1986

7th June 1986 - Ringwood
Report from Motoring News by Dave Cox

EUROPEAN CHAMPION Mick Bonner comfortably won the 20 lap final at Ringwood on June 7 after his chief antagonist of the day, Paul Sinclair crashed on the first lap.

Jon Doubleday and Ray Coulson led the field away in race one with Harry Sayell and Sinclair in pursuit. Sinclair rapidly passed all three to lead with Bonner rocketing through to second. Bonner quickly closed the gap to Sinclair who held on well to win by half a car's length from Bonner, Basil Craske, John Lowe, Coulson and Sayell.

Lawrence Pearce set the pace in race two leading for seven laps until the dicing Bonner and Sinclair went by with Craske and Anthony Brewer following through a lap later. Bonner and Sinclair were going well with Craske and Brewer vainly pursuing while Pearce, Sayell and Lowe battled for fifth place. Bonner led Sinclair into the last lap and with back markers in the way Sinclair seized the initiative to snatch victory from Bonner on the line with Craske third, ahead of Brewer, Sayell and Pearce.

Seabird-Wades Taxis sponsored the trophy final with the 12 starters reduced to eleven on the opening lap when Sinclair was caught out by the marbles on the outside line and hit the fence. Pearce was the early leader harried by Coulson and Sayell with Bonner powering through to take the lead on lap eight and pull away. Coulson and Sayell relegated Pearce with Sayell grabbing second a lap later while Brewer and Craske were making up places. Bonner, Sayell and Brewer settled into the first three places while Coulson and Craske diced for fourth until fuel pump problems dropped Coulson down the field. Bonner took the flag well clear of Sayell, Brewer and Craske with Pearce a nose in front of Lowe.

Race one: 1st Paul Sinclair, 2nd Mick Bonner, 3rd Basil Craske, 4th John Lowe, 5th Ray Coulson, 6th Harry Sayell