0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11For the last 35 years, on Sundays and bank holidays,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13thousands have descended upon the site
0:00:13 > 0:00:18of an old cement works in Essex to share their passion for crashing.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Banger racing. The rules are simple.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Be the first to get round the track 15 times.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37No hits allowed to the driver's door.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40But other than that, anything goes.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Oh, no!
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Competing comes at a price.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49I've basically broken every bone in my body apart from my spine
0:00:49 > 0:00:51and my pelvis. I've broken all my legs, top and bottom.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56My collarbone, jaw, skull. The list goes on.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Drivers not only race, but build their own cars.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05Where's Phil? I don't know how he's wired the car. I can wire it up.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Then you can cut in like that.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08It is a family affair.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09It is definitely passed down.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Everyone you know, either their dad's done it,
0:01:12 > 0:01:13or their uncle's done it.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Someone in their family has always done it.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And the drivers often start young.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20- How did it feel?- It feels lovely.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I'm inspired by Nigel Mansell, Formula 1 driver.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26He says there's no friends on the track.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Go on, Alf. Pull your finger out, son. Go on.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The rivalry is unbelievable, the hatred.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Once we're out there, it's time to go into battle.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39This is going to be a day none of us will ever forget.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Golf's boring. Fishing's boring.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49But then some people who do fishing or do golf
0:01:49 > 0:01:52might think banger racing is pointless.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54I can see it from their point of view.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59Banger racing, you're spending two or three weeks building a car
0:01:59 > 0:02:03to smash it up, and it might last ten minutes.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05But you're getting enjoyment out of it.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09If you're a fisherman you might stand with your waders in the water
0:02:09 > 0:02:12for two hours waiting for a fish what's never ever going to come.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14But that's what they enjoy doing.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Sweet, man.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Paul Korpiela and his brother Ricky are well-known faces at Arena Essex.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39They've been coming down to the track since they were kids
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and competing since they were teenagers.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48There goes the green flag. We are racing into turn number one.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51241, Paul Korpiela, takes the lead.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56In bangers there are two types of competitor.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02The rodders, who come to win the race,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05and the wreckers, who everyone else comes to see.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Either you win or you crash.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11You're either a winner or you're a crasher, and that's it.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13INTERVIEWER: What are you?
0:03:13 > 0:03:16I'd like to think I'm a crasher.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Here comes Paul Korpiela. He's out there with his brother as well,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21but in comes 382 Jack Foster Jr
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and he's spun out Paul Korpiela into the wall.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31For a wrecker, the crash is everything.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38They build their cars strong, and drive with just one thing in mind...
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Oh, my God.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46..the biggest, most spectacular crash.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52COMMENTATOR: Look at the Korpiela brothers out there
0:03:52 > 0:03:53doing what they do best.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Wreckers through and through, and don't they entertain us, folks?
0:03:56 > 0:03:58The Korpielas always put on a show
0:03:58 > 0:04:00and they really do entertain the crowd.
0:04:03 > 0:04:11Spice it up. Entertain people. That is what people want to see.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Go on. Inside, inside.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Just a few laps into the race,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Paul Korpiela's car is smashed out of the running.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36But wreckers like Paul don't come along to make it to the finish line.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Spot on. Everything about it was perfect.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48That was good. That was good.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51INTERVIEWER: How many laps did you do?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55I only done about five. That was good. That was good.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Ten miles from Arena Essex
0:05:06 > 0:05:10lives two-time world banger champion Bill King.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15- Film me with it(!)- Why not? What's wrong with that?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18- I'll put it on the back of the truck, then you can film.- Don't be silly.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22- Nothing's wrong with it. I look like I'm showing off.- Don't be silly.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27His headquarters is a yard where he and other drivers
0:05:27 > 0:05:31convert unwanted cars into race-ready bangers.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35INTERVIEWER: Show me your car, Bill.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37How do you set a car up for a banger race?
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Ship everything out, all the interior,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42so you're down to the driver's seat.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Put your roll cage, your H frame in.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Bolt the doors, secure all the doors, bolt them all up,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49weld them all so that they're safe.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51And you're ready to go.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54There's not really a lot else to it.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00Some of the drivers here are rodders like Bill,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03making their bangers lighter, faster and more responsive.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10The wreckers are after a heavier, stronger and more durable car.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- Look at him cheating. Cheating. - I ain't cheating.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19He's hiding things, look. He's slid something up there.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Now he's rolling it all up so that you can't see it.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- INTERVIEWER: I don't understand. Why is it cheating?- He's armouring.
0:06:26 > 0:06:32- He's armouring the car. So it don't bend as bad.- Really?- Yeah.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38INTERVIEWER: You look a bit hands-off, I have to say.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I'm waiting for my engine. Rat picked one up this morning.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46- Who's Rat?- My mechanic. Ratty Matt. - It's a bit like Formula 1.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- You've got a team. - Yeah, without the money.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Rat can't come down here too early
0:06:51 > 0:06:54because the gypsies next door want to kill him.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57That's why he has to wait till they all go home.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- Genuinely?- Yes.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02If I didn't do this, what else would I do?
0:07:02 > 0:07:04- I'd be in the pub, sit in the pub all day.- Look at him.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06He's already got an alcoholic's face.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08I like a drink. Nothing wrong with that.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10It keeps the kids off the street.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15Ricky and Paul Korpiela, they was naughty boys. They was bad boys.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16Were they?
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Yeah, it took them off the street and give them something to do.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Showed them round cars and learnt them about cars,
0:07:24 > 0:07:25taught them about cars.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Taught them how to nick better cars.- Yeah!
0:07:28 > 0:07:33And it's kept them on the straight and narrow. Sort of.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Look at that. That is the bollocks, man.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49We'll be driving down the road and a car will catch your eye.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Even though it would be good for racing, and you know
0:07:51 > 0:07:54you are never going to get that car, you're still going to look at it.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59It's like looking at an absolutely fit, fit, fit bird, isn't it?
0:07:59 > 0:08:02You know you're never going to get nowhere with her,
0:08:02 > 0:08:04but you could still look.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Paul and Ricky Korpiela work as scrap merchants in South London.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Although they both like to race,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16it's Paul's fascination with crashing that's drawn him
0:08:16 > 0:08:20to enter one of the biggest banger meetings of the year.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Today he's brought Ricky to pick up the car he'll be competing in.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27A rare American Pontiac.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- INTERVIEWER: What's this car for, then?- Firecracker.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35This is a big, unlimited, where it's unlimited...
0:08:35 > 0:08:38There's no limit to what you're allowed to use.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42So obviously you want the biggest car or the best car.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45These are all right for crashing, these cars are.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56For more than 20 years, the Firecracker race meeting has
0:08:56 > 0:09:00provided some of the most exciting moments in Arena Essex's history.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08It's the only race in the banger calendar that is unlimited.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12You can race any car, with no restriction on weight or size.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26That one needs holding with mole grips.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31That car there is worth nothing. It's only worth something to me
0:09:31 > 0:09:35because I do the racing, but apart from that the car is worth nothing.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37That Yank is worth nothing.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But if you can take it out in its last blaze of glory,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45paint it up, make it look nice,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47do a few good crashes and things like that in it,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and it's still going to end up in the scrapyard anyway.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52But someone's got something out of it
0:09:52 > 0:09:54rather than just taking it to be squashed.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59- I love it. - INTERVIEWER: Do you love it?
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Yeah. Racing, it's good. I love it.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13If we never had hobbies, what would we do?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15What would we do with our life?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- INTERVIEWER: What would you do? - I wouldn't know.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20I wouldn't be doing fishing or golf. Let me just help Rick load this up.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I wouldn't be doing fishing or golf, I know that.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26I can't even stand crazy golf. I think it's boring.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Come on. Come on then.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38INTERVIEWER: Who's this?
0:10:38 > 0:10:40This is Peppa. This is me daughter's pig.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43That's a full-grown micro pig.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Something what every little girl wants, isn't it?
0:10:46 > 0:10:47Like a little tiny pig.
0:10:49 > 0:10:55Paul was taught how to build and crash bangers by his dad Steve.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58That's my dad there and that's my uncle.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00He had a brain tumour.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02He obviously never knew it was there.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05And they cut it out and he was never right after that.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08And obviously we lost him two years ago now.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Everyone you know, either their dad has done it or their uncle
0:11:11 > 0:11:14has done it. Someone in their family has always done it. I don't know...
0:11:14 > 0:11:16INTERVIEWER: Or it's been a friend.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Yeah. I don't know someone who's just woke up and thought,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21"I'd like to have a go at that." Like no-one. No-one.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Tommy, do you want me to show you
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Daddy's best-ever crash on the video, on the DVD, yeah?
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Yeah? Yeah.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33I can't remember what Firecracker it was.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35It was when the limousine went right up in the air
0:11:35 > 0:11:37and they put it down as crash of the century.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43In 2004, driving a converted Lincoln limousine
0:11:43 > 0:11:50with a 4.2 litre Jaguar engine, Paul made Firecracker history.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56COMMENTATOR: '..He picks up Paul Korpiela...'
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Ready, watch, look.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01'What a crash!
0:12:03 > 0:12:06INDISTINCT
0:12:10 > 0:12:14'One of the best things you will ever see in your life.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18'Fan-blooming-tastic!'
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- You nearly went over the fence. - Over the fence.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25'My God. They're wetting themselves here.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28'They're starting to take their clothes off.'
0:12:28 > 0:12:31What do you think of that?
0:12:32 > 0:12:35It happened so quick, but it was all in slow motion.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38It felt like I was in the air for two, three minutes.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Obviously it was about two or three seconds and then it just stood up
0:12:42 > 0:12:44and then it fell over to one side.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47But I was buzzing that day. I really was buzzing.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48Here it goes. Look.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53You'll only ever get one shot like that.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55I don't think anyone would get a limo that high.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59They sell, obviously, photos, and Tommy's got a lunchbox with it on.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Tea coasters. Mouse mats. They put it on whatever you want.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Jigsaw puzzles.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Paul Korpiela, our special award winner.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08- How are you doing? Are you all right?- Not bad.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11It's like the FA Cup, winning, the final score,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13like the final goal.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16You've made it happen. I like that. That was good.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17That was good that.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- Well done, mate, we'll see you on Friday.- No probs. Thanks a lot.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Most banger racers at Arena Essex
0:13:32 > 0:13:35start in one of the junior divisions.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41In the Ministox League, kids as young as 11 can get
0:13:41 > 0:13:47behind the wheel of a race-modified Mini capable of speeds up to 55mph.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52INTERVIEWER: What were you doing there?
0:13:52 > 0:13:53I'm telling him to push himself.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55He's not pushing himself at the moment.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57I told him to do a few laps just to warm the car up,
0:13:57 > 0:13:58now he can start pushing it.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01What do you mean, "pushing it?" Get more aggressive?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Yeah, more aggressive, brake later for the bends,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05as if he's in an actual race.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08He's still got to get right out to that fence so he can
0:14:08 > 0:14:09swoop into the bend more.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- That last lap, I done it with no brakes.- All right.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21I'd come off slightly and go back on.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- How did it feel?- It feels lovely.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It's not slipping, pushing on.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28What we want to do now, I'm going to try and alter your tyre pressure,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30see if we can improve it. All right?
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Come here a minute. I need you to help me push.
0:14:34 > 0:14:3713-year-old Alfie Jones
0:14:37 > 0:14:41currently stands fourth in the championship table.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42His dad has recently bought him
0:14:42 > 0:14:45a title-winning car in a bid for victory.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47..Shake it side to side.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51It's flying now and I've set it up for me, just right for me.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54You find when you buy cars off of other people it's not right
0:14:54 > 0:14:58set up to you. You've got to set it up to you, the driver.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Cos my driving's different to Brandon Osborne's.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Brandon Osborne's could be different to Stephen Gilbert's.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Stephen Gilbert's could be different to anyone's,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08you know what I mean? You have to set it up to yourself.
0:15:08 > 0:15:14If that was at 31, we drive at 26, we've took off 7lbs, ain't we?
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Go to 26 with that.- 26, yeah?
0:15:16 > 0:15:19This is what we normally run on your other car.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- What was it?- 26.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24INTERVIEWER: There's not many 13-year-olds
0:15:24 > 0:15:25doing this kind of thing.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28No, that's right. Yeah. But he's learning as he goes.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29He's got to learn.
0:15:31 > 0:15:32Right, I'm ready.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46We want it about four foot forward, yeah?
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Tell me when to stop.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Alfie's racing career is entirely sponsored by
0:15:51 > 0:15:53his dad's drainage business.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58A former wrecker himself, Darren knows all about the commitment
0:15:58 > 0:16:00required to make it in the sport.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05INTERVIEWER: What would you like to see him achieve?
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Maybe a Formula 1 world champion,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11or at least be up there with the big boys.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Up with the top drivers. But he's got to keep pushing himself.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18He's got to keep pushing himself harder and harder.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21We found from racing before, he don't push as hard.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24So now I was pushing hard, putting all the hard work in
0:16:24 > 0:16:28and he ended up pushing himself, so now I push as hard as he will.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30So if he eases off I ease off.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- You'd love to see him in the Formula 1?- Yeah, definitely, yeah.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- You got it?- Yeah. - Holding on to it?- Yeah.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Let it slowly twist. Slowly.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43And pull back. Slowly as you go.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- INTERVIEWER: What would you like to do when you're older?- Formula 1.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- And if that doesn't work out? - Drainage.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50I've always said that to him.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52If he don't like the racing then just park the car up,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54say, "It's not for me," and walk away from it.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03In two months, Alfie will chase his biggest challenge yet.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06The Essex Ministox Championship.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Although not as dangerous as bangers,
0:17:11 > 0:17:13Ministox is a contact sport.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Spins and rear nudges are allowed.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23All the cars must be adapted to ensure
0:17:23 > 0:17:25the drivers are as safe as they can be.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29INTERVIEWER: How is this Mini
0:17:29 > 0:17:31modified from a road Mini in order to race?
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Obviously anything that can burn is taken out of it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39No glass. Anything that can harm the driver or that is dangerous
0:17:39 > 0:17:42is taken out. There's one seat left in it.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45There's the bare minimum wiring. Just enough to start the engine.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48That's it, you're in line now. Go on.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50You not dead straight. Lift it upwards, the back of it up.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53- It's good you're doing this.- Why?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Cos you'll soon know that you like mechanics.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I'll need to take me hoodie off cos there's a load of grease here.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I don't want to get my hoodie in the grease.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Right. Now you know why I did plumbing.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04He's got a four or five point harness in there
0:18:04 > 0:18:06that straps him in nice and tight.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11You've got all the metal bars around the car for protection
0:18:11 > 0:18:13if they have an accident, or they use them
0:18:13 > 0:18:16to nudge each other out of the way.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19They take a hell of a lot of time because, you see,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22if you are judging a race on 100%,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25then 10% of the car is what you see on the track.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The rest of the time is in the workshop with it,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31really making sure it's performing when it gets out there.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36All Ministox cars must run on the same one-litre engine.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Apart from a few minor tweaks that the Joneses can make to
0:18:41 > 0:18:46improve the engine's performance, it's down to Alfie.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51- INTERVIEWER: Are you in with a chance?- Yes, I think so.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55With how my driving style is and the car's running right now
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- and I don't panic, I should have a good chance.- Do you sometimes panic?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Yeah, I sometimes get a bit nervous
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and that's when I started to muck it up.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05I've just got to learn to keep calm.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17The way I look at a car... You look at a girl -
0:19:17 > 0:19:18a lovely figure, nice bum, legs.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20It just curves and it just flows nice.
0:19:20 > 0:19:26That, it's just a lovely looking motor. I love the look of them.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29# Yeah, yeah, like I said You are really fit
0:19:29 > 0:19:32# But my gosh Don't you just know it... #
0:19:32 > 0:19:37COMMENTATOR: 210 Tommy Parker is your new race leader.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39I could get in any motor, take it on the track
0:19:39 > 0:19:41and I'll be quick straightaway.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43It's just flat to floor and give it shit.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48# I'm not trying to pull you Even though I would like to
0:19:48 > 0:19:51# I think you are really fit
0:19:51 > 0:19:55# You're fit but my gosh, don't you know it? #
0:19:55 > 0:20:00Not being funny. What other young lads in the country do this? Me.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02COMMENTATOR: Let's hear it one more time
0:20:02 > 0:20:04for our race winner Tommy Parker.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11# You're fit but you know it. #
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Tommy Parker is one of the sport's rising stars.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Shit hot, mate. This is flying.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20He comes from a long line of banger racers
0:20:20 > 0:20:22passed down from father to son.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25This year his dad Darren is planning to end his career
0:20:25 > 0:20:29as a wrecker in spectacular style at Firecracker.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33This is a photo of my dad racing. This is probably mid-'70s.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34No roll cages,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37no door plates, just literally put a bit of foam round,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39put a harness on, take it out and smash it up.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41So it was quite scary in them days.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45INTERVIEWER: It still is to a degree. People lose their lives, don't they?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48People do lose their lives. I think three died last year.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51They give you a sheet of paper, so you actually sign it.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54When you're younger and you sign it you just don't worry about it.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57You just sign your name. You know you've got to do it to race.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59As you get older you start thinking about it
0:20:59 > 0:21:01and it's like you're actually signing saying,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04if you die or are seriously injured, you take responsibility for that
0:21:04 > 0:21:05because you are in a dangerous motorsport.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07And it sort of brings it home as you get older
0:21:07 > 0:21:10and you start thinking, "Oh." I've basically broken
0:21:10 > 0:21:13every bone in my body apart from my spine and my pelvis.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I've broken all my legs top and bottom.
0:21:15 > 0:21:21Knee joints, wrists, hands, collarbone, jaw, skull.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24So, yeah, the list goes on.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Darren's son Tommy won't be competing in Firecracker.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34But he's agreed to help his dad get ready for the big race.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39He reckons this is his last banger. So we'll see.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42I think he's broke most bones in his body.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46He had a certain percentage of burns and skin grafts
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and he's just smashed up. His knees only bend so far.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51He shouldn't be getting in a banger, really.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53He shouldn't be doing the Firecracker.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55I'm not going to let him do it in the future.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57He shouldn't be doing it.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03If you could take it and bottle it and sell it,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06that impact that you have, you'd make a fortune.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08You can't explain it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10INTERVIEWER: Crashing?
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Crashing. It's adrenaline.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15Your body... It's unbelievable. It's just so exciting.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17You can't describe it.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- Did you try and describe it? - I did once.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24I made the mistake of saying that crashing a car was better than sex,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27and that didn't go down too well, but it's true.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Hang on a minute. Then we'll lift the back up.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Get something to lift the back up. A couple of blocks.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35A couple of four by fours or something.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- Go on, then. I can't get past.- I'm helping you out here.- Here we go.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Him and his mouth again.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Over the years I've retired and said I've had enough,
0:22:46 > 0:22:47and bits and pieces and stopped.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49And for financial reasons and bits and pieces.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52And I still sort of seemed to go back to it,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54but I really have got to draw a line underneath it
0:22:54 > 0:22:56and this is definitely going to be the last one.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05INTERVIEWER: Why is he so keen to do it?
0:23:05 > 0:23:09I think because who his mates are. He wants to go out in it.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11He's bought it now, so...
0:23:11 > 0:23:13He...
0:23:13 > 0:23:15- Wants to be one of the boys. - Yeah.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21But he's one of the oldest boys now. He ain't so nimble any more.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23He's got arthritis in his knees.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Tap him on his knee, and his knees are no good.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29If he turns funny his knee will pop out and he'll be on the floor.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31It's a nightmare.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34It worries you. If he goes to come out and a car comes in
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and he goes flying, his legs get caught up in the bulkhead,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39and he goes flying, it's going to pull his knee.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It's going to be a nightmare.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45As soon he's on the track I won't be watching the race.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I'll literally be watching this car, just staring at it and watching him.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51And if he gets stuck in something I'll quickly run round
0:23:51 > 0:23:52and make sure he's OK.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56If I have to I'll go straight on the track and drag him out myself.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I reckon that's about right. Get comfy.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Trust me. This is going to be solid. I'm confident.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I don't think it's going to be massively fast,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11but I'm going to have a go with it. I've never done a Firecracker yet.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13It's one of the biggest meetings you could ever do.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16And if you're going to go out, I want to go out on a good one.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Bought from a breaker's yard, Darren will be racing
0:24:23 > 0:24:27a 1970 Daimler Vanden Plas limousine.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29A highly collectable car.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34£300 for this one. You buy a car for a purpose.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Whether you bought it to do up cos you love the car or
0:24:36 > 0:24:39whether you bought it to smash it up because you enjoy smashing them up.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42It's what you do. This car is going to serve a purpose for what I want,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45which is to race it and smash it up.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Some people can class it as a shame.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I class it as a good thing because it's a nice, good, solid car
0:24:52 > 0:24:54and it's going to do me well, hopefully, in racing.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59It's a big day for the both of us.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01It's obviously the last day for me in racing.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03It's the last day for the car
0:25:03 > 0:25:05because once it's finished it will go for scrap.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08So as a car, it's going to end its life,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11and me as a banger racer, it's the end of my career.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15INTERVIEWER: He's promised you he's going to give up.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Banger racing, yes. Definitely.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20He's sitting there smirking,
0:25:20 > 0:25:21but he is.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- Yeah, he is. - You'll make sure of that?
0:25:25 > 0:25:26I will, definitely.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32- Aren't you, Darren?- Yes, babe.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34He's sitting there grinning.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Oh, dear.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44On your own. I'll give you one minute. OK. Come on.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47We must have things that we worry about,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49that we're not sure about. OK?
0:25:49 > 0:25:51The tests next lesson.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53OK, in the scheme of things, is one little topic test
0:25:53 > 0:25:58from one subject really that important? But it can worry you.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04It's just a month until Alfie's big race at the Essex Championship.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10It comes at the end of a tough year for him
0:26:10 > 0:26:12both on the track and at school.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18I was getting a bit picked on. Calling me Ginger and all that.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Saying things about my mum and dad. How I'd always be a lowlife.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26But I get it. You've just got to deal with it.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30I'm not as much a lowlife as them. They ain't got the Minis I have.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33They don't race. They don't get treated as much as I do.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39He used to come home crying. in tears.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I used to sit here, pick the pieces up. Give him a cuddle.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Tell him it will all be all right.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47He used to beg me that he didn't want to go back to school.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52It would break my heart sending him out the door to go to school.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58He asked me my opinion. "What would you have done?"
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I said, "I would have hit them, but I can't tell you what to do.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06"You either stand up for yourself or you can't.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09"That is the choice you're making in life.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11"You have to choose your own path."
0:27:11 > 0:27:14From our sit-down chat he still went on with another
0:27:14 > 0:27:18three months of bullying until he just cracked one day.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22I just lost it. I went up and I hit the boy. A fight broke out.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26All the school was there round him, round us and all that.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32Then I did get in trouble. Yeah, I did. I admitted it. I hit first.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34"I shouldn't have hit him. I should've come to you."
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Cos I didn't report it then.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38He shouldn't have hit him.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42But he just can't take being picked on no more.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44And it's ended.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47It was just really, really bad. Yeah.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52There's always someone waiting to be bigger than someone else.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57I didn't want to lose my temper. I just did.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59So yeah.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10I grew up in life having to do that. I stood up for myself all the time.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13I still do. "So what are you going to do about it?
0:28:13 > 0:28:15"What do you feel like you should do?"
0:28:15 > 0:28:19We have these conversations, we have these chats with him.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21The same thing as on the track.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24INTERVIEWER: He's having to stick up for himself on the track as well?
0:28:24 > 0:28:25Yeah. Yeah.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31There's no friends on the track. I'm inspired by Nigel Mansell,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Formula 1 driver. I've been reading his autobiography
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- and that's what he says. - INTERVIEWER: What does he say?
0:28:37 > 0:28:39He says, "And there's no friends on the track."
0:28:42 > 0:28:46People have got to, not teach a lesson,
0:28:46 > 0:28:48but to show that I ain't going to put up with it.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50It's the Morpheys, really.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Alfie and his parents see brothers Will and Charlie Morphey
0:28:55 > 0:28:59from Suffolk as his main rivals for this championship.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13INTERVIEWER: How serious are you about racing?
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Quite serious.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17It's what we spend most of the time doing.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20I ain't got no PlayStations or anything like everyone else.
0:29:20 > 0:29:24- The contact always livens up a bit. - You enjoy contact?
0:29:24 > 0:29:26Yeah, definitely.
0:29:26 > 0:29:27You're not afraid
0:29:27 > 0:29:30- to make a few enemies out there?- Nah.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36The Morpheys have brought their cars to a track simulator
0:29:36 > 0:29:40called the rolling road to measure the performance of the engine
0:29:40 > 0:29:41at high speeds.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46We're here on the rolling road to get the most out of the engines
0:29:46 > 0:29:48because they're only one-litre engines
0:29:48 > 0:29:51and you've got to squeeze the most out of them because they're all
0:29:51 > 0:29:54roughly the same on the track and every little horsepower counts.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56It's very competitive out there, yeah.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59INTERVIEWER: And you want to do well, do you?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Yeah, as well as I can, really.
0:30:04 > 0:30:05Out on the track, Alfie
0:30:05 > 0:30:09and the Morpheys have collided several times this season.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10Right, take over.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13They took me out at the Eastbourne Sussex championship
0:30:13 > 0:30:16and now they're starting to, like, keep lunging at me
0:30:16 > 0:30:20and that's so I've just got to show my authority back.
0:30:20 > 0:30:21They won't push me about no more.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23ENGINE REVS
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I suppose it's a bit like school.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28If people are going to make contact with my son out there,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30I expect my son to make contact back.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35I ain't there to be picked on, pulled about everywhere.
0:30:35 > 0:30:40I'm there to win. I'll just do the same what they done to me.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42I'll just take them out of the race completely.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Bring it around.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Straighten up, as you are.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03Like Alfie, Paul Korpiela started driving at an early age.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11INTERVIEWER: What were you like as a kid?
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I was a bastard. Definitely.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16Always mucking about.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19I got suspended from school, kicked out of one school.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Just mucking about, mucking about, mucking about.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25I never wanted to learn. Then I started joyriding.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28I got into a lot of joyriding.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31That's what kids do in this sort of area.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Obviously, when they got up behind you and put the blue lights on,
0:31:34 > 0:31:35when you took a chase for about ten minutes,
0:31:35 > 0:31:38you knew you weren't losing them, you thought...
0:31:38 > 0:31:40when they're coming from everywhere, you thought,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43"Oh, I'm fucked here. They're going to nick me."
0:31:43 > 0:31:45But, like, you still get out and try and run.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47You're never going to get away from them. There's too many of them.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49- Did you enjoy the chase?- I loved it.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52I was ramming police and everything.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54I think that's where the fascination come.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Where I knew how to drive at a young age,
0:31:58 > 0:32:00I was out joyriding all the time.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04Did you get put away for any of this?
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Yeah, I've been away a few times. - Oh, yeah?- Yeah.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- When were you last in? - Two and a half years ago.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13But that was for something else. That weren't to do with cars.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15What was that?
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I tried to nick some money off a cash machine,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21a cash delivery or something like that.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24So they tried doing me for armed robbery.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I'm not seeing it. Hang on.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35I never want to go back to prison. Never want to go back to prison.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39Going to visit your dad in jail, in my eyes,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41he looks like a scumbag sort of thing.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45I don't want that for my kids. I want them to see me when they want.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47Since he's come out of prison,
0:32:47 > 0:32:51Paul takes his youngest, Tommy, to every race meeting.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Like, obviously he thinks it's brilliant holding the trophy
0:32:54 > 0:32:57and the flag. He thinks it's blinding. You can see...
0:32:57 > 0:32:58And he's happy. He's really happy,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01like, with what I've done and it's good.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04That's better than winning a race, I think.
0:33:04 > 0:33:05I want him to look up to me,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08not think any different of me.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10And crashing is a way of doing that?
0:33:10 > 0:33:12Crashing is definitely a way of doing it.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Paul has just a few weeks to prepare for Firecracker.
0:33:19 > 0:33:20Before the final paint job,
0:33:20 > 0:33:24he's welding extra reinforcement into the Pontiac.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Some people say it's cheating - I call it competing.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34You get other people that, like, they'll weld the death out the motor
0:33:34 > 0:33:37and obviously where you haven't welded as much or you haven't
0:33:37 > 0:33:40welded anything in your car, obviously your car is gone to
0:33:40 > 0:33:45be the one to give rather than their car giving cos their car is so hard.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49As I say, some people call it cheating - I call it competing.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54What would be the ideal result for you at Firecracker?
0:33:54 > 0:33:57What could you do... What do you train for?
0:33:57 > 0:34:00I'd love to get best wrecker. Best wrecker.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Or best crash of the day, that'd do me. I'd be over the moon with that.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Absolutely over the moon.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21It's almost like you're not paying attention to the start of the race.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24It's the night before the Essex Championships
0:34:24 > 0:34:27and Darren and Alfie are analysing his racing tactics.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Whenever I put the clutch up, it goes, "Brrrrrrrrrr."
0:34:31 > 0:34:34Look, see? They're up and gone. See?
0:34:34 > 0:34:38I do the videos - all of the racing -
0:34:38 > 0:34:40come back, we download them
0:34:40 > 0:34:44and then we sit down as a family and watch them.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47And then Darren sort of tells him where he might have gone wrong,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50where he could correct it, what he done right.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53You know, lots of praise for that.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55So, yeah.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57When there's a car there and you go like that,
0:34:57 > 0:35:00you get past, come into a bend, do you just swoop out and then in,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- or do you just go like that? - Out. Just out.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Cos when it's coming up to the bend,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09- I, like, swoop out and in to just get that little bit faster.- No.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12He sometimes seems to stay in the middle of the track
0:35:12 > 0:35:15when he needs to come out into the faster lane.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19That way, the car doesn't turn so hard into the bends,
0:35:19 > 0:35:22otherwise you have to turn a lot sharper.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26So you take the track at its biggest width,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28come out to the fence
0:35:28 > 0:35:31and you're not so sharp coming into the bend.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35It seems that when someone who's a bit tasty comes behind you,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38you seem to fall apart a bit and, once they get past you, you
0:35:38 > 0:35:41pick up the pace and try and catch them but, by then, it's too late.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44They've got the momentum and they've gone.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46It's almost like you got to show them a bit of authority,
0:35:46 > 0:35:50slap the side of their car, stamp your authority on them, Alf, yeah?
0:35:50 > 0:35:52- Yeah.- Let them know you're there,
0:35:52 > 0:35:54- put them under pressure how they pressure you.- Yeah.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57He has to stand up for himself out there. You know?
0:35:57 > 0:36:00There's only so much poking you can take before you poke back.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04This is what I'm saying to you, all right? As you're coming in now...
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- Yeah?- Yeah.- ..they can cut in like that and they're still flat-out.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12Get back in at that end, get into like that then push
0:36:12 > 0:36:16on the front of their car and then just...that with the steering wheel.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Yeah? Yeah?
0:36:19 > 0:36:23It's hard cos they're only children, still, at the end of the day.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27They are kids and you don't want them to be bullies or nothing like that
0:36:27 > 0:36:29but if people are going to do that then they have to do it back.
0:36:29 > 0:36:34- If you're stuck on the inside now, yeah?- Keep them to your right.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Keep them... Keep them like that and you can do that to them. Yeah?
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- Do you understand?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42You can even be up to him.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44We can even keep him on you like that all the way.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49If you're quick enough, yeah, to go into reverse, you can
0:36:49 > 0:36:51keep him there all the way. Yeah?
0:36:51 > 0:36:53And then he's going to do...
0:36:57 > 0:36:59I...I feel nervous on race days
0:36:59 > 0:37:03but I think it's just natural to feel nervous.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07I mean, not many people...kids get to drive cars as contacts
0:37:07 > 0:37:10but you should always think positive.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Sometimes it's just not for the people, banger racing. It ain't.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17It's just not in 'em.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Alfie, I want to see your aggression just improve a little bit more.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28- Yeah?- Yeah.- You're not aggressive cos you hate them,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31- you're aggressive cos you want to get past them.- And I want to win.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34It's not that it's your friend in front or you know him
0:37:34 > 0:37:36- and you talk to him. - There's no friends on the track.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39There's no friends on the track, as such, cos you're all there to win.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42So you just push each other out the way to win.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44How are you feeling now?
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- I've got some butterflies in my stomach, but confident.- Butterflies.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51That's good. Butterflies are the adrenaline starting to form, yeah?
0:37:51 > 0:37:56- Yeah.- There's a difference between being scared and adrenaline. Yeah?
0:37:56 > 0:37:58The nerves and the adrenaline, yeah?
0:37:58 > 0:38:03I did a race once where I physically felt sick.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07I was shaking, I couldn't think straight. It was just like...
0:38:09 > 0:38:12..like you've been told you've got half hour to live sort of thing
0:38:12 > 0:38:15and, you know, your life depended on what you was going to do out there.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17- OK?- Yeah.
0:38:17 > 0:38:23- Other than that, just enjoy yourself again. OK?- Yeah.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30HORN BEEPS
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- I'm feeling confident today. - INTERVIEWER: Are you?- Yeah.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- Let's have a look. Have you got your game face on?- Yeah. Yeah.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- You could call it that, game face, yeah.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47And if one of those Morpheys gets on you, are you going to...?
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Yeah, I'll just give them a punt, really.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55LOUD REVVING
0:38:57 > 0:38:58The Essex Championships
0:38:58 > 0:39:00attracts competitors from all over the country...
0:39:02 > 0:39:05..including Alfie's long-standing rivals, the Morphey brothers.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14I'm just going to enjoy my day.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16I'm not going to let the Morpheys spoil it.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18If they want to pick on me, I'll do them back.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22ENGINES ROAR
0:39:23 > 0:39:27The Morphey brothers have done a bit of punting on Alfie at the bend.
0:39:27 > 0:39:28They've tried to launch on him at the bend
0:39:28 > 0:39:32and they've actually spun him out as well. Not sure why.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34As far as I know, Alfie hasn't touched them,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37and think Alfie got took out by them at another track as well.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42So, you know, it... What comes around goes around, I think.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46- How's your visor? Dirty? Clean? - Dirty, probably.- Well done.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49ENGINE STARTS
0:39:49 > 0:39:52All right? Be lucky, son. Enjoy yourself, yeah?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08COMMENTATOR: 'So, a big welcome to all of you out there today for
0:40:08 > 0:40:12'the Ministox Essex Championship here at Arena Essex Raceway.'
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Alfie Jones is the next driver up - 552. Sitting fourth in the points.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Fifth in heat one last time out.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25'Looking good as a strong contender for today's Essex Championship final.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31'Will Morphey next up onto the track is 529.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33'Ninth in the points currently.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36'And Charlie Morphey there as well, his brother - 592.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37'11th in the points.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'Just behind him on this season-ending race for the Ministox.'
0:40:46 > 0:40:5020 of the country's leading child drivers go head-to-head
0:40:50 > 0:40:52in 1,000cc classic Minis.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Championship standings are put to one side in this
0:40:57 > 0:41:02first-to-the-line, winner-take-all, 20-lap showdown.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09COMMENTATOR: 'There goes the green flag.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13'We are under way of racing into turn one. And 517 takes the lead.'
0:41:20 > 0:41:21Alfie gets away to a good start.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30An early collision from the youngest Morphey brother
0:41:30 > 0:41:31allows Alfie a way past.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Go on, Alf, through. Go on.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43'And it's a really good effort from 552 Alfie Jones
0:41:43 > 0:41:45'making his way up through the field.'
0:41:49 > 0:41:53Well done, Alf. Close the door on him, Alf.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56He's hitting the bends lovely, coming out to the fence.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59He's driving perfect, actually.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02Just a few laps in
0:42:02 > 0:42:06and Charlie Morphey makes his way back up to Alfie.
0:42:06 > 0:42:07Flick him, Alf. Now, to do him.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11'Oh, look, Alfie Jones 552
0:42:11 > 0:42:14'having a right go at the Morphey brothers there.'
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Yeah, he's doing what he is meant to do.
0:42:16 > 0:42:21- A bit of punting going on but that's racing.- Go on, push, Alf, push.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24But by lap eight,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28Alfie finds himself up against the elder Morphey brother, Will.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Take him out, Alf, as well. Spin him now. Push him.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Watch him, he'll do you.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43'529 Will Morphey has a right go at Alfie Jones there
0:42:43 > 0:42:45'and he's passed him on the inside.'
0:42:50 > 0:42:54He's just slowed down a little bit. I'm not sure why.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00It seems like he's slowing down. He should be speeding up.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04He's not...not pushing himself now.
0:43:04 > 0:43:05Come on, Alf.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12'Well, 517 Lauren Overy has caught right up on 552 Alfie Jones here.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19'And she gives him a clip going into the bend
0:43:19 > 0:43:21'and she's passed him.'
0:43:37 > 0:43:40See, he's going backwards or they're pulling right away.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Too cautious, I've said that.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52- What?- Too cautious, Alfie, all the time.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01'Just not been Alfie's race.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03'A great start but he's fallen right out of contention.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05'I don't think he's in it.'
0:44:09 > 0:44:10About eighth, isn't he?
0:44:13 > 0:44:15'Very disappointing race for Alfie there.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17'He won't be happy with that at all.'
0:44:20 > 0:44:21Yeah. Eighth.
0:44:23 > 0:44:25'So, coming round now for your applause,
0:44:25 > 0:44:29'let's hear it for third-place 529 Will Morphey,
0:44:29 > 0:44:32'runner-up 907 Cameron Lawrence
0:44:32 > 0:44:35'and race-winner 986 Sophie Fasey.'
0:44:35 > 0:44:36CHEERING
0:44:40 > 0:44:43The race deteriorated with him as he got on.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46And I feel like I'm always bollocking him.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49Alf. Either something was going wrong with it,
0:44:49 > 0:44:52but once they got past you, they fucking got away from you, Alf.
0:44:52 > 0:44:53I don't know what it is.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59We've got to do something, because you're going from worse to worse.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02They've got the same engines as you so we've either got to
0:45:02 > 0:45:04do something with the engine or something with your driving.
0:45:04 > 0:45:10I don't want to do it so I'm putting you down every time but it's just...
0:45:10 > 0:45:12Again, either we throw the engine away...
0:45:12 > 0:45:13We take it back, we're not happy with it.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15I don't know what to do or what to say
0:45:15 > 0:45:18cos if you was flat-out then this engine needs scrapping...
0:45:18 > 0:45:19cos it's shit.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22HORN BEEPS
0:45:26 > 0:45:29- What did I get in the end? - Well, I don't know...- Fifth?
0:45:29 > 0:45:32No, you joking? Way back. Eighth. Eighth tonight.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37I don't know what to say to you apart from just take it back.
0:45:37 > 0:45:38I don't know. But I can't...
0:45:38 > 0:45:41Before I go and say there's something wrong with the engine,
0:45:41 > 0:45:43- how do I know it ain't you? - It can't be me on the straight
0:45:43 > 0:45:45cos if they're pulling on the straight they must have better
0:45:45 > 0:45:48engines or this engine's breaking down cos it's not the bends there.
0:45:48 > 0:45:52If it's on the straight, foot to the floor and I'm in a straight line.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55- Are you on that fucking throttle, Alf?- Yeah, flat out.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59Well, I don't know. I'll set light to it, I will. Fucking thing.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01Getting fucked off with it all.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07A cautious driver only makes the numbers up but that ain't
0:46:07 > 0:46:09going to make a champion, ain't going to make a winner.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12It feels like I'm always telling him how bad he is doing
0:46:12 > 0:46:14rather than bumping him up.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17But if I don't tell him, and lie to him, you know,
0:46:17 > 0:46:19what sort of person am I?
0:46:19 > 0:46:22If he's got to make it, he's going to need to be told it.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25INTERVIEWER: Do think it's the car or you or what?
0:46:25 > 0:46:26I think it's a bit of both, really.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33What is it, are you just not pushing it hard enough, do you think?
0:46:33 > 0:46:35I don't know. Not sure.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45- I'm a bit disappointed, really.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:46:48 > 0:46:50- Are you sure you want to carry on?- Yeah.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Don't know, really.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05- I'll sleep on it now.- Oh, Alf, you look really down, mate.- Yeah.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23Are you looking forward to it, Tommy?
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Are you going to tell me to smash into everything?
0:47:25 > 0:47:31No, cos I don't want you to crash. You get a trophy if you don't crash.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33Yeah, but I might get a trophy for crashing.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39Finally resprayed in the Korpiela colours,
0:47:39 > 0:47:42Paul's Pontiac is ready for Firecracker.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50He'll be competing for best wrecker.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53But the competition is stiff.
0:47:53 > 0:47:57These are the biggest and heaviest bangers raced at the track all year.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Right, Tommy, wait here while we unload the cars, yeah?
0:48:01 > 0:48:03Good boy.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09- How are we doing, matey? - Yeah, not bad.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13Hoping to challenge Paul for the title of best wrecker is
0:48:13 > 0:48:17Darren Parker in his last ever race.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20I think he's nervous now so I'm starting to think,
0:48:20 > 0:48:22"Oh, bit nervous." Just walked up there with him
0:48:22 > 0:48:25to get something to eat and he's definitely nervous but he's
0:48:25 > 0:48:29been kind of looking at all the other cars and thinking, "Oh, dear."
0:48:31 > 0:48:35Firecracker attracts rare and unusual cars.
0:48:35 > 0:48:40Many of them haven't been driven in years, and they're often unreliable.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42For Darren, this will mean racing
0:48:42 > 0:48:46with two or three crucial missing parts.
0:48:46 > 0:48:50The car's in a good shape. Bodywork-wise, it's strong.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52It's all been welded up. It's really... It's not rotten at all.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55It's a really good shell. But it's got no brakes.
0:48:55 > 0:48:57Yeah, when we originally picked it up and lifted it up,
0:48:57 > 0:49:00the back axle come off so we got no rear brakes on it at all.
0:49:02 > 0:49:03This side is not connected,
0:49:03 > 0:49:05so there's no brakes on this side either.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07All we got, literally, is the front driver's-side brake.
0:49:07 > 0:49:08And that works a little bit.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12So that'll probably be him round the bends and just wait and see.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16Paul and Darren may not plan to finish all 20 laps
0:49:16 > 0:49:18but they'll still need their cars in working order to give them
0:49:18 > 0:49:20the best chance of the winning crash.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25There's no brakes, still. No brakes.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28- INTERVIEWER: So, it's not braking? - At all.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30Not looking forward to that. Not looking forward to that.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32What, that you might not be able to stop the car?
0:49:32 > 0:49:36Oh, no, you can't stop the car. There ain't no brakes on it.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39COMMENTATOR: 'It's Sunday, it's ten to one,
0:49:39 > 0:49:41'this is Firecracker 22'
0:49:41 > 0:49:43at Arena Essex.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49'It is a dangerous sport, but even though you might get hurt, Tommy,
0:49:49 > 0:49:51'he does, he looks at me as a hero.'
0:49:53 > 0:49:56INTERVIEWER: Does it make you feel proud of yourself?
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Oh, yeah, definitely. Definitely makes you feel proud.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04The more times you injure yourself on old injuries,
0:50:04 > 0:50:08it takes longer for you to heal up. But you get there.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11You have to get on, don't you? You have to move forward.
0:50:11 > 0:50:12And I've managed to get hold of a big car
0:50:12 > 0:50:14so we'll go and have a bit of fun.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28COMMENTATOR: '212, next up on to the track is Darren Barker
0:50:28 > 0:50:30'racing in his Daimler DS limo today.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33'Seventh in the Super Banger points.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35'He's got all his family here today supporting him.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37'He's racing out there for the Metal Wreckers'
0:50:37 > 0:50:41in what could be his last day of racing here at Firecracker.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44- Do you reckon the old man will retire, then?- Yeah, he well.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47- Yeah, he's going to. Definitely. - He's said that about six times.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49Well, he's getting too old now.
0:50:50 > 0:50:51ENGINE STARTS
0:50:53 > 0:50:56INTERVIEWER: Paul, good luck out there.
0:50:56 > 0:50:58Good luck, mate. I'll need it.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02- Is he in the zone, do you think?- Yeah, he is.
0:51:02 > 0:51:06He's out there now, boy.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09- He's got killer eyes. - He's got killer eyes!
0:51:09 > 0:51:11I've just got mud in it.
0:51:11 > 0:51:12THEY LAUGH
0:51:21 > 0:51:24COMMENTATOR: 'He's back up again. It's Paul Korpiela.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26'Mashing crashing his limo a few years ago.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29'I'm sure plenty of us don't forget that one on turn number three.'
0:51:29 > 0:51:31Looking for the best entertainer trophy today.
0:51:31 > 0:51:36At the meeting, he always loves to put on a show for the fans.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49'43 unlimited bangers on the track for Firecracker
0:51:49 > 0:51:52'and we are under way and racing into turn number one.'
0:51:52 > 0:51:55And already some big hits going in on the pit bed.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07'241 Paul Korpiela is looking to get something going
0:52:07 > 0:52:09'down there in his big old Yank tank.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32'241 still getting stuck in down on the Tavern turn.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35'He's backed away. He is revving up for another one.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37'Oh, and he's stacked him right up.'
0:52:39 > 0:52:42I'm looking for someone who I can crash into straightaway.
0:52:42 > 0:52:47That's what everyone who comes to watch wants to see,
0:52:47 > 0:52:49is cars crashing into each other.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51I want to crash, crash, crash, crash, crash.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54All the time, crash. Not race, just crash.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00Once you go on the track, you can forget about everything.
0:53:00 > 0:53:01You can be a hero.
0:53:11 > 0:53:15It does take a lot of courage to keep your foot down.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17No matter who you are, it's going to hurt.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20It's going to hurt you and it's probably going to hurt them.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27'Look at the demolition down there on the Tavern turn.'
0:53:27 > 0:53:30212 is getting picked up. That's Darren Parker.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32Hang on, hang on, hang on. Oh.
0:53:41 > 0:53:45Someone's just done a head-on on him. What the fuck? What the fuck?
0:53:45 > 0:53:50935 and 212 involved in a head-on on the centre and 212...
0:53:50 > 0:53:56Oh, my goodness me. Puts it right into Sidney de Poorter.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Halfway down the home straight.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01MUSIC "I Shall Be Released" by Bob Dylan
0:54:01 > 0:54:05# They say every man must need protection
0:54:08 > 0:54:09# They say every man... #
0:54:09 > 0:54:12Just a few minutes into his final race
0:54:12 > 0:54:14and without having completed a single lap,
0:54:14 > 0:54:18Darren Del Boy Dipper Parker signals to the marshal
0:54:18 > 0:54:19that he's had enough.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25His bid for best wrecker is over.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32# Any day now
0:54:32 > 0:54:33# Any day now... #
0:54:33 > 0:54:35That's it now, for the bangers.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38I've had a good life and everything so whatever happens, happens
0:54:38 > 0:54:40but, yeah, I want to be there as long as I can
0:54:40 > 0:54:44and know that they can rely on me if they need me so that's a good thing.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47He's definitely done something to one of his arms.
0:54:47 > 0:54:49He's holding one of his arms, yeah.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52# I shall be released. #
0:54:52 > 0:54:54I wouldn't change anything in my life, to be honest.
0:54:54 > 0:54:57It's been a hectic life but it's been good.
0:55:07 > 0:55:11After surviving nine major crashes,
0:55:11 > 0:55:15and causing four separate drivers to retire,
0:55:15 > 0:55:18Paul's Pontiac finally comes to a halt.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23INDISTINCT TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT
0:55:31 > 0:55:32Right.
0:55:34 > 0:55:37All right. What did I get?
0:55:44 > 0:55:47INTERVIEWER: Hey, Paul. Have you won something?
0:55:47 > 0:55:50- Best wrecker.- What?- Yeah. Yeah, I done it, finally, eh?
0:55:50 > 0:55:53- Do you feel good?- Yeah. Brilliant.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55Does that make it all worth it?
0:55:55 > 0:55:58Yeah. Let me just get Tommy. You all right, Tom-Tom?
0:55:58 > 0:56:01You all right?
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Stand there, yeah? Is this mine?
0:56:03 > 0:56:06- This is yours for best wrecker award.- Oh, how's that?
0:56:06 > 0:56:09- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12Watch the fireworks, Tommy. Look. There, look.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17FIREWORKS CRACKLE
0:56:21 > 0:56:23What do you think of them, Tom-Tom?
0:56:27 > 0:56:33- Winner!- Winner, yeah. I'd rather win this than a race.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35- Would you?- Yeah, definitely.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40And where will you be in ten years, do you think?
0:56:40 > 0:56:43God knows. God knows. God knows.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45As long as I'm not in prison, I don't care.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49'Come on, then.'
0:56:49 > 0:56:51MUSIC: "Goodnight Sweetheart" by The Overtones
0:56:51 > 0:56:54# Good night, sweetheart Well, it's time to go... #
0:56:54 > 0:56:56You all right?
0:56:57 > 0:57:01# I hate to leave you but I really must go... #
0:57:01 > 0:57:02Another trophy, eh?
0:57:02 > 0:57:08# So good night, sweetheart Good night
0:57:08 > 0:57:10# Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo... #
0:57:10 > 0:57:13- Are you left or right-handed? - Right-handed.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16- You're a good customer here, aren't you?- Yes.
0:57:16 > 0:57:17# Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo
0:57:17 > 0:57:19# Good night, sweetheart Well, it's time to go... #
0:57:19 > 0:57:22- What about when I pull the other way?- Not so bad... Ow. There.
0:57:22 > 0:57:23# Doo-doo, doo-doo
0:57:23 > 0:57:26# I hate to leave you
0:57:26 > 0:57:28# I really must say
0:57:28 > 0:57:29# Oh, good night... #
0:57:29 > 0:57:34Arena Essex Raceway 2013, ORC Championship Ministox heat winner.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37- Hey. - HE WHISTLES
0:57:37 > 0:57:41Can you put that back in the van, please, without dropping it?
0:57:41 > 0:57:46Next week, legends from the glory days of banger racing
0:57:46 > 0:57:47dust off their helmets...
0:57:47 > 0:57:50Sad, really. This could be my last ever race. All them years.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52..for one last showdown.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57At the end of the day, it's payback. Them's bullies.
0:57:59 > 0:58:02# Doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
0:58:02 > 0:58:07# Good night, sweetheart Well, it's time to go
0:58:07 > 0:58:09# Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo
0:58:09 > 0:58:14# Good night, sweetheart Well, it's time to go
0:58:14 > 0:58:15# Doo-doo, doo-doo
0:58:15 > 0:58:20# I hate to leave you I really must say
0:58:20 > 0:58:26# Oh, good night, sweetheart Good night. #