... numerous words will probably follow but its time for one of the lazy round ups that I do from time to time....
KIRKCALDY KING OF BRITS - GEOMAC BACK AND NOT CACK!
Blue top Alan Kirkcaldy (795) turned pole into chequered, as he became the 2012 British Champion, in a faultless display on a rare hot day in Scotland with a rarer mid 40's turnout for the Racewall.
The return of George Macmillan Jnr (100) to the track, after incidents saw him dally with Lochgelly and the Superstox, to see him try and take the title that his dad took in 1993. Sadly for Geomac,
Funniest thing was watching the epic race on twitter thanks to pacing sister Liz Polley and her sister in law Jo Polley (spouse of Barrington Goldin (401)) pace around for little nuggets of information, like expectant fathers in the delivery room, such was the epicness of this race. More red flags than at communist rally, and more incidents of note. Normal service was resumed, as within a couple of laps the field thinned out to something they were more accustomed too, a race with 16 cars or less! 31 started, only 8 finished in a war of attrition. Some fans said that this was one of the best meetings for a long time at the Fife track, and that the racing was top notch. Just need turnouts like this a few more times, although the English contingent was a little on the small side.
SPOTTED RANDALL DELIVERY
Whilst taking Gerty (the Golf) down to get her rear sorted at the Vospers centre at Victoria, I spotted the 2010/11 Randall of Jay Tomkin (290) on the back of a trailer. Destination was "up north" according to my sources.
A VERY NICE AVERY CAR FOR RYAN
Ex Saloon driver and Bristol's most local driver (if it wasn't for the hill he could push it there) Ryan Wilding (476) has traded in the Battenbuilt of previous use to Rob Batten (467) for the Motorworld used in the last two seasons by Jamie Avery (126) and the recent stop gap for Richard Beere (254). He's off the white grade and is starting to get the hang of things and should be one to catch!
CHRIS IS THE DADDY AGAIN
Hot on the heels of final wins, Weston's very own RCE pilot, Chris Mikkula is a dad again. Partner Grace gave birth to the as yet unnamed baby boy who weighed in at 7lb 1oz. Congrats to mum and dad.
A busy weekend ahead folks.... might be about somewhere, but torn to where!
Monday 28 May 2012
Wednesday 23 May 2012
The Big Interview - 120 Luke Loveland
After a break of a few months it's time to hit the interview trail again. We head into the midlands and to a driver who often travels out of his comfort zone and is starting to reap rewards,
Luke Loveland (120)
NAME: Luke Loveland
HOMETOWN: Tamworth
AGE: 19
F2 DEBUT (Year/Track): 2010, Birmingham
NUMBER: 120
PREVIOUS FORMULAE RACED: ORCi Ministox and the Incarace formula Incarods
CURRENT F2: A Home built car completely designed and built by me and dad (mainly dad)
HIGHEST GRADE ACHIEVED: Yellow
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE: There hasn't really been any as such yet, I
suppose getting one of only two last chance places in the shootout
championship was good.
SPONSORS: Millers Oils, Sealco, Swan Street Salvage, A-Kleen, Racequip, Matts Groundworks and Nu homes
NICKNAME(S):Spud
FAVOURITE TRACK:erm, probably Northampton
TRACKS RACED
Birmingham, Northampton,Hednesford,Buxton,Bristol,Taunton,Skegness,Arena Essex. Out of F2 Mildenhall,Grimley
JH - How did you get involved in racing?
LL -Well through my dad really, he started racing superrods in the early 90's and then moved into Eurocars on the circuits which turned out to be pretty huge, so it just went on from there.
JH - What made you want to race?
LL - To be honest i never wanted to when i was younger, was more interested in Rugby and cricket, But I went to the Autosport show just after my 15th Birthday and we thought lets have a go in Ministox.
JH - Talk us through your first meeting
LL - My first meeting in F2s wasn't too bad actually, I started from the back and somehow managed to fluke my way into the final through the consolation, which was the only point I scored in 11 meetings that year
JH - Whats been the best bits so far?
LL -The last meeting of 2011 was my best meeting to date, I managed to beat Glenn Salmon (566) to 2nd to qualify for the shootout and then just started at the back and found myself moving forward in it as everyone crashed out.
JH - Whats been the low points?
LL -The shootout race! Doing well and getting put in big time and bending my chassis, There was also a patch through the middle of last year where nothing went right, that was a bit crap!
JH - What is your ambition to achieve in the sport?
LL -I don't know really, I suppose everyones really is to win championships,
we take it very serious so thats the aim, my main ambition for this
year is to try and make red, or if not blue, which is looking a strong
possibilty at the moment anyway.
JH - You are seen as part of a golden generation of ministox graduates. Are you jealous of Aldridge, Griffin et al?
LL - I suppose I have to be a little bit! Haha but I get on with them all so I'm pleased for them really, a little more jealous of Ollie (Skeels) as we raced well together in ministox, but he's a good lad! Hopefully I'll be put in the same bracket as them by the end of the year anyway! I wish!!
JH - Tell us your best racing based story...
LL - Oh god! theres loads, Ido some really stupid things at times! At the start of 2011 I was rushing to get my new car done so I decided to use my old DK for a Hednesford meeting. Me and my uncle worked all day Saturday on it because my dad wanted nothing to do with it, we kept saying "no it'll be fine, at least were back on track". We got there rolled it off the truck and on the way to scrutineering both halfshafts came out and m rear wheels started overtaking me haha
JH- Do you have any thank yous?
LL - Anyone thats helped us out really! family and friends, To name a few Mom and dad, Tony, Ant and kieron have all helped alot
Luke Loveland (120) was talking to Jonny Hoare
Luke Loveland (120)
NAME: Luke Loveland
HOMETOWN: Tamworth
AGE: 19
F2 DEBUT (Year/Track): 2010, Birmingham
NUMBER: 120
PREVIOUS FORMULAE RACED: ORCi Ministox and the Incarace formula Incarods
CURRENT F2: A Home built car completely designed and built by me and dad (mainly dad)
HIGHEST GRADE ACHIEVED: Yellow
 |
| Getting that vital push.... |
SPONSORS: Millers Oils, Sealco, Swan Street Salvage, A-Kleen, Racequip, Matts Groundworks and Nu homes
NICKNAME(S):Spud
FAVOURITE TRACK:erm, probably Northampton
TRACKS RACED
Birmingham, Northampton,Hednesford,Buxton,Bristol,Taunton,Skegness,Arena Essex. Out of F2 Mildenhall,Grimley
JH - How did you get involved in racing?
LL -Well through my dad really, he started racing superrods in the early 90's and then moved into Eurocars on the circuits which turned out to be pretty huge, so it just went on from there.
 |
| Mini squeeze... |
JH - What made you want to race?
LL - To be honest i never wanted to when i was younger, was more interested in Rugby and cricket, But I went to the Autosport show just after my 15th Birthday and we thought lets have a go in Ministox.
JH - Talk us through your first meeting
LL - My first meeting in F2s wasn't too bad actually, I started from the back and somehow managed to fluke my way into the final through the consolation, which was the only point I scored in 11 meetings that year
JH - Whats been the best bits so far?
LL -The last meeting of 2011 was my best meeting to date, I managed to beat Glenn Salmon (566) to 2nd to qualify for the shootout and then just started at the back and found myself moving forward in it as everyone crashed out.
JH - Whats been the low points?
LL -The shootout race! Doing well and getting put in big time and bending my chassis, There was also a patch through the middle of last year where nothing went right, that was a bit crap!
JH - What is your ambition to achieve in the sport?
 |
| At NIR, running it close! |
JH - You are seen as part of a golden generation of ministox graduates. Are you jealous of Aldridge, Griffin et al?
LL - I suppose I have to be a little bit! Haha but I get on with them all so I'm pleased for them really, a little more jealous of Ollie (Skeels) as we raced well together in ministox, but he's a good lad! Hopefully I'll be put in the same bracket as them by the end of the year anyway! I wish!!
JH - Tell us your best racing based story...
LL - Oh god! theres loads, Ido some really stupid things at times! At the start of 2011 I was rushing to get my new car done so I decided to use my old DK for a Hednesford meeting. Me and my uncle worked all day Saturday on it because my dad wanted nothing to do with it, we kept saying "no it'll be fine, at least were back on track". We got there rolled it off the truck and on the way to scrutineering both halfshafts came out and m rear wheels started overtaking me haha
JH- Do you have any thank yous?
LL - Anyone thats helped us out really! family and friends, To name a few Mom and dad, Tony, Ant and kieron have all helped alot
Luke Loveland (120) was talking to Jonny Hoare
Saturday 12 May 2012
100 and not out....
....(adopts a Richie Benaud revered tone) Marvellous shot, that.
Congratulations to Stoxblog's most frequent racing reader, Chris Bradbury (886) on joining an illustrious club of 100 final wins.
He joins the echelon of greatness alongside Speaky, Billy B, Moodie, Sworder, Bert and Jamesey - a truly magnificent achievement
I've probably missed a few off the list, but I ain't Carlton Elliot!
Congratulations to Stoxblog's most frequent racing reader, Chris Bradbury (886) on joining an illustrious club of 100 final wins.
He joins the echelon of greatness alongside Speaky, Billy B, Moodie, Sworder, Bert and Jamesey - a truly magnificent achievement
I've probably missed a few off the list, but I ain't Carlton Elliot!
Friday 11 May 2012
Blue and green should never be seen...
Don't think it will be wet though!!
Just don't roll it!
Also if you want some stickers like what Mark has, for your motor....
In fact look out for numerous Jho stickers, and Mark's number one fan - the Queen of the Stadium has a limited amount at Skeg this weekend!
Thursday 10 May 2012
Where the Wild Things Are....
Wrighty is back with his Steel City report, aptly named after the book we all read in primary school. Incidentally the author died this week, which is pretty sad, and speaking of things pretty sad, its over to our man in the North East
OK, I should explain from the outset that I'll watch just about anything race in a circle or near-circle....I'd watch greyhounds if they made engine noises when they were going round, so you'll doubtless understand that speedway and rods and Indycars and sprint cars and all the various forms of racing are just a wide smorgasbord from which i indulge.....and of course NASCAR is pretty near the top of that little pile, especially now that is viewable weekly on the same channel that carries our F1 meetings. NASCAR has a strange reputation in this country amongst the stock car fraternity, much like Marmite to the culinary types....some love it for its variety and its unique tang, while others think its a waste of time and space, pointless and silly and frankly not worth the effort.
You know where this is going don't you.....big tracks, dangerous beyond measure for no good reason, unique tang. Yep, Sheffield.
I love the place, I love the racing, I love the atmosphere and, because it's like a superspeedway compared to some of our regular haunts,I love the different fayre it offers....alas these days, despite the fact that it hasn't changed at all in all of the years that I've been going there (and rest assured that is 'many') it's a track that is almost starting to outgrow a sport that worries about costs of damage and then looks at its primitive post & wire fence as a modern anathema, like it would if barrels and concrete-filled marker tyres were re-introduced or a decision was made that drivers didn't need mid-race yellows any more....as a spectacle, however, it is peerless, completely and utterly without compare, a place where speed is everything, and then the icing on the cake is more speed usually....Sheffield is a shale track where a loose car can be frightening for the spectators, never mind other drivers, a place where the crowd arc back in a wave as soon as someone is in the fence and the traffic skims by, speed unabated....Sheffield is a track where, if it was the first place you'd watched the sport you probably wonder why almost everywhere else looks like footage in slow-motion. Sheffield is almost BriSCA's Talledega Superspeedway, not 'the real deal', not 'the home of the sport', not the landmark but, purely by the quirk of location, BriSCA's biggest wasted opportunity.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, so they say, and i'm sure the inducements that could be offered to drivers to come to the Steel City would be many and munificent, but they would not pay for the damage on a bad day (ask Scott Davids, who had a full rear axle surgically removed from his F1 in a heat race), and these days all damage days are bad days and so, despite the meeting being a double-formula world qualifying round (or is that rounds?), there was under 30 F1s and approximately 40 F2s in attendance in an attempt to bag the points including a strong north-eastern contingent doubtless eager to secure prime semi-final grid spots for 'their' world final. One of the great things about the meetings at a lesser-attended track is that often the form is a little more difficult to read prior to the event, but Heat 1 offered little away from the status quo as Andy Palmer took the win (not quite straightforwardly but the win did suggest that Andy is starting to get more comfortable in his new car) ahead of Dave Polley, again bucking the recent trend by producing self-built cars with pace to spare, with flying white top Andy Robinson coming in third in a 440 machine of no apparent vintage but driven with real brio on a classic Sheffield surface (i.e. snooker-table-smooth....oh yes, i stoop that low...). Heat 2 was taken by Paul Kitching in his Bingley-built example (it's taking a while but those stubby little downbar cars are starting to finally grow on me......they're not quite Battenbuilts but they're flippin' effective on the loose) ahead of John Davies and Rob Mitchell with local hotshoes Steve Mallinson and Liam Bentham, thankfully none the worse for wear following his recent Barford travails, in close attendance. Heat 3 was notable for the fact that Dave Harley did his level best to get out of the racing arena through the turn 4 fence, but thankfully was stopped at the rollcage (and of course thankfully was none the worse for this incident, although the damage sustained was doubtless not minor)....after a lengthy yellow flag stoppage while the 362 machine was carefully extricated from said wires, the result saw a popular win from hardy perennial Paul Broatch, still winning at the ripe old age of 364 years young (haha just joking matey!) ahead of Steve Mallinson, recent stoxblog picture star Paul Wilson and Daz Shaw.....heat 3 was also notable for the sterling efforts of Charlie Whitfield who, having been excluded from heat 1 for an apparent confusion with regard to lining up during a heat 1 yellow stoppage, proceeded to complete heat 3 with most of his engine oil seeping out of the bonnet and across the bodywork and amid a blue haze that did not bode well. In the circumstances a ninth place finish was scant reward but Charlie knows that every point is going to be vital, and it is to his credit that he wore his heart on his sleeve and fought for the point, almost daring his equipment to succumb....such effort will surely not go unrewarded in time.
As is the way at this fine arena, the other formulae racing were just as exciting, just as blistering, just as peek-through-your-fingers-and-hold-your-breath terrifying, and soon enough the F2 final was upon us. From the green flag it was clear that it was going to be one of those where some got caught up again and again in other peoples incidents (and of course often the incidents are not minor.....even just a correction of line at these speeds can become a mighty tankslapper of an incident, and it is to the credit of the drivers that they have the skills of clairvoyance to read the movements before they occur) but this was a race that saw success for perseverance, specifically for Sam Wagner, back onto the shale in a car that was still bedding in after a recent rebuild, chased home by John Dowson who had had a nightmare of a meeting up to this point with two right-rear puncture DNFs but had looked a shoe-in for this win until the combination of a tight-handling car and a slight misfire (related as they are, where a car loses power and can't maintain the controlled wheelspin robbing him of those last few oh-so-vital horsepowers) saw Wagner make up the gap and steal the win from Dowson in the last quarter of the race. Josh Coleman, Rob Mitchell, Daz Shaw (unlucky again in this race and having one of those days where he was the innocent victim of everyone elses incidents) and Dave Polley completed the top six but Wagner was not to be denied.
Finally to the Grand National and Dowson was able to gain some recompense for the defeat in the final, storming to the win despite the continuing slight misfire....after his recent shale meetings that have seen his car eat engines at a rate of one per meeting, it was to his credit that he took to the track for this race but surely the sound of the engine not running at 100% must have weighed on his mind as the laps ticked down to the chequered flag.....thankfully, however, it all stayed together and the relief as he was interviewed afterwards was audible, the celebrations on the rolling lap were welcome indeed and a fitting footnote to a very successful weekend from the young Thornley driver.
.....reflections on this meeting are warm and fuzzy already and this was a meeting that, while not quite the usual modern BriSCA fayre, was certainly one that will live long in the memory. Tracks do not come along very often that are this well presented, this well prepared, this.....visceral. This is a place for heroes and villians, none but the brave, not for the foolish or the weak or the ill-prepared....truly a place, with respect to the recently departed author Maurice Sendak, where wild things are.
Yours, still hearing a Pinto on full song, just for once unleashed and unfettered.....Wrighty
OK, I should explain from the outset that I'll watch just about anything race in a circle or near-circle....I'd watch greyhounds if they made engine noises when they were going round, so you'll doubtless understand that speedway and rods and Indycars and sprint cars and all the various forms of racing are just a wide smorgasbord from which i indulge.....and of course NASCAR is pretty near the top of that little pile, especially now that is viewable weekly on the same channel that carries our F1 meetings. NASCAR has a strange reputation in this country amongst the stock car fraternity, much like Marmite to the culinary types....some love it for its variety and its unique tang, while others think its a waste of time and space, pointless and silly and frankly not worth the effort.
You know where this is going don't you.....big tracks, dangerous beyond measure for no good reason, unique tang. Yep, Sheffield.
I love the place, I love the racing, I love the atmosphere and, because it's like a superspeedway compared to some of our regular haunts,I love the different fayre it offers....alas these days, despite the fact that it hasn't changed at all in all of the years that I've been going there (and rest assured that is 'many') it's a track that is almost starting to outgrow a sport that worries about costs of damage and then looks at its primitive post & wire fence as a modern anathema, like it would if barrels and concrete-filled marker tyres were re-introduced or a decision was made that drivers didn't need mid-race yellows any more....as a spectacle, however, it is peerless, completely and utterly without compare, a place where speed is everything, and then the icing on the cake is more speed usually....Sheffield is a shale track where a loose car can be frightening for the spectators, never mind other drivers, a place where the crowd arc back in a wave as soon as someone is in the fence and the traffic skims by, speed unabated....Sheffield is a track where, if it was the first place you'd watched the sport you probably wonder why almost everywhere else looks like footage in slow-motion. Sheffield is almost BriSCA's Talledega Superspeedway, not 'the real deal', not 'the home of the sport', not the landmark but, purely by the quirk of location, BriSCA's biggest wasted opportunity.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, so they say, and i'm sure the inducements that could be offered to drivers to come to the Steel City would be many and munificent, but they would not pay for the damage on a bad day (ask Scott Davids, who had a full rear axle surgically removed from his F1 in a heat race), and these days all damage days are bad days and so, despite the meeting being a double-formula world qualifying round (or is that rounds?), there was under 30 F1s and approximately 40 F2s in attendance in an attempt to bag the points including a strong north-eastern contingent doubtless eager to secure prime semi-final grid spots for 'their' world final. One of the great things about the meetings at a lesser-attended track is that often the form is a little more difficult to read prior to the event, but Heat 1 offered little away from the status quo as Andy Palmer took the win (not quite straightforwardly but the win did suggest that Andy is starting to get more comfortable in his new car) ahead of Dave Polley, again bucking the recent trend by producing self-built cars with pace to spare, with flying white top Andy Robinson coming in third in a 440 machine of no apparent vintage but driven with real brio on a classic Sheffield surface (i.e. snooker-table-smooth....oh yes, i stoop that low...). Heat 2 was taken by Paul Kitching in his Bingley-built example (it's taking a while but those stubby little downbar cars are starting to finally grow on me......they're not quite Battenbuilts but they're flippin' effective on the loose) ahead of John Davies and Rob Mitchell with local hotshoes Steve Mallinson and Liam Bentham, thankfully none the worse for wear following his recent Barford travails, in close attendance. Heat 3 was notable for the fact that Dave Harley did his level best to get out of the racing arena through the turn 4 fence, but thankfully was stopped at the rollcage (and of course thankfully was none the worse for this incident, although the damage sustained was doubtless not minor)....after a lengthy yellow flag stoppage while the 362 machine was carefully extricated from said wires, the result saw a popular win from hardy perennial Paul Broatch, still winning at the ripe old age of 364 years young (haha just joking matey!) ahead of Steve Mallinson, recent stoxblog picture star Paul Wilson and Daz Shaw.....heat 3 was also notable for the sterling efforts of Charlie Whitfield who, having been excluded from heat 1 for an apparent confusion with regard to lining up during a heat 1 yellow stoppage, proceeded to complete heat 3 with most of his engine oil seeping out of the bonnet and across the bodywork and amid a blue haze that did not bode well. In the circumstances a ninth place finish was scant reward but Charlie knows that every point is going to be vital, and it is to his credit that he wore his heart on his sleeve and fought for the point, almost daring his equipment to succumb....such effort will surely not go unrewarded in time.
 |
| Danii Pics again..... Chaos is back, and well ended up getting acquainted with the fence |
 |
| Dowsy gets the shale bug |
As is the way at this fine arena, the other formulae racing were just as exciting, just as blistering, just as peek-through-your-fingers-and-hold-your-breath terrifying, and soon enough the F2 final was upon us. From the green flag it was clear that it was going to be one of those where some got caught up again and again in other peoples incidents (and of course often the incidents are not minor.....even just a correction of line at these speeds can become a mighty tankslapper of an incident, and it is to the credit of the drivers that they have the skills of clairvoyance to read the movements before they occur) but this was a race that saw success for perseverance, specifically for Sam Wagner, back onto the shale in a car that was still bedding in after a recent rebuild, chased home by John Dowson who had had a nightmare of a meeting up to this point with two right-rear puncture DNFs but had looked a shoe-in for this win until the combination of a tight-handling car and a slight misfire (related as they are, where a car loses power and can't maintain the controlled wheelspin robbing him of those last few oh-so-vital horsepowers) saw Wagner make up the gap and steal the win from Dowson in the last quarter of the race. Josh Coleman, Rob Mitchell, Daz Shaw (unlucky again in this race and having one of those days where he was the innocent victim of everyone elses incidents) and Dave Polley completed the top six but Wagner was not to be denied.
Finally to the Grand National and Dowson was able to gain some recompense for the defeat in the final, storming to the win despite the continuing slight misfire....after his recent shale meetings that have seen his car eat engines at a rate of one per meeting, it was to his credit that he took to the track for this race but surely the sound of the engine not running at 100% must have weighed on his mind as the laps ticked down to the chequered flag.....thankfully, however, it all stayed together and the relief as he was interviewed afterwards was audible, the celebrations on the rolling lap were welcome indeed and a fitting footnote to a very successful weekend from the young Thornley driver.
.....reflections on this meeting are warm and fuzzy already and this was a meeting that, while not quite the usual modern BriSCA fayre, was certainly one that will live long in the memory. Tracks do not come along very often that are this well presented, this well prepared, this.....visceral. This is a place for heroes and villians, none but the brave, not for the foolish or the weak or the ill-prepared....truly a place, with respect to the recently departed author Maurice Sendak, where wild things are.
Yours, still hearing a Pinto on full song, just for once unleashed and unfettered.....Wrighty
Wednesday 9 May 2012
The Pink Bike Race!
Apologies for the video, this is raw footage from my phone, as 4 computers didn't like it for the edit. Note to self, pack your chuffin camera next time!
So I wouldn't bother with the first 45 seconds, it was then I decided to go by the pit gate, well I had paid £20 so yeah, pit gate it is!
Tuesday 8 May 2012
A weekend of pleasure and pain....
...lots of pain!
May Day Bank Holiday Weekend and well, it was on the whole wet! Whereas Englishmen dance around maypoles and morris dance, us Cornish folk have the 'Obby 'Oss and the Furry Dance. Yup, I know, we're strange as a country!
So with the added bonus of entertaining 3 teenage children who have only been to the sterile environments of Skegness and Northampton, it was time to inflict some racing on them, Westcountry style.
However, as part of the almost Middle East-esque keeping of the peace deal, a trip to the shopping metropolis that is Drake's Circus, Plymouth, was the bargaining chip. And then the first amount of pain come. Try standing outside a changing room with limited 3G based distractions and a battery on the wain, not for 5 minutes, not for 10, try the best part of an hour, thumb twiddling, I even went on a journey to HMV to kill some time. However that killing turned into a massacre. Women don't act like us blokes, nice pair of jeans, in my size, pay the man, in the bag, home, done. After much shoe gazing, now at least I know the thinking of Neil Hooper (676) every race morning. Black dress or purple dress, does it go with my shoes and can I get a matching handbag to go with?
COWDENBEATH IN CRISIS - CROWD STUNNED AS SOMEONE ELSE WINS
7 days of national mourning have been announced by First Minister, Alex Salmond, after it was announced that neither firm fan favourite and winner of Nobel Prize for stock car racing, Lordy Gordy Moodie (7) and his trusty companion Sir Christopher Edward Burgyone (647) won a single race between them. With the heats distributed between Tom Adcroft (768) and Craig Wallace (163), the dastardly Adcroft then kept the boys at bay by taking the final also. Rubbing salt further into the wounds, Wallace then took the national. Promoters GMP issued a statement hoping that this was just a blip and that normal service would be resumed as soon as possible.
ISSIT A PRINGLE? SADLY BRADDERS IT IS, AS CARL STEALS A LYNN WIN
Over on the East Coast, the shale shifters were in force with another good turnout. After a heat win for fellow member of the stox twitterati, Dave Polley (38) and the other going the way of the English Champion Nick Rogers (742), the consolation was taken by Chris Bradbury (886), followed home by Carl Issit (103). That was the way of the final also, until the King's Lynn steward that the 886 mobile had been a little eager with the go pedal, and lo, the knitted garment was adorned, and it was stalwart Issit that took the final win from Andrew Palmer (606). However, despite his misdemeanor in the final, Bradbury then took some small comfort from winning the Grand National.
JAY SHOWS THE WAY AT ST DAY
Sunday morning saw several not quite tired enough teenagers with the partner and I, as we headed west to St Day. Going past the numerous numpties going to Trago Mills (which was also painful on Saturday) and going down the Glynn Valley, between Liskeard and Bodmin. As I was approaching Bodmin Parkway station, someone was turning into the station and caused me to brake to a standstill, which unfortunately the bloke behind didn't. Fortunately, my Golf remained virtually unscathed, unlike the other blokes Pug. With a little hit and a stiff neck for the car load. Yeoucch, and more pain was to come as a necessary stop to Kingsley Village meant that £14 of sweets had to be bought to lessen the shock for the kids!
St Day was sunny, if not a bit cold, and for what was my first there this year. Crispen and co had been busy solving a few problems. Autospeed's allegiances in the Premiership battle became clear as the "United" had been removed from the Downs Raceway, and also the Loch Ness monster and her family had set up camp on each corner, stopping any nasty corner cutters!
It was also a day for those whose grade has changed. Some getting used to their new found status of grandeur, some rubbing their hands together at an easier ride. Indeed all 3 heats went the way of the yellows, as Chris Rowe (76),Jay Tomkin (290) and Jamie Beere (954) who were very unfortunate to drop to yellow, all spoke of their intention not to stay there too long. Nessie claimed her first victim also, as Simon Edwards (430) spun down the start finish straight, giving Chris Mikulla's (522) nerf bars a healthy crunch. So with the final looking like it was likely to be a low grade affair, Neil Hooper (676) set about using his bumper to effect. However both Tomkins and Edwards had sped into the distance, but once clear of the Darleyford driver, former Banger European Champion Tomkins sped away and took a clear lead. As the chequered fell it was Tomkins from Edwards, and in his probably his best result of the season Liam Rowe (605) took 3rd. The rapidly improving Jamie Avery (126) rounded off another star free day at St Day.
On another note, how long must Autospeed persist with the "comedy" commentary double act of Wyatt and Goldsworthy, especially as this was a championship meeting. Maybe we are spoilt with the stattos and anorak commentators of Linfield, Goddard et al, but for me Wyatt doesn't cut the mustard. He reminds me of the much derided Richard Clark, who used to stalk Swindon, Bristol and
Taunton, who truly was appalling. You can't hear him, his delivery is rushed and not measured. Goldsworthy on the other hand, his enthusiasm for all things on all things bangers is remarkable, however I heard him name check and promote a rival non ORCi promotion, the North Cornwall Banger Racing Club's meeting at Netherbridge, which is a grass track. A major faux pas....
Also did anyone else have a programme which was forward and back? Mine was like one of those adventure story books. Turn to page 5 for the amulet or turn to page 9 to speak to the sorceress? Nah I just want to read "5 years ago"!
BRADDERS BRISTOL'S BRAVEST IN PINK PUDDLE PRIZE
After a heavy application of Deep Heat to sort out the whiplash, it meant that things were a little stiff, for all in the Golf. The events of Sunday had curtailed any potential involvement in said bike race. Having seen the weather forecast, I did a Steve Rees and cancelled any involvement just in case the rains came. I wanted to give the girls an experience of Bristol, but I didn't want to scar them to life! As everyone who has been to Bristol can vouch, a wet Bristol can be bleak at best! It was dry and we all felt confident, including Lively Linfield, who reckoned the weather forecast was spot on, bit of sunshine, but risk of showers. So when all in sundry turned up with their bikes and various degrees of pinkness to start the bikes, we thought ok.... from the video coming soon, you can see things turned very wet very quickly!
So with the fun over, the serious racing took place, and with a further down pour, the track was sodden and slippy. Heat 1 went the way of Jay Tomkins (290) who was fresh from his win the day before, and Heat 2 went the way of Bradmeister, indeed so did heat 3 and the final, but alas rain stopped play for the Jho contingent, and the earliest finish to a meeting since both me and my sister were Yorkshire and Lancashire during a midweek food poisioning at Newton Abbot about 20 years ago. Matt Linfield (464) was no doubt gleeful as the horrific shower deposited another cloud, as he took the win in the GN to go with his runner up trophy.
With no doubt cries of "southern softy" crying from Wrighty, who'll have the report of Sheffield here soon...
Right, tumble dryer to warp 10 please.....
May Day Bank Holiday Weekend and well, it was on the whole wet! Whereas Englishmen dance around maypoles and morris dance, us Cornish folk have the 'Obby 'Oss and the Furry Dance. Yup, I know, we're strange as a country!
So with the added bonus of entertaining 3 teenage children who have only been to the sterile environments of Skegness and Northampton, it was time to inflict some racing on them, Westcountry style.
However, as part of the almost Middle East-esque keeping of the peace deal, a trip to the shopping metropolis that is Drake's Circus, Plymouth, was the bargaining chip. And then the first amount of pain come. Try standing outside a changing room with limited 3G based distractions and a battery on the wain, not for 5 minutes, not for 10, try the best part of an hour, thumb twiddling, I even went on a journey to HMV to kill some time. However that killing turned into a massacre. Women don't act like us blokes, nice pair of jeans, in my size, pay the man, in the bag, home, done. After much shoe gazing, now at least I know the thinking of Neil Hooper (676) every race morning. Black dress or purple dress, does it go with my shoes and can I get a matching handbag to go with?
COWDENBEATH IN CRISIS - CROWD STUNNED AS SOMEONE ELSE WINS
7 days of national mourning have been announced by First Minister, Alex Salmond, after it was announced that neither firm fan favourite and winner of Nobel Prize for stock car racing, Lordy Gordy Moodie (7) and his trusty companion Sir Christopher Edward Burgyone (647) won a single race between them. With the heats distributed between Tom Adcroft (768) and Craig Wallace (163), the dastardly Adcroft then kept the boys at bay by taking the final also. Rubbing salt further into the wounds, Wallace then took the national. Promoters GMP issued a statement hoping that this was just a blip and that normal service would be resumed as soon as possible.
ISSIT A PRINGLE? SADLY BRADDERS IT IS, AS CARL STEALS A LYNN WIN
Over on the East Coast, the shale shifters were in force with another good turnout. After a heat win for fellow member of the stox twitterati, Dave Polley (38) and the other going the way of the English Champion Nick Rogers (742), the consolation was taken by Chris Bradbury (886), followed home by Carl Issit (103). That was the way of the final also, until the King's Lynn steward that the 886 mobile had been a little eager with the go pedal, and lo, the knitted garment was adorned, and it was stalwart Issit that took the final win from Andrew Palmer (606). However, despite his misdemeanor in the final, Bradbury then took some small comfort from winning the Grand National.
JAY SHOWS THE WAY AT ST DAY
Sunday morning saw several not quite tired enough teenagers with the partner and I, as we headed west to St Day. Going past the numerous numpties going to Trago Mills (which was also painful on Saturday) and going down the Glynn Valley, between Liskeard and Bodmin. As I was approaching Bodmin Parkway station, someone was turning into the station and caused me to brake to a standstill, which unfortunately the bloke behind didn't. Fortunately, my Golf remained virtually unscathed, unlike the other blokes Pug. With a little hit and a stiff neck for the car load. Yeoucch, and more pain was to come as a necessary stop to Kingsley Village meant that £14 of sweets had to be bought to lessen the shock for the kids!
St Day was sunny, if not a bit cold, and for what was my first there this year. Crispen and co had been busy solving a few problems. Autospeed's allegiances in the Premiership battle became clear as the "United" had been removed from the Downs Raceway, and also the Loch Ness monster and her family had set up camp on each corner, stopping any nasty corner cutters!
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| Just out of shot, Lord Lucan on Shergar.... |
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| Soon to be named the Etihad Raceway... |
Taunton, who truly was appalling. You can't hear him, his delivery is rushed and not measured. Goldsworthy on the other hand, his enthusiasm for all things on all things bangers is remarkable, however I heard him name check and promote a rival non ORCi promotion, the North Cornwall Banger Racing Club's meeting at Netherbridge, which is a grass track. A major faux pas....
Also did anyone else have a programme which was forward and back? Mine was like one of those adventure story books. Turn to page 5 for the amulet or turn to page 9 to speak to the sorceress? Nah I just want to read "5 years ago"!
BRADDERS BRISTOL'S BRAVEST IN PINK PUDDLE PRIZE
 |
| Strawberry TART anyone? |
So with the fun over, the serious racing took place, and with a further down pour, the track was sodden and slippy. Heat 1 went the way of Jay Tomkins (290) who was fresh from his win the day before, and Heat 2 went the way of Bradmeister, indeed so did heat 3 and the final, but alas rain stopped play for the Jho contingent, and the earliest finish to a meeting since both me and my sister were Yorkshire and Lancashire during a midweek food poisioning at Newton Abbot about 20 years ago. Matt Linfield (464) was no doubt gleeful as the horrific shower deposited another cloud, as he took the win in the GN to go with his runner up trophy.
With no doubt cries of "southern softy" crying from Wrighty, who'll have the report of Sheffield here soon...
Right, tumble dryer to warp 10 please.....
Thursday 3 May 2012
Back to Front...
Once again, our man in the North East, Wrighty has been on his travels. This time he was over at the home of Oasis, but it was another Manchester legend who took to the track, albeit for charitable purposes, as our fella watched Rob Speak (218/318) in his comeback Charity meeting... I'll let the bloke blather on....
As with all things, it is human nature to get used to things as they
are, with the comfortable knowledge that it all works, that everything’s
fine, and that events, actions and (of course) reactions will be as we
expect. Sometimes, however, it takes a step outside of the comfort zone,
this bubble if you will, to make you re-evaluate the circumstances and
view pastimes and pursuits, events, actions and reactions from a wider
perspective. The Aspire charity takes these bold steps every day,
supporting and assisting those with spinal cord injuries as they start
to adapt to a new kind of life and the charity has a connection and
long-time supporter in one Rob Speak, recently returned to this F2
parish and returning to some old territory in the name of raising
awareness and much-needed funds for Aspire’s work, so while this meeting
was a celebration of a glittering (and of course still incomplete)
career, it was also a day tinged with poignancy, but more than anything
it was a day with a purpose, and so the support it received from the
fans and the drivers (and of course Steve Rees and Startrax Promotions)
should not be underestimated, despite the rather inclement conditions on
the day.
Did I say inclement? I meant absolutely foul, at least before the meeting, as a wall of poor weather swept across Manchester and on to the Pennines (which is the direction I came from, so it was a poor portent for the day ahead, despite the messages I was receiving that conditions at the track were better than those which engulfed our happy travelling band of fans from the frozen North) leaving the track looking sticky at least, with a subtle hint of quagmire, so as heat 1 for the F2s drove out onto track we were treated to two races in one. The main race was for virtually everybody involved as they scrabbled for grip, slithered and slid and threatened to disappear in their own roostertails of mud…..then there was the other race, inhabited by one Daz Shaw (377) who seemed to have a different surface completely, although we know that this was just his total and utter command of his car, the surface and the conditions in a perfect display of technique and balance on the loose. It is not often we see commanding wins these days in F2 at any level, but to see Shaw take the win by 7/8ths of a lap over second place (yes really, as in he was half a straight behind Steve Wycherley(662), who was in 2nd place at the finish and of course is no slouch on the dirt anyway) was awe-inspiring……truly a drive worthy of the day.
Onward then to heat 2, thankfully after three more races and a good deal of attention by the track staff to carve the top layer of shale from the track, revealing a pristine surface underneath, tacky and devoid of the sludge so hated by shallow-tread tyres. This race saw the first appearance of Speak in Darren Bingleys regular steed, and while it was clear that he was still acclimatising himself to an unfamiliar vehicle it only seemed to take 7 or 8 laps and he was snapping at Charlie Whitfields heels in the places while some of the regular pacesetters (Ian Mallinson, Josh Coleman and Andy Palmer, bedding in a new Randall shale special) took the top three, chased home by Chris Mitchell and Danny van Wamelen in fourth and fifth while Speak eventually overcame Whitfield to take sixth on the first leg of this marathon day.
While Speak moved from the Bingley chassis to the Ryan Harrison machine, the switch in styles and skills that we may have expected to test Speak’s resolve was not apparent, and the F1 moved as if he’d never really been away from the sport. The fans, quite rightly, were entranced by the spectacle and it was clear that there was a lot of fun being had in that small dark cab and his eventual seventh place finish was, if not an outright surprise then certainly an indication that this wasn’t just ‘for fun’ (because, of course, if it was just fun and fundraising on the agenda we’d all be running laps around the track in tutus, or at least mud-wrestling on the centre green, but I digress).
After a F2 consolation that was slightly let down by a lack of numbers but was won in familiar style by Micky Brennan, who still races with the class and skill of a driver who has tasted championship success very early in a hopefully long career but has not seen his enthusiasm and infectious desire to throw a car around eroded by having to stay on that knife-edged peak of performance, we were treated to another F1 heat that saw Speak repeat his seventh place finish in swashbuckling style (and I should also mention that, having seen him with friends and family in the main stand between races, this was a Speak who was as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him, a world away from the intense and sometimes pensive driver that returned after so long away from the sport) and, almost before frostbite could take hold of our poor extremities (I did say ‘almost’) the F2 final was upon us.
As a spectacle, the race was not quite a classic but it saw a quite sensational win for Josh Coleman, who romped home in front of Speak by some distance, but Speaks race with Andy Palmer was a joy to behold, as fortunes ebbed and flowed through the traffic and the gap between the two expanded and contracted in the blink of an eye. As it was, come the finish Speak was ahead but only by a couple of paces, with Colin Eardley and Paul Kitching producing sterling performances to secure fourth and fifth places respectively. Following from this, Speak leapt from the podium lap of honour back into the F1 for another final while we all leapt into the bar for some well-earned warmth and shelter from a bitter unrelenting wind.
Finally, the Grand National was upon us….surely this could not measure up to the performances we’d already seen? This, my friends, was the best performance of the day for Speak, with a car that seemed to suit him, a surface that had stayed in perfect order through the day and a zeal that saw him get within a length of a famous win on a special day. As it was, Colin Eardley was the only driver able to lead Speak home, but the statistics sometimes do tell the story, or at least Speak setting the fastest F2 time of the day in this race does. It was a drive of purpose, of guile and of real note, one for the fans, the wise heads and the purists of the sport to watch and admire. It was, quite literally, a performance befitting a meeting which represented the support for a cause to which we could all Aspire, and that’s where we came in isn’t it?
From back to front
Sheffield next….it might be warmer outside (we can but hope), but if the action can match this meeting then you’d better get comfortable.
Forever F2s, on behalf of JHO…..Wrighty
Incidentally, those who stayed away and moaned about it on Stoxnet, (which is officially the new home of numpties) missed a cracker by the sounds of things!
 |
| Speaky in a borrowed Bingley car, trailed by one of his old ones! Pic courtesy of Danii Wright |
 |
| Paul Wilson (925) I think?? is under the mud pack. I'm sure it'll knock years off and end up a mini! Danii Wrightt pic... |
Did I say inclement? I meant absolutely foul, at least before the meeting, as a wall of poor weather swept across Manchester and on to the Pennines (which is the direction I came from, so it was a poor portent for the day ahead, despite the messages I was receiving that conditions at the track were better than those which engulfed our happy travelling band of fans from the frozen North) leaving the track looking sticky at least, with a subtle hint of quagmire, so as heat 1 for the F2s drove out onto track we were treated to two races in one. The main race was for virtually everybody involved as they scrabbled for grip, slithered and slid and threatened to disappear in their own roostertails of mud…..then there was the other race, inhabited by one Daz Shaw (377) who seemed to have a different surface completely, although we know that this was just his total and utter command of his car, the surface and the conditions in a perfect display of technique and balance on the loose. It is not often we see commanding wins these days in F2 at any level, but to see Shaw take the win by 7/8ths of a lap over second place (yes really, as in he was half a straight behind Steve Wycherley(662), who was in 2nd place at the finish and of course is no slouch on the dirt anyway) was awe-inspiring……truly a drive worthy of the day.
Onward then to heat 2, thankfully after three more races and a good deal of attention by the track staff to carve the top layer of shale from the track, revealing a pristine surface underneath, tacky and devoid of the sludge so hated by shallow-tread tyres. This race saw the first appearance of Speak in Darren Bingleys regular steed, and while it was clear that he was still acclimatising himself to an unfamiliar vehicle it only seemed to take 7 or 8 laps and he was snapping at Charlie Whitfields heels in the places while some of the regular pacesetters (Ian Mallinson, Josh Coleman and Andy Palmer, bedding in a new Randall shale special) took the top three, chased home by Chris Mitchell and Danny van Wamelen in fourth and fifth while Speak eventually overcame Whitfield to take sixth on the first leg of this marathon day.
While Speak moved from the Bingley chassis to the Ryan Harrison machine, the switch in styles and skills that we may have expected to test Speak’s resolve was not apparent, and the F1 moved as if he’d never really been away from the sport. The fans, quite rightly, were entranced by the spectacle and it was clear that there was a lot of fun being had in that small dark cab and his eventual seventh place finish was, if not an outright surprise then certainly an indication that this wasn’t just ‘for fun’ (because, of course, if it was just fun and fundraising on the agenda we’d all be running laps around the track in tutus, or at least mud-wrestling on the centre green, but I digress).
After a F2 consolation that was slightly let down by a lack of numbers but was won in familiar style by Micky Brennan, who still races with the class and skill of a driver who has tasted championship success very early in a hopefully long career but has not seen his enthusiasm and infectious desire to throw a car around eroded by having to stay on that knife-edged peak of performance, we were treated to another F1 heat that saw Speak repeat his seventh place finish in swashbuckling style (and I should also mention that, having seen him with friends and family in the main stand between races, this was a Speak who was as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him, a world away from the intense and sometimes pensive driver that returned after so long away from the sport) and, almost before frostbite could take hold of our poor extremities (I did say ‘almost’) the F2 final was upon us.
As a spectacle, the race was not quite a classic but it saw a quite sensational win for Josh Coleman, who romped home in front of Speak by some distance, but Speaks race with Andy Palmer was a joy to behold, as fortunes ebbed and flowed through the traffic and the gap between the two expanded and contracted in the blink of an eye. As it was, come the finish Speak was ahead but only by a couple of paces, with Colin Eardley and Paul Kitching producing sterling performances to secure fourth and fifth places respectively. Following from this, Speak leapt from the podium lap of honour back into the F1 for another final while we all leapt into the bar for some well-earned warmth and shelter from a bitter unrelenting wind.
Finally, the Grand National was upon us….surely this could not measure up to the performances we’d already seen? This, my friends, was the best performance of the day for Speak, with a car that seemed to suit him, a surface that had stayed in perfect order through the day and a zeal that saw him get within a length of a famous win on a special day. As it was, Colin Eardley was the only driver able to lead Speak home, but the statistics sometimes do tell the story, or at least Speak setting the fastest F2 time of the day in this race does. It was a drive of purpose, of guile and of real note, one for the fans, the wise heads and the purists of the sport to watch and admire. It was, quite literally, a performance befitting a meeting which represented the support for a cause to which we could all Aspire, and that’s where we came in isn’t it?
From back to front
Sheffield next….it might be warmer outside (we can but hope), but if the action can match this meeting then you’d better get comfortable.
Forever F2s, on behalf of JHO…..Wrighty
Incidentally, those who stayed away and moaned about it on Stoxnet, (which is officially the new home of numpties) missed a cracker by the sounds of things!
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