1984

Midget car racer Dave Cox was rushed to Orsett Hospital with two broken ankles after a five car pile up at Arena Essex on September 30th. The crash happened on the sixth lap of the first race when Cox hit the fence and spun back into the centre of the track, hitting Malcolm Goodman. As the cars spun round, oncoming Brian Forrest, Rod McLaughlan and Basil Craske collided with them, causing the race to go under the red flag. At the restart, World Champion, Alf Boarer drew away to win from Roland Parker, Mick Bonner and Dermott McGivern for the main places.

There was another crash in the second race, when Paul Sinclair hit the fence, tangling with Forrest, Ray Coulson and Paul Rogers, again bringing out the red flag. In the resumed race Bonner won from Boarer, Dave Scott and Harry Sayell.

The main event, for the Graham Hill Memorial Trophy, was also hit by incident. Dave Scott was leading, with Bonner and Boarer in close pursuit. As Boarer tried to get inside Bonner, they locked and Bonner's car overturned trapping him inside. Boarer also piled in heavily, sustaining rib and arm injuries. The race was red flagged while Bonner was rescued. On the restart Scott led again, chased by Parker and Dermott McGivern. As McGivern made a bid for the lead he hit a tyre marker and ripped off his nearside front wheel. In the melee, Alan Riley drew clear and crossed the line from Tony Brewer and Ray Coulson for main honours. Of the 17 cars starting the meeting, only six finished intact, Cox, Boarer, Bonner and Goodman's cars being among those wrecked.