Going 0ut with a Bang

On a typical East Coast July night, (umbrella-bending wind and lashing rain) the Truckers made their presence felt at a Yarmouth Stadium Banger, Ministox and Midget racing evening. Sunday 24th July saw your intrepid correspondent trying his best to shelter with an inadequate brolly, our photographer, Ivan Hardy, or - more importantly, his new Nikon digital camera, from an East Coast storm.

We can't blame Marcus Hambling for the weather so all credit goes to him, organiser and co-ordinator of this event where we always enjoy a good crowd to showcase our charity and display our skill? This latter point is doubtful, but our able team and supporters tried to show that Truckers were just as proficient on four as well as eight, ten or sixteen wheelsThe team role of honour goes as follows:

The aforesaid Marcus (When is someone going to give him a clean hi-vis jacket?) was aided and abetted by Rodney Timbers ("Rodders") and James Dawson as drivers in the two distinctive blue and orange models in ECT livery. Numbered 750 and 751 these two cars were supplied by Shaun King with one basic car being donated by Woodrow's. Son Liam was on hand as mechanic – and his skills, no doubt, got our cars into the second heat after a less than spectacular performance in the first round. And last, but by no means least, in this little team is talented daughter Karla who used her artistic skills to sign-write the cars – (And, we would guess "Rodders' "T" Shirt!).

Our third entry, in a different livery, was Tim Moulton driving a Vauxhall Belmont number 665. In the first round we felt that this car was likely to be the only one keeping the ECT flag flying. But, thanks to our pit-stop team, the blue and orange bangers were back in evidence later on. This effort on their part also merits a special thank you to Norfolk Salvage who furnished, FOC, a cornucopia of spare parts when our cars were being prepared.

As usual, our trucks were in evidence. This year we welcomed Jim Bennet in the White Freightliner and two trucks from AMT. Andy Thompson, boss of AMT, was there along with drivers Nigel Folkard and Roger Weaver, who officiated on the various laps of honour. In addition we were happy to greet a new member of the Truckers, Gary Frost. His highly decorative blue Seddon Atkinson tractor unit (Ivan told me it was an Iveco, causing endless confusion with the gate marshals) is privately registered as the horsepower to pull his substantial American mobile home. Gary and his young family rose to the occasion. He is an enthusiastic new participating member of the Truckers and we will be pleased to see him and his rig at future even

As ever with our evenings, the Truckers took full-stage when Michelle Yallop and Jenny Folkard, after negotiating the trackside fence, received a donation cheque from “Johno” Phipps and son Jack, pictured in the wheelchair.

On a serious note, the evening could have been marred with what was, without doubt, an illegal manoeuvre in the penultimate lap of the final race. Our car No 750 piloted by Danny Sharman was on terms with the leaders when a three-car shunt saw him piled, illegally, into the trackside fence. The paramedics rescued him from his “concertinaed” car, and we had a few anxious moments until he was confirmed A-O.K.

Banger Racing at Yarmouth is a good night out. Unless you are trackside, taking photos as we were, the event is not weather-dependent. There’s a civilised bar with CCTV and a hot food facility The turnout of locals and holidaymakers is impressive and, at the Tymes, we wish to congratulate Marcus Hambling and everyone in the team for his organisational efforts and doing East Coast Truckers proud. The crowd that show up are motor-orientated. The spectacle of our presence adds to their enjoyment. This is one that could and should be better supported by Truckers and exploited at other similar venues. Members are asked to give our charity a boost and support Marcus in any other venues he organises. You are guaranteed to have a good night out.

Mike Read