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Sunday
28th September, Alwalton, East of England Championship
Report from Short Circuit, November 1980
Fresh
from his convincing World Midget Final win, Basil Craske showed
his affinity for trophy and title hunting with another victory
in the East of England Championship at Alwalton Raceway on
28th September.
In a fair
field of cars, Roland Parker took the early lead while Craske
got away fast from the rear tailed by Mick Bonner. Goeff Hughes
had his Dastle running really well and stayed up to the fore
throughout, while John Lowe had a couple of trips across the
grass, finally going off with steering nasties. Mick Bonner
was giving Craske a hard time as the two came through to the
front, but Mick collided with Roland Parker and lost a lot
of ground while Roland spun off and out of contention. After
this there was no catching the flying Craskemobile and Baz
came home to victory, Mick Bonner second and Geoff Hughes
third.
A big
bump in the only streetch of the Alwalton oval as yet un-concreted
took its toll of Midgets including Eric Fretten's which suffered
a sheared shocker bolt on the rear eand which gave him a few
moments until the spring folded over and the opposite driveshaft
gave up in sympathy. After his championshp win, everyone expected
Basil Craske to dominate proceedings - but not so. The second
outing saw John Lowe going very well indeed and getting the
lucky breaks too for once. Craske spun out on the shale taking
Gary Pollard with him. Geoff Hughes also spun holding up Roland
Parker and Mick Bonner while Lowe got on with the job up front
and was in a position to comfortably hold off Bonner until
the very last bend and still stayed there despite what looked
like a slowing car. Nice one John.
The final,
and a good drive by Roland Parker after an early lead by Hughes
which ended in a suspension collapse. John Lowe again went
well, finally succumbing to pressure first from Parker, then
Mick Bonner who sneaked by on the City bend. Garry Pollard
and Alf Boarer were again in close company in their twin machines.
Alf having worked hard to get out for the race after a blown
head gasket or similar occurrence. At the closing lap, Bonner
had too much do to catch Parker, and the smart White machine
cruised home to cries of "ooh, isn't he nice!" from certain
young ladies when Roland took his helmet off, the handsome
devil. Mick Bonner took second, Basil Craske, well handicapped
in this race third, followed by John Lowe, Alf Boarer and
Garry Pollard.
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