful lot of catching.  Darby hunted him down as the laps ticked off and was able to shove him wide just prior to starting the last lap.     298 Ian Elms was the long-time leader in the Final whilst 401 Steve Webster tried his level best to keep on terms with Darby.   It was not to be the case though and Eddie was not to be denied his hat-trick.  Webster came through for second and Elms took one of his best results in third.

Ministox

The ORCi Ministox had a cosmopolitan entry much like the BriSCA F2’s with a very impressive showing from the Autospeed regulars, particularly those from Cornwall who had untaken the long journey.  What was a disappointment though, and a surprise, was the lack of Arena Essex regulars present, with just one PRI driver joining those from Autospeed, Spedeworth, Incarace and RDC.  Despite being largely unfamiliar with the track, which differs greatly from that at St Day and Taunton, the southwest drivers had a very good day too.   The opening heat saw a flag to flag win for 946 Emily Hector whilst in heat two 901 Cameron Lawrence took the win, adding another to his collection, and at different tracks.  He had to do it the hard way though after a late yellow flag when 955 Frankie Radmore crashed hard on the pits bend.  He saw off the challenge at the re-start and held on for the win.   The Final saw 399 Cole Atkins led until he was passed by the battling duo of Hector and Lawrence.   These two managed to break clear whilst the battle for third was resolved when 236 Ryan Polley retired and this left 942 Steve Gilbert clear, but he could do nothing about Lawrence and Hector who were the 1-2 to complete the yellow grade domination of the day.

Bangers

A small-ish grid of (Rookie) Bangers completed the day which was largely made up of locally based drivers but did include 845 Albert Haines all the way from Cornwall.   The first heat came to a dramatic conclusion on the last lap.  56 Ricki Stevens looked set for victory, but whether it was (extended) family honour or otherwise 845 Haines spun him and this allowed 520 Rob Haines to take over, but bizarrely he then spun right on the very last corner and this allowed 419 Steve Haines to take the win.   56 Stevens sought retribution on 845 Haines early in the second heat and he spun him, but on the rebound he was collected unavoidably in the driver’s door by 269 Mark Rumbold which brought out the red flags for a complete re-start.  Thankfully Stevens was only shaken in the crash.   From the re-start 456 Nathan Roberts was the leader, the National Banger star on a surprising outing in the Rookie Bangers and he held on, albeit under pressure from 520 Haines who went in for a last bend lunge which successfully sent the 456 car spinning and Haines took the flag.   Then in the Final it was largely 520 Haines all the way as he took the flag with 436 Robbie Cole second and 456 Roberts third.