THE complexion of the Junior Mini Stox Arena Essex Track Championship may well have changed significantly following the latest round on Sunday.
With the favourite for the title, Charlie Morphey busy winning the British Championship for the formula up in Scotland, there was a chance for Harry Overy and Steph Sore to gain ground domestically and with Overy holding a slim lead, it was clear that the fact that this placed him on the grid behind his closest challenger, was to his advantage in a contact motorsport.
Sore had the added complication of a car that didn’t seem quite on the pace, so she was relatively easy pickings for Overy, who spun her in the early stages of each race. Despite neutralising his rival, Overy wasn’t able to capitalise to any great extent. Sore slowed Overy on a couple of occasions whilst a lap back and in the final he was spun out by James Waite who went on to take an accomplished win ahead of David Shearing and Joe Rollings. Josh Rayner was the double heat winner whilst Tony Elbourn won the allcomers race at the end of the day, passing the visiting Hannah Esau on the final lap.
The Lightning Rod Supreme Championship was dominated by pole position man – Richard Norman, who took the lead from Nigel Carroll at the start. An off the pace Anthony Lawrence was spun out of third place with Chris Reeve taking advantage to grab the final podium spot. A big crash between Connor Reeve and Steven Norman on the final lap thankfully didn’t result in too much damage, despite the heights they reached.
Rob Merritt took his debut win in the class later in the day, just holding off Connor Reeve over the final lap whilst Richard Norman and Chris Reeve crashed out. It looked like the next race would follow the same script but Connor Reeve and Merritt clashed on the back straight allowing Richard Norman to take advantage of a robust move on Chris Reeve and a fine outside pass on Lee Hall to take the win. In a stormy encounter, Steven Norman then earned a disqualification for two ridiculous moves on Lee Hall and Anthony Lawrence.
The final race of the day saw Richard Norman earn a disqualification for spinning Chris Reeve on the back straight. Connor Reeve taking a deserved win after coming so close earlier.
A very poor turnout of National Bangers provided a pair of race wins for Karl Douglas, although he was crashed out of the final by Sonny Sherwood, allowing Steven Collings to take his first ever race victory at the venue. Douglas then defeated Collings in a decidedly low-octane Destruction Derby.
Part of the reason for the low Banger turnout was the fact that the next event on the calendar is the National Banger World Final on 20th September. Scott Cornish returns to the Thurrock venue to defend the title he won twelve months ago, with a host of Banger racings top names also booked. In support, the biggest turnout of the season of the 2 Litre Stock Cars will contest their Essex Championship, whilst Stock Rods provide the non contact racing thrills. The usual start time applies – 1pm.
