The 34th staging of the Unlimited World of Shale raised around 130 Bangers to the Adrian Flux Arena; Trackstar still leading the way when it comes to accurate bookings. There were some stellar efforts on the paint front, as well as some top machinery. The main race featuring the pick with 347 Rhys Barrow’s Mk2 Ford Granada Estate, 313 John Cullingford had a cool 1958 Chrysler Windsor, 267 Martin French Cadillac Fleetwood and 335 Lee White’s tidy Jaguar Series 1 XJ LWB. There were also a trio of Volvo 240 Estates for 84 Will Cole, 986 Daniel Kooiker and 988 Richard Boer, whilst the Young brothers of 790 Nathan and 791 Nicky Young had a pair of Vauxhall Omegas. Young gun 06 Tommy Rawsthorne had a smart Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. 747 Bradley Dee Crandon piloted a Ford Fairline Hearse and 804 Ryan-Lee Canvin had a Vauxhall Omega Limo for the occasion. Surrey Street Squad man 569 Lewis Rice had a Mk2 Ford Granada, whilst Bears duo 121 Leo and 521 Ashley Riley had some modern variety with a Mercedes W208 Coupe and W212 Estate respectively.
The Incarace draw placed 24 Fraser Combe and 06 Tommy Rawsthorne on the front row for the first Last Chance. 848 Shaun Lown had a pop at 122 James Woodley, as one of the Sedgwicks spun on the exit of turn 4. A pile up formed on turn 2 seeing several going in including 114 Liam Lake, 209 Tom Waller, 751 Laurence Wells and 150 Andrew Parrin. 88 Billy Page got bounced around by the pack, as 28 Marty McKiernan stormed in to deliver a hit to 751 Wells on the nose. 382 Theo Baker rattled in 06 Tommy. 223 Brett Harrison jacked 804 Ryan-Lee Canvin. 114 Lakey attacked 229 Sean Riddell, the latter recovering to spin 28 Marty. 830 Lee White spun 634 Ben Green before the reds came out to assist 88 Ballbag. 133 Terry Hill lead on the restart from 182 Reece Tingle and 129 Joe Skutela. 209 Tombo followed in 610 Alex McBain Jnr. 830 Stretch spun 419 Laura Quadling and 56 Ricky Clarke did the same to 129 Square Head. 164 Barry Sedgwick steamed in on 610 McBain. 209 Tombo turned it on oppo to attack 229 Riddell. 830 Stretch spun 155 Sam Coote. 182 Tingle collided with the back marking 129 Square Head which saw him catch the lame 223 Harrison Jaguar and put a wheel back. 830 Stretch followed 419 Mossop in, with 476 Freddie Spiers jacking the latter. 133 Terry Hill taking the win and the entertainer awards going the way of 209 Tom Waller and 476 Freddie Spiers.
521 Ashley Riley and 721 Daniel Clarke were the front row sitters for the second Last Chance heat. 21 Jason Colbert, 726 Sam Bye and 714 Paul Smaldon were early casualties. Clarkey and Ace Ash crashed out from the top two, with several more crashing out alongside them. 399 Brendan Kevanah leathered 377 William Deeley. 747 Bradley Dee Crandon weighed in on 121 Leo Riley. 116 Rob Hierons laid into 377 Willster. 101 Cieran Harmer had a pop at 72 Billy Bond. 2 Jonathan Bricknell weighed in on the limping 725 Simon Bye. 726 Sam Bye attacked 21 Colbert. The leading duo of 174 Tom Lindgren and 229 Harry Cobb tangled on the exit of turn 2 which saw them both crash out. 726 Sambo went in on 174 Lindgren – Bricknell then dumped the latter into the marker tyres down the back straight a couple of laps later. 101 Charmer turned it around to deliver a shot on oppo to 289 Ricky Haresign. 440 Lennon Phillips raced to the win booking his spot on the grid alongside the entertainer award winners of 101 Charmer and 2 Bricknell.
Trackstar always make a top show of bringing the qualifiers on to the grid, and once again the flames were out with all drivers being given a trophy for qualifying by meeting sponsor Robert Lowman. Defending champion 455 Ricki Finney was out first, followed by the grid in order.
1 – 388 Stevo McGrath
2 – 69 Brad Bartrum
3 – 123 Kieran Grey
4 – 214 Connor Osborn
5 – 673 Darren Fendley
6 – 230 Scott Paterson
7 – 313 John Cullingford
8 – 252 Steve Bugler
9 – 750 Rhys Parrin
10 – 171 Tommy West
11 – 271 Ashlun Woods
12 – 262 Rob Bugler
13 – 51 James Licquorice
14 – 173 Steve Reynolds
15 – 459 Blake Platts
16 – 333 Charlie Randell
17 – 357 Jason Barrow
18 – 178 Kieran Bowman
19 – 267 Martin French
20 – 791 Nicky Young
21 – 347 Rhys Barrow
22 – 275 Joe Morgan
23 – 488 Addy Pelikaan
24 – 604 Ross Cooper
25 – 790 Nathan Young
26 – 555 Harry Gelsthorp
27 – 670 Max Eaton
28 – 180 Sean McConachie
29 – 183 Mitch Banton
30 – 455 Ricki Finney
31 – 935 David Gurney
32 – 299 Tommy Callaghan
33 – 440 Macauley Mills
34 – 84 Will Cole
35 – 41 Lee Barnes
36 – 91 Sam Bartlett
37 – 180 Mark Foster
38 – 986 Daniel Kooiker
39 – 335 Lee White
40 – 181 Grant Doe
41 – 279 David Rushton
42 – 707 Alfie Nottingham
43 – 23 Sonny Parsons
44 – 988 Richard Boer
45 – 215 Leonard Dunn
46 – 9 Ben Cox
47 – 704 Connor Siddalls
48 – 639 Tye Williams
49- 133 Terry Hill
50- 440 Lennon Phillips
51- 209 Tom Waller
52- 101 Cieran Harmer
53- 476 Freddie Spiers
54- 2 Jonathan Bricknell
Two warm up laps took place before the green flag dropped and it was handed over to the drivers to put on the show. 69 Brad Bartram got the run off of turn 4 and raced into the early lead. 750 Rhys Parrin and 670 Max Eaton suffered spins before they even made it to the line, whilst pole sitter 388 Stevo McGrath was whipped out on turn 2. 215 Leonard Dunn put the bumper in on 23 Sonny Parsons as behind, 209 Tombo spun 440 Lennon. 604 Ross Cooper, 333 Charlie Randell and 180 Sean McConnachie all had offs along the back straight as the race got off to a frantic start. 84 Will Cole and 183 Mitch Banton tangled on turn 3, which allowed 180 Mark Foster to get an attack in on the Barton Boys driver. 23 Sonny P spun 279 David Rushton. 986 Daniel Kooiker got tangled with 183 Banton; 209 Tombo then turning 335 Lee White left into them. 69 Brado still lead at this stage from 123 Kieran Gray, 673 Darren Fendley and 230 Scott Paterson. 69 Brado was spun from the lead. 230 Flatty spun 271 Ashlun Woods, with 455 Ricki Finney catching the latter on the nose. 488 Addy Pelikaan was turned fence-wards as the red flags came out. 123 Kezza headed them off from 673 Dazza, 271 Woodszy and 178 Kieran Bowman. 639 Tye Williams had 267 Martin French around. 750 Young Greasy and 171 Tommy West tangled along the back straight before another stoppage. The leading 123 Kezza had a cruel strike of bad luck, as he was asked to retire due to a rear puncture. This meant the order saw 673 Dazza head the pack from 271 Woodzy, 178 Slim and rounding off the top 4 was defending champion 455 Finney. 555 Harry Gelsthorp spun 262 Rob Bugler, with brother 252 Steven getting spun in the exact same spot a lap later by 459 Blake Platts. 986 Kooiker tangled with 279 Rushton. 181 Grant Doe was leant into the Emmen representative which resulted in a heavy tbone for Kooiker. 275 Joe Morgan spun 180 McConnachie. 707 Alfie Nottingham homed in for a heavy shot to 181 Doe. The leading 673 Dazza spun 69 Brado which allowed 178 Slim to slip through and take up the running. This didn’t last long, as he moved past 262 Roona who took a swipe at the Predators man spinning him aside. 673 Dazza clipped the spinning Slim, putting his front wheel back forcing him to retire, with 271 Woodszy then getting turned left by 252 Boogie seeing a complete change to the order. Defending champion 455 Finney now found himself up front with 555 Dirty Harry and 299 Tommy Callaghan hot on his heels. The trio exited turn 4 side by side, with Callaghan emerging with the lead. Unfortunately for Tommy though, this was short lived due to the red flags coming out for 790 Nathan Young. 555 Dirty Harry took them away on the greens from 455 Finney, 299 Callaghan and 639 Tye Pirate now in fourth from the back of the grid. 476 Freddie spun 275 Rusty. 214 Connor Osborne went on oppo on turn 2, connecting with 347 Rhys Barrow. 707 Alfonzo went in on 347 Big Rhys, with the latter steaming in for a revenge head on to Osborne. 262 Roona again opted to hold the leading pack up, which saw 639 Tye Pitate chose his moment to strike and he nipped up the inside to take the lead. 101 Charmer jacked 347 Big Rhys on oppo, which saw the Mk2 Granada Estate bounce in to the path of the leading pack and get bounced about fairly. 555 Dirty Harry, 388 Stevo and 440 Macauley Mills crashed out along the back straight, whilst 639 Tye Pirate had opened up a comfortable margin at the head of proceedings. The three lap board came out and Tye never put a foot wrong, seemingly racing into a ‘world of his own’ as he took the chequered flag, punching the air in delight as the fireworks filled the Norfolk sky. 707 Alfonzo had turned it around on turn 2, but had 173 Steve Reynolds run in to him before he could connect with anybody. Outgoing champion 455 Ricki Finney rallied to a strong second place finish, showcasing why he is one of the sport’s best with running mate 459 Blake Platts behind; a driver who is surely due a big win soon. Tye Williams driving an absolutely faultless race – time and time again we have seen his quality, but there’s not many been better than him on the shale over the past few seasons and he’s capped that off with the World of Shale win.
The Bangers were straight back on track for their first Alcomers – Trackstar not messing around with their turn around times whatsoever. 634 Ben Green was the first to show spinning 129 Square Head; the Condoms man taking another hit from the passing 321 Kieron Fry also. 747 Eddie Cotton rattled 556 Matt Tillow around the plating, but bounced off across the pack taking 440 Big Mac and 174 Lindgren with him. 721 Clarkey spun 72 Billy Bond. 24 Combe spun 262 Roona, the latter opting to go on oppo meeting 114 Lakey on the nose. 29 Mawdsley collected Lakey and was blasted in turn by 41 Paul Pentecost. 747 Didee jacked 29 Mawdsley. 43 Luke Maynard homed in on Didee. 262 Roona pushed 114 Lakey into the traffic, which claimed 24 Combe. 195 David Forrest went in over the rear wheel of Lakey. 06 Tommy ran 223 Bushy into the pile up. 726 Sambo spun 285 Nicklin, who copped one in turn 136 Ben Gaitskell. 193 William Rabjohns spun 43 Muttley Jnr. 624 Liam Hide spun 266 Big Al and 136 Stumpy. 960 Ross Winsor got leant into 747 Didee’s hearse as the reds came out for 193 Rabjohns. 224 Lewis Canham lead them off on the restart. 43 Muttley Jnr spun teammate 232 Justin Pollard. 83 Julian Grant collected Didee’s hearse. The leading 224 Canham started to spin the back marking 285 Nicklin, with the pair catapulting off of 83 Jules. 43 Muttley Jnr spun 285 Nicklin. 458 Billy Bradford and 747 Piglet tangled along the back straight. 43 Muttley Jnr steamed in on 747 Piglet. 262 Roona had a pop at 726 Sambo on oppo a couple of times before 830 Stretch raced to the win.
99 Scott Gough gave us a bit of Elvis over the mic prior to the start of the second Alcomers. 357 Jason Barrow set about 662 Dalton Smith. Two Pump then tangled with Barton Boys duo 169 Lego and 196 Jack Marsh down the straight. He recovered only to come under fire once again, this time from 751 Wells. 84 Will Cole spun 491 Reece Marsh, and was spun in turn by newly crowned World of Shale Champion 639 Tye Pirate in turn. The leading 388 Stevo delivered a rear wheel shot to the spun 823 Jamie Murrell, which opened up a three-way battle for the lead with 299 Callaghan and 178 Slim also fighting for contention – Slim’s fight fell foul along the back straight as he spun whilst challenging Callaghan. 51 James Licquorice turned it around to deliver a shot to 229 Harry Cobb on oppo. 169 Lego attacked 164 Sedgwick on oppo, the latter responding with a head on of his own as 388 Stevo McGrath took the win.
It was a manic start to Alcomers 3 as 750 Young Greasy suffered a spin, and behind 23 Sonny P removed 366 Nathan Wrenn. 267 Martin French jacked 382 Baker. 366 Wrenny set about 285 Nicklin as 136 Stumpy removed 229 Riddell. Stumpy then turned 121 Leo Riley fence-wards, the young Bear getting done in turn by 285 Nicklin. 69 Brado spun and was collected by 150 Dodgey. 181 Doe turned 555 Dirty Harry fence-wards. 230 Scott Paterson raced to a dominant victory.
Alcomers 4 saw 171 Westy Jnr the first to show as he spun 419 Alfie Spokes. A piled up formed on turn 2 taking most of the field with them, those that weren’t involved taking avoiding action via the infield keeping Mr Starter busy with administering black crosses. 440 Big Mac jacked 114 Lakey. 710 McBain went in on Big Mac. 183 Banton did 935 David Gurney head on, with 43 Muttley Jnr also getting involved. 169 Lego turned it around to blast ?, with 171 Westy Jnr also going in. 935 Gurney weighed in on Westy Jnr. 491 Dipper set about 935 Gurney, as 455 Finney ran 313 John Cullingford in to the pile up. Gurney recovered to dump 444 Josh Massey into the melee. The lively Gurney then blasting 262 Roona on turn 3. 23 Sonny P emerged from the pile up with the lead, but that didn’t last long as his throttle jammed seeing him rattle around the plating on turns 3 and 4 and coming to a stop once he met 169 Lego on the nose. 182 Reece Tingle and 670 Max Eaton shared a hard head on. 195 Grenade Dave delivered a head on to 174 Lindgren before 333 Chaz spun 444 Massey. 169 Lego jacked 262 Roona and then bombed in on oppo along the back straight to blast 707 Alfonzo. 491 Reece Marsh taking the victory – a brilliant end to what must have been an emotional day using his late sister’s race number.
The majority of the DD took place within the realms of the pile up and the exit of turn 2 onto the back straight. 388 Stevo finished 174 Lindgren off a couple of stiff shots to take the honours and cap off a successful day for him.
The World of Shale race may not have been as crashy as the year prior, but the racing side was superb to see with multiple lead changes and Tye Williams adding to his legacy, whilst the crashing in the Alcomers race certainly ensured everyone left the arena happy.
