Stock car racing at Purfleet venue has the crowd cheering (From Thurrock Gazette)

Stock car racing at Purfleet venue has the crowd cheering

4:00am Friday 10th July 2009

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BriSCA F2 Stock Cars Luke Phillips kept success in the family, following up his brother's wins in the previous meeting with a double heat win at the BriSCA F2 Stock Car meeting at Arena Essex, July 5, while Chris Roots continued his most successful year in the formula at this circuit with another final win.

The first win of the day went to Luke Phillips who sprinted off the front of the white tops to build up a sizeable lead early on but was challenged towards the end as George Turicci caught him and tried to punt him out on the last bend but was a little too heavy handed at it, losing control in the process to allow Phillips to cruise home. Turicci held second from Chris Roots who made good progress from the back of the grid. Sean Gregory was one car that failed to finish as he hooked up on the back of Darren Phillips down the back straight to finish in the fence by the bridge. Brother Luke made it two for two in the second heat, sprinting past early leader Andy Cattell, holding off Steve Davies towards the end to get his second win with Michael Green in third, while Turicci and Mark Guinchard had a fascinating battle in the middle of the field, Guinchard managing to grab a place from Turicci towards the end while Mick Sworder managed to suffocate the spectators on the back straight as he spun off and doughnutted on the shaleway. Phillips even managed to lead the final for a little while as Cattell spun off by the pit gate, but Davies was moving up along with Guinchard and Roots. Phillips was passed by Davies and Roots before he was eventually spun out on the back straight, leaving Davies to hold off Roots. With the race running down, Roots eventually put his front bumper forward, Davies going wide around the bridge bend to allow Roots to get through to win. Guinchard took the interrupted Grand National qualifier following a crash that took out the double heat winner Phillips.

Bangers With the fun of the Festival behind them, the 2l Bangers returned to Arena Essex on July 5 for some serious racing and a fair deal of wrecking too as Jon Seex put in a good double win, Grays specialist Wayne “Skippy” Holton won an unexpected trophy in the final and a new driver managed to win a heat on his first attempt.

It was the first time out in the 2l Bangers for Darly Theedom, and he managed to survive what became an entertaining race for the formula to win at his first attempt. Lewis Harvey was one of the first casualties on turn four which also saw a slight return of the rivalry between the Midnight Runner team in the shape of Ricky Korpiela and the Blue Krew represented by Mark Marchant which ended up going right down the home straight fence to turn one. Although there was plenty of hits around the circuit, a lot of the wrecking was on turn four with the dead Harvey car acting as a chicane point for much of the wrecking that followed including a closing stages crash for Lee West who ended up in tenth as a result of his crash while Alex Pankhurst and Ian Smith made nuisances of themselves around the pit bend along with early leader Wayne Holton who joined West in the scrap heap. John Seex improved on his first heat place by winning the second heat which, though slightly lighter, still featured a fair amount of contact, including a three way shunt on the back straight out of turn two that clogged up that corner towards the end. The final was eventually awarded to Holton after Mark Munson was judged to have finished first following interference from his team mates in contravention of the rules regarding team racing in solo events. Skippy wasn't sure he liked the idea of winning under such circumstances but took the lap of honour anyway. Certainly the most entertaining driver was Pankhurst who came onto the circuit twisted and left it even worse! The final event of the day, the demolition derby, saw another win for Seex following which the hits really came in, the last car award going to Phil Milner and his one working wheel following some repeated head ons from Mike Nichols who took the best wrecker award.

Ministox Brentwood ace Billy Hull managed a heat and final double in the Ministox at Arena Essex on July 5 in a meeting that was hotly contested, though marred somewhat by stoppages.

Race one finished abruptly as Danny Mitchell collided with Andrew Milner inside the pit bend, Milner having spun out and stalled. By this time, Daniel Newman was well ahead with Billy Hull up to second having passed Joe Coultish and Alex Little. Hull had followed Little through the traffic then took over as the race wound down, getting past Coultish just before the race was called. Ray Petty was docked two places in the lower portion of the race result for contact during the race. The second heat finished in controversy as Newman was fetched into the wall by an out of control Sid Madgwick who had lost his steering following a lift off on turn three from the kerb after a number of laps in battle over a minor place with Alex Little. There was a stewards enquiry following the race but there were no injuries. With the number of hits in these heats, the steward called a meeting for all Ministox drivers before the final, though a number of drivers failed to come out for the final for various reasons. The final was a lot lighter as a result, though a number of cars still failed during the race leaving only nine finishers, Hull winning easily ahead of Coultish who managed to hold Madgwick off in the closing stages.

Coming up in July: The Group A Hot Rods have one of their big meetings next week at 2pm as they race the Jim Richards Memorial. Dedicated to an enthusiast in the formula who sadly died some years ago, the meeting also includes Rookie Bangers and Lightning Rods.

July 19 sees the progression of the Supreme Championship as the 1300cc Stock Cars turn out for the second qualifying round for the event which takes place later in the year. The meeting also includes 2l Bangers and Ministox. Then, on July 26, the Superbangers return, along with Rookie Bangers and Outlaw Hot Rods.

The Return of the Pedal Bangers: It was announced at the July 5 meeting that, after some years, the Pedal Bangers would make an appearance at Arena Essex on August 31 during the Unlimited Banger Van meeting. The event is being organised by regular starter and 1300cc Stock Car driver Sharon Ashworth, and is open to all budding drivers between the ages of 2 and 12 years of age. To enter, competitors must apply to Sharon (between races!) at Race Control during meetings or they may also write to the Arena Essex office (Arena Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Purfleet, Essex. RM19 1AE). Entries must be in by August 17!

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