Warton Christmas Bonanza Report 2001

27-12-01
Warton Stock Car Club Christmas Bonanza

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First off I would like to thank everyone who bothered to turn out to this meeting, the weather was OK and the numbers were amazing, how many of you rang in work sick ??
Hard to believe that its a full year, to the day, since a car last turned a wheel in a race. But it was and boy did we get a years full of action to make up for it ? Yes is the answer :) good to see a few new faces and nice to see some of the regulars too. No Steeles or Invaders, but well over 50 bangers and action, wrecks and followins galore. The other classes too gave us loadsa action, but hey its Warton Stock Car Club so what did you expect ??
After the cuffuffle, on this site, about MiniStox or Junior Bangers we had MiniStox. There was only seven in the first heat, after 343 Lee Wrennall had to pull out before the race began. 223, Josie Foden, span after hitting the wall and then got hit head on by 18 Andrew Molloy. She was taken away in the ambulance, but as far as I know only hurt her ankle. The race had to be stopped and the result given, 116 Chris Turner took the win, 18 Andrew second and third was 101 James Hayhurst.
Next out to play was the Bangers and 23 of them were out for heat 1. It was a short race as all the cars got stuck in a huge pileup on the far corner. There were more than a few jackings in the mess, 27 Jemmy Stanton being on the receiving end of a nasty one. Eventually the race was scrapped and all the cars cleared to the pits, more than half of them drove away. The heat was to be rerun later...
Next up were the Unlimited Minis Only nine, but some great racing, a huge battle for the lead between good friends 44 Ste Smith and 62 David Eccles, David, as far as I know hadn't raced anywhere since last Christmas. Ste took the win on the last but one lap and 26 Shaun Yeats came in third. Two non finishers were Alex Chapman and 25 Andy Yeats.
Super Bangers had 8 cars, a few new ones to boot.. Mind you the old krew were also around, hi Ann :) There was a Feista which did better than expected even leading the race before spinning out. Then we had 244 (no name), 880 (no name) and 828 (NO NAME!!) all battling away in very close racing. Ann Didn't finished but 9 Philip Varley got the win with 244 & 880 following
15 Stock Cars came out with loads of noise and some action as well. 158 Thomas Hollingworth and 4 (no name) got in a right tangle. But 65 Nathan Lawson won with 38 Christopher Alderson and 329 David Collins in tow.
the MiniStox were out again, this time Lee got going and all finished except 18 Andrew Molloy who had a battery failure. It was another win for Chris Turner in car 116 with Lee Wrennall and James Hayhurst making up the top 3
Heat two of the Bangers and a full track heaving under the weight if 35 cars.. Jay "rodder" Kellett was in a banger, he must have got the taste for it while in Wales this summer:) Car 690 driven by Peter Richardson almost went into orbit as he was lifted in an awesome jacking in the middle of a massive Warton Crush. Cars 292, 300, 42, 159 and 802 were in the thick of it. Members Only member Jamie Lathom, car 50, had a very bent estate, what is it with their cars folding ?? that said Bullit had his car 317 even more bent.. it was very funny indeed. The race was abandoned and restarted with only about nine cars still running. "Rodder" Kellett won by, erm, rodding in car 439, 318 Paul Hooper and 491 John Mason also placed.
44 Ste Smith was lucky to walk away after a massive crash in heat 2 of the Unlimited Minis he hit the inner wall side on almost rolling his brand new mini. The two wheels that hit the wall were smashed off the car and I figured that would be Ste's day done. 62 Dave Eccles got the win and 26 Shaun Yeats was second, 134 Alex Chapman following for Third place.
A clean and close race was the next one, the Super Bangers had a few spins but over all it was a close race. First 274 David Christopher (ex-Unlimited Mini driver) Second 9 Phil Varley and Third was 244.
14 Stock Cars for heat two and 505 & 127 had a massive coming together resulting in a near roll. Car 4 took the win, 65 Nathan Lawson second and 38 Christopher Alderson third.
21 Bangers came out for the rerun of the first heat. Nasty Mark, of TMK was blacked flagged after snapping the Grannie Limo into the wall.....ON THE PARADE LAP!!! 666 Andy Pennington did a good hit on the Taxi and after a good follow in on 111 Jeff Pratt by 205 John Slack, with 340, 149, 949 & 181 all in the fray.
After a short break we had the MiniStox final. Nine cars and it was red flagged after 811 Richard Parker hit the wall in a bad way and hurt his ankle. The result was given giving Chris Turner 116 a hat trick of wins, 101 James Hayhurst (who had a really good day) second, and 161 Nicolas Isles-Heardman a well deserved third.
8 Super Bangers in the final. and a big accident for 880 & 75 the latter being but out of the race. It was not all bad as 880 gave 75 a shove back to the pits. 274 David Christopher took another win, 673 Warren Harwood second followed by 100 Ann Potts.
44 Ste Smith must have worked miricles in the pit as he turned out for the Unlimited Mini final. David Eccles, Ste and Alex Chapman all fought for the lead, David fell back and was caught and passed by 25 Andy Yeats for third. Ste took the win and Alex came second..
You could have been mistaken in thinking the DD was early. but no it was the Stock Cars DD Cars 251, 67, 911, 622, 65 ,38 and 58 all failed to finish, all due to accidents, spins and the like. Car 318 Paul Hooper spent most the first half the race spinning, but he still finished the race. we had a winner though, car 4 with 717 Mark Duckett second and third for 211 Steve Padgett.
Then it was time for the Banger final/DD. 31 cars started and most ended up in a scrap heap on the pit corner. I doubt anyone actually figured out who won, tho Big Al of Team V was still moving well. Again we had steam, tyre smoke and smashes. It was then decided to turn the race into a DD, Rodder Kellett and 666 andy Pennington came off the infeild to join in the fun. it was not long before they were the only two left. They did a head on, to please the crowd at the far corner, it was a big head on but Jay kept going, he therefore was declared the winner.
And that was that. it was an exceptional meeting with action from every direction. Indeed it was great to be back and felt like we had never been away. All the best for 2002 and lets hope the upcoming season is at least as half as much fun as this meeting was:)