Report by Duncan Wallis

This year’s Banger Bonanza at Smeatharpe was coupled with the Christmas Wonderland fun.  Several youngsters took up the option of a meeting with Santa in the Father Christmas Grotto, after the seasonal favourite had led the pre-meeting Grand Parade.  Luckily the wet weather of the morning had passed over before start time and racing took place in the dry, even though it was freezing cold thanks to some especially wintry wind.

2 Litre National Bangers

In all, there were 17 2 Litre National Bangers in the pit area, although 388 Ashley Ruby never made the track.  Smart car awards went the way of 18 Corey Karkeek and 278 Shaun Brokenshire; the latter only appearing for the first of two Allcomers races.  The Winter Open Championship was run first and was superb.  The first third of the race was highly processional, and after 333 Craig Partridge and 131 Sam Hill had swapped the lead, it was former gold top 133 Terry Hill who took control.  205 Alex Ganter moved into second place, and as Sam Hill began to drop down the order, he opted to smear 154 Blazei Szczygiel off the home straight fence exiting turn four and the dead 154 Wozza car was gloriously caged by 720 Kenny Gabriel.  Hill then returned a lap later to decimate Gabriel.  Undeterred, the ever-entertaining Gabriel continued and effected a west bend follow-in on 271 Jordan Coleman.  More action followed in the pit bend, as Sam Hill tangled with 743 Jake Bond.  That paved the way for 200 Jai Simmons to storm at Hill, but in turn, Simmons was at the tail end of the pile-up, and instantly became an inviting target.  Gabriel Jnr rattled into Simmons, and then 133 Terry Hill celebrated clinching the title by blowing up Simmons who ended with an impressive wreck.  205 Alex Ganter and 154 Odhams followed Hill home for the podium positions.  Just seven drivers returned for Allcomers one, with 278 Brokenshire making his solitary appearance of the afternoon.  The race was notable for a huge follow-in by 662 Jared Roe on 726 Lewis Senford near the pit gate, with red flags required to check on the latter.  Terry Hill won again after a good battle with Ganter, whilst Gabriel Jnr limped home as the fifth and last finisher.  The second Allcomers only raised four cars but remarkably, was just as good.  Roe kicked off the action again as he waved Coleman in for a shot.  Terry Hill then did Coleman as well with Roe doing a lap to hit Coleman.  Despite being on the last lap and running second, Hill was quite happy to embed himself into the back of Roe.  Ganter won and celebrated with a shot on Hill.  If I have seen a better 16-car 2 Litre National Banger meeting, I’d be amazed!

Bangers

After a number of no-shows left 154 Joe Odhams as the lone Micro Banger, he took his Corsa out in the Bangers – one of 56 drivers in the class – thereby setting a season’s best car count.  Each of the 24 Seeded drivers for the Supreme Championship who had secured their place on the grid by booking ahead of the 11 December deadline, were present, leaving 32 others.  Eighteen gridded for the Last Chance Qualifier, and pole sitter 773 Blossom Congden was spun by 125 Jamie Hibberd in turn one which triggered mayhem behind, causing most of the rest of the field to scatter in all directions. 235 Sam Galliford sailed through and was never seen again as he blasted away to win convincingly.  Some good battles brewed behind with 104 Lee Mitchell eventually getting up to second despite a lunge from 125 Hibberd on the last bend.  The Non-Qualifiers race was open only to drivers who had not raced with Autospeed in 2024, and fourteen took to the grid.  After debutant 193 Ollie Turner had led initially, 105 Louis Tompkins burst well clear as the erratic 92 Eddie Thomas provided most of the entertainment.  He nudged 182 Neil Ripon into the home straight wall and ended up with his front wheels drastically pointing inwards.  Nonetheless, Thomas kept going and was still running the very late stages.  161 Anton Ferris managed a fine second from near the back despite 372 Tom Cambridge bouncing him off the wall exiting the last bend.  The Supreme gridded, with six from Last Chance making for a full field of 30 hopefuls.  However, pre-race favourite 113 Chris Jeanes never encountered a driveshaft problem, and retired to the infield as the other 29 cars set off on the rolling lap.  786 Grant Harris got away far better than his fellow front row starter 621 Scott Kendall, but the race was to be a masterclass by 206 Matt Brewer.  He wasted no time in inflicting a spin on new leader 662 Jared Roe and that left Brewer in the clear as those trailing behind him struggled with a slippery track surface.  Silver top Brewer dealt with the traffic superbly to win by half a lap, which was in spite of a detour to hit the Picasso of 354 Simon Phillips.  Whilst Brewer sped on to the title, Phillips continued to entertain as did 747 Nicky Seery.  A great battle ensued for the podium places eventually claimed by 196 Phil Chapman and 31 Liam Shipway.  It looked like 556 Peter Hollis had been set for third, but he hit a dead car with around three laps to go.  235 Galliford was also flying from the back, but his charge ended in the closing stages.  25 cars returned for a hectic consolation won by 369 Danny Thompson flag-to-flag.  182 Rippon expired on the back straight after the chequered flag and was blown up by 177 Ryan Miles.  A packed circuit saw 32 drivers emerge for what was to be an excellent final with lots of close racing.  The podium was a white grade lock-out as 105 Tompkins beat 881 Caitlin Emery and 746 DJ Tyler.  621 Scott Kendall caught the eye on route to fourth from the back as he managed to avoid various spinning and dead cars.  30 drivers managed the Allcomers which was dominated by a pit bend pile-up which claimed the entire field in a wonderful track blockage.  This did result in a number of big hits, some a fair way from fair game in the Rookies division.  206 Brewer thundered into 354 Phillips again, and was subsequently shown the black flag, while 177 Miles ran into 881 Emery and 746 Tyler ploughed into Miles.  112 Richard James spent most of the race battering a route through on the outside as the rest of the field used the area inside the kerb to get through. Eventually 662 Roe completed the race distance, with Thompson the only other driver to do so.  The day finished with a four-car DD as 662 Roe brought back his 2 Litre Banger.  103 Ryan Hinwood and 112 James expired early, which left Roe and 166 Luke Gillbard (in the loaned 773 Congdon car) to exchange a couple of hard head-ons, before both cars gave up the ghost simultaneously, and thus a joint win was declared.