Panto season arrived very early for the UK Oval Track Legends at Foxhall Stadium whilst it was very much a case of “hats off” to a couple of plucky female Banger racers who raced & rolled their way around in support of the Saxmundham Youth Club writes Kevin Wegg.
Chris Pye eventually took full advantage of pole position in heat one for the Legends despite Dan Hughes and Pete Blundell giving thrilling chase. Star man Ian Hales made no mistake in the reverse grid second race although Stephen Treherne nearly grabbed the win only to be ultimately thwarted by backmarkers.
Right from ‘curtain up’ the European Championship exploded in to life with Blundell taking very much the role of leading man yet it was defending champion Treherne that had other ideas and despite cries of “he’s behind you” shot past to take it up. Pye dented his chances when he rode the kerb whilst Blundell re-took the lead on the next lap. By half distance Blundell was already picking off the backmarkers and looking well set until he came across John Durrant. Sensationally they touched causing both to veer off course and Blundell’s hopes of victory were dashed. Philip Moore’s chances of a rostrum place also vanished when he spun and no amount of “Abacadara” could repair the damage. In an absorbing battle for second Hales spun as he was about to pass Daniel Holden on the very last lap. Meanwhile even though the chequers had fallen on Treherne, an earlier Steward’s caution was still hanging over him and then the panto really got in to full swing, Blundell leaping up the grandstand steps to remonstrate with Race Officials. As the somewhat colourful “oh no he didn’t; Oh yes he did” claims rang out loud and clear, Officials had to usher him away and chose to withhold the result to allow video footage to be studied at length. Sadly the wrong sort of drama for when taken as a whole the racing had been pretty entertaining throughout.
Samantha Tanner and work-mate Sandi Thompson made their Banger racing debuts to help promote and raise funds for Saxmundham Youth Club and thoroughly entertained a large group of members and supporters in to the bargain. An entertainingly bruising session from nearly fifty starters saw Samantha starting to count just how many she might get when her car rolled but she was Ok. Both girls made it out for race two only for Tanner to hit the fence and bring out the reds, thankfully walking away. Full marks go to both for their efforts. Michael Lane increased his lead in the Track Championship with a classy last-bend defeat of Kevin Taylor in heat one. A great nip ‘n’ tuck battle ensued between Daniel Bullock and Taylor in the second which the latter won only for Steen Rozier to send Bullock spinning as the cars raced for the line – Rozier snatching it in style. The hits were going in hard in the final with some more legal than others. Scott Edwards debut will be long remembered as he got knocked about by the pack while up front Rozier was eating away at Stuart Aldridge’s lead. Victory appeared to be his with a final bend push yet Aldridge wasn’t to be denied and neither could be separated with a dead-heat and sporting handshakes all round - just as it should be.
Local boy Karl Baker made a terrific start in the Mascars eventually succumbing to Wayne Galloway with Juli Stanford making impressive outside progress for second. A back-straight shemozzle ended her evening early after a clash with Ian Kerry, Dean Nixon and Robin Bath, the latter being disqualified as the instigator. Aaron Cooke won the restart as Lawrence Bath, Mark Carnwell and Michael Hart-Jones fought tooth-and-nail over second place, Carnwell just getting a thrilling nod. Galloway looked unstoppable in the final with Richard Wilkes blowing up when third. Carnwell and Hart-Jones started to hunt Galloway down and although the win never really looked in doubt all three circulated almost as one until a magnificent burst from Hart-Jones out of turn four on the last lap snatched runners-up position.
Results:
Legends
Heat Winners: Chris Pye (Portchester), Ian Hales (Northwold)
European Championship: Daniel Holden (Norwich), Stephen Treherne (Daventry), Stefan Lloyd (Ipswich)

Bangers – Sponsored by Peter Brown Developments
Heat Winners: Michael Lane (Lavenham), Kevin Taylor (Gt. Yarmouth)
Final: Dead-heat: Steen Rozier (Harwich) and Stuart Aldridge (Attleborough), 3rd 145

Mascars
Heat Winners: Wayne Galloway(Corby); Aaron Cooke(Croxley Green)
Final: Wayne Galloway(Corby), Michael Hart-Jones(Treherbert), Mark Carnwell(Merseyside)