Battering at Glen

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 22

Battering at Glen

I Prize money of $560 persuaded . 30 hopeful drivers to batter their cars to a standstill at Woodford Glen on Saturday evening. 1 It was the season’s first [ demolition derby at the Black and White Speedway, and the spectacle attracted a large . crowd. With window glass and aU ■ extraneous equipment removed, ■ the .30 elderly ears steamed out . on to the track, where they were backed up against the fence at equal intervals around the , circuit. Most featured lurid slogans in day-glo paint, with ail eonceiv- ' able combinations and permutations of design — some obscene. The dag dropped, and battle started. One of the few rules in such events is that no competitor mav overtake another, without colliding with him. Amid huge clouds of dust, andi the tortured scream of grinding: bodywork, the 30 vehicles circled: and clashed. Discretion was the better part} I of valour in the first few ' minutes, when the casualty rate! was high. Those canny enough) to keep contact to a minimum, , escaped the first holocaust, which left the more enthusiastic drivers strewn around the track in helpless frustration. Littered over the entire circuit were torn-off bumpers, bonnets, doors, mufflers, and sundry' other extraneous pieces of bodywork. Within five minutes, more than two-thirds of the pack had been’ eliminated. Drivers sat resignedly) in their shattered vehicles) ignoring the jets of steam spurt-1 ling from splintered radiators, or. I revved frantically in an attempt; i to free distorted mudguards) (from jammed tyres. i Even those still mobile had not I ' escaped the carnage unsullied, j [Round the track they shuffled.' I wheels splayed in various direc-1 ! lions. and body-work crushed in; bizarre shapes. ) After a quarter of an hour,l ) only two were left. Both were ■ [ restricted by chafing mudguards to a low speed and they were; lon opposite sides of the track.) :Round and round they trundled,) t neither gaining on the other. j I Finally one took the plunge,; land headed off round the track; ‘the wrong way to meet bisi opponent, both at peak revs ini

an attempt to build up speed to a jolting 25 km/h. Neither was pulling any punches at this stage of the contest, and witli a jarring crash they collided head-on. Only one backed away from the scene — Chris Leigh’s almost immobile Morris Isis. In the A grade saloon events, Doug Smith stood out, with his Torana SLR 5000 taking two firsts and a third during the evening’s racing. John Berryman and Tony Cardwell also shone, gaining a win and a minor placing each. The two Wares made a good i showing in the B grade races, with Stephen in his Ford taking the lead In Hie first event, closely followed by Gary's Victor 3.3. Both took third piacings later in the evening. Gordon Foster’s Triumph 2000. was also pushing the pace, taking: a third in the race dominated; by the Wares, and moving up to; 'a win in the evening’s last event.' ■ The laurels in the stock-ear' I events undoubtedly went to | Maurie Briggs, with his two firsts! land a second. Other piacings in! [the evening’s three races went! I one apiece to various otiier: j drivers.

i John Mooar fought his way to the lead in the last race, Briggs became involved in a scuffle at the north bend, afld dropped well back. As usual, the motocross eventij were dominated by a select > coterie of experienced risers four of them this time. , A. Duthie, K Murphy, i Rollands, and S Timmings were > the only riders to gain placing* . in the three events. Duthie and Timmings i home first in the initial pair of races, with Murphy’and Rollands 1 holding second and third both , times. ' And in the evening’s last raet, the consistent Murphy took . second yet again, behind i mings. 4 Results were:-— A grade salo'ons Race one: D. Smith (Torana >!SLR 5000 1 1. T. Cardwell (Mugtangf 2, R. Janies (Torana XU«w Race two: .L Berryman Fi--sicon) 1. R. Clive (Camaro Z2Bj riD. Smith 3. t Race three: T. Cardwell 1. D. dSangster (Holden V 8) 2, J. Berry(man 3. B grade saloons J Race one: S. Ware (Ford> 1, iG. Ware (Victor 3.3) 2, G. Foster (Triumph 2000) 3. Race two: H. MacDonaid HVauxhali) 1, A. Dingwell tCoritina Mk HI) 2, S. Ware 3. Race three: G. Foster 1, B. Pidgeon (Ford) 2, G. Ware 3. Stock cars Race one: M. Briggs (VW/Ford? •1, B. Annan (Imp/Chevrolet Uj ‘2, D. Bolt (A3O/Chevi 3. ; Race two: M. Briggs 1, A. <Ashb> (1100/Ford V 8» 2. K. Hannah ’Ford/Chev V 8 3 Race three: J. Mooar (1100/Ford ’VB( 1. M Briggs 2, G. Grifiiths i(.A3O/Chev VBi 3. Super stocks Race one: R Warnock Capri/ Chev VB> 1. A. Inns (A3O/Chev V 8 2 i Combined super stock and A grade race: D Smith 1. J. BeriA;man 2, D. Sangster 3. Motocross Race one: A Duthie 1. K. iMurphj 2, B. Hollands .3 Race two: S. Timminga 1, K. Murphy 2. B Rollands 3. Race three: S. Timmings 1, K. Murphy 2, A. Duthie 3.