STEPH Sore once again won the Mini Stox final at Arena Essex on Sunday, keeping clear of a superb scrap for second place between Lauren Overy and Charlie Morphey. The final was stopped in the early stages for a big shunt which befell Jack Goldsmith and Lauren Nicholls. At the restart Sore was quickly past Marcus Reeve to take up the lead, whilst Overy and Morphey spent a few anxious moments making their way through the pack before embarking on their epic scrap for the runners up spot. With both drivers leaning on each other as they crossed the line, Morphey just got the verdict before being spent spinning.
Sophie Fasey’s final meeting in the Mini Stox class before her age induced retirement did not go according to plan. The erstwhile points leader did win manage to win the first heat, but was sent into the fence by Tommy Aylward in the second heat. Unable to grid for the Mini Stox Final, she instead concentrated her efforts on the Junior Banger class as, along with Harry Steward and Charlie Morphey, she was doubling up in both formulas on the day.
Fasey shared the wins with Charlie Murrell and Alfie Jones in the Junior Bangers, the latter winning his first ever final in the class. There was plenty of action during the afternoon, including a second rollover of the season for Joe Murrell. Unfortunately several of the racers were disqualified from the afternoons racing for some over-zealous manoeuvres. In fact one race had to be stopped to remove a driver who steadfastly refused to acknowledge the black disqualification flag.
A great turnout of PRI Bangers were split into two separate heats won by Grant Kilburn and Billy King. The 43 car final was always going to be lively and so it proved, an early stoppage was necessary with a fire being swiftly dealt with. At the restart Jake Sheldon and Tim King put on a good display, dishing out some damage and attracting plenty of their own. Antoni Colby took some very heavy damage after being spun into the pit gate and then hit head on. Billy King backed up his heat win with the final victory, after a full contact display.
The Destruction Derby, as seems traditional, kicked off with an almighty crash with Daniel Nicholls sandwiched between a pair of cars, receiving terminal damage. Sonny Sherwood then attracted some attention with Reid Murray finishing him off with a big crash. Danny Mitchell outlasted the rest, finally having some luck in the same car that had refused to run the last time he tried to finish it in a Destruction Derby.
It looked like a hat trick was on the cards for Gary Byrne in the Stock Rods, but the unmistakable rattle and puff of smoke from his engine with three laps to go spelt disaster and allowed Luke Oliver to take the win. After a prolonged bid around the outside of Byrne, Oliver looked to have settled for second place before fate intervened.
The next action at Arena Essex is on 7th June when the second qualifying round towards the National Banger World Final takes place. The Mini Stox, Lightning Rods and Stock Rods provide the lively support race card. Start time as ever is 1pm.
Photos courtesy of Matt Bull.
