A packed crowd descended on the United Downs Raceway, St Day for Banger Bonanza Cornwall, and those that were present hit something of a Christmas jackpot with a hugely spectacular day’s racing.

Back 2 Basics Bangers

The season’s best car count of Back 2 Basics Bangers included a host of drivers making a first ever St Day appearance.  The busy grid helped to produce a scintillating start to the afternoon.  There were early departures for 13 Phil Saunders, 53 Treve Flamank and 22 Jai Simmons.  Plenty more action was to follow, with the race illuminated by a multi-car track blockage in the turnstile bend.  31 Liam Shipway mounted the inner banking, and when 999 Kurtis Martin clipped 637 Dan Smith, he took to the air and tangled with 153 Rhiannon Tavender, which saw them all bundle into 873 Beau Carlton-Barnes and debutant 812 Saul Campbell.  On the back straight, 444 Mike Stacey, 96 Harley Carr-Flamank and 662 Jared Roe got in a tangle.  Although Stacey shot clear, Carr-Flamank and Roe scuttled into Smith, and a combination of 79 Oakley Rixon and 114 Carla Courtier spun 696 Jago Carveth up the inner banking.  Whilst some drivers chose a measured and more precise route through the chaos, weaving their way through the carnage, a few others went hurtling into the heap.  776 Terry Senford railroaded 747 Nicky Seery and 349 Tyler Millen into the pile-up, but whereas Millen found a parked car, Seery and Senford careered all the way to the fence, which filled another gap.  244 Sienna Harris and 617 Reece Rixon joined the melee, and as 988 Ryan Thomas paused for thought, 420 Tyler Martin ran into the back of Rixon.  786 Grant Harris latched on to Oakley Rixon and set the pair of them speeding around the outside line, which came to a halt at Smith’s car, and 189 Ry Beardwell glanced off Thomas to make progress through the bend even more challenging.  Tyler Martin fired Harris off the plating in turn two, before firing into Flamank amidst clouds of steam that had enveloped the spun Beardwell car which had been out of order for a loss of racing direction.  Red flags were then called when a fire was noted beneath the Senford car in turn three.  That brought the race to an early conclusion with 37 Danny Carlton-Barnes a clear winner.  Heat two included a fabulous display from Beardwell, as he atoned for his earlier misdemeanours.  After 420 Tyler Martin inexplicably went the wrong way to attack Smith, the exit of turn four was squeezed down to just one lane.  Beardwell repeatedly came to a halt in the space, thereby causing a blockage, and he had plenty of game drivers who took up the option to bludgeon him a path through.  Senford and 662 Jared Roe disputed the lead, but looked as though Carlton-Barnes might be about to reel them in.  However, that threat evaporated when Carlton-Barnes was edged into the parked car of Smith.  Roe went on to win, with only four drivers going the distance.  For the final, just over a dozen cars appeared, but a huge first bend bundle saw more than half of them make an early exit.  115 Josh Pollard had a wayward race, after first having Smith reverse out of a pile-up in front of him, which he then followed up with varying trips to the infield.  Reece Rixon only managed a couple of laps as Senford took command to run out the winner.  The end of meeting DD went the way of Simmons, ending when he picked up Carr-Flamank and the two-car train thundered into the static Campbell on the back straight.

Vans

An excellent showing of 15 vans produced a thoroughly entertaining display.  The first heat saw 621 Scott Kendall lead most of the race, but amongst a gaggle of vans in a huge muddle at the pit gate, instigated by the errant 208 Kieran Barrett, he got caught up.  Showing little interest beyond reversing across the track to create a chicane or a blockage, Barrett’s van took a real pounding as it began to disintegrate.  Buzzing around like candy floss caught in a strong breeze, the bright pink Skoda Cube of 988 Ryan Thomas took over the lead after Kendall’s exit, and he led home just four finishers, only for the van to conk out on the lap of honour.  Even though just seven vans gridded for the second heat, another boisterous affair transpired with Barrett again in the thick of the action.  He took assorted hits as he edged forward and back across the track by the pit gate, and by the end of the race, his van was significantly disfigured.  511 Dan Crosbie, 838 Damien Tiley and 404 Jake Stevens were at the forefront of those who obliged Barrett’s “Come On In” notice on his van.  113 Jack Gill led early on, but 786 Grant Harris took over after avoiding the pit gate mayhem, and he picked a clear route to victory, with only 522 Chris Orchard and Stevens the other finishers.  After consultation with drivers, the plan was for the Final to then edge into the DD.  The only trouble was that the final itself only managed a short distance.  It was Harris who completed the greatest number of laps, despite being trapped in more shenanigans at the pit gate, where the Barrett van was finally silenced.  Stevens went on to land the last blow, and he duly took the win in the DD section of the event.  To much applause, Barrett was handed a merit award for his truly outstanding display of fun and wanton damage.

Old Skool Bangers

Despite the lack of any members of the James or Barrett families (many of whom had been strong supporters of the Old Skool fixtures during the season), there were still 19 big cars in attendance, attracted by this year’s grand final of the Supreme Championship.  186 Lewis Fasey withstood a spirited first bend challenge from fellow front row starter 290 Jay Tomkins as the aged cars of stalwarts 114 Nick Courtier (Mk2 Granada) and 120 Mark Ashley (E-type Jaguar) got in a muddle together, and each came under fire from the pack behind them.  452 Anthony Sleeman made a stunning start to the race, swiftly settling into third behind Fasey and Tomkins.  For the first half of the race, there was little to choose between the lead trio, but as the laps ticked by, Fasey stretched his advantage at the front to make for a more comfortable race for himself, and he duly secured the Supreme title.  Numbers dipped considerably for the first of three Allcomers races, which was uneventful.  Tomkins hit the front at the start, and although 648 Jamie Smith chased, he was unable to get on terms and they finished one and two.  The second Allcomers race was far better populated and produced the most exciting finish of the afternoon.  Smith held the lead for much of the race and looked set for victory.  However, he succumbed to a last bend dive by Fasey.  With Smith delayed, Fasey sped to the line, from Sleeman, Tomkins and then Smith who recovered for fourth.  Smith did finally lay his hands on the chequered, when he won the third and last Allcomers race,