OVER 120 National Bangers descended on a cold but sunny PR1MO International Raceway Northampton on Sunday for the John Heynes Memorial Heartbreaker, and both the Unlimited and 2 Litre classes delivered a stunning day’s racing.

The day also marked the farewell to Banger racing of Northampton legend 294 Alan Tarn after an incredible 44-year career on the tracks, his final meeting beginning with a special parade along with his friends and family before he strapped into his Mk2 Granada one final time.

Tarny would in fact come very close to a win in his last ever race in heat three for the Unlimited class, but a last bend lunge from 99 Ritchie Ahern hooked him into the wall and secured the Essex man the win, Tarny backing across the line in fifth. He later assisted the Heynes family in the presentations of the Final trophies.

The Unlimited class were superb all day, the entry including a turnout of seven Bears plus the Predators and a lone DWO representative in the shape of 239 Steve Carter. The first heat saw a bizarre moment as 321 Kieron Fry’s throttle stuck open and he flew over the infield banking, landing back on the track at turn three before calmly trying to get going again! 247 Lee Clarke raced his Supra to the win in this one before heat two saw 28 Neill Osbourne use his BMW to give 6 Mark Holdsworth a big head-on with 331 Jason Jackson T-boning the Bear in turn, the restart seeing the spinning 821 Ryan Preston (Jaguar) blown up by a huge hit from 89 Joe Barratt as 267 Martin French won, while aside from Tarny’s antics at the front heat three saw 401 Steve Hemmings blast 120 Damon North’s Rover P5 before 89 Panda blasted 583 Dan Weeks after the chequered. The John Heynes Memorial Final saw a stoppage after 207 Michael Woodward rolled with the restart seeing 239 Nemesis brilliantly take the fight to the Bears on his own in an entertaining display as up front 124 Carl Korszewski raced clear to retain the title. Bears brothers 221 Justin and 521 Ash Riley entertained in the Allcomers as 99 the Cheat took his second win, 753 Billy Cunningham’s Lexus winning the DD.

The Unders were all in Fords and the day began with 403 Marcus Sprawling and 199 Jacob Roff getting put away heavily, the latter impressing with his repair work later on. 101 Bob Peat got the entertainer award but was followed in by 331 Boxer Jack (one of four drivers to do both classes) on the rundown lap after 535 Ryan Cunningham had won. A fine pile-up formed on turn two in the second heat with 404 Luke Brinton pulling off two huge hits in the midst of it as 347 Dave Bull led from flag to flag. A five-car wrecking train was the highlight of heat three as 535 Captain Crash took his second win before he was taken out early in the Final which saw nearly all the field disappear into a turn four pile-up, 415 Scott Cornish declared the winner of the title before 206 Phil Milner took the Allcomers race after a stoppage when 659 Stu Bird was buried heavily and suffered an arm injury – get well soon Stu. The DD saw great performances from Scrapyard Screamers 199 Ginge and 299 Dale Locker but it was 480 John Wills who took the win.

Well done to all the drivers for an excellent day’s Banger action, and happy retirement Tarny!