16/05/2024
New Out
Our latest DVD from West Yorkshire Television
2 DVD Set
Sunday May 3rd 1993
Hednesford Raceway May Day Bank Holiday Monday Special
National Hot Rods, Stock Rods, Mini Stox, Bomber Destruction Derby & Dutch Reverse Car Racing!
Fans of the National Hot Rod formula witnessed a rare treat with the welcome return of former World Champion #88 Peter Grimer, racing last year’s Fiesta but with a smart new paint job. However, the laps didn’t quite go according to plan as Peter’s day ended in a heavy shunt against the barrier. Heat and final winner was #734 Ralph Sanders. Mark Jones ( #332) was runner up with # 129 Joe Tandy third. Other heat winner was #31 Dick Hillard.
The ‘Rod’ element of the day continued with a healthy entry of Stock Rods and a returnee to the formula Gary Chapman ( #806) who, by his own quick standards, took both heat wins. But could he make it a ‘hat-trick’ as well! Sadly, it was not to be as Scottish star Jock Burgoine drove an excellent race to take the final chequred flag.
The Mini Stox mayhem continued with a last lap thriller resulting in a dead heat for joint winners Carl Willets ( #7) and Craig Bromley ( #49) after a yellow flag tyre intervention two laps from the finish line.
And if the Mini’s weren’t entertaining enough then check out the Bomber heats as no less than 40 cars covered the raceway’s quarter mile oval from virtually end-to-end. In the end after many pile ups, roll overs and jack-ins it was Richard Atkins who came out unscathed to take the flag in his Granada not once but twice as he weaved in and out of all the carnage around him. In the Destruction Derby drivers like Hartopp ( #126), Ashley ( #293) and #27 Summerhayes gave it their all but in the last hurrah the only two left standing after a multitude of hits was Atkins and Dean French ( #269). But as they both set to work on each other there was a sudden silence which spelt disaster for Atkins and Deano, as ever, was awarded the win.
Finally the WYTV cameras covered a special on track presentation made to Dean French for his victory at the 7th staging of the Spedeworth Banger Figure of Eight World Championship at Wimbledon Stadium as well as three races from the highly entertaining Dutch Reverse Car Racing Team who brought across the water a 14 car entry of modified Volvos, Daffs, an assortment of VWs and a lone Ford Es**rt - all racing in reverse gear backwards at insane speeds. No pushing, bumping or spinning another competitor was allowed but while your cars stuck in reverse gear incidents can happen as you will soon find out.
So sit back and re-live all the action with this highly entertaining thrill a minute meeting from the 1993 season brought to you initially by the guys from West Yorkshire TV and now the boys from DH Video.
Commentators: Malcolm ‘Anyway’ Walker
Sleeve notes by Jerry Cookson
