Sunday March 15th saw the annual Metal Mania meeting take place for Unlimited Bangers at Warton Raceway, with Junior Bangers also on the bill. It was the first time the meeting was backed by Northern Bangers, so Bryson took his maiden voyage to the North West to see what the track was all about. 27 cars made the journey in total. There was not much on the tin front other than some bilge including 712 Alex Hatcliffe’s Rover 800 Limo, a pair of Kia Sedonas for 36 Beagle and 114 McKenna, a Peugeot 807 for No Respeckt pilot 181 Cadnam and a Pontiac for 429 Joey Staverley.
32 Connor Byram – Toyota Previa
36 Gary Turner – Kia Sedona
55 Graham Smith – Toyota Supra (used)
79 Michael Byram – Mercedes E Class (used)
92 Lee Edwards – Mercedes E Class (used)
109 Leon Barton – Mercedes E Class Estate
114 Ryan McKenna – Kia Sedona
152 Magnus Bentham – Mercedes E Class (used)
181 Jordan Cadnam – Peugeot 807
200 Steve Farrell – Mercedes E Class Estate (used)
266 Al Roskell – Volvo 240 Estate (used)
305 John Kirkbride – Vauxhall Omega (used)
307 Steven Windle – Vauxhall Omega
310 John Nicholson – Vauxhall Omega Estate (used)
353 Martin Mullins – Volvo 740 (used)
360 Jack Reynolds – Volvo 740 Estate
429 Joey Staverley – Pontiac GrandAm?
466 Dalton Steele – Mercedes E Class
477 Jack Speirs – Volvo 740 Estate
478 Chris Speirs – Volvo 740 Estate
591 Marc Blower – Jaguar XJ40 (used)
625 Josh Gooch – Volvo 240 Estate (used)
712 Alex Hatcliffe – Rover 800 Limo
760 Joey Reynolds – Ford Scorpio Estate (used)
782 Glenn Boyce – Mercedes E Class Estate (used)
874 Howard Walker – Jaguar Series 3 XJ6 (used)
886 Andrew Topham – Volvo 240
22 cars were on track for the Junior Rookies first Heat which took a while getting under way with a couple of false starts. 14 Rocket spun 476 Freddie Jay. 749 T-Bone Jnr went in after a tangle with 14 Rocket. 655 Shelby collected 749 T-Bone Jnr as 209 Zack Pears won from 06 Thomas Rawsthorne and 224 Luke Pattinson.
The Unlimiteds were split into two 1/2 car heats. Heat 1 rasing 13 cars. 200 Noon put away 625 Gucci from the off starting a small blockage. 310 Eno had a pop at 625 Gucci as 760 Joey Reynolds won a quiet opener.
760, 109, 310, 200, 266, 92, 79, 305, 429, NOF
The remaining 14 drivers hit the track for Heat 2 for the Unlimited Bangers. 32 Crazy Conker put away 478 Chucksy. 152 Magnus went in on 32 Crazy Conker, the latter jacked in turn by 36 Beagle. 360 Jackstar followed in 55 Smiggy. 355 Mullins ran in 477 Wacko. 712 Stig Jnr set about 114 McKenna, and then went on to have a go at 152 Magnus. 712 Stig Jnr went in under his own steam and was jacked by 181 Cadnam in turn. 114 McKenna then delivered a fully un-needed DSU hit on 712 Stig Jnr with the reds coming out for the latter as he required medical assistance with a slight concussion although he became worse for wear in the pits so was sent to Lancaster Hospital and we are pleased to report that Alex (Stig Jnr) was released later in the evening with nothing to report. At this stage, the race was declared in favour of 591 Marc Blower and only 5 going the distance.
591, 782, 886, 114, 152, NOF
Heat 2 for the Junior Rookies began with 44 Moggy attacking 239 Taylor. 511 tangled with the recovered 239 Taylor. 14 Rocket set about 44 Moggy who recovered to lay into 239 Taylor. 14 Rocket spun 665 Shelby, whilst 06 Tommy Rawsthorne took the win ahead of the aforementioned 14 Rocket and 252 Bentham.
Unlimiteds Heat 3 was the first of an all in format raising 22 cars. 360 Jackstar set about 92 Edwards early on. 886 Topper spun 625 Gucci. 782 Gladis ran in 32 Crazy Conker; Team V revenge was swift as 79 Flaming Mick drove through 782 Gladis. 305 General buried 152 Magnus which resulted in 266 Big Al being spun towards the fence. 625 Gucci went in with a rear wheel shot to 305 General. 307 Pringle put away 466 Dalto. 591 Blower spun 36 Beagle who got caught on the inner barrier as 310 Eno took the victory this time around.
310, 109, 760, 200, 360, 591, 477, 429, NOF
The Final for the Junior Rookies began with 530 Dylan and 308 Joss tangling early on. 224 Luke went for a spin. 530 Dylan caught the back of 610 Nugget and rolled over being the race to a halt. The restart saw 44 Moggy put a fellow Leveller teammate in. 112 Prestage got spun fence-wards. 44 Moggy launched 12 Byram over the inner curb. 14 Rocket spun 308 Joss. 14 Rocket attacked 44 Moggy. 224 Pattison bumped aside 610 Nugget to get third behind 209 Zack Pears and 06 Thomas Rawsthorne.
209, 06, 224, 14, 239, 665, 238, 84, 472, 61
The Unlimiteds Final raised 20 cars. 200 Noon spun 429 Joey. 92 Edwards jacked 874 Dangermouse. 886 Topper spun 625 Gucci before the reds came out to check on 874 Dangermouse. The restart began with 92 Edwards spinning and being met on the nose by 477 Wacko. 429 Joey went in on 477 Wacko. 591 Blower powered into 92 Edwards as a temporary track blockage occurred. 32 Crazy Conker went in on the back of 429 Joey. A couple of laps passed before 886 Topper blasted 79 Flaming Mick. 79 Flaming Mick and 32 Crazy Conker combined to block the track with 886 Topper once again going in on 79 Flaming Mick – the latter responding with a head on to his attacker pushing him half way around the bend allowing for 360 Jackstar to weigh in on 886 Topper. 109 Barton collected 360 Jackstar. 32 Crazy Conker then turned it around to meet 360 Jackstar head on. 79 Flaming Mick jacked 429 Joey. 32 Crazy Conker then delivered an oppo attack to 760 Joey taking him out of the lead, also claiming 478 Chucksy. 360 Jackstar moved the action down the other end spitting 152 Magnus across the armco before following in the recovered 478 Chucksy a couple of laps later. 886 Topper delivered a front wheel shot to 32 Crazy Conker before backing off to weigh in on 79 Flaming Mick. 200 Noon took the win from 310 Eno and 760 Joey – the latter celebrating with a revenge hit to 32 Crazy Conker.
200, 310, 760, 266, 360, 477, NOF
The Junior Rookies Helter Skelter commenced with 14 Rocket turning 252 Bentham fence-wards. 209 Pears pushed aside 06 Rawsthorne for the lead. 14 Rocket spun 06 Rawsthorne as he moved up the order. 511 was put on the inner curb. 610 Nugget weighed in on 238 Taylor. 209 Pears attacked 06 Rawsthorne. 14 Rocket attacked 239 Taylor on route to taking the win.
14, 209, 84
6 cars returned for the Unlimiteds Dash for Cash. 266 Big Al ran in 152 Magnus from the off. 36 Beagle expired along the home straight with 360 Jackstar lengthening him taking the brink of the hit himself. 266 Big Al jacked and ran in 360 Jackstar before the reds were called for the latter who exited all ok. The restart saw only 760 Joey, 200 Noon and 266 Big Al remain for only 6 laps and they stayed in that order. It was straight into the DD where 5 cars took part. 760 Joey set the ball rolling by tamely going in on 478 Chucksy. 55 Smiggy launched himself over the curb getting some ridiculous airtime. 760 Joey followed in 55 Smiggy. 478 Chucksy jacked 760 Joey whilst Leveller teammate 477 Wacko jacked 55 Smiggy. 200 Noon jacked 477 Wacko. 478 Chucksy and 200 Noon shared a head on before the Blooz Boyz man jacked the former and lined him up perfectly to complete a lap and tbone the Leveller to take the win and round off a great day of action.
