Newsgroups: uk.rec.motorsport.oval-racing
Subject: [Swaffham] Meeting, 3rd January
Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 22:40:00

With the high winds that I encountered on the way up to Swaffham for the traditional New Year's bash, I rather thought that the Caravans would be somewhat of a liability, especially as I had to avoid some very perilously swerving vans on the M11! Anyway, the winds calmed down by the time that the vans hit the circuit, so no problem there, though carrying two foody things and a cup of coffee in the wind across areas churned to muddy bogs by the traffic was an experience in itself!

The meeting, billed as the 2l Banger Blitz Party, Caravan Race, 1300 Saloon Stox & BangerRod meeting for January 3, started late due to the number of drivers arriving late. I can only assume that they had weather problems too. We did manage to squeeze all eleven planned races in before the doggy people took over for the night, and though the field was a touch down on my last visit as far as the 1300 Saloon Stox were concerned, there were more than enough other cars to fill the pits.

The Caravan race was put in as the third event to give the drivers a chance to return for the 2l races later on. Early money seemed to favour Alan "Speedy" Reid (88) who has made a habit of winning these races, but a hook up with first timer Jason Skipper (166) and a flat slowed him down enough to drop him, though second was an honourable achievement given the carnage that usually occurs in these events. The win went to a Trackstar and RDC regular, "Turbo" Tom Reynolds (312) who kept his red monster intact for a fairly long time before it was decapitated at about the half way point.

After many attempts to make it to the finish line in front during the heats, John Banwell (557) took the Trackline final for the 1300 Saloon Stox as the following Carl Nicholls (235) and track supremo Lizzie Crowden (84) finished a fairly involved battle in the fence with the rest of the field out of touch with the lead. Nicholls had beaten Banwell home in the first race.

Justin Everett (100) took his first ever win at Swaffham in the BangerRod white top heat that started the meeting though the final went the way of a quarter lap unanswered lead by the unnamed (804).

The 2l Bangers were plentiful enough to give good wrecking, but surprisingly it was the racing that caught my attention, especially the well judged manoevre that put Wayne Cotterill (997) in the winning position on the last lap. Under heavy pressure, he drifted the second corner wide, then angled in to give his follower a heavy push when he passed inside. The result for (145) was a spinout when least expected, though crafty use of the reverse gear secured third place. However the final went the way of a flag to flag effort by Shaun Copland (143), Cotterill unable to close quickly enough in another mixed race.

Results

1  BangerRods White tops  100 Justin Everett    /232/2/135/804/440/361/289
2  1300 Saloon Stox 1     235 Carl Nicholls     /557/642/547/84/669/600/19
3  Caravan Race           312 Tom Reynolds      /88/231
4  BangerRods 2           707 Mark Nottingham   /687/81/426/728/530/248/177
5  Bangers 1              145 Colin Dickens     /373/997/42/88/542/541/557
6  1300 Saloon Stox 2     555 Sam Gelsthorpe    /84/557/600/235/77/669/227
7  BangerRods 3           81  Garry Mallett     /7/68/530/54/248/426/804
8  Bangers 2              997 Wayne Cotterill   /143/170/349/42/732/174
9  1300 Saloon Stox FINAL 557 John Banwell      /669/85/77/276/84/337/227
10 BangerRods FINAL       804 ?                 /728/7/81*/248/180/530/472
11 Bangers FINAL          143 Shaun Copland     /997/174/42/349/761

*81 was penalised one place for contact in non-contact section of race (see Trackstar BangerRod rules)

All results are subject to confirmation by the promoter. 

(Sorry if there are any mistakes, this was done without the aid of a drivers' list!) :)