Fixtures

Fixtures

2pm , Sunday, 15th August - National Bangers Essex Championship plus Ministox and Group A Hot-Rods Millennium Shield.

Gates open at 11:00 AM
Admission prices on the gate - Adults: £12, Children: £6, Family: £34, OAP: £6
No need to pre-book. Purchase tickets at the gate.

It has been a long time since the title “Essex Championship” has been applied to the National Bangers but we are going to try it today. We also have Group A Hot Rods and Ministox, both formulas that are enjoying a great rise in popularity recently. Actually there is something of a link, however tenuous, between the National Bangers Essex Championship title and our last bit of National formula banger racing, the Bob Kitchener Memorial, in that Bob's son, Rob, was once a winner of that title. Of course, those were the days when we ran the National formula almost every week and drivers could pick up Granadas with no problem whatsoever. With the rise of the sales wagons such as the Mondeo and the ludicrous design failures that eventually ended the Granada with that sad eyed freak, laughingly referred to as the Scorpio, and no real contenders to take over in the three litre class by that time, most circuits have to be content with two litre or lower and just wheel out the bigger stuff on special occasions. That's what Tom Waller did for the Bob Kitchener Memorial this year and he won in it too, beating Colchester regular Phil Smith and local boy Danny Brown in a six car finish. The previous series was passed to the Superbangers when they first started so it never really ended but we shall have to see today if our field can recreate those long ago days. The As have really been going for it lately, though some folk have been getting better luck than others, especially Luke Oliver who has been making quite a habit of winning, both in the As and in the Stock Rods, a similar formula in the Rolling Thunder Shows here on selected Saturday evenings throughout the season. The biggest talking point at our last, however, was the subject of mirror driving and the use of the blue flag which was certainly the cause of a few upsets during the meeting. For those that are unfamiliar with the term, this is where a slower driver attempts to retain a lead position by blocking the car or cars behind them, effectively driving according to what they see in the mirror. One opinion would be that the onus is on the drivers behind to find a way past, no matter what, while others would argue that if the car in front is slower, then it becomes unfair, even infuriating to block the cars behind. See what you think as we enjoy today's racing. Meanwhile, the Ministox are back to make life heck for our clerk of the course, or possibly our starter! Well, you can hardly fault the enthusiasm of these young drivers, especially when you see some of the racing they have been providing us in the last few months, Ray Petty really turning it on at our last a couple of weeks ago with a terrific heat and final double, while Tommy Langley, out for his first ever meeting, had a great day of it with a heat win in the second heat, a race that featured a good showing for many of the lower grades including a second place finish for Natalie Smith and third for Harry Newman who would later pick up second place in a close finish in the final. Billy Hull also had a good day of it with a second place in the first heat ahead of Georgie Lee and a good third place finish in the final. Next week: We have the return of the Rookie Bangers along with 1300cc Stock Cars while the Lightning Rods turn out for their own version of the Essex Championship. As ever, we start at 2pm next Sunday! Miss ye not!


Sunday, 12th September	Rookie Bangers plus Ministox and 1300 Stock Cars Essex Championship
Sunday, 19th September	40th O.R.C. National Bangers World Championship Finals plus Super Bangers Essex Championship
Sunday, 26th September	2L Bangers plus Lightning Rods and Outlaw Hot-Rods Essex Championship
Sunday, 3rd October	Rookie Bangers ORANGE CAR DAY Terry Skeef Memorial plus Ministox and Group A Hot-Rods
Sunday, 10th October	2L Bangers plus Brisca F2 Stock Cars Grand National Championship and 1300 Stock Cars
Sunday, 17th October	Rookie Bangers plus Lightning Rods Supreme Championship and Ministox Essex Championship
Sunday, 24th October	2L Bangers Olly Moran Memorial plus Group A Hot-Rods Supreme Chamionship and Super Bangers
Sunday, 31st October	Rookie Bangers plus 1300 Stock Cars Supreme Championship and Outlaw Hot-Rods
Sunday, 7th November	Firecracker XIX - The Unlimited Open Banger Meeting of the Year plus Reliant Robins and Gigantic Fireworks Display

Advertise with us at Arena Essex Raceway