Warton – 20/03/22 – Unlimited Bangers Metal Mania, Micro Bangers, Lady Bangers + Junior Bangers – Meeting Report

The annual Metal Mania event returned to the Warton calendar on Sunday 20th March 2022, bigger and better with the addition of Micro Bangers to the traditional Unlimited fixture. With support from Junior Bangers and Lady Bangers also, the day was jam packed with action.

On the material front, 06 Neil Rawsthorne had a stunning Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. 999 Tim Holloway and 429 Joey Staverley had a Ford Scorpio Hearse. 886 Andrew Topham has a fresh Volvo 240 Estate. There was some used yank tin courtesy of 211 Jamie Pole, 410 Jake Calvert and 555 Harry Gelsthorp.

The Junior Bangers started the day off with their first Heat. 21 Jaiden Molyneux was the first to show as he spun 411 Ella Calvert. A few of the white top drivers came to grief including 642 Oliver Smith, 218 Logan Winder and 114 Bailey McKenna, before 30 Luke Thompson collected 472 Ted Southward which triggered a pile up. The recovered 642 Smith turned 30 Thompson left. 21 Jaiden took out 113 Bobby Peel-Waller, as 308 Joss Procter set about 192 Kieran Croston. 06 Tommy Rawsthorne spun 80, as he looked to get up the order. 113 Bobby Khan buried 339 Harvey Taylor into 350 Liam Peel. The lively 642 Smith turned 308 Procter fence-wards and then collected 151 Mia Burbridge. 339 Taylor caught 411 Ella with a rear wheel shot whilst 252 ‘Finnerz’ Finley Bentham raced to the win from 06 Tommy Rawsthorne and the recovered 308 Joss Procter.

252, 06, 308, 80, 642, 809, 218, 691, 339, 411

17 cars for the Ladies Bangers first heat, with 627 Bekah Everett suffering an early spin. The race was restarted, with 850 Mikaela Teal putting away 239 Mollie Taylor early on. 239 Taylor clipped 92 Julie Lomas, taking wheel off the former’s Focus. 686 Eleanor Morphet ran in 31 Rhiannon Woods, which spun 627 Bekstar in turn. 850 Teal spun aside 686 Morphet before taking flight into 110 Shel Lowther’s window as the pack tried to avoid 627 Bekstar. 110 Sheli put 226 Emma under fire which caused 222 Lauren Murgatroyd to spin. 226 Emma held on to the win however, with 850 Teal and 31 Woods concluding the top three.

226, 850, 31, 267, 21, 110, 686, 924, 644, NOF

The first Micro Bangers Heat begin with 207 Ste Wood putting away 197 Jordan Hartley. 433 Karl Craig had a pop at 379 Shaun Turner, but was spun in turn himself by 478 Craig Royal. 296 Jordan Smith had a pop at 181 Jordan Cadman, taking him to the infield as 108 John Fretter spun 760 Joey Reynolds. 760 Joey rejoined only to come under fire from 95 Jonathon Croad, with it apparent that the local contingent weren’t letting the visitors have an easy ride. 120 Lewis Fallows leathered 207 Ste. 478 Weasel Jnr turned 95 Jonty fence-wards. 120 Fallows spun 203 Russ McBain. 760 Joey set about 167 Lewis Walker and then got rid of 433 Dibble. 167 Walker collected 207 Ste, and was jacked in turn by 120 Fallows. 135 Matty Simpson then followed in 231 Callum Lamont. 109 Mark Dixon jacked 129. 108 Johnboy put away 181 Cadman. 135 Simpo jacked 120 Fallows, before 60 Dan Croskell won and celebrated by leathering 135 Simpo.

60, 711, 760, 108, 478, 379, 399, 208, 232, NOF

The first sets of Unlimited Heats were split into a half car format. 16 Ryan Shuttleworth was the first to show, following in 57 Mark Gilbert. 275 Joe Morgan put 477 Jack Spiers under fire, but was spun himself in turn by 639 Tye Williams. 886 Andrew Topham rattled 16 Shutti and 57 Gilbert in on turn 1. 501 Ste Kaye followed in 211 Jamie Pole, the Barton Boy then getting jacked by 347 Red Nelson. 9 Tom Jordan jacked 347 Nelson. 501 Basher ran 217 Matt Smith in down the other end which also claimed 32 Connor Byram. 211 Poley weighed in on 501 Basher and then used his momentum to drive the pair and dump them onto the middle. 639 Tye Pirate caught 57 Gilbert on the nose and was collected by 281 Aaron Pole. 103 Jack Deacon raced to the win and then tangled with 310 John Nicholson after the flags.

103, 639, 281, 275, 886, 555, NOF

The Unlimited Bangers Heat 2 begun with 710 Cameron McBrain spinning 410 Jake Calvert. 142 Dave Simpson and 617 Danny Everett tangled, before 712 Alex Hatcliffe followed in 99 Shaydy Gough. 06 Neil Rawsthorne jacked 142 Simpson, with 195 Reece Marsh also weighing in on the latter. 92 Lee Edwards followed in 999 Tim Holloway. 06 Rawsthorne set about 617 Everett, and then cut across the infield to come around and deliver a front wheel shot to the Dahmbusters man. 183 Mitch Banton jacked 92 Eddie, with 710 Rugrat also doing the same. 712 Stig Jnr then came subject to attention getting jacked by 06 Rawsthorne, and then copping a shot from 617 Everett, as 388 Stevo McGrath made the journey over the water worthwhile with a win.

388, 466, 366, 195, 410, 617, 710, NOF

Heat 2 for Junior Bangers begun with 30 Thompson taking a pop at 575 Shaay Ogden. A few drivers tangled on the exit of turn 2. 30 Thompson shed a wheel bringing the reds out. The restart saw 642 Smith spin 411 Ella. 209 Pears spun 410 Barry Calvert. 809 Tyson removed 476 Archie Speirs. 809 Tyson had a pop at 42 Ben Myers, and was taken out in turn by 06 Rawsthorne. 98 Jake Wilson ran head on into the spun 42 Myers, with another stoppage being called. The restart was relatively action-less, with 209 Zac Pears taking the win.

209, 06, 642, 114, 809, 339, 407, 749, 821, 575

Unfortunately I missed the second Ladies Heat, although 686 Eleanor Morphet was the victor.

340 Jay Atkinson set the action going for the second Micro Banger Heat, turning 207 Ste left. 181 Cadman rolled bringing the red flags out. The restart saw 341 Sean Lowther put away 203 Mad Russ. 711 Charles Harrison set about 340 Atkinson, dumping him off the centre banking. 547 Adam Greenock had a pop at 167 Walker. 197 Jordan Hartley caught 203 Mad Russ in the door, with the reds coming out once again, with Russ being ok after catching his breathe. 341 Lowther was again the first to get going once the race resumed, turning 610 left. 207 Ste leathered 610. 547 Greenock set about 296 Jordan Smith. 60 Crock buried 399 Kavanagh, as 760 Joey Reynolds won.

760, 478, 231, 341, 711, 232, 197, 573, NOF

The Unlimited Bangers for Heat 3 for them. 275 Rusty spun 347 Red Nelson, who was tboned in turn by 410 Calvert. 195 Marsh spun 217 Smith, as 275 Rusty also suffered a spin. 501 Basher had a pop at 92 Eddie, as 710 Rugrat spun under pressure from 171 Westy Jnr. 92 Eddie drove through 710 Rugrat. 477 Wacko leathered 92 Eddie over the nose, before 211 Poley followed in 217 Smith hard. 886 Topper jacked 211 Poley before the reds came out. The restart saw 183 Mitch Banton spin under his own steam. 06 Rawsthorne thundered in 555 Dirty Harry. 211 Poley laid into 06 Rawsthorne, who recovered to once again set about 555 Dirty Harry. 211 Poley weighed in on 06 Rawsthorne, causing a temporary track blockage. 171 Westy Jnr went in on 466 Dalto. 366 Wrenny weighed in on 171 Westy Jnr, with 281 A Pole going in on the former. 9 Jordan drove through 366 Wrenny, as 06 Rawsthorne delivered a head on to 639 Tye Pirate. 9 Jordan collected 366 Wrenny, and was jacked by 410 Calvert. 555 Dirty Harry laid into 06 Rawsthorne. 211 Poley delivered a couple of hits to 555 Dirty Harry. 366 Wrenny drove through 275 Rusty, as 555 Dirty Harry ploughed into 06 Rawsthorne on oppo. 310 Eno drove through 366 Wrenny to try open a line through. 103 Deacon took out 388 Little Stevo, as 06 Rawsthorne’s flywheel decided to go flying into orbit. 9 Jordan weighed in on 103 Deacon. 281 A Pole set about 06 Rawsthorne. 410 Calvert jacked 281 A Pole before the reds came out, with 103 Jack Deacon taking the win.

103, 388, 410, 310, 466, 9, 171, 211, 183, 366

Heat 3 for the Junior Bangers begun with 252 Finnerz removing 308 Procter. 475 Speirs put away 575 Oggie Jnr. 218 Logan Winder collected 112 Demi-Lea Taylor head on. Loads piled in creating carnage before the reds came out. The restart saw 407 Dawson set about 691 Archie Snape. 192 Kieran Croston sent 218 Logan up the banking. 252 Finnerz won but was docked for jumping the start; 209 Zac Pears inheriting the win.

209, 142, 252, 472, 475, 350, 80, 109, 308, 113

The Ladies Final saw 850 Teal put the bumper in on 686 Morphet, who responded with an attack on Teal. 239 Mollie Taylor spun 850 Teal. 644 Diamond-Marie Harris had a pop at 924 Jess Riches. 185 Hannah Macneal put the bumper in on 686 Morphet to take second with 3 laps to go. 226 spun 644 Harris. 185 Macneal popped 239 Taylor on the last bend to win.

185, 239, 115, 92, 110, 222, 226, 21, 686, 267

The Micro Banger Final begun with 711 Harrison spinning 573 Oggie. 109 Fezz followed in 547 Greenock. 207 Ste jacked 135 Simpo. 232 Fretter followed in 167 Walker. 711 Harrison tangled with 181 Cadman, before a race stoppage. The restart saw 231 Callum Lamont take a nibble at 478 Weasel Jnr. 711 Harrison set about 232 Fretter, with 95 Jonty tangling with the latter. 711 Harrison leathered 232 Fretter, who was then put away by 181 Cadman. 341 Beaver attacked 95 Jonty. 760 Joey Reynolds took his second win of the afternoon, with 478 Craig Royal and 231 Callum Lamont rounding out the top three.

760, 478, 231, 341, 573, 711, 95, NOF

The Junior Banger Final begun with a huge push that claimed several including a rollover for 113 Waller. 114 McKenna set about 749 TBone Jnr before the reds came out on track. The restart saw 151 Mia Burbridge put away 821 Charlie Cooper, as loads piled in again. 308 Procter leathered 642 Smith, with 209 Pears collecting the latter. 410 Calvert buried 151 Burbridge into the marker tyres. The reds then came out once again. 472 Farmer Ted spun 411 Calvert on the restart. 252 Finnerz spun 21 Jaiden Molyneux. 472 Farmer Ted removed 350 Peel. 218 Logan and 410 Calvert tangled, before 209 Pears punted 691 Snapper Jnr who rolled, with the red and chequers coming out. 252 Finlay Bentham the winner from 209 Zac Pears and 809 Toby Tyson.

252, 209, 809, 06, 475, 749, 472, 407, 242, 21

The Unlimited Bangers Metal Mania Final commenced with 9 Jordan spun 32 Crazy Con. 171 Westy Jnr thundered in 501 Basher, who latched onto 555 Dirty Harry. 9 Jordan took in 183 Banton under fire from 410 Calvert, the latter being spun in turn by 195 Marsh. 211 Poley weighed in on 501 Basher. 886 Topper had a pop at 9 Jordan, with 281 A Pole going in on 886 Topper. 712 Stig Jnr jacked 281 A Pole, with Barton Boys revenge coming swiftly courtesy of 195 Marsh. 388 Little Stevo put away 710 Rugrat. 555 Dirty Harry attacked 16 Shutti on oppo triggering a track blockage. 275 Rusty homed in on 366 Wrenny. 555 Dirty Harry weighed in on 195 Marsh. 9 Jordan went in on 555 Dirty Harry. 347 Red Nelson attacked 32 Crazy Con, before 886 Topper jacked 9 Jordan. 211 Poley leathered 886 Topper. 501 Basher jacked 211 Poley, just as the reds came out. The restart saw 639 Tye Pirate clip the abandoned 195 Marsh car. The leading 275 Rusty set about 16 Shutti. 466 Dalto tboned 16 Shutti. 103 Deacon spun 347 Red Nelson. 32 Crazy Con delivered a front wheel shot to 347 Nelson. 275 Rusty picked up 32 Crazy Con, with 388 Little Stevo latching on and they thundered the Team V man head on into 501 Basher. 347 Nelson weighed in on 275 Rusty. 211 Poley jacked 347 Nelson. 410 Calvert jacked 466 Dalto, with 32 Crazy Con homing in on 410 Calvert. 171 Westy Jnr drove through 32 Crazy Con, before the reds came out. 275 Joe Morgan inherited the win based on laps completed.

275, 388, 466, 171, 410, 183, 410, 103, 366, NOF

The Junior Bangers Helter Skelter got off to a false start. Once the race got underway, 142 Walmsley took out 242 Thomas Sim. 575 Oggie Jnr collected 142 Walmsley. 112 Taylor collected 339 Taylor. 209 Pears suffered an uncharacteristic spin. 218 Logan attacked 411 Calvert before the reds came out. The restart saw 113 Peel-Waller and 410 Calvert crash out. 472 Father Ted spun 142 Walmsley. 06 Tommy Rawsthorne delivered a last bend lunge on 252 Finnerz to take the win.

06, 252, 476, 749, 472, 407, 113, 410, 209, NOF

12 cars returned for the Unlimited Bangers Dash. 555 Dirty Harry rattled 211 Poley around the plating which saw an early stoppage due to a wheel coming of the 211 wagon. 555 Dirty Harry blitzed 211 Poley on the restart before sharing a head on with 183 Banton. 310 Eno won, with 103 Deacon spinning 171 Westy Jnr to end the action.

Into the DD which 6 cars compete. 466 Dalto set about 710 Rugrat and then continued on to run 57 Gilbert through 211 Poley. 555 Dirty Harry delivered a head on to 183 Banton. 710 Rugrat delivered a head on to 555 Dirty Harry. 195 Marsh jacked 555 Dirty Harry on oppo, as 466 Dalto jacked 710 Rugrat. 171 Westy Jnr ruined 466 Dalto. 195 Marsh attacked 555 Dirty Harry, whom battled back to jack 171 Westy Jnr. 195 Marsh leathered 555 Dirty Harry to take the honours.

The Micro Bangers Dash and DD concluded the day’s action. The DD saw 60 Crock deliver solid hits to 573 Oggie and 379 Turner. 207 Ste did 135 Simpo head on before getting it very wrong coming inside out on the back straight to hit 399 Kevanagh over the front wheel.

This was sadly to be one of the final times we saw young Ted Southward on track before his tragic passing.