Arena Essex Raceway

Story

Arena Essex Raceway is a stock car and speedway racing track located near Purfleet, Essex. The Lakeside Shopping Centre was built alongside the venue.The stadiumThe Arena-Essex Raceway Complex was the idea of local businessman and racing driver, Chick Woodroffe. It was built in the remains of an old cement works overspill site. The new circuit was a quarter mile long with the first stock car race meeting held on 1 May 1978 which was infamously ruined by a heavy downpour. The track originally had a post and rope fence, which caused some colossal crashes and wrecks in the banger formula, and caught a few of the hot rods out. In the late 90's the track swapped the post and rope for an Armco barrier, catchfences were also put in place to protect spectators. Every September, the track hosts the oldest National World Final Championship. It's been running for over 40 years. Just over 40 cars, plus qualifiers from the wild card race, compete in the world final. 125 to 175 cars compete in the race meeting. The winner from the previous year starts the final in last place.Banger RacingBanger Racing is an event that takes place on Sunday afternoons and Bank holiday Mondays between second week of March to the first week of November. They race and crash into other drivers to smash up cars when they are racing. There are different types of banger meetings such as Rookie Bangers, 2L Bangers, National Bangers, Team Bangers, Big Van Bangers, Caravan Race and Unlimited Bangers. All cars are fitted with roll cages and a drivers door plate. The oldest car raced at Arena Essex Raceway is a 1928 Dodge Standard Six which started at the back in Firecracker XIII 2004. someone nearly got the car on the first turn but it got away until the driver lost it on turn four and hit a smashed car and was wrecked.