Despite incessant rain, thousands of fans turned out for the annual gala night mix of racing and fireworks at Arlington Stadium.

Three of the track's most popular formulas were on show, with former Arlington champion Andy Sturt the star of the night.

Sturt completed a hat-trick in the stock rods, while current champion Kym Weaver had a mixed night.

He spun into the fence in heat one, was sixth in heat two and then finished strongly to take fourth place in the final.

Only nine of the starters managed to last the distance in the final.

The superstox found the conditions difficult, both Ross Eaton and Martin Gosling spinning when leading heat one.

That handed the win to Titch Gardner, while Eaton again spun out when leading heat two.

This race had an early stoppage when Alan Wortley rolled, but he was able to restart at the back of the grid.

Amazingly, both Eaton and Gosling spun themselves out of the final when leading, although by now it was survival of the fittest as other cars fell victim as well.

Jason Cooper managed to keep going and took the win ahead of former European champion Paul Poulter and Arlington specialist Chris Bradbury.

It was the bangers the crowd had really come to see, however, and they were not disappointed.

An impressive entry included a hearse, a couple of other big old cars and two enormous American cars, who had to wait until the destruction derby for their finest hour.

Dale Hughes won the opening heat, but after that the night belonged to popular Eastbourne driver Steve Anscombe.

He has bravely fought his way back from countless injuries and cancer of the arm to become a regular racer again when many would have opted for a quieter life.

Anscombe won heat two and the final.

No one could do anything yo stop Steve Williamson in the destruction derby, his massive Yank wiping out everything in its path.

Cars like this are always an obvious target and despite their size are not always as strong as they look, but this one certainly was.

Everybody who took him on came off second best, Adrian Clifton being the last one to perish under the onslaught.

Stock Rods: Heat 1: 1 Andy Sturt (Leatherhead); 2 James Kent (Hurst); 3 Damon Wellman (Hadlow Down). Heat 2: 1 Sturt; 2 Wellman; 3 Kent. Final: 1 Sturt; 2 Wellman; 3 Tristan Jackson (Hailsham).

Superstox: Heat 1: 1 Titch Gardner (Ipswich); 2 Andy Bartlett (Aylesbury); 3 Chris Bradbury (Reading). Heat 2: 1 Dave Pike (Crowborough); 2 Martin Gosling (Basingstoke); 3 Bartlett. Final: 1 Jason Cooper (Thetford); 2 Paul Poulter (Aylesbury); 3 Bradbury.

Bangers: Heat 1: 1 Dale Hughes (Ashford); 2 Bob Taylor (Eastbourne); 3 Steve Anscombe (Eastbourne). Heat 2: 1 Anscombe; 2 Hughes; 3 Sonny Sherwood (Thurrock). Final: 1 Anscombe; 2 Harvey Devall (Eastbourne); 3 Dale Fairless (Tunbridge Wells). Destruction Derby: 1 Steve Williamson (Croydon); 2 Adrian Clifton (Ashford).