BrumSpringOpen
Birmingham, 10th April, 2 Litre Bangers Spring Championship
Dave Goddard brings us a report from the Birmingham Easter Saturday session which didn't sound brillaint but maybe had its moments

A total of 24 2 Litre cars arrived at Wheels for this domestic, although two failed to race.  Nothing special car wise, with the best being 75 Jim O’Brien’s smart Mazda 626 - one of the few fresh cars present.

As ever, all cars are Bluebirds unless otherwise stated.

165 Andy Curbishley fired up the back of 52 Baden Powell as heat one got underway, while 176 Adam Smith attacked 283 Chris Roberts (Sapphire).  Powell went on to T-bone the spun 126 David Case only to be walled by Smith as 269 Dean French (Mk3 Cav) removed the leading 430 Shaun Abra who gave 339 Ade Lightbown a shot as he rejoined.  Lightbown spun 227 Glynn Gorton as Abra recovered to take his New Year’s Day Bluebird to the win, while 179 Shaun Rushton fenced 102 Tim Rodgers (Capri) before sending him up the banking on the slowdown.

Result: 430 Shaun Abra, 262 Buster Godden, 179 Shaun Rushton, 272 Gary Murrell, 12 Paul Deane, 75 Jim O’Brien, 165 Andy Curbishley, 227 Glynn Gorton, 269 Dean French, 339 Adrian Lightbown.

179 Cool piled 165 Curbo into 283 Crazy Chris as heat two got underway only to be spun by 107 Steve Curtis (Mk3 Cav) setting him up for a head-on from 102 Lanky Tim.  Lightbown spun Abra who recovered to fence him a lap later, while Curbo was done by Lanky Tim.  Cool put 220 Ian Markland in as Crazy Chris put Gorton into the spun 495 Trevor Morris, whose team-mate Curtis took a rare Team Fatman win.

Result: 107 Steve Curtis, 430 Shaun Abra, 262 Buster Godden, 12 Paul Deane, 269 Dean French, 75 Jim O’Brien, 220 Ian Markland, 272 Gary Murrell, 283 Chris Roberts, 102 Tim Rodgers.

The final saw 12 Paul Deane blast Lanky Tim who continued despite having no steering by scraping round the armco for five laps!  176 the Doctor hammered Curbo and 101 Michael Forrest put Crazy Chris away, while 262 Buster Godden beat Cool to the line.

Result: 262 Buster Godden, 179 Shaun Rushton, 43 David Rose, 107 Steve Curtis, 75 Jim O‘Brien, 269 Dean French, 12 Paul Deane, 430 Shaun Abra.

A drawn-out DD saw Cool rear-end Forrest as 43 David Rose steamed up after doing Curbo, with 220 Ugly jacking the Man in Black well (though nobody could see it for the steam!).  Ugly was finished by 12 Flex as Cool jacked Forrest leaving four running.  Forrest was left stranded on the banking by Cool, while after some chasing on the centre Flex was put up the banking leaving 269 Popeye and Cool to fight it out.  After what seemed like hours a fencing and two head-ons killed Cool’s engine giving Popeye the win.

A poor session overall, with Ugly’s hit on Rose being the only moment of note.  Let’s hope that the Easter Monday Metro and Reliant Robin session at Hednesford is an improvement!