As 2017 comes to a close, we take a look back over the past year and we start with the End of Year Championship Trophy Presentation, which took place at the Christmas Crash meeting on 17th December. It's been an exciting year, points wise, with the Banger Points Championship coming down the wire at the very last points meeting! Michael Collins and Karl Dilworth exchanged the lead almost every meeting, with just 20 points separating them at the end! Michael finished with 616 points, Karl finished with 596 points, and finishing in 3rd place with 475 points was Dylan Ellis. Congratulations to Michael Collins, Points Champion 2017!
In the Junior Bangers Championship, we had a clear runaway leader in the shape of Sonny Holtom, ending the season with 683 points, a lead of 311 over 2nd place winner, Robert Pinnell! Finishing in 3rd place with 321 points was Jay Hennessey, who sadly was unable to attend today to collect his trophy. Congratulations boys, you all did so well!
Next up was the 1300 Stock Cars Championship, and with a resounding lead of 87 points, we crowned Scott "Brick" Chopping the 2017 Champion! Congratulations Brick, a great achievement! Finishing in 2nd place with 278 points was Michael Collins, and coming home in 3rd with 222 points was youngster Shaye Hunter; a great finish for Shaye, beating many adults at the ripe old age of 11 years! Unfortunately for us, Shaye was off racing at Guildford today in the Junior World Banger Final, so was unable to collect his trophy in person.
In the 2L Saloon Stocks Championship, we saw some excellent racing throughout the year, with some really close racing and some great finishes! Pulling out in front and finishing with 370 points was Michael Collins, with Darren "Divvy" Goldberg finishing in 2nd place with 227 points. 215 points placed James "Tubbs" Donovan in 3rd place, an excellent finish for his first year of racing! Congratulations guys!
Another formula hit the RC scene at the end of 2016, and after popular demand, Brentwood RC Raceway, introduced the F2 Championship for 2017. This proved to be a popular decision, with numbers increasing and having to split the heats at most meetings! Despite missing three meetings, Shaye Hunter excelled and still managed to grab 3rd place overall, finishing with 203 points. Coming home in 2nd place with 252 points was another youngster, Taylor-Jay Liles; but grabbing the first ever Championship at The Cow Shed, with a grand total of 347 points was Dylan Ellis! Congratulations Dylan, another one under your belt!
Moving on to the Drifts Championship, and once more we crowned Dylan Ellis! Dylan completed the Championship with 294 points for the season. In 2nd place we had Nathan Webb, who finished with 263 points, just 31 points behind, and who knows, if he hadn't missed that one meeting, we could have been crowning Nathan instead! Finishing with 203 points placed Michael Collins in 3rd. Well done guys, always great driving in this highly skilled formula.
Time now for the Reliant Robins Championship, and once again we called Michael Collins to the podium! Scoring maximum points at no less than five meetings, Michael had clinched the championship by mid-summer, and finished the season with an amazing lead of 148 points! Out of a possible 450 points, Michael dropped just 9 points and finished with 441 points! I guess we could say he loves this formula! Finishing in 2nd place with 293 points was Darren "Divvy" Goldberg, and in 3rd place was Josh Mackey with 237 points. Josh was with Shaye at Guildford, so sadly did not collect his trophy, but congratulations to all three of you!
Time now for the Ally Bangers Championship, and from the off, Conor Harvey took the lead, and retained it right up to the end, finishing with 212 points! Coming home in 2nd place was Dylan Ellis with 188 points, and snatching 3rd place at the last meeting of the season was Josh Mackey with 123 points, pushing Kerry Goldstone down to 4th with 122 points, having sat in 3rd position all year! Commiserations to Kerry, but congratulations to our trophy winners! With Dylan the only once present today, he looked a little lonely on the podium alone!
Last, but not least, we have the Ally Super Bangers Championship based on the drifts bangers, but with Ally body shells. And another runaway lead for Dylan Ellis with a lead of 128 points! Coming home in 2nd place with 195 points was Nathan Webb, and finishing in 3rd place was another youngster, Jack Booker, with 162 points. Well done boys, a great season!
So we close 2017 with a great array of Champions, all earning their Silver Roof for 2018. Congratulations to all our trophy winners, and well done to everyone who has taken place in any formula during 2017. In total we have had great numbers in all formulas
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127 - Bangers
39 - Junior Bangers
55 - 1300 Stock Cars
39 - 2L Saloon Stocks
32 - F2 Stock Cars
37 - Drifts
19 - Reliant Robins
56 - Ally Bangers
15 Ally Super Bangers
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And that's not including those that have joined us on our Thursday fun nights and non-points meeting! Many, many thanks for all the support the club receives, whether you've helped out with track repairs, alterations, whatever; or just come and raced at the best Cow Shed ever! Every little bit of support received is greatly appreciated by Midge and Co, because without you drivers, there would be no club! THANK YOU ALL.
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Many, many thanks also go to Abigail Alexander for providing an excellent service in the Tuck Shop, and Spares Shop on race days, and for all the photographs she has provided for me to use on the website; keep up the good work Abigail, you're a diamond!
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Here are a few of the comments we have received on our Facebook page when I asked for any end of year memories, thank you all. wishing you all a very happy 2018!
