THE crowds turned out in force for a bumper festival of stock car and banger racing at Grimley Raceway, near Worcester.

The highlight of the HG Salvage-sponsored two-day meeting was the two-litre banger championship with a winner-takes-all prize of £500.

A total of 22 drivers raced for the Dave Edwards Memorial Trophy with Birmingham's Darren Lewis taking the honours.

The numerous other categories attracted 66 drivers with Ryan Palij taking both heats and the final in the junior Minis class, while Worcester's Chris Cherry came home first in the Stock Rods final despite being pushed hard in both heat and final by Gary Hope.

The track's next meeting is on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26.

n Local youngsters Ashley Bird and George Brown have got off to a flying start in this season's Junior Ministock series at Grimley.

Bird, aged 11 of Sale Green and Brown, 15, from Droitwich, competed successfully last year and in the opening event this year, Bird took first place and Brown third, with the tables turned at the second meeting with Brown just pipping Bird for first place.

Brown is the leading points scorer in the championship so far with Bird a very close second.

Both boys' fathers help prepare the Minis but also have time to race themselves. Rob Bird, owner of Himbleton Garage, drives a Hot Street Ford Fiesta and Tony Brown a Formula 2 Outlaw stock car.

Both gained third place podium finishes at the first meeting with Bird finishing second at the second meeting.