Tongham 24 August 2025

TONGHAM MOTOR CLUB

Sunday 24 August 2025

It was immediately obvious that the first leg of Tongham’s Bank Holiday double-header was going to be hard work, when the line of transporters turning in to Brick Kiln Farm under the narrow Watercress Line railway bridge soon reached the A31 dual carriageway, and by 8 am we were hearing that the queue was stretching half way to Chawton (the nearest village, where the main attraction of Jane Austen’s house is slightly calmer than the Tongham Raceway!) The restricted pits and parking space that the venue now enjoys was very soon bursting at the seams.

The track itself was looking good, with a lot of work having gone into tearing up and re-laying much of the surface, the early August meeting having been cancelled to facilitate this. The weather was again extremely warm and dry though, and with no rain to bind what was under the surface, nobody was betting on it staying that smooth for long. After the last few meetings had been plagued with dust, the shortage of water on site was also a concern, with plans being made to ration the use of the bowser to somehow get through the two days. So, a massive attendance this time probably wasn’t what was needed.

The regular non-contact classes actually drew a fairly average entry for this season, with 108 cars in the pits, but the Rookie Bangers were turning up at a rate that virtually doubled their usual numbers, with an eventual (approximate) 51 “large” and 32 “small” cars.

PRODUCTION A started the day with 18 cars. The first heat was led all the way by Alfie Alderton, chased by dad Ben, with their late start to the season doing them a favour in the graded starts. Taylor Lamb battled through to third from Alan Goddard, points leader Willow King, in a replacement car, David Francis, Lee Boulden, Jamie Hales, Oliver Hester, Cherie Wells and Adam Dade. In the thick of the action was Zak Gorrie, second in the points, who was eventually spat out onto the infield, rejoining at the back, behind Tom Logan, Chris Bealing, with his Nova now running much better and Sadie Plant, with Jamie Dade also there or thereabouts. Having his first outing was David Taylor, in Sadie’s slightly the worse for wear “Smallfield” car while Joe Morgan was remarkably the only retirement.

Second time out Alfie and Ben Alderton again headed the pack, but Zak Gorrie fared much better in the traffic, emerging in third by the fourth lap, and he closely followed Ben home. David Francis just held fourth on the line from Willow King, Oliver Hester and Jamie Hales, while Tom Logan headed the next equally close battle from Taylor Lamb, Alan Goddard, Cherie Wells and Jamie and Adam Dade, with Joe Morgan, Chris Bealing and David Taylor completing the order.

By the finals, laps were being cut to protect the track, with different groups having 6, 7 or 8 laps, depending on how busy they looked. This one was cut short after six laps anyway, with Chris Bealing getting spun through the middle of the pack on the top straight, collecting Cherie Wells among others. Alfie Alderton was away at the front again, but this time Ben couldn’t quite get past Adam Dade for second, with Taylor Lamb a close fourth. Zak Gorrie headed the fifth place battle from David Francis, Joe Morgan, Tom Logan, Oliver Hester and Willow King, with Jamie Dade, Alan Goddard, Cherie, David Taylor and, after an earlier problem, Jamie Hales completing the order. Alfie, Ben and Taylor took the trophies for the day’s top points scorers.

PRODUCTION B had a close battle assured with the grid comprising ten of the top eleven in the points, only Aaron Culley being missing. Zak Palmer, despite his late start in the class, has been on form in the last few meetings and he ran away with the first heat. Lewis Jewer slowed and pulled off after holding an early second and Shane Phillips then got away to chase the leader, followed by Thomas Connors and Fin Chance, with Mo Penfold heading Martyn Culley and Laura Connors for fifth, and Bob Salter and Addison Sibley in the other places. Heat two saw Zak’s still immaculate Corsa again leading all the way, while Lewis Jewer had a good race to hold off Shane Phillips for second. Thomas Connors, Fin Chance, Mo Penfold, Martyn Culley, Addison Sibley, Laura Connors and Bob Salter were all pretty much in one pack.

Zak Palmer set the pace again in the final, but this time, on a watered track, he came under pressure from Laura Connors, and a good exit from the final corner saw Laura alongside over the line, with the verdict just going to Zak. Thomas Connors stole third from Lewis Jewer on the last corner, with Mo Penfold, Fin Chance and Shane Phillips battling for fifth, chased by Martyn Culley, Addison Sibley and Bob Salter. Overall Zak took the top trophy from Thomas and Shane.

There were two additions to the 1450 HOT ROD field; Tongham Banger stalwart Simon Dixon had acquired a Nova, last raced at Standlake by Pete King, while Chris Carter was shaking down Poppy’s new car, a 1440 Hayabusa-powered Pickup last used in Autocross. Simon led the first heat away, but Chris only took two laps to hit the front and then pulled away to win, with Kodi Page’s Blackbird-powered Cinquecento second. Ben Stockley led the FWD “sub-class” until he bounced off the armco as Chris lapped him; Rob Salter’s 106 then took third from Neil Hudson’s Horizon, Ben’s Micra and Micky Hopcroft’s Nova, with Simon Dixon retiring. Simon again led away in heat two, surviving a close encounter with the top straight armco, but Chris Carter was soon off and away to win again, with Kodi second from Ben, and Simon holding off Neil Hudson for fourth. Rob Salter was unusually down in sixth, with Micky Hopcroft recovering from a spin to take seventh.

Chris took off straight past the cars in front to lead all the way in the final, with Kodi, Ben, Rob and Neil next, and Micky struggling to sixth with a puncture. Overall, Chris Carter won from Kodi Page and Ben Stockley.

Chris Carter was also out in his regular 1600 Hayabusa Pickup in the SUPER SALOONS, taking the lead from Dave Bullen’s Starlet-Duratec to win the first heat, with Graeme Taylor’s Corsa third in front of Shaun Maynard’s Civic and Chris Jewer, back out after his recent engine problems with his 106-Vauxhall. Laurence Connors had to retire the “Growler” with a flapping bonnet and Tom Chance’s twin-GSXR Mini spun into the inside armco to bring the red flag out early.

Dave Bullen stayed in front until the last lap of the 7-lap second heat, before Chris Carter took the win, with Chris Jewer and Laurence Connors close behind and Graham Taylor, Tom Chance and Shaun Maynard taking the other places.

In the final Chris Carter had just moved up to challenge Dave Bullen for the lead when Chris had a rear rose joint pull out, stranding him on the Farm bend. Dave then held off Laurence and Graeme in a close three-way dash to the finish, with Chris Jewer and Shaun Maynard behind. Overall Dave Bullen, putting on an excellent show after reviving the “old school” Starlet, took the win ahead of Graeme and Chris Jewer.

A ten-car field of SPECIALS lined up, with one or two regulars missing. On a watered track Charlie Plant led until he had a spin. Chris Carter, out in his “spare” white ARD this time, took over but had to give way in the end to Jason Woodgate’s Vauxhall-powered Class 9 car. Mick Baigent took third with Stuart Jewer just beating David Baigent for fourth, while Chris Jewer, Danny Croucher, Graham Baker and Charlie Plant all retired.

Just five cars came out for the second race and Jason again took the win from Chris Carter, with David Baigent this time beating his dad for third and Chris Jewer again retiring.

Stuart Jewer and Danny Croucher were back on the grid for the final, which was a much closer race as Jason Woodgate and Chris Carter raced side by side for the last three laps, Jason just holding on to win. Stuart Jewer had his best race of the year so far to hold off David and Mick Baigent for third, with Danny Croucher close behind, although Chris Jewer had to pull out on the first lap.

A hectic first race for the SEGTO JUNIORS, with 17 cars on the grid, was soon red flagged as the dust became totally impenetrable. Ellie Lines stopped and didn’t make the restart, which lasted two laps before another red flag, with Jake Liyanage and Tyler Hales tangling, just as George Muirhead took the lead. At the third attempt Kaci Rogers led the early laps, but points leader Jack Stacey came through very quickly and went on to win, with Riley Boulden holding off James Rich for second and Tyler Hales in a close fourth. Elliott Simmonds headed the next pack from Alexia Bowen, Tyler Cushing, Kaci Rogers, Tiger Kemp and Charlie Plant, while George Muirhead collected the armco in the closing stages and dropped out of the top ten, finishing in front of McKenzie Lee Peters, a Smallfield regular trying Tongham for the first time. Hayden Bullen, Jake Liyanage and Callum Bealing all retired.

Ellie Lines has been most impressive since moving up from the Novices class and she passed early leader Jay Hopcroft to be in front when the second heat was stopped, after Jay spun in the pits bend. Hayden Bullen took second from James Rich, this time heading the red grade drivers, while Tyler Hales held fourth from Jay Hopcroft, who’d still been fifth the last time he crossed the line, Tiger Kemp, Riley Boulden, Elliot Simmonds, Callum Bealing, George Muirhead, Alexia Bowen, McKenzie Lee Peters and Kaci Rogers. Jack Stacey got black flagged after his front bumper was knocked off on the first lap, joined on the infield by Tyler Cushing and Jake Liyanage.

The final ran its full eight laps despite a watered track. Ellie Lines soon hit the front after an initial battle with Callum Bealing, and Ellie got away for a convincing win. Alexia Bowen had one of her best results as she beat Elliot Simmonds for second, while James Rich just took fourth on the line from Charlie Plant. Jack Stacey was next from Jake Liyanage, Tyler Cushing, Riley Boulden and Tiger Kemp, with McKenzie Lee Peters and Jay Hopcroft next after George Muircroft and Callum Bealing retired, while Tyler Hales, Hayden Bullen and Kaci Rogers all pulled off on the first lap. James Rich won overall, with Ellie second despite her non-finish in the first heat, and Jack Stacey third.

There were eighteen JUNIOR NOVICES on the grid for the first heat, but they only managed three laps before a red flag, with Easme Powell holding off Harvey Mawdsley and Isle of Wight driver Kurtis Dunleavy at the front, chased by William Thomas, Riley Cushing, newcomer Nicky Pidgeley, Tia Stephens, Fin Lucas, Poppy Stephens, having her first outing, Leah Gregory, Alfie Symonds and another first timer, Ashton Bignell. Among the others was Dylan Westbrook, visiting from the Isle of Man for his first outing since the same fixture last year, having opted out of racing at his “home” Onchan track.

The second race also came to an early finish, with William Thomas having come through to the front, heading Easme Powell and Harvey Mawdsley. Fin Lucas was going well to finish fourth in front of Riley Cushing and second time visitor Fletcher Page. Leah Gregory headed Alfie Symonds and Nicky Pidgley, with Harry Williams’ Mini just ahead of Seren Chance, and Freddie Salter, Tia Stephens, Dylan Westbrook and Poppy Stephens also running well.

Unfortunately the Novices weren’t to get a full race distance in today as an unfortunate coming together with the armco for the ever unlucky Louisa Field in her Mini brought an end to the day’s racing as the medics attended to Louisa. Harvey Mawdsley had already pulled out of the lead when his steering wheel came off and William Thomas hit the front before the red flag. Out of all the chaos, Leah Gregory, Tia Stephens and Harvey Mawdsley were picked out for the day’s trophies.

Seventeen of the twenty THUNDER RODS present made the first heat, with a few newcomers among them, producing close racing down the field, although it wasn’t close for the win as Carl Sawkins’ Fiesta ran away with it on a watered track. David Lock’s Astra came out on top of the red grade scrap from Ant Sawkins’ Civic, with Jordan Dell’s Fiesta in fourth ahead of the battling Fiestas of Trev Stamp and Luke Tompsett. Points leader John Burt brought his MG home seventh this time from Elouise Powell’s Focus, Jordan Emery-Barker’s Mondeo, Jacob Lock’s Astra, Lee Jones’ Sapphire and Emily Richer’s Mazda, with Nick Sandom’s Focus lapped and not much grip available for the Sierra of Billy Page and the BMWs of Peter Jones and the nameless driver only identified as “Big C”. Super Saloon driver Rian Sawkins joined his father and uncle in the Thunder Rods with a Vectra, but ended up stuck against the infield armco.

Race two was also led all the way by Carl Sawkins, but this time he was caught as he got stuck in traffic and he just held on after being tapped sideways by brother Ant going into the last lap. Ant settled for second, just in front of David Lock, Elouise Powell and John Burt. Trev Stamp, Jordan Emery-Barker, Jordan Dell, Nick Sandom, Emily Richer and Jamie Castle’s BMW were next.

The final saw another flag-to-flag win for Carl Sawkins, heading another family 1-2, but this time it was Rian in the Vectra who came through to a close second, with Ant’s Civic breaking down on the first lap. Trev Stamp and Jordan Dell also closed right up in third and fourth, ahead of Elouise Powell, Jordan Emery-Barker, Jacob Lock, Nick Sandom, Jamie Castle and Emily Richer, although John Burt’s good run with the MG ZR ended when the engine blew up and Luke Tompsett pulled out after holding second much of the way.

The Allcomers’ and Mechanics’ races had to be cancelled, so that just leaves the ROOKIE BANGERS. The huge field of the larger cars was split in two for their first heat, and although they all came out together for their second race, it was thought best to split them again once they were on track. Nobody could really keep track of what was going on, with the first heat red flagged after a lap for track watering and then stopped again for a loose wheel on track. Jack Allen’s Focus took the win from the similar car of Rhys Miles and Darren Jones’ Focus Estate. The second half of the split first round, still very dusty despite more water going down, was led all the way by Josh West in another Focus Estate, chased in the end by the matching car of Willy West and Craig Green emerging third after Daniel Broom was a last lap casualty.

The first half of the second round was red flagged after Bailey Daniels was buried hard in the fence; Thomas Renshaw’s Astra was in front from John Kemp and Rylee Holland. In the second half Harry Westbrook in a Focus Estate came out in front of Bobby Pidgeley in a similar car and Jack Allen in another Focus. The final, with around 30 of the original 50 cars making it this far, was yet another race to be flagged early, this time with a minor fire under Josh West’s bonnet. Owen Daniels was awarded the win from Bobby Pidgeley and Jack Allen.

The ”small” Bangers were just as hectic, with all of the 30-odd cars out in all their three races. In the first one, Brian Pugsley kept his Fiesta well out of trouble, with Zac Cooper following him home in a Mk6 Fiesta in front of Len Bowen in a Mk7 version. The second race was led by Zac Cooper until it was stopped with the Fiesta of George Hughes parked on top of the armco in front of race control. After a spot of water it resumed with only 12 cars still running. Len Bowen took the win from Brian Pugsley and Louis Page.

With 30 cars making it out for the final there was another early red flag. When battle resumed Glen Cooper led the way before losing a wheel to bring the reds out again, but Zac Cooper kept it in the family to win from Annabelle Palser, with Aaron Message in third, meaning a lock-out of the top places by ex-Angmering drivers.

So although the Bangers had only been down for one day, to be replaced on Monday by the once-a-year Pre-90 RWD cars, they’d caused more than enough havoc for a full weekend!