Good afternoon ladles and jelly spoons and welcome once again to Mendips Raceway on the most bonkers afternoon of the season. Yes it’s the annual Pink Meeting, in aid of Cancer Research, where the whole stadium turns a nice hue of magenta. The Annual Pink Ribbon Trophy for the BriSCA F2 is up for grabs, along with the “Crashmania” Team Championship for the Rookie Bangers, and the Special Rods will have something a bit special
too.
Two wheels are better than four many proclaim, and for our former flagman Andy Chant it’s the Ride to Pink Thunder, as Mr Starter is joined by good friend Neil Dopson, on a bike ride from their home in Chard, all the way to Mendips HQ for a resurrection of our charity bike race – which will see drivers, spectators and staff alike take on our weary travellers at the Mendips Velodrome.
Andy and Neil will be hoping the unforgiving Somerset geography will be kind as they ascent their way to the top. Drop a few quid in their bucket – as their journey is only half way through, as they intend to ride home, ratcheting up the miles to nearly 100 in the way. At least its downhill on the way home lads!!!
The annual Tyre Tossing championship, overseen by Chief Tosser Mike Cocks, sees drivers of all kinds showing their Olympian strength in a competition to see who can throw a scrap tyre the furthest. Whether it’s the discus method or the caber toss, with plenty of competitive drivers chucking pounds in the pot for bragging rights
BriSCA F2 – The Pink Ribbon Trophy in memory of Lesley Maidment One of the highlights of the domestic season for the F2 boys and girls is the annual Pink Ribbon Trophy, kindly supported by the Maidment family, remembering Lesley.
Very much the part of the raceway, she assisted with lapscoring and various roles here at the track, long before son Nathan thought about racing. Indeed a vast array of goodies is up for grabs for all grades, and our thanks to Andy for putting this on and once again Last year saw Dan Roots (776) take top honours following a proper little ding dong with Paul Rice (890).
We have to go back to May for our last meeting (these programme notes will be done after our meeting last Wednesday) where there were wins for Paul Moss (979), a rare F2 win for Dan Kent (976), and king of the second chance Ben Goddard (895) with yet another consolation win. Come the final it was a win for Vinnie Neath-Rogers (121), who was kept honest by white graders Daz Purdy (259) and Dean Hawkins (203) in some of the best displays of their F2 careers so far. Matt Stoneman (127) leads the points from early season sensation Kasey Jones (286).
Today also sees the first part of a two part trophy with our friends at Autospeed, remembering two Westcountry racers, father and son Taff and Bryn Thomas, where today’s scores combined and grade weighted accordingly with tomorrow night’s meeting at Smeatharpe, to produce an inaugural winner of this trophy.
The Rookie Bangers are famed for their “no mates after the gates” approach, but today they are going to need 3 at least if they are to succeed in winning the Team Championship, in memory of the Mendips banger legend “Filo”, who was taken from us.Last year, the hilariously named “Min Jintahs” came out on top with Big Mac (440) showing the rapid way around the raceway with his compadres riding shotgun and side saddle to aide in the victory.
This years entry includes The Fasey duo of Lewis and Sophie joining forces with Abbie Deeprose and Macauley Mills. They will be competing against Team Lemon, led by 6 Troy Jones. Finally, Team Banter Brigade sees long time rookie driver 6 Danny Greening lead the charge with team mates 99 Ryan Hall, 198 Owen Nichol and South West Rookie banger star 31 Liam Shipway.
You’ve seen it at Aintree and at Ascot too, but Mendips tin top tearaways are letting the fairer sex behind the wheel, not for a race – but for the whole meeting! Following Susie Bennett’s sensational efforts in fundraising in previous years gone by for the Pink Meeting, it was decided at the AGM that the girls should get the whole meeting instead of sharing with the boys.
Last year’s winner Jane James, was so enthused with the win she took last year that she now finds herself in the grid proper!
Rumour has it that Jason Oliver (303) is so desperate for a win that he’s looking at finding a skirt in his size so he play with the girls, and the permanently grumpy Saloonist Rich James (112) did the opposite by going out in his mum’s car and number earlier in the year.
One wonders if he borrows her dresses too! Such shenanigans are frowned upon today, although both Dan Latimer (720) and Nik Loader (445) both have hats suitable for the occasion.
Once again our thanks to Susie Bennett for her efforts in cajoling the mothers, sisters and other halfs out in the cars, and the blokes for letting their pride and joy risking themselves in the name of charity. Methinks the cars, more than the ladies.
Next up, our mid week meetings continue, with full details in the programme, before it ends with the Bank Holiday Weekend – all the cars, all the action, and the big one – Caravandalism 2024 – you simply cannot miss this!
53 Phil Mann
109 Tristan Smith
121 Vinnie Neath Rogers
127 Matt Stoneman
128 Jake Ralfs
131 Dean Rogers
194 Luke Johnson
203 Dean Hawkins
235 Alfie Brimble
315 Charlie Fisher
509 Jordan Butcher
510 Matt Stone
542 Steve Gilbert
560 Luke Wrench
605 Richard Andrews
667 Tommy Farrell
676 Neil Hooper
728 Jack Bunter
736 Josh Weare
762 Mike Cocks
776 Dan Roots
856 Jamie Cocks
870 Bruno Farrell
895 Ben Goddard
915 Jamie Jones
976 Dan Kent
979 Paul Moss
6 Abie Raines
26 Susie Bennett
29 Kirsty Simpson
29 Michaela Simpson
29 Sophie Lou Young
35 Beth nash
43 Donna Barraclough
44 Jade Dixon
61 Jade Houlton
66 Rebecca Corlett
112 Kate Potts
118 Chantelle High
213 Charlotte Nash
247 Jayne Shrimpton
247 Kate Nutt
254 Vicky Manaton
517 Paula Thomas
720 Nikki Latimer
24 Freddie James
144 Ashton Worthington
372 Tom Cambridge
662 Jared Roe .
186 Lewis Fasey
286 Sophie Fasey
440 Macauley Mills
962 Abbie Deeprose
6 Troy Jones
67 Harry Pritchard
82 Joe Gingell
894 Chris Stokes
6 Danny Greening
31 Liam Shipway
99 Ryan Hall
198 Owen Nichols
105 Louis Tompkins
267 Bill McDade
601 Brandon Melksham
746 Deejay Tyler
15 Josh Pollard
617 Reece Rixon
627 Josh Pollard
595 Ben Wall
775 Brad Hunt
956 Harry Thompson
169 Jason Thompson
369 Daniel Thompson
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