TEENAGER 
Mini Stox racer, Alfie Jones, had a disastrous start to the meeting at Arena Essex on Sunday with a heat one crash into the armco, which left him with a pronounced limp for the rest of the day. Once the car was repaired Alfie had no qualms about getting back out on track and he deservedly took a win in the last race of the day. The action was also pretty fraught for two of the top drivers in the formula at the Thurrock venue. Ryan Polley spun Dan Newman out in the early stages of the final, only to have the compliment returned by Newman a few laps later. The two’s battle in the allcomers race at the end of the day also resulted in a spin for Polley, both drivers losing a bit of ground in the points race to Harry Steward, who largely kept clear of such battling, although he was launched into the air after a tangle with Polley at one point.
The youngster with the biggest grin after the meeting was Joe Rollings. Joe chose the final to take his debut win in the formula, comfortably clear of runner up, Sadie Betts, and third placed Harry Steward. Betts had suffered a meeting full of car trouble up to that point and was relieved just to reach the finish, her car looking far more on the pace than of late, when not parked on the infield in any case. Another first time winner came in heat two when Purfleet racer, Jack Coveney, held off, the rapidly closing, Connor Reeve.
The Lightning Rod final was easily the most dramatic race of the day with a tangle between the leader, Dave Imber and Richard Norman causing the latter to fly into the air and cause most of the pack to come to a near halt on the exit of turn two. Richard Warner made his race winning move by diverting to the speedway track at speed and overtaking several cars whilst the recovering pack made it as far as the next bend until staging another crash, this one leaving heat winner, Mark Collins stranded astride the inner kerb. Although his car was sporting a few scars, Dave Imber hassled Warner all the way to the flag, Warner initially not inclined to get too involved in a battle, mistaking a black disqualification flag to be held out for Imber, whereas it was intended for Norman. When he realised his error he fought hard for the win and despite a nervous moment when his car popped out of gear, he crossed the line inches ahead.
Collins backed up a heat win with another victory in the allcomers race at the end of the day, whilst Imber had a win himself in heat two.
Confusion reigned at the end of the National Banger final with a technical issue on the winning Georgie Lee car being highlighted in post race scrutineering. Unusually Lee kept the win, although the wildcard place on offer for the World Final was awarded to the second place finisher and former World Champion, Lee Hughes.
Although the entry was down on previous “wild card” World Final qualification meetings, there was some good action to be had. Alfie Lee and Jason “Boxer Jack” Jackson shared the heat wins whilst Darren Haines impressed with a hard crash to Ben Beasley. The war between Grant Underhill, Daniel Nicholls and Matthew Young that raged with the Goodearl’s last time out seemed to shift to a war with the Cream Team instead. Jamie Harding inflicted most of the damage in the heats, whilst it was the consolation that accounted for Matthew Young. After getting involved with Dave Cheeseman on the back straight, Young was open to a vicious attack from Danny Allen and a follow up attack from Darryl “The Barrel” Theedom. Theedom then went on to crash Underhill hard into a stranded car on the infield. Harding crashed into the car of Paul Korpiela on the home straight, Korpiela already struggling with a wonky rear wheel. The crash sent Korpiela high in the air and all but ripped out his rear axle. Sonny Sherwood took the win on his return to the Arena Essex tarmac after a lengthy ban.
Whilst Georgie Lee dominated the final out front, World Champion Billy King found himself getting forced out by Nathan Roberts, King already having had a rough ride from Dean Goodearl earlier in the meeting. Boxer Jack punted past Dave Bull for the lesser places with Bull playfully punting back past after the flag. A not so playful tap back sending Bull fencewards!
Bull was able to return for the allcomers race into Destruction Derby and duly won the race before saving his car for another day. Underhill and Nicholls went head to head with several of the Cream Team on the pit bend, eventually succumbing to the onslaught. A savage T-Bone on Underhill from Steve Hackett being the pick of the hits. The hit also accounted for Hackett, so he was unable to fight for his fourth straight DD win. Instead the last remaining car was Jamie Harding who finished off Dave Barwick for the win and celebrated with a hit or two on the very game Danny Allen.
The next action at Arena Essex is on 11th August when the National Bangers compete for their Essex Championship. The Stock Rods and SuperBangers provide the support action. Start time is 1:30pm and throughout August there is a kids go for a quid promotion at the venue.
