The annual World of Shale meeting for the 1600 Bangers took place at Mildenhall on Sunday 22nd June. Defending champion 305 Alfie Cornish had a smart Ford Focus for the occasion. The meeting coupling up with the maiden staging of the 1600 Ladies Bangers World Championship.
The format saw 3 heats with the top 10 making their way into the main race. 817 Toby Hodgkinson and 172 Kenton Walker found themselves off the front row after the grid draw. 556 Matt Tillow was the first to show spinning 94 Jack Anscombe. A push into turn 3 saw 227 Gavin Taylor and 537 Leslie Brand hit the fence. Several drivers crashed out on turn 1 and 2, including 87 Aaron Coomber, 29 Dale Leedell and 418 Ben Chapman. 448 Luke Farrington collected Chapman. 448 Alfie Critt tangled with 343 Owen Powell, eventually spinning the latter as 817 Hodgkinson spun 301 Jack Botfield to take second place. 44 Samuel Flood tangled with 343 Powell, with 624 Cameron Hubbard spinning Flood in turn. 406 Brooklyn Parker ran 301 Garfield into Floody. 21 Jordan Coleman tangled with the leading 172 KennyG. 448 Helmet caught Coleman and was spun himself by 817 Hodgkinson. KennyG spun 343 Powell as he took the last lap board, which allowed 817 Hodgkinson to move in and spin the former to take the lead. Hodgkinson going on to secure the win.
817, 205, 406, 556, 301, 531, 53, 135, 624, 99
Debutant 609 Levi Murkin found himself off the front row for his first race out of the Junior Bangers lining up on the outside of 483 Lewis Penny. 195 Billy Giddings was an early spinner, whilst brother 951 Jack dumped 740 Alfie Jones into the tyres at the end of the home straight. 96 Tim Skipping and 59 Tom Greenstreet crashed out alongside 351 Sam Boot. 335 Tyler Sudbury got all of sorts along the back straight and was dumped fence-wards by 292 Harry Airey. 96 Skipping put the bumper in on 122 Mark Cooper Jnr, having a pop at him a couple of laps in succession. 621 Gareth Parker laid into 08 Finlay Damon. 257 Harvey Barrow and 623 Ricky Hutton at the end of the back straight causing a loose wheel with 214 Connor Osborne getting air off of it. The race being red and chequered with 609 Murkin taking the win making it a perfect start to his debut.
609, 483, 474, 317, 291, 826, 452, 438, 512, 217
94 Aidan Sturch and 566 Jason Polley were off the front for Heat 3. 686 Bailey McCleave picked 378 Jack Bailey and ran him in on turn 3. 598 Peter Sparrow collected 378 Jacko, whilst 199 Freddie Theake spun 849 Lown. The reds then coming out due to debris on the raceway. 555 Brandon Sudbury had the early lead and took them away on the restart. 355 Haydon Wood got turned fence-wards. 760 Harry Spencer tangled with 462 Lenny Akehurst. 94 Sturchy and 346 Lewis Brain had a moment on turn 2 which left the latter stranded. 551 Brett Jackson spun 241 Jack Broughton. Jacko Jnr continued to entertain with a follow in to 966 Bobby Williams. Blue and Black team mate 311 Garry Lown followed suit, running in 798 Lewis England – the latter then striking race winner 354 Josh Vowden on oppo as he looked to rejoin.
354, 291, 598, 555, 760, 346, 167, 175, 759, 652
50 Aiden Gamble and 29 Leedell were early spinners in the first Consolation. 608 Lenny Murkin put the bumper in on 21 Coleman. 428 Nick Ashbridge spun 356 Sam Hildon. 34 Steve Copland spun 45 Adam Ricketts and came under fire himself from 447 Nyall Hardingham. 448 Helmet came to an abrupt stop on turn 3. 122 Cooper Jnr followed in 96 Skipping bringing a stoppage to proceedings. 623 Ricky Hutton lead on the restart. A huge pack push into turn 3 saw 608 Lenny Boy go backwards into the abandoned 448 car which saw both cars get airtime whilst 172 KennyG and 579 Jack Bland hit the fence hard. 165 Charlie Barwell crashed into 27 Harry Long, with 34 Copland and 399 Lewis Baldry colliding further around the bend. Copland spun 59 Tom Greenstreet, before 428 Fastbridge ran 728 Harry Westbrook into the pair. 521 Coveney leathered 343 Powell. 623 Tricky took the win, with the remainder of the top 10 joining him into the main race.
623, 274, 50, 448, 510, 227, 447, 45, 194, 21
951 Jack Giddings was the first to show in the second Consolation bouncing 08 Damon around the plating on turns 3/4. 131 Harley McCarthy spun 257 Harvey Barrow before Damon got a payback shot in on Giddings. 30 Brandon Mayes spun 131 McCarthy and came under fire himself from 199 Theake. 94 Sturchy spun 423 Batten. The leading 95 Dylan Gamble removed 798 Lewy which allowed the Scrapyard Screamers driver a bit of breathing room from 94 Sturchy. 551 Jacko Jnr dumped out 119 Liam James. 195 Gidds laid into 08 Damon as 95 Monkey Boy raced to the win.
95, 551, 94, 456, 44, 740, 442, 198, 365, 334
It was time for the main race, with 448 Alfie Critt and 531 Brent Tropper securing the front row. Defending champion 305 Cornish found himself off of the inside of row 3. It was carnage early doors as many looked to make a quick impression. 652 Harvey Eyles, 21 Coleman and 99 Levi Dewey among the early casualties as 194 Steve Anscombe rode up the side of teammate 817 Hodgkinson. The action picked up a notch as a pile up formed under the starter’s rostrum creating an auto-sculpture with 826 George Smith, 291 Mick Turner and 95 Monkey Boy all ending up on their side seeing an immediate stoppage. The restart saw the action pick up where it left off. 483 Lew spun 359 Sean Swanborough with 760 Hazza running 167 Dylan Ling in which also claimed 447 Nail. 556 Matt Tillow then ran 214 One Way in. It was a great battle for the lead with 531 Snappy fighting off 512 Rowe and 305 Cornish. As the Union Jack flag waved to signify the half-way point, 531 Snappy found himself back in the lead with 512 Rowe still pushing him every step of the way; 44 Floody had moved into third, with 305 Cornish, 609 Murkin and 452 Harry Eyles rounding off the top 6. 406 Parker delivered a head on to the spun 50 Gamble. Parker backed across the track and was collected by 365 Kyle Bantick which nearly scuppered the leading 531 Snappy’s chances. With 3 to go, it looked like Snappy had a big enough gap to be secure, although 609 Murkin had worked his way into second and was pulling away from the rest of the pack. 531 Brent Tropper raced to the win, punching the air in delight as he crossed the line. 609 Levi Murkin racing to an impressive second place to follow up the win marking a superb debut, with 44 Samuel Flood rounding out the top three.
531, 609, 44, 217, 483, 510, 452, 227, 474, 624
It didn’t take long before a big pile up in the Alcomers with many going in on turns 1 and 2. 608 Lenny Boy mixed it with 08 Damon and 131 McCarthy whilst 483 Lew was left facing the wrong way. It appeared that the leading 172 KennyG had managed to work his way through the melee as he emerged the other side, but it wasn’t to be having clipped 332 Callum Henderson knocking his drive shaft out. Second placed 356 Sambo look to follow him through but also clipped Henderson seeing him roll and bring the reds out. 257 Barrow broke away from 609 Murkin to set the early pace on the restart and he stayed there to take the win. 951 Giddz spun 167 Ling whilst 608 Lenny Boy put the brakes on 131 McCarthy to ensure he was kept occupied with brother Levi catching them. 747 Liam Hard concluded the action by running in 95 Monkey Boy.
257, 609 – rest of the result unknown
