THE annual Shakedown National Banger event was blessed with warm sunshine and a large crowd as the 2015 season began at Arena Essex at the weekend.
Dale Hughes made it a heat and final double in the Unlimited Banger class. Danny Allen didn’t seem that interested in doing many laps in his Toyota Previa at all, turning around to hit Dean Jarvis within seconds of the start. Jarvis was then finished by a shot from Jack King. Jason Curtis had a facefull of air-bag as he used his Previa to hit Matty High, who had just hit Gary Lee head on.
Jason "Boxer Jack" Jackson latched onto the back of Danny Green and followed him into the pit bend fence, a revenge hit for a clash at the Firecracker. Boxer unfortunately then earned a disqualification for a follow up shot on the stricken Jaguar a lap later, even though Green was being covered by a stationary yellow flag, which means the car should not be a target. Ricky Hutton did the same, earning an early bath too.
The disqualifications didn’t end there either. The final started with Darren Nash and John Golden having a little barging match on the exit of turn two, Jack King had been sitting patiently on the pit bend for someone to crash into, but he took the odd decision to drive the length of the back straight in the wrong direction to hit Golden, leading to a lot of concern for Golden who clearly wouldn’t have seen or expected the attack. Thankfully after a bit of recovery time Golden was able to escape unhurt, giving the thumbs up to Nash as he muttered "I’m getting too old for this!"
The Destruction Derby might have only had four cars but it had everything! The final showdown between Georgie Lee and Sonny Sherwood ending with Sherwoods car in flames!
The Under 2.0 Litre Banger class started with a huge bang as comeback man, Gary Staples, was taken into the home straight fence by Tony Hutton and then whacked by Kieran Greenway, Greenway then following him hard into the turn one fence. Unfortunately in a freak turn of events the car rose up and along the top of the armco on the drivers side which resulted in a broken arm and hand for Gary, although his main concern whilst the crew were tending to him was with his brand new £180 overalls, the resale value of which was sadly reduced.
After a lengthy yet understandable delay, the race restarted with first timers – Grays brothers, Gary and Wayne Elliott, taking a pounding on the pit bend. Tony Hutton followed Gary into the fence whilst a spun Wayne took a heavy hit from Jack Coveney. Sonny Sherwood took the win, whilst heat two belonged to Goodearl. Karl Douglas raced to Shakedown success in the final whilst Luke Broughton was destroyed by a series of hits on the home straight.
The official PRI debut of the 2L Stock Cars saw 20 cars finally making it to the grid and some fine racing. An undergraded Joey Palmer made light work of the two heats which saw him put back to a more realistic blue grade. He still made it to third with Matt Fuller taking the win ahead of Brian Jarvis. Jarvis very lucky to survive a moment along the back straight as a spinning Charlie Mayers almost backed in front of him – Jarvis flooring the throttle and just making it past whilst brushing up against the fence.
Sophie Fasey was the class of a 30-strong Mini Stox grid. The West Country visitor won heat and final, even spinning aside track champion, Lauren Overy in the first heat. Harry Steward won the second heat but was then spun left by Tommy Aylward in the final, which lead to the latters disqualification, Steward also retiring to the infield with a flapping bonnet. Overy looked on course for the win in the final until a backmarking Jack Goldsmith pitched her sideways on the pit bend, allowing Fasey and Harry Overy to join her in a three way battle for the lead. Fasey and Harry Overy scrapped for a couple of corners but Fasey eventually got clear and Lauren just pipped Harry for second.
The next action at Arena Essex is on 22nd March when the PRI Bangers get their first outing of the year. The basic Banger class usually fields upwards of 60 cars and were one of the most lively formulas in 2014. Also getting their 2015 debuts are the Junior Bangers, Stock Rods and Lightning Rods. A good mixture of contact and non contact action then, and all beginning at 1pm.
