Week 4.... The Clocks and Season Moves Forward....

Weekend 4 of Season 2012 saw all points on the racing compass served with a half dozen of high speed action, from Taunton to Barford, via Brum and Cowdenbeath, and some first dirt for Mildenhall and Belle Vue...

NEAR PERFECT NIGEL
With usual tormentors Bradbury and Polley away playing dirty, Nigel Green (445) made hay before British Summertime. Ably assisted by the superstar bound Adam Rubery (700) who took Heat 1 and 2, in a two from three format (44 cars come on now!) Nige took Heat 3 and the Final , topped off with a heat 2nd and 3rd in the national, it was a good night for the Milky Bar Kid. For the second meeting in a row, Darren Clarke (571) (who is also heading red) took the national.

CAYZER CHIEFS AT MILDO

Here's one I ate earlier! The only Sponge you'll see on here!

"I say dear, isn't this a lovely spot, I shall buy this house and we shall live there. Hang on, whats that orange thing in the sky. This wasn't in the brochure. I shall sue it because it is spoiling my enjoyment of spoiling other peoples enjoyment!"
Mildenhall returned from its days at the High Court, and got back to what it does best, racing. However it was the gift of one of Liz Polley's cupcakes to fellow racer Chris Bradbury (886) over Twitter, which had the banter going...that Mrs Polley makes exceedingly good cakes!
So with the eateries done with, it was time for racing. Heat 1 saw Stewart Cayzer (379) head off into the distance until the spinning Andy Brewin (860) saw him move off the racing line allowing John Davies (77) to take the win. Heat 2 saw a pile up between English Champion Nick Rogers (742) and Cupcake Abuser Bradbury (886), but the biggest pile up brought chequereds and reds and Andy Palmer (606) set about taking the points when the race was curtailed. The Consolation saw Bradders take the flag, only for Liz Polley to proclaim that it was the cupcake that won it. The Final saw Derek Cayzer (498) act as pacemaker as fellow Cayzer John (495) took up the running and took the final, thus breaking the streak of different final winners since 2010 at the Suffolk track. The GN ended with the East Coast Leg-end Mark Sargent (798) doing the do or die last bender on heat winner Davies (77) and getting the spoils. Steve Cayzer (380) also played his part in the result... that's 4 of 'em! More Cayzer's than a book about the German Monarchy!


WHO WON AT COWDIE?- HAVEN'T GOT THE FOGGIEST!

Cowdenbeath FC fans take drastic action to prevent their team getting another defeat

Now it was former football favourite Paul Gascoigne who sang about "Fog On The Tyne" , but for the Scots it was grey and foggy. Grey as John Major's Spitting Image puppet and dreeth as they say up there, it wasn't a pleasant night in the thick fog. After heat wins for Andy Bertram (583) and Stewart Mitchell (733), it was down to Evelyn Moodie's strict diet of carrots for Wee Gordy (7) as a youngster paid of its dividends, as the silver roof, went almost incognito to final glory. However in the interests of safety, and not for time for once, the meeting was called off after the final. Or at least we thought it was. Might still be some peeps there waiting for it still.


BRENNAN BEATS BEST AT BARFBADOS

Meeting 2 for WF venue Barford, and a full format meeting awaited the intrepid competitiors to the Durham racetrack. It was to be a day for Mickey Brennan (968) as the cheeky chappie took a Heat and Final double, and kept last final winner Gordon Moodie (7) from the flag. Still, Gordon could console himself with a heat and GN double. Andy Bertram (583) added to his race win the night before, with the consolation....


NOT SO TURRUCKI FOR GEORGE AT BELLE VUE

Stop....

Tractor time!
With the return of the big noise and all the blinkered F1 fans out there, means that Belle Vue is back! Whereas most of the peeps are ready for another dose of Wainman and Co, the Tooz were out in force at Kirky Lane. It was the Jack Aldridge of his day - George Turrucki (186) who took the spoils. I say that to make him sound like a veteran, he's probably only just gone the wrong side of 20! A heat and a final for the 186 car, with the other 2 heats going to John Davies (77) who made it a double for the weekend , and Josh Coleman (615). No GN, something about tractors or summat!

New one for Steve Candy (687)

SUNNY SMEATHARPE SUPERB

The Stig is Back

An astonishing 43 F2's in the pits at Taunton, and we are in March! Not even a championship meeting either, and well the sun was shining and it was lovely and beautiful, so much I have go faster stripes down the side of me head cos I caught the sun.... D'oh!
The Inter TART feud continued with Dan Moss (797) responding by placing a message to Nathan Maidment (935) on his rear bumper and the parental steering wheel possession game between Daddy Maidment and Mummy Moss reached new levels!
It was a day for comebacks as the original Stig... Stiggins aka Richard Thomas (756) came back for the first time in 17 years. His third number having raced as 910 and 599, he inheireted this one from brother Uncle Bryn. However with Ralph Tracey (868) in the pits, he was not alone on the comeback trail - astonishingly Ralph last raced in the late 80's!
Heat 1 saw a yellow charge from Mid Cornwall, as Matt Westaway (835), cousin Simon Bassett (31) and Lostwithiels' Jason Phillips (395) leading away. Westaway sped away in the distance, taking the chequered and with a real threat of going at least blue. With a shout of "p*** off emmet" from father Mark, I knew I was in for a troublesome day with Dale Moon (302) I am still here.... However, Dale took a faultless drive in heat 2, and took the win, from Liam Rowe (605) who seemed utterly chuffed with a 2nd in his new car. The consolation saw all eyes on Chris Bradbury (886) who's car was spitting , farting and generally not playing ball. Seeing the 886 car struggle for position was a rare occurence, and watching him scrap for the last places in the Consolation was strange to say the least. Rumours abound of cupcake crumbs in the carb! After engine svengali Mark Shillaber sorted out the gremlins, it was final time. 30 cars on the grid and it proved to be a lively one. An early pile up saw Neil Hooper (676), TARTs Paul Butcher (189) and Dan Moss (797), and the man who proclaimed to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time Ross Rowe (105). So with a few non starters, it was time to go again. From the restart it was Liam Deeble (785) who soared away to a lead only for Chris Mikkula (522) and James Rygor (783) to tangle on the Honiton Bend, and a scary moment for Westaway who took a wild ride on Andy Sobey (550). The restart allowed Dale Moon, to pull away but was being threatened by Paul Rice (990) and a now seemingly trouble free Bradbury (886). Indeed it finished in the reverse order, as Bradbury took the Tricky Cider trophy from Rice and Moon, with Liam Rowe 4th and Bill Batten (167) with his best final showing for some time. The GN saw another mid-Cornwall yellow top charge to the front, with Moon and Phillips scrapping for places corner after Corner. With 1 to go, Moon hit Phillips wide and dived up the inside, adding a fair amount of lean onto the Black Randall, Phillips responded and the two cars tangled down the back straight, with Madame Starter Jinx Bunt and her flags in sight. 2 DNF's and a GN win for Neil Hooper (676), cheers and thanks lads!

For me, and the crowd, this was the meeting of the season so far, loads of big hits, all in good nature, good old fashioned scrapping for places, it was a great meeting from start to finish.

National Points have been updated, check them out, Dominator to follow as well as a new award...

See you round like a doughnut...

Jonny

Ali P's Plethora of Pictures....

Once again from the world famous studios of Alan Parkinson, the purple peoples pet photographer, is his pics to music!

A bit late, but a taster for anyone heading to Toytown this is what to expect.....Thankfully, this meeting is NOT sponsored by always polite and very eloquent Mike Priddle (14), who will become very apparent! Check out Dan Moss' (797) face in the Final 1-2-3 picture!

A few piccy wiccys from the pre-season shoot

The day before the practice day at St Day, the lovely Natalie Autumn Photography came along to do a few pics for the site and using the boys Rowe (105 and 605). This was Verity's first shoot too, and more pics to come--- keep an eye on the site for more pics!

Ross' new outside weight ballast experiment wasn't going to plan

Weekend Weedkiller....

or Round Up of course!

So Week 3 saw the form book, revert to type....

DO NOT GO BEFORE THE GREEN, GO AFTER!

Nigel Green signalled what he had been threatening for a while at Birmingham's previous 2 meetings, and alongside another heat victory for Lee Carlin (963) and the Bradberry (886), it was Nige who took consolation from his consolation and took his first final win of the season at the Second City's No 1 Oval.Such was the keeness of the Milky Bar Kid, he decided to hit Jaguar Skeels (124) with some gusto, however it was yellow top golfingly monickered Darren Clarke (571) who signalled his intent with another heavy score topped off with a GN win....


ROLES REVERSED AS EDDIE TAKES FINAL

Meanwhile in Central Park, Cowdenbeath, the Racewall/plate/fence played action to the second meeting of the Jockland season. Top man in the White and Yellow race was Andy Bertram (583), and after the obligatory Moodie double - it was final time , and this time in a break of traditon, it was Chris Burgyone (647) who turned the tables and took the win. A GN win for Gordon saw another huge points haul.

BRADDERS TAKES THE BUX BIG BUCKS

First meeting up in the gods, up at the Hi Edge, where the sun was shining according to pessimist Chris Bradbury, on Twitter, who proclaimed when during the recent misty spell that befell the UK last week, that the Buxton weather had come early. An all in format saw heat wins for the go to guys at the mo Adam Rubery (700) and Mike Green (115), before Big Boy Bradders (886) took the final with the Terry George EliteWorth. Former World Champ winner at Buxton, Mickey Breennan (968) signed off the meeting with a win the GN

SPENCE SPEEDS TO RED

Whilst riches of silver and gold, in the form of Simmo and Gordon where at the back of the grid, it was blue top Andrew Spence (557) who took both heats and the final at the East Coast track. Jack Aldridge (921) finally found some form, and in one of the quickest engine changes in history, Gordon Moodie (7) came out and won the GN.

in other news.........

ITS THE PITS FOR MARK

North East driver Mark Dews (178) will be facing a lengthy lay off after a accident at work, after falling into a pit at his garage has left his knee quite mangled. A 3 month diagonisis has been given for walking so concern indeed for Mark. Get well soon dude, your fan club loves you!

WRANAGATON WRANGLE END IN SIGHT??

According to former F2 driver and "Johnny on the spot" Richard Ellis, the aborted effort of Wrangaton Wheels Raceway, which was a grass track conversion on behalf of Autospeed, may be reaching a conclusion. More armco has been placed in recently, and work is continuing if the rumour mill is to be believed

Now as a bit of back story, Wranagton hosted numerous rod and banger races in the 1990's in a similar style to that of the North Cornwall Banger Racing Club of Lewdown and Week St Mary. A track carved out of a field, with some rough and ready facility was changed into something resembling a track by the purple people in 2008. However, the local NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) merchants who hate anything fun moved in and an Enforcement Notice calling for the ceasation of all motorsport on the site to close. The subsequent appeal took the case to a Public Inquiry and with it, all manner of legal bits and bobs, meaning that racing could start in theory. That was in 2010

This news means that some kind of statement may be forthcoming, and the Westcountry might have something to shout about....


That concludes this weeks, remember - never miss an update - subscribe using the box at the top, and check out the points charts, updated here first and fastest!

We March On....

Weekend 2 of the Brisca Season for 2012, and well it ended up being a bit of a Brucie bonus...

There were 3 potential venues for the Jho fun bus this weekend. A weekend of drinking with those people of renowned temperance, the young farmers at Weston Super Mare. Fortunately, the YFC panto I had co-
produced and wrote, didn't get past the Cornwall stage, so no need to be there!

Another alternative was to see if, contrary to some opinion, Autospeed could organise a piss up in a brewery, St Austell Brewery to be precise for the Bill Dalley Tribute Evening. After spending the afternoon down at Stadium Retail Park, going to the shoppers, in true Bullseye fashion.... here's what you could have won, an evening of nostalgia was put on by Clive and Jim Wilcocks. I bumped into Clive in Liskeard town centre, and he is always a fountain of knowledge of olden times, and to a relative whippersnapper like myself, who can barely remember St Austell!

Of course, usually as sure as eggs is eggs, I would be at the opening St Day. Random winners, great racing, nice and quick. Good day for the new brethren of the Janner Motorsport, as Matt Westaway (835) and Bertie Bassett (31) took a heat each. Dale Moon (302) followed up his Taunton GN win with a nice heat win. The returning Adam Deeble (685) shocked the Janners with two seconds. However, in the final, it went to Chris Mikkula (522) who took the "Voice of Autospeed" trophy.
Here's a few pics to music taken by the excellent Ali P...


So what cataclysmic event prevented me from heading to St Day. The accumulation of prenuptial brownie points, with the future in laws, meant my presence was required in the Benevolent Republic of Skegness. So spending the evening eating Chicken Chow Mein discussing the onslaught of pringles at Birmingham or the new fence at the Wall. Then we watched a country singer.....I'm pretty certain that Paul Wilson would have requested 9 to 5.... think about it.....and Barrington Goldin could be heard shouting "Joleene" Not to sure who is the "Coward of the County"!

Birmingham saw an evening of pringle based fun as 2 racewinners were stripped for jumping the gun. Nigel "GoesBeforeThe" Green (445) picking up his second. Darren Clarke (571) getting pringled twice in one race - that's a first - and perennial start abuser  Big Boy Bradbury (886) got docked. Jack Cave (801) followed up some impressive displays with a race win- his first in the formula. The final went the of Steve Green Jnr (154) who proved he is still one of the tar drivers to beat.

Up at the new look Cowdie, with the wall and inner fence gone, and being told to "watch the sparks fly"- promising much, however it was business as usual, as Gordon Moodie (7) and Chris Burgoyne (647)  carved up the heats, with the Moodster taking the final, and Eddie taking the GN.

Sunday came, and whilst my heart was in St Day, I went home Northampton way! Now I worked out whilst I was there, that my last Northampton visit was 2005, for the Willie Peeters World win. I was shocked, but NIR is a venue which you can dip in and out of and not miss much. It was also my first Hot Rod meet for quite some time too, I think quite possibly a Ringwood bank holiday might have been the last time. It's a shame they don't like the more action tracks - stock rods at Taunton are proof that they can run round small tracks rather well! I forgotten how good they can be if the racing is close, so Kewy (174) I might make the effort to watch again. I wish I could say the same about MASCAR, good idea in concept, but do we really need another non contact saloon based formula? I kept on thinking about Bubba J, "heeeeeeeeeee's making a left turn"
The Rebels usually flatter to achieve anything with me...its the bouncing I can't stand.... but a couple of spectacular rolls did the trick...
A somewhat disappointing 25 F2's turned up to Northampton, with no real travellers of note, and no real atmosphere. After Mike Green (115)'s opening heat win, which saw Ryan Cattell (904) have one the most spectacular blowjobs ever, sadly of the engine variety, for Ryan who was glum, until he pronounced at the end of the meeting... "Long live Billy the Bus" meaning that he will be partaking on the shale for a few weeks! Also Dastardly Daz Kitson (732) put away Simmo the Gold (871) in a lively move that saw
Heat 2 went to Jack Cave (801) who with the help of white top wing man Aryton Mills (222) got away from the marauding reds. An early spin for Bradbury saw him recovered from being 3/4's of a lap down to a respectable 9th.
Final time, saw a white charge again from Mills this time was followed by Cave...we then witnessed a Bradders masterclass of how to overtake 2 cars in one corner...firstly Green Jnr (154 and Kitson) and then the now leaders Pete Hobbs (8) and Mark Guinchard (183) just in case you weren't taking notes. A dummy spit at the pringle awarded to Guinch which relegated him to 4th, but a solid display from Bradbury saw him take the points.
The GN saw fag papers, hairs breadths, micrometers required as it turned into a dash for the line between Hobbs and Green (115), with the win going to Green by the smallest margin of them all .001 of a second. Methinks Hobbs might have his transponder on a fishing line to cast off just in case of another close finish again!

Up at the 2012 World Venue, it was very much like the night before, as Burgyone took a heat, but the rest of the day belonged to Moodie. A heat, a final, and the GN, an astonishing 46 points saw the Fife man very much lay down a marker for September - this is where I win.

So 2 weekends down, and well the quality of the racing so far has been nothing short of brilliant. Yup, the same guys are doing the majority of the winning , but come May, there will be a new breed to join the "old hands".

National Points (Unofficial and probably incorrect) are here on the site, as well as the dominator, which looks to be fairly close already and a trend might be developing!

Laters...

"......and away we go"

So with those immortal words, the green flag had dropped. Time to believe the hype, as it all starts all over again.

A SINCH FOR GUINCH

For Saturday night, it was a return to the venue where the 2011 season ended. Britain's second city was the destination of the Golf, as once again the sat nav took me on another round trip of Birmingham's lesser known sites, and which also took me through St Andrews at 4:55pm on a match day. Needless to say, when we arrived at Wheels, it was a relief.

So with the news that Liam Rowe (605) had stacked his new Higgy into the plating in pre meeting practice, and that National Points Champ Lordy Gordy Moodie (7) was aiming to go west for his second day of racing, the pits were full of chatter!

The honour of first race winner on the tar went to Lee Carlin (963) after taking up the running from James Rogers (544). Indeed, that was the way it finished officially as Nigel Green (445) was deemed to have jumped the start, and became the first name in the Pringle Hall of Fame.

Heat 2 saw Brum specialist Adam Rebel Rubery (700) take the victory, despite being chased by Mickey Brennan (968)

The consolation got lively. Ian Ollernshaw (919) got it all wrong and ended up broadside up the straight, and when the burgeoning throng of yellows and blues decended on the white top, a trail of destruction was left, akin to those recent twisters in the states. Worst off were Luke Loveland (120), Chris Mikkula (522),  Ross Rowe (105), and Aidy Whitehead (960) who requested a withdrawl from the bank. After the restart, Tim Bailey (817) and Stephen Smith (299) led away, with Smith taking the chequered, only to have jumped the restart, and cut the corner onto the rumples. This allowed Jay Tomkins (290) to give the West country something to cheer about, when there was nowt about, as he inherited the win.

Final time, and all eyes were on both Green and Moodie, however eyes should have been forward, as fellow Pensilva School alumnus, Mark Guinchard (183) sped away to a clear half a lap lead. Indeed, after crossing the line an astonishing 4.5 seconds ahead of Rubery and Moodie. Don't let Guinch's hard guy personna fool you, I can tell you he once made an Arsenal cushion! I expect playground beatings like 25 year ago for that comment!

The GN saw Nige take the win from Darren Clarke (571) who isn't bad for a golfer.....

The ORCi minis stole the show, with drivers far and wide, and it was the Autospeed ones who did the majority of damage. Some brutal hits from Steve Gilbert (942), which were very reminiscent of his old man back in the day The Undertaker, Peter!

BRADDERS KING AT LYNN

Of course, many of last seasons Brum regular decided again to start on the Road to Gold where it ended last year. With the traditional season opener and opening qualifying round at King's Lynn. Heats went the way of William Clement (158), Allen Cooper (702) and Chris Big Boy Bradbury (886). With the final a relatively lively affair, and after silly boys Martin Love (548) and John Davies (77) got out their cars after a yellow flag, it left Bradders to pick up a maximum on the road to gold. The GN was again a lively affair as both Cooper and Bradderz clashed, with the latter on the road to a potential maximum, clashed on the last bend, which didn't help. First dummy spat of the new season, and that goes to Allen Cooper, who's spot of afters with Bradbury might bite him on the bum.


NATH PLAYS IT COOL AT COLD TOYTOWN

Sunday, and like many of the saloon boys, I got caught up on the M42, where the torrential rain saw plenty of pile ups to slow the traffic down. Arriving about an hour later than I should of, I arrive to see a few new cars, and a fairly busy pits. Some finished cars, ready to rock and roll.

"Is that gay enough"

"The last car I will build" Batten signals he's still got it

.

Butch back with another

So with stragglers coming in due to the abysmal weather conditions experienced on the journey down, a greasy track in freezing conditions. It was bitterly cold, but that didn't stop 30 or so hardy souls. A 2 from 3 format was applied. James Rogers (544) led away heat one with Lewannick stalwart Andy Sobey (550) - and the whites couldn't be caught. Heat 2 saw a last corner shove from a Moodie with intent! Gordon shoved local challenger Neil Hooper (676) in the 2011 Black Motorworld out of contention, and then found himself nuzzled in the middle of two tarts, and he wasn't even racing at Skegness... The Tarts in question were Nathan Maidment (935) and Dan Moss (797) who let Nath take the brunt of the last bender, and the canny Scot cannae play a decent game of snooker, a nice pot giving him heat 2. Moss got the pringle, much to his delight! Heat 3  gave Andy Sobey a flag to flag win which is more than likely going to see him hit the dizzy heights of yellow again. So with Bradbury and Moodie, and a selection of quick lower grades, the final looked good.
 Rogers again took up the early running, but it was Moss and Maidment who took up as the track was slippy on the Honiton bend. Standing beside an extremely nervous dad in Andy, who counted down the laps, and when he crossed the line, the look of joy. Nathan took the win and a return to the red grade.

Sadly it seems the senior TARTS, Mummy Moss and Andy Maidment have taken to the petty theft of steering wheels, mastered by Mike Priddle (14), as sneaky tactics between the two reached new levels! I think only a Rattler or 5 will sort it!

Cheeky boy Dale Moon (302) who questioned why I was still here, and jumped for joy in waterfalls of rapture at the news that Birmingham would be my closest track, when I move to my new base, won the GN with his new Flintstone style aerofoil (think of Fred's spare rib)

DAZ MAX

Soggy success for Meeds

Daz Kitson (732) announced his intentions for the new season, with a faultless maximum in the soggy conditions. Future brother in law, Mark Meeds (458) took the win in heat 2, cue a happy fiance on the phone! The other winner was Marc Fortune (64) in the Speak Elite, who took the Consolation!


So first weekend back, and doesn't it feel good.....

Check the Pringle and WCQR points...

Workshop Watch 6. Stoxmas Eve

Twas the night before Stoxmas, no tea was stirring, not in even in the house....

Cue frantic welding, riveting, and placing the finishing touches, tomorrow it's time to go racing!
So whether its Lynn or Wheels, Taunton or Skeg, its time to fire up the beats and reclaim our weekends in the name of all things Stox.

Robbie Dawson (854) has had the car in for a spot of TLC

Him of the Goldsworthy monikered upside down Toyota Crown Carlos Perez (5) has been busy on his transition over to F2. He is best know  as a F1 and of course a member of the infamous Team Stinkbridge banger team.









He's keeping it under wraps a bit longer!

And finally an exclusive from midlands blue top Graham Mallings (11) with a lovely claret and blue colour scheme. Wonder if he's a Villa fan? Many thanks to Graham for providing these pics here first!