After the lights went out at Skeg we are left with the following. Semi 1 looks the better one on paper for the spectators, Semi 2 the better for the competitiors! Jon Palmer (24) racing 2 QR's has snuck in at the very back and now a lot of people will be looking at Barry Goldin (401) as a favourite for the title.
SEMI FINAL 1
INSIDE --------------------------------OUTSIDE
886 Chris Bradbury 1 218 Rob Speak
7 Gordon Moodie2 702 Allen Cooper
905 Rob Mitchell3 732 Daz Kitson
968 Micky Brennan 4 100 George MacMillan
70 Brian Shadbolt 5 844 Darren Phillips
854 Robbie Dawson6 126 Jamie Avery
662 Steve Wycherley7 990 Paul Rice
921 Jack Aldridge 8 259 Simon Farrington
677 Chris Roots 9725 Paul Broatch
744 Tom Smart 10150 Mark Thoms
315 Justin Fisher 11 541 Luke Phillips 143 Marc Lammas 12 103 Carl Issitt 495 John Cayzer 13 276 Murray Jones 231 Matt Clayton 14 72 John Broatch
SEMI FINAL 2
INSIDE --------------------------------OUTSIDE
401 Barry Goldin 1 606 Andrew Palmer
647 Chris Burgoyne 2 324 James Thackra
823 Sam Wagner 3 676 Neil Hooper 641 Dennis Middler 4 59 Lee Dimmick 270 Mark Gibbs 5 154 Steve Green Jr. 871 Mark Simpson 6 768 Tom Adcroft 494 John Dowson 7 377 Daz Shaw 888 Paul Ford 8 302 Dale Moon 488 Liam Bentham 9 650 Gary Stirk 571 Darren Clarke 10 124 Ollie Skeels NI 271 Gary Chambers 11 977 Dave Massey 721 Graham Kelly 12 448 John Wright 700 Adam Rubery 13 169 Richard Stott 116 Ashley Rundle 14 24 Jon Palmer
RESERVES 615 Josh Coleman
798 Mark Sargent
742 Nick Rogers
557 Andrew Spence
885 Dave Tomlinson
115 Mike Green
710 Brett Townsend
101 Kelvyn Whalley
326 Johnny Hall
290 Jay Tomkins
254 Richard Beere
189 Paul Butcher
226 Billy Webster
So there I is, going travelling up to Bristol for my first meeting outside of Autospeedland this year. July, I know, shocking.
The more casual observer will not be aware that Bristol isn't one of my favourite tracks, so it's not high on the visiting list. I've now restricted myself to 1 Bristol a year, as my usual other one clashes with St Day. So when venturing up the line, there are the numerous little milestones that one ticks off, Exeter Services, the Paintball Centre just before Cullompton, QuadWorld and the infamous Wicker Man (although it is lacking a burning Edward Woodward - but then the Somersetians haven't had chance yet). It appears he has been a good boy and gotten lots of Lego to play with....
I had taken advantage of the fact that the good Lord sent me on missionary work to spread the good word of the Blessid Rattler in the heathen county of Zummerset. Or rather, meeting some mates who live in Weston and taking a crate of Rattler for entertainment. And getting to bed at 5:50 am. Needless to say, I was late to the track, so unfortunately I missed the grand back wax of Andy Maidment, and the sight of Neil Hooper (676) in a tutu, and a soggy Mr Starter.
Yeeeeeaoooooccch.
By there own admission, Bristol hasn't had the greatest of seasons, and yes the turnout has been rather disappointing. 25 cars for the first Westcountry meeting for 3 weeks was a shade poor. Needless to say, the 3 way battle for the track championship has hotted up considerably with Hooper, Bradbury and Aldridge all slugging it out. All of them took a heat, although one was generously donated by a slightly eager jump restart by man of the day Chris Rowe (76). Although he was not to be caught in the final and he took new found Goldin botherer Mike Priddle (14) with him. An early crash saw fellow reds Hooper and Rygor dispatched into the top plating by Bradders, a signal of intent that he wasn't in the mood to be played with. Come the lap boards, it was Rowe from Priddle then Bradbury and Aldridge. The 921 car dived up the side of Bradbury to which the former National Points took umbridge too. Like a bus prefect, Bradders then delivered swift justice to the whippersnapper, for having the audacity to pass but more than likely as payback for the previous Skeg.
Bradbury was catching Rowe, but it was the always smiling Plymouthian who took the win and a return to blue. It was a Chris 1-2-3, as Bradbury was followed home by Mikkula (522). As a result of the Pink Ribbon Trophies, celebration was a return to the stocks for Mr Starter, who probably copped a lot from Rowe for the heat docking.
Andy Chant checks his pants.....
I didn't stay for the national, I was shattered!
Highlights of the meet for me where the extra mile that the drivers did for this worthwhile cause. Most cars had the bumpers pink, and whether it was Morph Priddle, Tutu Hoops, Pink Moo Fisher (315) or the Bikini Brothers Rowe (105/605), much laughs were had. It was nice to see the drivers getting behind this worthwhile cause. I think every year there should be some kind of meeting like this at every track, it helps build comradery between the drivers and puts something back.
Loads of flag marshalls on track with flags clear to see, however, one slight gripe is that if a car is stationary and is in a dangerous position, don't wait for the crowd to tell you that is! Oh, and whilst the pace car was a good idea, the cars bunched too quickly and the pace car driver simply wasn't up to speed. I think I've seen funeral corteges faster! He almost got tagged by the charging white tops on a few occasions, but it was Paul Milsom (245) who had to take evasive action to avoid.
Maybe they should have given the job to the pink stig!!
Thanks to Andy Maidment for this Picture exclusive.
The trophies are up for grabs on the meeting final, and look the real deal!
And a few lines stolen from Lively.....
Entry list (as of 19/7) below. If there are any more drivers planning on racing that have yet to book in please do so via the website www.mendipsraceway.com or graham@mendipsraceway.com.
Superstar
886 Chris Bradbury
Red
315 Justin Fisher
522 Chris Mikulla
676 Neil Hooper
783 James Rygor
Blue
105 Ross Rowe
127 Matt Stoneman
126 Jamie Avery
189 Paul Butcher
254 Richard Beere
290 Jay Tomkins
505 Ivor Collins
605 Liam Rowe
835 Matt Westaway
990 Paul Rice
Yellow
14 Mike Priddle
76 Chris Rowe
116 Ashley Rundle
374 Gary Stephens
544 James Rogers
707 Jeremy Moss
776 Liam Cornish
797 Dan Moss
830 Andrew Bennett
954 Jamie Beere
White
104 Shaun Robinson
245 Paul Milsom
851 Gary Smith
Cmon guys, lets get this up to 40. Brum the night before, only an hour or so further down, so come, so the racing doesn't stink, if we all THINK PINK!!!
Why do we have a picture of Myleene Klass? Cos this entry is based on Hear'Say! Pure and Simple!
So everyone decamped to Northamptonshire for a spot of global relations, round a barbecue with some beer. Bev Greenhalf polishes and dusts off his "Dutch for Dummies" phrasebook, and we all go in search those elusive red and yellow chequers. Everyone bar me, who hasn't been to the European since 1995, when the Undertaker (Peter Gilbert (542)) drew pole and disappeared into the MAY evening. I know it was May as my memory serves me right it was when Everton won the cup final, beating United 1-0 with a goal from Paul Rideout and we had it on in the car. My reasons are I find the racing at Northampton generally dull, I'd prefer not to pay for camping in a field with no facilities, and I just think it needs a break from NIR. Give everyone a chance not just the hot rodding uber tarmac drivers.
For the first time in ages, I came very close to breaking my self imposed boycott of the Euros, and whenever there is persuasion for J-ho, there's usually a woman or two involved. One wanted to be abused by Rattler, and another just wanted to abuse me over a certain race at Taunton...... I stood fast, watched the golf at home, in full HD, and then in the break of the showers, went to help the YFC lot with a Pirate ship in the Callington Carnival, walked 4 miles and had a lovely tea, cooked to perfection without the threat of food poisoning or E-coli. Smugly, I retired to my lovely warm bed.
Now Northampton has come into some unjust criticism this season. The F1 world is at Northampton, considering the fans moaned at Ipswich being chosen, and then moved to NIR, without the grandstands of 2005. When the 1's are there its usually rammed, and the brolly blockers don't help things. but the general consensus amongst fans and drivers alike is that it could have handled a lot better...
1. A lack of communication from the promoter in the lead led to a few angry people. Whether it was 3 different driver lists (considering it was a closed booking) or the fact that the majority of fans didn't know that weekend tickets couldn't be bought at the weekend.
2. The Saturday meeting has little importance to the Sunday, meaning a lot of drivers and fans just chose to come to the Sunday meeting. Maybe the format needs tweaking?
3. In changeable conditions and with a busy pits, like Northampton can be, it is crucial that you make any decision available to all drivers. There is a communication black spot in the "overflow" pits.
It was therefore a ridiculous decision to refuse entry on the ground of being out of time.It denied a championship pop for some fancied runners, Nigel Green (445), National Champion Jack Aldridge (921) along with Kelvyn Whalley (101) and Mark Simpson (871). If your gonna do this have better PA's or runners, like the excellent Pit Lady Margaret at Autospeed, especially as the weather was so changeable. Also as I am led to believe, cars were still being lined up. Harsh and appalling treatment. Now I understand there was a lot to do with 3 championship races to organise, but surely that's a problem of the promoters making. You could have quite easily had the F2 European on the Saturday night. I think if the same had happened and it was Messrs Wainman, Smith and Hines it would have been a much different story. there would have been a riot!
4. Race goes one lap, yellows come out. Most tracks would throw a red and start again. It's baffling that on a championship day the fans aren't given the chance to see a proper race - if this happens in a domestic final, and a star grader can see the front, then usually its all over red rover! Despite the soggy conditions and the lottery it causes, from the video below, it was a little dull.
I think its about time we moved it away from Northampton. I will keep on saying it until it happens. By running it there every year, not only are you excluding shale drivers from ever winning it, but by having such a closed format.
The argument that "well you get such a good turnout of foreigners" doesn't wash with me. No track has had the opportunity to take on the amount of overseas entrants for 15 years!!! The continental scene is in rude health, as are the Irish - they regularly decamp to Taunton for their weekend, and well you just have to look at Skeggy - loads of Irish and Dutch there!
Having the same track for a championship may work in F1, where you have a loyal following, happy to be fed the same pie, peas, chips and gravy every year, works because there are only 10 or so tracks that race them. F2 is different, it's a national, nay, international formula, with twice the amount of tracks, twice the amount of promotions, tracks in all shapes and sizes. Now this is fantasy talk, but imagine the European round Barford or St Day, the clog wearers finding a 5th and 6th corner might freak them a bit!
Brisca, seriously consider dropping the European from NIR. It is devaluing the title, and in many eyes it has about as much status as the domestic "title" the UK Open. Move it about, if not, make sure we get the chance to shine and not play third fiddle to the tractors and the ridiculous Rebels.
Rant over...
A few points of order to bring to the debate
- Well done Barry Goldin (401), who's barbecue that resides at the Truran household now is in the shed for some repainting. With form like he is showing on both surfaces presently, our Barry could be needing a more shinier paint come September.
- Gordon, Gordon, Gordon - how many finals have you been diddled out of by poor reliability this season. It reminds me a bit of the F1 season of 2009, the Red Bull of Sebastien Vettel was by far the quickest, but didn't have the reliability. Schmacher levels of dominance await both Vettel and Moodie
- Speaking of multi world champions on a comeback, Speakie took back to back finals - certainly looking omnious for many now!
That's shallot for now, I'll be getting my pink on this weekend, will you!!!!
Now stock car peeps, this is worth a worthy visit to Bristol later this month. Here's Andy Maidment (dad of Nathan (935) and chief TART) to tell us more....
"Mendips Raceway 24th July will what only can be described as a Pink Day, the annual Filo's Crashmania, and this year for the first time the Formula 2 Stock cars will also play there part in what will be for
many of us a very emotional day. We in the South West have had our lives touched by the recent passing of Rog Willcock (95) one of the last
characters of the sport. The day will have many fun events going on, back waxing, pink ballerinas and by the time we get to the day a well worn Pink Morph outfit. The F2's will be racing for "The Pink Ribbon Trophy"
The trophies have been hand made very kindly by the sheet-metal department at GKN Aerospace, and kindly painted by AC Coatings in Yeovil.
The trophies were the idea of 935 Nathan Maidment and will be presented on the day by Charlotte and Jessica Maidment.
Nath racing at Mendips, before his steering and throttle failed .....
Our family has been affected very much by this awful disease their mum and my wife has
terminal cancer but every day continues laugh in the face of it.
Unfortunately due to a "minor incident" Nathan will be unable to race, but one thing is for certain as a family we will stand together on the bank very proud to have Lesley by our side.
On a personal note I would like to thank everyone in the south west stock car circle who has
stood by our family as we continue to fight this horrible disease.
It's good to know we have great support from so many people.
Lets make the 24th July a day to remember a day of fun and laughter lets not let
Cancer spoil this day the Bangers and Hotrods make up the other
formulas on the day.
For those of you that don't know me I will be the one with tears in my eyes and a big
smile on my face as we stand as a family with Lesley by our side.
Andy Maidment"
Thanks Andy. It just puts it all into perspective really what at an absolute arsehole the Big C is.
So then chaps and chappesses, get painting your bumpers pink, dust off those fuschia bloomers and start practicing your sponge throwing, especially for Mr Starter, who's going in the stocks, as a mean of retribution for previous misdemeanours! Would Mendips allow water boarding???
Anyways lets square up to cancer like a couple of drivers at a Northampton speedweekend and give it large!
All I can say is - what a week. I havent had much chance to catch breath it has been, in the words of commentary legend Murray Walker, all "go go go". Here's the weekend according to this scribe...
FRIDAY 1st JULY - ROCKING FOR ROG
When Cat Ede, the current chairman of Callington Young Farmers, approached me to assist with this event, due to my fact I knew too many stock car drivers. This was back in November. I heard nothing about it until the day before the Taunton Weekend, leaving me a spamming session to drum up support for it! Despite various other attractions including Nicky (wife of Andy (550)) Sobey's 40th birthday party and for the YFC related lot, watching the Lanceston club perform with the Fisherman's Friends, a quite magnificent turnout assembled at Polhilsa's big grain shed.
My role on the Friday involved sorting out the shed, cleaning it out, hiding a combine behind the black sheet, and moving in loads of trailers for the band and disco. It was so hot, I went through 3 t shirts, due to saturation with sweat! It was like a sauna....
After a quick stroll from car park to venue (a small matter of a quarter of a mile!), a tenner was taken and thus you entered the complex, complete with bar and barbecue supplied and manned by the Lions Club of Callington.
The band, led by Pete Delbridge, one of Roger's school chums, played some good hits and went down well.
I then made my debut as auctioneer, note to self, if your trying to sell something its probably a good idea to have a look at your audience, and not to to it in a pitch black shed! Despite the efforts of Tim Farrell to win the ticket with a RRP of £29, the ticket went for £80, and one slightly inberiated ex-young farmer went in with a bid of £70, which forced the hand of the winner! Also some fines were dished out in good taste by the ORCi (the Overly Rotund Cornish Idiot), which fined Chris Cuming (who's wife Julia is now heavily preggers) for not taking the relevant precautions, Tim Farrell for displaying the wrong colour hair (he's now resplondent in silver), and Jon Palmer, well for being Jon Palmer....
Initial estimates put the amount raised for Megan and Joe's future driving lessons at around £1200, an excellent effort all round.
SATURDAY 2nd JULY - BUX MAX
From the video, it's apparent that the return of the Legend Rob Speak (218) this time he means business. He maxes out his qualifying round, and boosts those points up. All over by 7:45 - hardly an evening meeting!
Sponge then spent the rest of the weekend looking at tractors, due his motor not playing ball!
Junior Wainman (515) professed that his new F1 would need a few hot laps to build up a head of steam....
Meanwhile, Crimond had its first ever Brisca Speedweekend. Summed up easily. Follow Gordon.
SUNDAY 3rd JULY - AVERY HAS A VERY GOOD (ST) DAY
Glorious sunshine befell the Druth D as a disappointing 29 cars contested the World Qualifier at St Day. Despite plenty of interest from lots of drivers which had the numbers around 40, a lot of drivers chose not to partake. The added attraction of Speaky and new British Champion Barry Goldin (401) along with East Coast Legend Mark Sargent (798) added to spectacle.
Heats went the way of the aforemention Speak who inheirited the win from Paul Rice (990) who was deemed to have the dodgiest of jumpers. Dale Moon (302) took heat 2, proving that there was much of a muchness between all the drivers. The Consi saw a battle between Sarge and Dan Moss (797) and Jonny Kind (229), with only a Fisher between them. Then the final. Yellow and Blues including both Rowe Brothers, and the by the time the reds come in, Speak took out the main threats in front with one foul swoop as both local reds Rygor (783) and Hooper (676). Then followed the hilarity of Ross Rowe (105) trying to remove his damaged aerofoil, to get him out for the restart, much guffaws as he tried and tried and tried to remove it. The restart saw Speak, Goldin and the remaining blues trade blows, however whilst the champions were tading blows, the yellows of Moon, Ashley Rundle (116) and leader Jamie Avery (126). Paul Rice looked to threaten, but could only muster second. With two to go Speak's car was slowing after chasing after the peleton, it started to spit and fart, which allowed Goldin to get the better of him. However the top 8 was yellow blue lock out. The national saw Nathan Maidment (935) take the top points, after his motor had failed him in the heat and consi.
MONDAY 4th JULY - BARBECUE BARRY
Now some of the chosen few went round to Neil Truran's (306) for the annual bit in the middle barbie. Now Barry Goldin is a regular, even the bbq had been resprayed in the British colours....
The Goldin Golden one has been ordered sale or return....
Sources undisclosed have leaked the following as we see Karaoke Queen Jo Polley being arrested for the murder of Amy Winehouse
Sources undisclosed have proclaimed that the only way Jolene was coming of the mike was if "someone wrestled the mic off her, or that she gets so drunk that she wont notice when we turn it off".
Bangers (off the sausage varite) and beers done... it was back to racing...
TUESDAY 5th JULY - SPEAK OF THE DEVIL....
My name is Jonny Hoare. I've just had an accident and woken up in 1996. Am I mad, in a coma.....
Our very own "Manc Lion" had me thinking I was living a "Life on Mars". Like DCI Gene Hunt, Speak takes no prisoners with his no nonsense approach to dealing with the job in hand, and he certainly schooled all the pretenders this weekend...
It was a dominant display by Mr Speak, despite Moodie's best efforts in the first heat, which he took clear advantage of a momentary lapse by Speak. Moodie took the heat from Speak, and Heat 2 looked destined for Dale Moon, however Maidment spun on the exit as oil was deposited on track which made things trick. This allowed Matt Stoneman (127) to catch up which went to the last corner... the slippiness didnt help Moon and Stoneman won by a bumper. Maidment made amends for the spin by taking the Consolation from Rice.
The final saw 2 aborted starts which killed a few yellows and blues, and on each start Speak, who was at the rear of the reds. When the yellows came out for the stricken cars on the pit bend at Lap 7, Speak was leading, and Moodie some 3 cars back. Murray Jones (276) joined in from a lap down and allowing himself to be a fellow elite wing man, just as when Moodie was threatening. Speak rolled back the clock and spent the last couple of laps driving one handed, like he always did. The fire is back and he's enjoying the sport! Goldin completed the top 3, to give a rostrum with 10 world titles on it.
The GN was a Moodie affair, gone in the distance, however there was some incidents post race with Maidment and Stoneman, which has Nath up before the BOC....
Like fellow Mancs (ok Robbie's from Stoke) Take That, Speak was big in the 90's, and well with his comeback, like the Mum bothering balladers, he certainly seems to be as good as he ever was, and even the fans that were loyal back in his hey day are leaving there new found loves and returning to the legend.
Now some mad eejits are already up at Skegvegas. I don't think I could do it this year, lack of funds is one factor, lack of energy to keep up with the Janners is another....
