Sunday 3rd June - Arena Essex - 1600 Bangers Report by BangerBash The Final of Series 1 of the 1600cc sessions at Arena had a total of 48 cars in the pits. Material was pretty much non- existent with the exception of a Renault 12 for 557 John Small and what was badged up as a Honda Dallade from 35 Danny Stevens, although it looked like an Accord. I counted 11 cars for the Ladies race and 156 Sarah Gamble (Escort Mk5) put in 321 (Astra Mk3) to end her race. 32 Stacey Ruskin (Acclaim) planted 176 Hayley Dowsett (Escort Mk5) into the inner curb. 77 Lucy Finch (Astra Mk2) took the win ahead of 174 Kelly Wilson (Astra Mk3) and 158 Terri Wise (Pony) while on the rundown lap Ruskin took out 512 Sarah Clarke (Escort Mk5). 21 cars for Heat 1 and 94 Howard Martin (Astra Mk3) fired into 699 Michael Lester (Astra Mk2 Est) while 331 Boxer Jack (Rover 216) took out 608 Michael Woody (Astra Mk2) before then preceding to take out Lester as well. Boxer won in this very quiet race with 567 Gary Brown (Astra Mk3 Est) hot on his tail and 397 Andrew Cullen got third (Sunny). On the rundown Brown put away 406 Charlie Court (Fiesta Mk3). 1 more for Heat 2 and 161 Wayne Burns (Rover 416 Est) wasted little time in following in 321 Lee Caunter (Astra Mk3) while 665 Brad Turner (Nexia) hooked out 513 Sean Harvey (Astra Mk2) which allowed 200 Wayne Holten (Astra Mk3 Est) to blast the latter. Harvey did recover to attempt a light shot on Burns before Turner hammered the former with a big shot to end his day. 269 Ricky Percival (Orion) hit 700 Dave Hooper (Astra Mk3) while 32 Mark Ruskin followed in Turner nicely but as with the Nexia’s they never seem to die so Ruskin nailed him on the next lap as well. 589 Simon Smith (Astra Mk2) then nailed Burns on oppo before things got a bit heated but luckily nothing more. 162 Charlie Shanahan celebrated his return by taking the win. The Final had 30 cars and 189 John Poulton (Orion) nailed 437 Kurtis Major (Escort Mk5) while 409 Kris Venables (Sunny) veered the wrong way into the pack and got caught in the door by 329 Dean Theiseger (Volvo 340). Boxer span out Lester while Venables turned it round to t-bone Theiseger. 208 Jimmy Randall (Sunny) picked up 608 Woody and planted him into 196 Stu Palmer (Civic) who was lurking on oppo. Lester then fired into the back of Woody. 557 John Small (Reno 12) then spun Hooper into the back of Palmer. Hooper then taking his opportunity to t-bone Palmer. 567 Gary Brown then blasted the Midnight Runner as well. Meanwhile Boxer took the double with Gary Brown and John Seex behind that. 26 cars returned for the Rawlins/DD and Skippy fired into Simon Smith before Turkish came on oppo DSU at the former. 560 Gavin Ward (Astra Mk2 Est) then doing Skippy over the back wheel a couple of times. 174 Dave Osbourn then also nailed the lone Eastender hard. Venables connected with a head on to 627 Barry Collier (Fiesta Mk3) while Brad Turner hammered Whipper. Venables then nailed Turner while Gavin Ward gave it to Skippy on the nose again. 35 Danny Stevens (Dallade) gave 406 Charlie Court a length of the straight hit which bought the reds out for Court who was in trouble. The race was declared in favour of Shanahan. The restart was straight into the DD and 205 Keiron Briddock (Mazda 323) and Gav Ward had a head on. Brown then nailed Koonta and 399 Phil Cullen (Mazda 323) hammered the former. Boxer and Korps (Concerto) then sorted out Hooper before Boxer nailed Gary Brown with 2 big hits. Boxer, Randall, Fuller (Sunny) and Cullen all then ganged up on Brown so he had no chance of winning. It boiled down to Randall and Fuller and they shared a head on but Randall backed off to take the victory. Car List 26-Buzz Kelsey-Mazda 323 27-Andy Reynolds-Sunny* 32-Mark Ruskin-Acclaim 35-Danny Stevens-Honda Dallade 60-Steve Laybourn-Astra Mk3 77-Lucy Finch-Astra Mk2 94-Howard Martin-Astra Mk3 103-John Seex-Astra Mk3 156-Sarah Gamble-Escort Mk5 158-Terri Wise-Pony* 161-Wayne Burns-Rover 416 Estate* 162-Charlie Shanahan-Rover 216 174-Dave Osbourn-Astra Mk3 176-Paul Carter-Escort Mk5* 188-Matt Fuller-Sunny 189-John Poulton-Orion 196-Stu Palmer-Civic 200-Wayne Holten-Astra Mk3 Estate 205-Keiron Briddock-Mazda 323 206-Phil Milner-Astra Mk3 Estate 208-Jimmy Randall-Sunny 242-Ricky Korpiella-Concerto 265-Jamie Percival-Escort Mk5 269-Ricky Percival-Orion 303-Jody Walker-Escort Mk3 Estate 321-Lee Caunter-Astra Mk3 329-Dean Theiseger-Volvo 340* 331-Jason Jackson-Rover 216 397-Andrew Cullen-Sunny 399-Phil Cullen-Mazda 323 406-Charlie Court-Fiesta Mk3 409-Kris Venables-Sunny 437-Kurtis Major-Escort Mk5 512-Sarah Clarke-Escort Mk5 513-Sean Harvey-Astra Mk2* 527-Danny Gardiner-Sunny 542-Craig Oliver-Astra Mk3 549-Phil Smith-Astra Mk3 Estate 557-John Small-Renault 12 560-Gavin Ward-Astra Mk2 Estate 567-Gary Brown-Astra Mk3 Estate* 589-Simon Smith-Astra Mk2 608-Michael Woody-Astra Mk2* 627-Barry Collier-Fiesta Mk3 665-Brad Turner-Daewoo Nexia 699-Michael Lester-Astra Mk2 Estate 700-Dave Hooper-Astra Mk3 710-Michael Clarke-Almera (DNR)