Northampton – 10/6/23 – Alan Tarn Memorial – Pre 70 + Pre 90 National Bangers – Meeting Report

The Alan Tarn Memorial took place at Northampton Shaleway on Saturday 10th June, with Pre 70 & Pre 90 National Bangers joined by the Back to Basics. There were several Predators out in action as you’d expect to see, with others painting in Predator colours for the day in tribute to Tarny. 

The Pre 70 Bangers first heat started in chaotic fashion. 611 Joe Geeves ran 260 Callum French into 162 Rob Wheatley. 84 Jack Ansell spun 243 Jamie Millen. 611 Geeves and 260 French also went around before 346 Scott Saunders spun 105 Billy Standing. 824 Ollie Millen dumped 715 Wayne Carless into the plating on turn 1. 153 Alan Hogarth spun 720 Brendan Hardy and was spun himself by 426 Austin Burns. 886 Andrew Topham set about 747 Eddie Cotton. 105 Bill Bob spun 301 Pete Smith. 747 Piglet ran 21 Ralph Wright in. 304 Mark Lake spun 237 Gary Nash, with 585 Kevin Giles going in over the rear wheel of 237 Nash. 860 Christian Doughty dispatched of 301 Sabre. 21 Wright and 924 Matt Millen tangled, as 585 Big Ears spun 21 Jason Colbert. 306 Marc Doughty spun 118 Jason Anslow, and 105 Bill Bob did the same to 304 Judge Jewells. The reds flag then came out on track, although the reason unknown. 585 Big Ears lead them away, but he was soon overtaken by 84 Jack Ansell as the Mk3 Cortinas began to assert their dominance. 924 Millen spun 887 Rob Browning but ended up taking himself out in the process. 243 Millen laid into 118 Fingers. 84 Jack Ansell took the win from 114 Liam Lake and 352 Stu Brooks. 

84, 114, 352, 169, 243, 924, 860, 886, 118, NoF

The first set of Unlimited Pre 90 heats were to a half car format. Heat 1 begun with 221 Tom Martin spinning 500 Paul Stratton, whilst 57 Mark Gilbert and 316 James Cushion also suffered early spins. 294 Drew Burdett dumped 634 Ben Green fence-wards to take up the early running. 173 Steven Reynolds spun 181 Grant Doe. 594 Mason Burdett delivered a rear wheel shot to the spun 195 Reece Marsh. 87 Damien Matthews spun 634 Marty, with 541 Dave Ward running head on into the latter which caused carnage. 179 Shaun Rushton spun 334 Stuart Green, as 639 Tye Williams jacked 541 Ward. 181 Doe attacked 57 Gilbert, with 722 Bob Uwins going in on Doe in turn. 639 Tye Pirate leathered 500 Stratton. 334 Greeny spun the leading 294 Drew Boy which turned 572 Paul Scully fence-wards in turn. 129 Joe Skutela set about 334 Greeny in turn. The red flags came out with 87 Damo leading them away as they resumed. 115 James Martin set about 221 Martin. 634 Marty attacked 500 Stratton. The leading 294 Drew Boy spun 334 Greeny, which allowed 87 Damo to close the gap and the Predators duo enjoyed a superb battle for the lead. 173 Hotsocks leathered 500 Stratton and was immediately jacked at some speed by 129 Square Head, with the red flags coming out for Hotsocks – the race being declared. 294 Drew Burdett getting a very fitting and emotional win whilst racing under his father’s number and scheme.

294, 87, 323, 388, 362, 639, 115, 316, 221, 334

The second heat for the Unlimiteds saw 69 Liam Plummer spin 401 Steve Hemmings, as 237 Gary Nash took flight off the inner curb. 347 Mark Burbridge came inside out on oppo at 538 Curtis Salvage, missing, only to sit himself up for a shot from 311 Lee Bradbury. 59 Simon Ballard piled into 347 Ginger. 279 Bradley Bowman spun 990 Glenn Civil. 538 Rodders delivered a solid head on to 347 Ginger, with 312 Ben Nadolny steaming in for a tbone to Ginger also. 50 Aiden Gamble spun 210 Slim, as the reds came out to attend to 347 Ginger. 59 Ballard attacked 50 Gamble, as 279 Bradley Bowman raced to his first ever banger win, from brother 178 Kieran Bowman.

279, 178, 537, 69, 583, 50, 59, 210, 311, 990

Heat 2 for the Pre 70 Bangers begun with 118 Fingers tangling with 444 Chaz, and getting jacked by 243 Millen as a result. 886 Topper weighed in on 243 Millen with the reds coming out for 118 Fingers who sustained a wrist injury. The restart saw 105 Bill Bob attack 346 Muttley on oppo, with 260 French leathering the latter. 114 Lakey spun 84 Peach for the lead, where he remained for the rest of the race to take the win. The only other notable action coming as 886 Topper laid into 260 French.

114, 21, 421, 237, 84, 924, 614, 886, 444

The third Heat for the Unlimited Pre 90s saw an all in format. 316 Mr Cush spun 423 Luke Batten which claimed several behind. 312 Helm Jnr turned 541 Ward fence-wards. 178 Slim spun 221 Martin. 129 Square Head spun 316 Mr Cush, with 722 Uwins going in on the latter. 221 Martin followed in 195 Reece Marsh. 776 Ady Groom ran 388 Stevo McGrath into 311 Helm. 129 Square Head spun 537 Martin Brunson. 776 Groomy leathered 311 Helm. 312 Helm Jnr jacked 776 Groomy. 59 Ballard ran in 668 Matthew Comb, with the latter keeping it pinned to rattle into 312 Helm Jnr. 129 Square Head attacked 221 Martin. 11 James Spriggs followed in 537 Bruno, getting wedged underneath him, with 59 Ballard going in on Spriggs to conclude the action. 129 Joe Skutela the winnner.

129, 115, 178, 634, 327, 537, 11, 59, 722, 69

The Final for the Pre 70 Bangers started with 621 Ryan Hawes spinning 153 Roadhog. 114 Lakey turned 21 Wright left. 169 James Rushton followed 114 Lakey and 621 Hawesy in, as the red flags came out due to a wheel falling off of 21 Colbert’s A60. 304 Judge Jewells laid into 21 Wright. 614 Harrison Evans set about 720 Mini Bungle. 444 Charlie Jackson jacked 614 Evans. 84 Jack Ansell won, and celebrated by spinning 153 Roadhog. 237 Garry Nash and 352 Stuart Brooks were the placemen.

84, 237, 352, 153, 304, NoF

The DD saw 153 Roadhog meet 304 Judge Jewells over the nose. Judge Jewells tboned Roadhog, before administering a reverse attack. The pair then shared a head on before the red flags came out to signify a draw for the honours.

The Unlimited Pre 90 Final begun with 500 Stratton, 57 Gilbert and 104 Mick Siddalls crashing out early. 221 Martin had a nibble at 269 Dean French. Popeye spun 104 Siddalls. 221 Martin went full throttle down the back straight with an oppo attempt on 269 Popeye, but failed to connect and copped a rear wheel shot from 57 Gilbert instead. 221 Martin stopped the leading 115 Jamz on the nose. 639 Tye Pirate tboned 221 Martin, who took further abuse from 269 Popeye. 639 Tye Pirate jacked 500 Stratton, before 115 Jamz homed in for a revenge head on to 221 Martin, with 388 Little Stevo also going in on the Invaders man. The red flags then came out due to a wheel flying off the Martin Mk2 Granada. 178 Kieran Bowman counted down the laps to take the win from 362 Johnny James and 69 Liam Plummer. Slim’s win meaning it was a clean sweep of race victories for the Predators team in the Pre 90 class, a very fitting tribute to Tarny.

178, 362, 69, 181, 104, 388, 269, NoF

639 Tye Pirate set the action going in the DD stopping 69 Plummer head on. 776 Groomy weighed in on Plummer, and was done in turn by 181 Grant Doe. 388 Little Stevo slowed, allowing 269 Popeye to attack the World Champion. 181 Doe weighed in on Popeye. 388 Stevo weighed in on 181 Doe. 269 Popeye jacked Stevo and rode up him getting lodged, with 181 Doe going in on Popeye to round things off.