Another long-standing member of the banger community was celebrated as ‘Mr Hawaiian’ 384 John Golden hosted his testimonial at Skegness Raceway on Sunday 25th August to commemorate 40 years of racing. The pre-meeting hype saw a huge booking list which gradually whittled down in the week leading up to the meeting, and although numbers were subsequently lower than initially anticipated; the quality of the field and the material brought along for the day certainly overshadowed that.
01 Kyle Shires – Lincoln Town Car*
1 Maarten Steenbekkers – Mk10 Jaguar
04 Mikey Croft – Lexus LS400
33 Gary Madgwick – Mk2 Ford Granada*
43 Nicky Bishop – Jaguar XJ40*
67 Rickie Beasley – Jaguar XJ40
073 Jon Hodgson – Toyota Supra
73 Dean Cruickshanks – Rolls Royce Silver Spirit I LWB
77 Patxi Beasley – Jaguar XJ40
83 Liam Cruickshanks – Jaguar XJ40
98 Dale Atkins – Rolls Royce Silver Spirit
114 Liam Lake – Toyota Crown S50 Wagon*
117 Darryl Gilshenan – Volvo 240 Estate
118 Jessie Gilshenan – Mk2 Ford Granada
118 Tony Chapman – Rolls Royce Silver Spirit
156 Joran Peers – Volvo 240 Estate*
170 Darren Teal – Ford Mk2 Granada Estate
178 Kieran Bowman – Nissan Cedric
180 Mark Foster – Volvo 240 Estate*
182 Reece Tingle – Jaguar XJ Series III
209 Tom Waller – Lincoln Town Car*
215 Leonard Dunn – Jaguar XJ Series III*
217 Sid Madgwick – Jaguar XJ Series III*
226 Brian Youngson – Volvo 240
242 Ricky Korpiela – Daimler DS420 Limo
247 Lee Clarke – Volvo 240 Estate*
270 Jordy Verhoeven – Jaguar XJ Series III
306 Marc Doughty – Volvo 940 Limo
321 Andy Newton – Lexus LS400*
348 Sonny Sherwood – Jaguar XJ Series III
350 Liam Webster –
382 Jack Foster Jnr – Lexus GS300*
384 John Golden – Jaguar XJ Series III (Heats/Consi), Nissan Cedric (Final/Alcomers), Austin Westminster (DD)
388 Stevo McGrath – Jaguar XJ Series III
390 David Gibson – Lincoln Town Car*
399 Jonny Atkin – Jaguar XJ40
440 Lennon Phillips – Jaguar XJ40
455 Ricki Finney – Jaguar XJ40
459 Blake Platts – Toyota Supra
537 Martin Brunson – Mk2 Ford Granada
548 Alex Utting – Toyota Supra*
555 Harry Gelsthorp – Jaguar XJ Series III
577 Alfie Lee – Rolls Royce Silver Spirit
592 Mark Marchant – Jaguar XJ40*
611 Joe Geeves – Volvo 240 Estate*
617 Jack Overy – Jaguar XJ Series III*
623 Ricky Hutton – Jaguar XJ40
639 Tye Williams – 1963 Cadillac Limo
734 Dave Van Osch – Jaguar XJ40
753 Billy Cunningham – Chrysler New Yorker Hardtop*
801 Jack Foster Snr – Oldsmobile 88
811 Pete Winter – Jaguar XJ40 LWB
834 Jan Van Osch – Mk4 Chevrolet Caprice
920 James Medley – Jaguar XJ Series III*
The ‘Old Boys’ race was up first; the drivers taking part all being selected by Goldie himself. It was Goldie who was the first to show, putting the bumper in on 1 Maarten Steenbekkers. 592 Mark Marchant had a pop at 98 Dale Atkins which sent 073 Jon Hodgson and 617 Jack Overy spinning. 348 Sonny Sherwood got dumped fence-wards by the pack, which saw him meet 1 Maai on the nose. 455 Ricki Finney helped 592 Marchant on his way as he spun across the Silver Boys man. 73 Dean Cruickshank done the spun 073 Hodgson on the nose. 215 Leonard Dunn followed in 592 Marchant and then came under fire from 623 Ricky Hutton a lap later. 384 Goldie spun 592 Marchant – Finney spinning Goldie a lap later. Finney attacked 118 Tony Chapman, before a few quiet laps passed. Finney continued his lively streak, taking a pop at 98 Daktari, with the latter recovering to spin his attacker. This allowed 623 Tricky to home in on Daktari, spinning him left at the end of the home straight. Tricky then ploughed into the back of 170 Darren Teal trashing the latter’s Mk2 Ford Granada Estate. 33 Gary Madgwick raced to the win with 215 Murph taking the entertainer award.
The second heat begun with 270 Jordy Verhoeven spinning 753 Billy Cunningham. 384 Goldie had a nibble at 734 Dave Van Osch but didn’t get quite enough on him, with the RAL 6005 man rallying back to rattle the Team Black Jaguar around the plating. 114 Liam Lake spun 388 Stevo McGrath. 67 Rickie Beasley attacked 639 Tye Williams, before following in 611 Joe Geeves and 04 Mikey Croft. 639 Tye Pirate steamed in on Croft and was immediately treated to a revenge shot from 182 Reece Tingle. 834 Jan Van Osch went in on Tingle, albeit at a bizarre angle, with 555 Harry Gelsthorp jacking Balletje. 43 Nicky Bishop got launched into the bend and decided to keep the throttle in to blast 555 Dirty Harry. 399 Jonny Atkin, 178 Kieran Bowman and 577 Alfie Lee then piled into the carnage. 390 David Gibson leathered 577 Fonzo before copping a big shot himself from 67 Beasley. 753 Gypsy Boy turned it around to attack 114 Lakey on oppo which rolled the latter bringing the reds out with the race declared at that point. 548 Alex Utting the winner and 577 Alfie Lee the entertainer.
The Consolation begin with 811 Pete Winter making a beeline for 306 Marc Doughty, spinning the Volvo 940 Limo which caused havoc at the end of the home straight. 611 Geeves collected the tyre banking which also claimed 834 Balletje and 242 Ricky Korpiela. 348 Mushy ran head on into Korps and was blasted in turn by 073 Hodgson. 180 Mark Foster bounced 440 Lennon Phillips off of the armco. 537 Martin Brunson tangled with the spun 639 Tye Pirate which sat him up a treat at the end of the home straight. This was like Christmas for the leading 388 Stevo who blitzed the Steam Team man. 1 Maai homed in on 388 Stevo before the red flags came out to assist Bruno from his wreck – Bruno suffering a dislocated shoulder and we wish him well on his recovery. 1 Maai led them away on the restart. 384 Goldie set about 226 Brian Youngson, turning him fence-wards at the end of the home straight which left him sat perfectly as 639 Tye Pirate came around and happily homed in on The Mob driver. 384 Goldie followed in 117 Darryl Gilshenan, with 348 Mushy going in on the latter. Mushy struggled to gain momentum and came under fire from 350 Liam Webster; Webster then pushing Mushy around for a couple of laps with 384 Goldie going in on the Damage Inc driver. 801 Jack Foster Snr laid into Webster and then took over the realms of setting about Mushy. 811 Pete Winter taking the win whilst 1 Maarten Steenbekkers nabbed the entertainer award.
The Final was originally formatted as a qualifiers only affair, but with the damage taking its toll on the field, it was determined that non-qualifiers could participate from a half-lap handicap. Goldie’s format providing the unusual site of a three-a-breast clutch start, with the grid draw seeing a front row of 217 Sid Madgwick, 592 Marchant and 67 Beasley. Madgwick broke into the early lead, whilst Damage Inc duo 548 Big Al and 247 Lee Clarke making great start’s – Bro from the outside of row 3. 459 Blake Platts and 920 James Medley combined to dump 348 Mushy fence-wards at the end of the home straight as 215 Murph attacked 577 Fonzo. It seemed inevitable that someone was going to blitz Mushy with where he was situated, but all drivers used their brains and drove by. 67 Beasley spun 382 Jack Foster Jnr. The race then being brought to a stoppage for debris on the track. The race was resumed under single file, but again with a clutch start. 217 Madgwick lead from 548 Big Al and 455 Ricki Finney. 247 Bro made another quick getaway on the greens and got up the inside of Finney to take third. 67 Beasley put away 390 Gibbo. 639 Tye Pirate went in on Gibbo, with the Mad Hatters man copping a front wheel shot from 734 D’N Dave also. 215 Murph drove through D’N Dave whilst movement was going on at the head of the field as 548 Big Al took up the running. 1 Maai went in on 390 Gibbo and copped on in turn from the lively 215 Murph. 384 Goldie, who was out in his Nissan Cedric for this one, spun 178 Slim, before 555 Dirty Harry homed in on 1 Maai. 114 Lakey ran 73 Crucko through Dirty Harry – 217 Madgwick then delivering a rear wheel shot to Crucko as he passed. 382 Chubby spun 548 Big Al to take up the lead – each lead lap earning the leader £50 per lap. 382 Chubby expired with engine issues handing the control of the race to 247 Bro. 455 Finney spun 217 Madgwick. Bro moved aside on the last bend to allow 548 Big Al to slip through to take the win in what was a very tactical move where qualification for the World Final was concerned. Bro settling for second and 455 Finney third – 215 Murph again getting the entertainer whilst numerous other merit awards were dispatched by Goldie including car of the meeting which went to 639 Tye Williams and his Cadillac.
The Alcomers begun with 217 Madgwick spinning 592 Marchant. 639 Tye Pirate and 834 Balletje combined to put away 43 Nicky Bishop as 617 Overy dumped 734 D’N Dave in the fence just behind. Dave rallied back to blast 43 Bish. 548 Big Al wasted no time getting to the front of the field, passing 920 Medley on the second lap to take up the lead. Bish crawled around the armco for half a lap before coming to a stop on the exit of turn 2 and was subsequently leathered by 639 Tye Pirate. 834 Balletje set about 384 Goldie, spinning him down the back straight with 920 Medley running head on into the Motley Krew Cedric. 215 Murph drove through the spun 270 Botje. 67 Beasley put away 834 Balletje and 242 Korps in one move. 215 Murph, determined to kill off his XJ, homed in for a front wheel shot to Balletje. 384 Goldie got a revenge hit in on Balletje and came under fire himself from 639 Tye Pirate. 178 Slim jacked Balletje and copped one in turn from 67 Beasley. Slim managed to limp his Cedric back to life and was duly blasted by 247 Bro down the home straight. 639 Tye Pirate delivered a rear wheel shot to 178 Slim, with the former losing a front wheel in the process bringing a red and chequered with 548 Big Al already having crossed the line to take the victory at this point and conclude his hattrick. The entertainer award going to 834 Balletje this time around.
Before the DD commenced, 384 Goldie unveiled his Westy in his original colours which he had stored away in the raceway workshop; this completing his timeline of race colours with the Cedric being donned in the orange, red and white of Motley Krew and the Jaguar being Team Black. Goldie completed a lap of the track to much applause before taking his place on the grid; 97 ‘Alge’ Dave Allen out in his Jaguar. 306 Chunky failed to get going on the green flag with 555 Dirty Harry weighing on him. The momentum from the pack pushing seeing Chunky and 577 Fonzo go crashing into the tyre banking which rolled the former. 156 Jonas went in on 555 Dirty Harry and 592 Marchant had a pop at 577 Fonzo before the reds came out. 639 Tye Pirate ran 117 Gilshenan into 555 Dirty Harry on the resumption of play. 834 Balletje laid into 577 Fonzo as his teammate 156 Jonas weighed in on 555 Dirty Harry down the other end. 384 Goldie blasted 156 Jonas before another stoppage. The DD resumed with 592 Marchant turning 384 Goldie left. 617 Overy punted Marchant in to the lame Volvo limo of 306 Chunky. 399 Atkin jacked 592 Marchant and 639 Tye Pirate did the same to 384 Goldie. 215 Murph had a pop at 577 Fonzo. 67 Beasley attacked Tye Pirate before running into the pile up on turns 3/4, with Fonzo going in on Beasley. 77 Patxi jacked 399 Atkin. 617 Overy and 182 Tingle combined to set about Tye Pirate before Overy ran Tingle into 577 Fonzo. Overy again set about Tye Pirate, before running him in to 306 Chunky’s limo on opposite. 215 Murph laid into Tye as 384 Goldie managed to get his Westy limping out of the pile up to a cheer from the turn 3/4 crowd. 639 Tye Pirate came to a halt on turn 4 and was duly jacked by 77 Patch and 97 Alge in turn. Tye managed to back up slightly but the Chrysler had lost all steering. 215 Murph went in over the front wheel before copping one himself from 77 Patch. Patch delivered another couple of stiff hits to Murph to round off the DD and take the victory – Tye the entertainer.
A superb meeting overall; Skegness is severely underrated as a banger track and proves with the right type of meeting and attitude from drivers, it produces the goods.
