Meeting Preview: Civil War 20 - Hednesford Hills Raceway - Sunday 13th January 2019
Civil War 20 – Preview!
This Sunday, the Hills will be alive with the sound of War, as once again the North meet the South for an all-action, all National Banger extravaganza at the Hednesford Hills Raceway.
As has been the norm over the last few years, the two armies will face each other in the Light Brigade division (Micros), Infantry (2Ltr) and Tanks (Unlimiteds). Each class will race across two heats before an all-in Grand Final and Destruction Derby for any soldiers still left running.
The North still hold the upper hand after the 19 previous wars with the score currently standing 10-9. However, the Southern army have had the better of it more recently meaning this year’s 20th anniversary has some added spice to it. Can the southern army pull it level?
Given the nature of the event, normal driver and team wars are put on hold for one day and one day only, as the only aim is to smash and crash the opposition team out of the way. This has allowed for some interesting moments over the years with many drivers providing back up for others who you wouldn’t expect in some very big crashes.
18 of the previous 19 wars have taken place at the very fast Hednesford Hills Raceway with the sixth running of the event in 2005 taking place at the Arena Essex Raceway where 83 ‘Lost it’ Lloyd put in an absolutely fantastic drive to win the Tanks Final for the Northern army who took home the title in a very hard hitting and historic event.
Every year, the General of both the North and the South try to put together the best team possible to try and claim the title, and this year is no different with some of the sport’s hardest hitters and fastest drivers set to do battle this Sunday.
The Northern army features 455 Ricki Finney in their Tanks division who is a very quick pilot in any rear wheel drive car he races, very nearly winning the 2017 World Final from the back of the grid. Meanwhile, Ricki’s younger brother Mitchell will race in the Light Brigade having put in some impressive performances in 2018 across many Micro meetings around the country.
72 Billy Bond is another driver who will line up for the Northern army in the Light Brigade. We’re used to seeing Billy race more in the Unlimiteds where he’s raced and wrecked some interesting material over the last few years. However, don’t let this fool you as Billy is also more than capable of getting the smaller cars around the track and isn’t afraid of getting stuck in either.
Former British Champion 830 Lee White will line up for the Northern Light Brigade and will be one to watch as he tries to score those all-important points by finishing high up while those around him try and stop the Southern army.
The Northern Infantry division also looks very strong with three Scrapyard Screamers in there who will more than likely get involved in the action in some shape or form. The trio of 132 Chris Cullum, 181 Grant Doe and 299 Dale Locker have raced around Hednesford many times and will be hoping that their familiarity with the track comes as an advantage on Sunday.
60 Kyle Stevenson is no stranger to Civil Wars and the Infantry division and will be an important driver if the North are to reclaim the title on Sunday. ‘Shakey’ isn’t afraid of getting stuck in and will be one to watch!
171 Tommy West will be another key ingredient for the Northon Sunday as he pilots a Ford Scorpio estate in the Tanks, a driver who can be very quick on his day but can also take out a few of the Southern opposition if he chooses too as well.
The Barton Boys could provide some heavy action in the Tanks on Sunday with 169 James Rushton and 179 Shaun as well as 195 Reece Marsh and 211 Jamie Pole who delivered that wicked following in into 25 Joe Parsons after he crossed the line to win the Champion of Champions at the Birmingham Wheels Raceway in November.
281 Lewis Tingle is still only young but has already impressed in many big meetings, taking home the 1800cc Banger World Final at Scunthorpe in 2017. Lewis will be hoping for yet more victories Sunday in the Tanks division in a hope that it will help the Northern army become victorious.
The Southern army once again looks very strong. The Light Brigade will be led into action by Brighton Bear 321 ‘Chatty-Man’ Keiron Fry. Kieron has led the Light Brigade the last few years and is always a great team leader doing whatever he can to help his teammates collect pivotal points in their claim for the title. Kieron will be joined by Bears’ teammate 43 Luke Maynard who will be looking out for his counter-part throughout the afternoon.
I mentioned earlier about team wars being put aside and that’s exactly what 84 Jack Ansell and 94 Jack Anscombe will have to do this Sunday. With Ansell being a member of Team Trim and Anscombe a Dreamer, the two have been going at it since they were in Junior Bangers together and have carried that on when they both made the step into National Bangers a few years ago. Both drivers can be very lively and know how to hit hard, but this Sunday they will have to work together and hit the Northern army.
160 Jamie Warr put in some fantastic performances across many Micro meetings in 2018 and will more than likely be in the thick of the action on Sunday afternoon. Jamie can keep a Micra running all day as proved at St Day last August and could be key for the South if the Light Brigade turns heavy!
The Southern Infantry division will be led by Autospeed’s Adam Hitchcock who has shown in previous years a brilliant never say die attitude. It’s fair to say that ‘Scratchy’ is more renowned for his crashing but is also more than capable of grabbing a race win too, with his biggest victory coming in 2017 when he won the PRI World Championship at Arena Essex.
‘Scratchy’ has some very lively drivers to use at his disposal including 262 ‘Roona’ Rob Bugler who has been known for hitting the Midnight Runners over the last few years, but this Sunday he will have to turn his attention to those in White and hit as many Northern cars as possible!
720 Kenny Jo Gabriel is another driver who will be involved in the action is one way or the other on Sunday – a driver who just doesn’t know how to say, “enough is enough!” Which is great when you’re in the middle of a War.
45 ‘Lips’ Anthony Crowshaw will be a driver looking to collect those all-important points for the South on Sunday, a man who has raced for many years and knows how to win but is also more than capable of hitting his opponents out of the way.
The Tanks division for the South looks amazingly strong and will be led into battle by DWO pairing 239 ‘Nemesis’ Steve Carter and 341 Andrew Jones, two drivers who are very quick but are also very hard hitters!
They will be joined by 57 Stu Cummings and 570 Jordan Cummings as well as 327 Mickey Maskell, 456 Nathan Roberts, 625 Josh Gooch and 760 Joey Reynolds who will all be looking to stay out of trouble and collect points for the red army.
Meanwhile, 246 Aston Burt, 278 Shaun Brokenshire and 333 Charlie Randall will be looking to hit as many Northern cars as possible and look to prevent a ‘White-wash’ in the Tanks division.
As much as it is a War, I hope all drivers crash and race safely. I hope everyone has a great day and wish everyone competing the very best of luck and may the best team on the day win! After all, all’s far in love and war…!
Jordan Hollands
This Sunday, the Hills will be alive with the sound of War, as once again the North meet the South for an all-action, all National Banger extravaganza at the Hednesford Hills Raceway.
As has been the norm over the last few years, the two armies will face each other in the Light Brigade division (Micros), Infantry (2Ltr) and Tanks (Unlimiteds). Each class will race across two heats before an all-in Grand Final and Destruction Derby for any soldiers still left running.
The North still hold the upper hand after the 19 previous wars with the score currently standing 10-9. However, the Southern army have had the better of it more recently meaning this year’s 20th anniversary has some added spice to it. Can the southern army pull it level?
Given the nature of the event, normal driver and team wars are put on hold for one day and one day only, as the only aim is to smash and crash the opposition team out of the way. This has allowed for some interesting moments over the years with many drivers providing back up for others who you wouldn’t expect in some very big crashes.
18 of the previous 19 wars have taken place at the very fast Hednesford Hills Raceway with the sixth running of the event in 2005 taking place at the Arena Essex Raceway where 83 ‘Lost it’ Lloyd put in an absolutely fantastic drive to win the Tanks Final for the Northern army who took home the title in a very hard hitting and historic event.
Every year, the General of both the North and the South try to put together the best team possible to try and claim the title, and this year is no different with some of the sport’s hardest hitters and fastest drivers set to do battle this Sunday.
The Northern army features 455 Ricki Finney in their Tanks division who is a very quick pilot in any rear wheel drive car he races, very nearly winning the 2017 World Final from the back of the grid. Meanwhile, Ricki’s younger brother Mitchell will race in the Light Brigade having put in some impressive performances in 2018 across many Micro meetings around the country.
72 Billy Bond is another driver who will line up for the Northern army in the Light Brigade. We’re used to seeing Billy race more in the Unlimiteds where he’s raced and wrecked some interesting material over the last few years. However, don’t let this fool you as Billy is also more than capable of getting the smaller cars around the track and isn’t afraid of getting stuck in either.
Former British Champion 830 Lee White will line up for the Northern Light Brigade and will be one to watch as he tries to score those all-important points by finishing high up while those around him try and stop the Southern army.
The Northern Infantry division also looks very strong with three Scrapyard Screamers in there who will more than likely get involved in the action in some shape or form. The trio of 132 Chris Cullum, 181 Grant Doe and 299 Dale Locker have raced around Hednesford many times and will be hoping that their familiarity with the track comes as an advantage on Sunday.
60 Kyle Stevenson is no stranger to Civil Wars and the Infantry division and will be an important driver if the North are to reclaim the title on Sunday. ‘Shakey’ isn’t afraid of getting stuck in and will be one to watch!
171 Tommy West will be another key ingredient for the Northon Sunday as he pilots a Ford Scorpio estate in the Tanks, a driver who can be very quick on his day but can also take out a few of the Southern opposition if he chooses too as well.
The Barton Boys could provide some heavy action in the Tanks on Sunday with 169 James Rushton and 179 Shaun as well as 195 Reece Marsh and 211 Jamie Pole who delivered that wicked following in into 25 Joe Parsons after he crossed the line to win the Champion of Champions at the Birmingham Wheels Raceway in November.
281 Lewis Tingle is still only young but has already impressed in many big meetings, taking home the 1800cc Banger World Final at Scunthorpe in 2017. Lewis will be hoping for yet more victories Sunday in the Tanks division in a hope that it will help the Northern army become victorious.
The Southern army once again looks very strong. The Light Brigade will be led into action by Brighton Bear 321 ‘Chatty-Man’ Keiron Fry. Kieron has led the Light Brigade the last few years and is always a great team leader doing whatever he can to help his teammates collect pivotal points in their claim for the title. Kieron will be joined by Bears’ teammate 43 Luke Maynard who will be looking out for his counter-part throughout the afternoon.
I mentioned earlier about team wars being put aside and that’s exactly what 84 Jack Ansell and 94 Jack Anscombe will have to do this Sunday. With Ansell being a member of Team Trim and Anscombe a Dreamer, the two have been going at it since they were in Junior Bangers together and have carried that on when they both made the step into National Bangers a few years ago. Both drivers can be very lively and know how to hit hard, but this Sunday they will have to work together and hit the Northern army.
160 Jamie Warr put in some fantastic performances across many Micro meetings in 2018 and will more than likely be in the thick of the action on Sunday afternoon. Jamie can keep a Micra running all day as proved at St Day last August and could be key for the South if the Light Brigade turns heavy!
The Southern Infantry division will be led by Autospeed’s Adam Hitchcock who has shown in previous years a brilliant never say die attitude. It’s fair to say that ‘Scratchy’ is more renowned for his crashing but is also more than capable of grabbing a race win too, with his biggest victory coming in 2017 when he won the PRI World Championship at Arena Essex.
‘Scratchy’ has some very lively drivers to use at his disposal including 262 ‘Roona’ Rob Bugler who has been known for hitting the Midnight Runners over the last few years, but this Sunday he will have to turn his attention to those in White and hit as many Northern cars as possible!
720 Kenny Jo Gabriel is another driver who will be involved in the action is one way or the other on Sunday – a driver who just doesn’t know how to say, “enough is enough!” Which is great when you’re in the middle of a War.
45 ‘Lips’ Anthony Crowshaw will be a driver looking to collect those all-important points for the South on Sunday, a man who has raced for many years and knows how to win but is also more than capable of hitting his opponents out of the way.
The Tanks division for the South looks amazingly strong and will be led into battle by DWO pairing 239 ‘Nemesis’ Steve Carter and 341 Andrew Jones, two drivers who are very quick but are also very hard hitters!
They will be joined by 57 Stu Cummings and 570 Jordan Cummings as well as 327 Mickey Maskell, 456 Nathan Roberts, 625 Josh Gooch and 760 Joey Reynolds who will all be looking to stay out of trouble and collect points for the red army.
Meanwhile, 246 Aston Burt, 278 Shaun Brokenshire and 333 Charlie Randall will be looking to hit as many Northern cars as possible and look to prevent a ‘White-wash’ in the Tanks division.
As much as it is a War, I hope all drivers crash and race safely. I hope everyone has a great day and wish everyone competing the very best of luck and may the best team on the day win! After all, all’s far in love and war…!
Jordan Hollands
