Workshop Watch....

Time to have a nosey around in the varying degrees of welding, painting, angle grinders and sanders...

Stripped bare and ready for shot blasting..

We start with a lesser spotted Randall in the eastern shores of Skegness, and Mark Meeds (458) giving it some TLC and a revamp of his 2006 vintage.....

The following picture might make some people distressed.

Once sprayed a large Stoxblog presence will be taking place, else Mark will be getting constant earbashing from his sister - the present Mrs J-ho

 Next up is a trip to Weston of the Super Mare variety. Out with the Randall, and in with the RCE for Chris Mikkula (522) Lime green is the chassis colour de riguer in the westcountry at the mo. No doubting one of the most consistent drivers in the westcountry, this means a real signal of intent that he means business.






Now the full time return of Dave Polley (38) to our raceways has seen a few workings happening- building cars like billyo. This is set to be the new Polley Motorsport hire car....

Now over to our continental cousins, courtesy of Roland Claes, the new Toon Schut (H30) and Peter Baer (D90), although these are near enough ready to rock n roll.




More from Workshop Watch, and we might even get Kate Humble....

Merry Christmas Y'all

Mince pie- check
Stocking - check
Tot of whisky/brandy/Apple Sours - check....

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid. It's Christmas time, and the stock car is banished to the shed....

Ok so it doesn't rhyme, but neither does Banished with afraid, Bob and Midge. What kind of a name is Midge anyways. I always thought he'd have a career away from Mary and Mungo though....

Nevermind eh... may Santa come down and give you many gifts...and remember the new year is not that far away!

1 year on...

Gemma - you'll be seeing more of her in 2012

Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday dear StoxBlog, Happy Birthday to us....

Yep a year ago today, the idea of creating a blog based around the sport I love, was a combined eureka moment and well, its still here.

First hurdle completed, and numerous contacts got, it was time to think about what it should contain.

From gossip, opinion pieces, and various odds and sods it was clear that to make an impact on the F2, which online has very little presence.

So there I is, putting an unnecessary two pennorth worth on the burning issues of the day. Yes there's been disagreements, but on the whole, the general consensus is that people like it, so it shall be contiuning.

So amongst the highlights of this year for, the Austrian exclusive (the site was getting around 3000 hits a day during that thanks to a German motorsport site hotlinking to the blog), getting big name interviews with the help of Ryan Walker, the season long Dominator and Pringle series...the term "pringle" is now becoming common parlance in some racing circles. 2 highlights for me, the World Final build up, including having the only semi final driver profiles available anywhere, as the programme was somewhat devoid of anything F2. Then the World Final build up- having something every day, a period of unemployment helped that, so it might not be as big next year. but as a result of that, I fulfilled an ambition - to have a piece in the World Final programme, my thanks to Paul Butler and the Trackstar team for that. And the most important highlight, is a more personal one, as I met the present Miss Jho as a result of the blog. Love you muchly Sharon,with all my heart (ok, thats a bit vomit inducing, don't wont to give the Inter-TART lovers of Maidment/Butcher and Moss/Maidment a run for their money). Thank you Jack Aldridge (921), without me missing you dissappearing into the distance in the Nationals, I never would have got the banter that got the girl!


So the Blog's first year is complete, what is there in year 2 I hear you cry. More gossip from the garages, a few new cars being shot in a Jho style, some new features and lots of new stuff to make it look fandabydozy! Your suggestions are always welcome to improve it just either tweet me @stoxblog or leave a message at our Facebook page.

I must away, candles to blow out...!

Dominator : Barford .... Charlie is the Man

So.... as the alphabet strolls thru... lets have a look at who beat the most at rtwo tarmac tracks-  the tight and tricky Barfbado. Probably not the biggest cheerleader for the ORCi, Charlie Whitfield (301)comes out on top, thanks to, in part an incredible attendance at the Barford track. I wonder why! 

BARFORD

301 Charlie Whitfield	374.5
226 Billy Webster	343
968 Micky Brennan	340.5
836 David Pannett	313
64 Marc Fortune	294.5
494 John Dawson Jnr	274
49 Paul Prest	260
964 John Fortune	257.5
178 Mark Dews	244
768 Tom Adcroft	222.5
7 Gordon Moodie	200.5
705 Phil Manser	173.5
615 Josh Coleman	166.5
305 Colin Gregg	166
72 John Broatch	151.5
336 Michael Kirk	147
100 George MacMillan Jnr	139.5
725 Paul Broatch	131
102 Willie Draeger	128
375 Steve Murray	124
92 John Hogg	110
888 Paul Ford	105
233 Shaun Collier	100.5
184 Aaron Vaight	91.5
324 James Thackra	85.5
169 Richard Stott	84.5
480 Garry Sime	77.5
299 Stephen Smith	74
166 Tony Cordiner	73.5
617 Carl Shield	71.5
960 Adrian Whitehead	70
409 Luke Maw	70
934 David Parker	67
124 Ollie Skeels	66.5
780 Chris Uttley	66
905 Rob Mitchell	62
244 Clive Buckton	62
631 Ron Ferguson	61
224 Paul Dobson	61
854 Robbie Dawson	59.5
921 Jack Aldridge	58
640 Jonathan Forster	58
894 Sam Davison	50.5
625 Michael Robson	50.5
38 Dave Polley	50
314 Marc Robinson	49
886 Chris Bradbury	48
286 Todd Jones	48
275 Mark Adkins	48
350 Gareth Taylor	47
694 Jonathan Davison	47
643 Geoff Forster	45.5
NI 944 Ryan McCrory	45
276 Murray Jones	43.5
358 Jordon Rainford	43.5
915 Jacklyn Ellis	39.5
596 Richie Mead	37.5
810 Ian Forster	35
816 James Docherty	33
732 Daz Kitson	31.5
603 John Sleeman	31.5
161 Mark Harrison	29
190 Jeff Metcalfe	29
24 Jon Palmer	27
902 Mark Teale	25.5
227 James Darley	25.5
101 Kelvin Whalley	25
65 Tam Meikle	25
641 Dennis Middler	24.5
NI 312 Christopher Kincaid	23.5
936 Ed Pannett	23.5
488 Liam Bentham	21.5
571 Darren Clarke	21.5
852 Ewan Ewart	20.5
823 Sam Wagner	19
533 Johnny Whittaker	19
866 Bob Griffin	18
798 Mark Sargent	18
432 Nigel Gough	18
234 Darryl Edwards	17
116 Ashley Rundle	15.5
647 Chris Burgoyne	15
658 Dean Mason	14.5
13 Danny Ford	13
387 Jason Macdonald	12
391 Gregor Turner	11
201 Lee Ward	11
512 David Hamblin	9.5
670 Derek Ashcroft	8
504 Matt Everard	7
736 Scott Douglas	7
452 Mark Armitage	7
246 Scott Horsham	6.5

Barford...a response from the Whitfields

The last time Barford was a significant stop on the Road to Gold

After the post detailing the problems currently befalling the host promotion of the 2012 Brisca F2 Championship of the World, Barford Raceway, Charlie Whitfield (301) red top racer, and son of promoter Cyril felt the need to try and redress the balance. Naturally, we gave him the right to reply.

JH - Charlie,

"Sad that you've taken umbridge at the blog...All the information is all that has happened either in the past or is current statements from the ORCi and Trojan. The rest is a list of concerns of fans, supporters and drivers - a mere reflection of what people think outside the north east.

So...

What is NEOMS position with Ringwood? Are you looking to take over Ringwood?

Are you looking to encourage Trojan to join the ORCi?

What is the NEOMS position with regard to the suspension? What is the official response?

What assurances have you got from Brisca F2 that the World Final will be at Barford?

You talk of expansion - what plans do you have?

Please take time to answer these questions - an official response from Barford would be good - apart from your posts under a psedoyeum on Ftooz... "


Charlie - "Has my dad made a public statement? No.
Has he ever made a public statement? No.
He doesn't answer anything on websites or public forums (faceless wonders).
I can't say what the plans are because its early days that is why I said 2012-2013 as the plans are not for public forums at this presant time, but if things work out it will be big.
The problem between himself and the ORCi are because of what people have put on forums not what he has said. For example your statement on your website sayin Barford is kicked out of the ORCi, we are not kicked out, it has just been suspended until this matter is resolved.
A perfect example, the ORCi say they have cancelled Barfords insurance, how can anyone do that other than the policy holder.
The world final is nothing to do with the ORCi, total seperate entertity"

So a sort of semi official repsonse from the North East track, however many questions remain unanswered - guess this one will run and run....

Barford Being Bad Boys...

In happier times..

Breaking news this week surrounded Barford Raceway - who fell out of the ORCi. The statement was follows....

"North East Stock Car Promotions, which promotes at Barford, have had their membership of the ORCi suspended.
North East Stock Car Promotions is an Associate Member of the ORCi.  That membership has been suspended, pending an investigation into alleged infringements of membership rules, with specific regard to being complicit in misleading the oval racing community about the status of Ringwood Raceway.
The Oval Racing Council International wishes to make it clear, that Ringwood Raceway is not a member promotion/track of the ORCi, nor does it have any recognised link with the ORC via North East Stock Car Promotions.
Drivers, spectators and officials are advised that, until this matter has been resolved, any racing at Barford Raceway would not be run under the auspices of the ORCi and would therefore not have insurance cover via the approved ORCi insurance operator."

So its very very, worrying news from the North East which will have dramatic consequences for the sport as a whole. Now we knew that the promoter, Cyril Whitfield had been sniffing around Ringwood for a while. Whether it was an attempt to bring Ringwood back out from the cold, or whether it was a chance to build an empire we will struggle to know but....

Trojan (promoters of Ringwood) has responded....

Trojan International Statement Reference ORCi
It has been brought to our attention with our partners North East Stock Cars (Barford Raceway) that membership with the ORCi regarding Barford and us as an affiliation to North East Stock cars has today had membership suspended from the ORCi, We can confirm that both ourselves and Barford are seeking further legal advice regarding this situation and how the ORCi are conducting themselves.
Further details will be posted in due course.

Kind Regards
Craig Robinson
Promoter

then.....

Trojan Statement
I am looking after the driver interest here, this situation has been long coming we have twice this season been accepted and given orci log books from orci themselves, twice we have spent a lot of time and monies updating internal paperwork after being given the go ahead to licence drivers with nesc at barford on the grounds that by receiveing the log books for orci and to be able to licence drivers for the group.

We have taken monies from drivers when issuing orci licences and it is them drivers that have also had to pay day licence as the licences issued by us for orci have not been accepted by orci promoters! my point is why send me the log books from orci directly asking me to issue them twice this season only to have drivers turned away unless they pay again at orci licenced tracks.

This whole orci situation has to stop, a statement has been made by orci that (barford) insurance is not in place, I can give reasurance that that is not the case as drivers who I have down here who are attending barfords christmas meeting have asked and this statement is NOT true the insurance is in place at Barford.

I can let you know that any Orci driver licence will be honoured in full at Ringwood Raceway and we will continue to honour the ORCi bans list and hope this situation is resolved in the interest of the SPORT and for DRIVERS as a whole.

We have asked for a meeting with the ORCi directly and are awaiting their responce for the benefit of us all and the drivers who unfortunatley will suffer because of politics if this is not sorted.

Kind regards
craig

Ringwood - the trojan horse....

The track is now classified as an "outlaw". If drivers choose to race at the Barnard Castle track, then sadly, a 12 month ban is automatically issued for racing on an unlicensed track. So a lot of drivers face an agonising choice of whether they can actually race at their local track and being a national pariah, or hitting the road to to Skegness, Buxton, Cowdenbeath et al, or selling up.

Questions have to be asked of Brisca F2 - why did they give the sports main event to a track who's promotion if it was under investigation...

Questions have also been asked over the whole tired affair.

A Solution is needed and quick, and there has to be some give from both sides. In this time of dwindling tracks, and tracks under constant threat, the ORCi needs to make sure that new opportunities to grab venues to race at are taken at every opportunity, but not so promoters can run roughshod.

Decisive action regarding the World Final needs to be taken as soon as possible. How embarrasing will it be to any potential suitors and sponsors at the NEC to be told that they don't know where the sports premier race is going to take place.

It's a silly empasse which should have been avoided, but the blame is clear to see.

Arena... goes Purple!

Fire up the XR3i and get the missus some stilettos. Maybe even a vajazzle, cos in 2012, Autospeed sez, the only way is Essex... 3 dates given in 2012, and Autospeed have offered themselves up for the greater good!

However without the slappers and himboids, this could potentially get a decent showing.

Arena has always been the sick man of Brisca. A Brisca track in predominantly Spudworth territory, and with a lack of "local" drivers. However, in the past couple of years, depsite the influx of relatively local drivers like the Jones, Bradbury and Linfield, it has always struggled to rouse big turnouts.

A culmination of factors have led to its demise - the length of turnover for a meeting -GN's being run well after 7, the poor turnaround of races, the fact that the track is a bit of an engine killer, and the fact that it's situated beside Britain's biggest carpark - not the Lakeside Shopping Centre, but the M25.

Every time I have been to Arena I have found it a little dull. The fact that 2's are sharing the bill with Saloons means that the action will be good, and with Autospeed, there is always a relatively quick turnover of races, and well, it'll be slick, and hopefully a half decent turnout. I do think that Arena would be perfect for the Formula 1 boys, I mean Top Gear have raced campervans and motorhomes there, a few tractors wouldn't hurt!

An astonishing 48 drivers scored points at Arena this year as shown below, in the Dominator scores show - the drivers have raced there just not at the same time. Arena always seems to be the track where people race at if there is nothing else on. I'm hoping that 48 cars is the norm not the extraordinary for this to be a success.

ARENA RANK	Driver	Points
1	886 Chris Bradbury	97.5
2	844 Darren Phillips	71
3	464 Matt Linfield	67
4	700 Adam Rubery	52
5	677 Chris Roots	46
6	38 Dave Polley	44.5
7	921 Jack Aldridge	40.5
8	541 Luke Phillips	39.5
9	401 Barry Goldin	37
10	115 Mike Green	37
11	866 Bob Griffin	35
12	183 Mark Gunichard	34
13	124 Ollie Skeels	32
14	8 Peter Hobbs	31
15	596 Richie Mead	27.5
16	B96 Jan Beekers	26
17	218 Sir Rob Speak	25
18	710 Brett Townsend	22.5
19	566 Glenn Salmon	21
20	909 Andy Cattell	20.5
21	588 Matt Pettit	16
22	823 Sam Wagner	15.5
23	NI 271 Gary Chambers	15.5
24	783 James Rygor	14.5
25	127 Matt Stoneman	14.5
26	276 Murray Jones	14
27	798 Mark Sargent	13
28	797 Dan Moss	13
29	732 Daz Kitson	12
30	449 Mark Dorrill	12
31	904 Ryan Cattell	12
32	761 Simon Creasey	12
33	119 Nick Glover	11
34	791 Jonathan Field	11
35	154 Steve Green Jnr	10
36	723 Snowy Crouch	10
37	313 Phil Williams	8
38	24 Jon Palmer	7.5
39	308 Jamie Parrish	7.5
40	744 Tom Smart	7
41	448 John Wright	7
42	H47 Patrick Tersteeg	7
43	120 Luke Loveland	6
44	475 Ryan Gregory	6
45	208 David Weaver	5
46	569 Chris Hand	5
47	248 Steve Lux	3
48	75 Sean Gregory	1.5