The Easter weekend kicks off in style with the Unlimited Bangers East Anglian Championship.
The big league of Bangers returns to the Adrian Flux Arena in what is shaping up to be a top night of action. 334 Stephen Court took the title 12 months ago from 267 Martin French and 639 Tye Williams. Stephen is yet to feature on the booking list, so we could see a new champion crowned. The White & Yellows Series Final is also a feature race, with the lower graded drivers getting the opportunity to showcase their talents. 307 Martin Kent was the winner last year, and is also not currently listed to race. Could it be that we see a driver do the double? 199 Kris Clifford will certainly be hopeful of replicating his performance from the season opener here last month where he won a heat, before following that with a second in the Final, making the journey from Wales more than worthwhile. Gladiators pairing 589 Simon Smith and 214 Connor Osborne were heat winners last time out; the latter taking his maiden National Banger win, and although renowned for their crashing, the Gladiators have been known for securing silverware. 549 Phil Smith from the Gladiators camp has made a top start to the season too, which sees him currently sitting third in the World of Shale Qualifying. It is 459 Blake Platts that heads those points. The Silver Boys driver having tasted silverware recently winning the 25 & Under GB Championship in October, as well as being part of the winning Icebreaker team. 350 Liam Webster is sitting second in the points and is another that has been on victory lane in the past six months, securing the King of the Fens title. Both drivers will be ones to look out for among the front runners. 555 Harry Gelsthorp had a top night in March, with some strong results as well as being in the thick of the action, winning the DD. He will be looking for more of the same tonight. The likes of 229 Harry Cobb, 247 Lee Clarke, 299 Tommy Callaghan, 455 Ricki Finney and 830 Lee White shouldn’t be overlooked – all very capable pilots and regularly showcase their talents here on the Norfolk shaleway. 130 Joe Gladden has been in fine form of recent, and was a winner at Ipswich’s BWS round last month. He swaps the tarmac for the loose stuff tonight, but will be one to watch as the racing progresses.
The bookings are swelled by the addition of some continental drivers looking to make the most of the long weekend. Top entertainer 211 Dennis Vorkink heads the list, and is joined by brother 777 Arian Vorkink. The pair live to entertain and will definitely be looking to get the front bumper stuck in to the first thing they see sat up. They are joined by 337 Giel Koorn, 372 Rene Reijer and 829 Martijn Robben.
51 James Licquorice will be looking to extend his lead at the top of the World of Shale Entertainers points. He has been on fine form since the qualifying process begun, and you’ll expect more of the same this weekend. 178 Kieran Bowman and World of Shale Champion 828 Jordan Sharpe are hot on his heels. The pair of them are thoroughbred crowd-pleasers too, and will be in the midst of the crashing. 23 Sonny Parsons was the winner of the public vote for the Unlimited Bangers entertainer of the meeting back in March, where the Aftermath was claiming plenty of prisoners on oppo in his Lexus. We’re sure Sonny will be looking to go on the attack once again tonight.
The Junior Bangers are also set to feature. 701 Riley Marsh couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, taking the biggest haul of points on March 11th as well as the final win. 270 Shane-Lee Murkin had a breakthrough moment seeing him take two race wins, with 190 Riley Holmes the other. 78 Lee Macey Jnr, 291 Liam Waterfall and 556 Lincoln Douglas were others than had a strong night here last time out. Both Rileys were winners at the recent Northampton meeting, with Marsh making it two final wins out of two, so the pair have fine form heading into proceedings tonight. 23 George Childs won a heat also on the Northampton shale and will be looking to replicate that here.
Don’t forget we have a more relaxed format on Easter Monday, with the Micro Bangers Crazy Races, 4×4 Bangers, Siamese Bangers and Reliant Robins; we hop-e to see you there!
