Standlake Arena's premier banger racing meeting of the season, the Heavy Metal Classic, attracted 163 racers from all over southern England yesterday.

Some rare cars and super paint jobs brought some colour to a very dull, misty day.

The Under 1800cc Class saw 77 cars competing with local racers dominating.

Local drivers took four of the six heats before Stonesfield's Simon Hadland won the final and £200 prize money.

The 2001 points champion, Alan Carwright, took third place in the final, as well as winning a heat and the allcomers race.

The Unlimited Class saw 86 cars take to the track, with Gloucester team 'Real Steel' providing the material with three Rolls-Royces among their superbly-presented cars.

However, looks and size count for nothing in banger racing and they became the target of numerous big hits.

Unlike the Unders class, the visiting racers tended to dominate the results, with Pat McPhilimy and Alan Cartwright being the only local winners.

The track is holding its signing-on and registration day at the track for the coming season on February 10. Anyone wishing to race in 2002 should attend between 11am and 3pm.

RESULTS

Under 1800cc Banger class

Race winners - Heat 1: A Cartwright (Black Bourton). Heat 2: S Russell (Cirencester). Heat 3: M Mitchell (Eynsham). Heat 4: S Hadland (Witney). Heat 5: J Dodge (Guildford). Heat 6: K Pepper (W Sussex).

Final: 1 S Hadland (Stonesfield), 2 S Russell (Cirencester), 3 A Cartwright (Black Bourton)

Allcomers: A Cartwright (Black Bourton).

Demolition Derby: S Mowlam (Hants) from G Monk (High Wycombe).

Awards - Best painted car: 1 L Treasurer (Basingstoke), 2 S Henty (Lee on Solent). Rarest car: 1 B Cope (Leicester) 1953 Vauxhall Wyvern, 2 S Young (Isle of Wight) 1960 F Type Victor. Most wrecked car: P Tritton (Stonesfield) Lada. Best wrecker: J Dodge (Surrey).

Over 1800cc Unlimited Banger Class

Heat 1: M Simmonds (Hampshire). Heat 2: P McPhilimy (Bourton-on-the-Water). Heat 3: L Jackson (Bristol). Heat 4: A Cartwright (Carterton). Heat 5: R Martin (Thatcham). Heat 6: G Taylor (Worthing). Allcomers: M Simmonds (Hants).

Final: 1 M Simmonds (Hants), 2 I Castle (Warks), 3 R Martin (Thatcham).

Demolition Derby: 1= S Dyer (Somerset), B Forbes (Hemel Hempstead)

Awards - Best painted car: 1 I Crandon (Gloucester), 2 P Adams (Gloucester). Rarest car: 1 R Cooper (Banbury) 1948 Daimler Majestic, 2 M Lichfield (West Sussex) Volvo 262 Coupe. Most wrecked car: M Bates (Oxford) Granada Hearse. Best wrecker: B Keegan (Cardiff).