Following a short break after the festive period, Spedeworth’s stock car and banger racing has returned to Wimbledon stadium.
As we commence the second part of the season in the capital, Reece Priestly is hoping that his current form in the Winter Banger League will see him through to the culmination in March.
After his outstanding performance in November where he scored a maximum 32 points in one meeting, Priestly, or ‘The Hobbit’ as he is affectionately known, has continued to grind out results that have taken him to the top of the table, above his rival Rob Barnes.
As far as points and results are concerned, Priestly and Barnes have, for most spectators, been unexpectedly the two stand-out drivers. Whilst other drivers have been battling feuds, the pair have been regularly piling on the points.
The current standings after nine rounds have seen Priestly leap frog Barnes into top spot. With an 18-point lead, we could well be seeing this year’s champion in the making.
Mention has to be given to Leatherhead’s Steve Penfold, above left. Normally a wrecker, Penfold has recently secured a win in one final and two heats, lifting him to fourth place.
Tomorrow, Wimbledon sees the first offering from the superstar drivers in the national bangers, as they go crazy in “micro madness”.
Micro madness meetings for the national bangers are just about the most popular kind of meetings in the sport right now.
With plenty of these small cars around, they can be picked up relatively cheaply for racing and easily built.
The last meeting in November, saw more than 100 cars take part, and a similar amount is expected for the 2015 opener.
Long time Spedeworth national banger star Steve Anscombe, looked very quick back then, and managed to secure two race wins and a second place in the final.
Will he be as quick this time around? Just pipping Anscombe to the post in the final was 2l world champion Jack Foster, who made the long trip down from Yorkshire, something he is set to do once again.
The supporting formula of the evening will certainly be the loudest, as the V8 stock cars roar into action once again.
With Peter Scott currently out of action, David Burton will be the red hot favourite to do well around the tight bends of Plough Lane’s oval.
Racing starts at 5.30pm, with turnstiles open at 4.30pm.
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