era, and the charts had a Ninja Turtle or Timmy Mallet feel to them. Stock car was no exception as for the 1990 World Final we went north and the World went to the Wall. If it wasn't there already!
I went to both Semi Finals that year. The Northampton semi saw my favourite at the time Graham Luscombe track Alistair King all the way round. Taunton was definately a rare event, with the win going to blue top Chris Emery (133), definately a pub quiz question of the future. However that semi final was dogged in controversy, as a bit of Scottish "team" racing prevailed, and Batten found himself entangled in the Smeatharpe wires on the Honiton bend, aerofoil scalped, by Ali Forsythe (251) in his F2, which looked like it had a fight in a scaffolding factory and lost.It was also the first year of having a consolation semi final. An aggrieved Batten trudged up to Skegness for the first ever consolation semi. 2 last chance semi places were up for grabs, and Batten was determined to get one of those. His car expired, and ever the gentleman, Rob Speak offered Batten his car, and as the recent story unveiled at the Batten tribute, both Howard Cole and Crispen Rosevear set to some cardboard with some felt tips to get Batten in the Speak car. That he did and took stalwart Andy Morris (753) along for company.
The first world final at Cowdenbeath had a fair amount of no shows. In the pre meeting practice, Keith Stanford (33) blew an engine and failed to find a spare car to his liking. (If I remember correctly Big Keef was a tall chap). 3 drivers from overseas failed to show and 2 of the reserves didn't turn up living the grid 2 short. More gremlins struck on the rolling lap as unlikely pole sitter Emery suffered gearbox problems which curtailed his race before it began.
With the green flag, saw King speed away but behind him bedlam followed. Error McGill (696)'s race was over before it begun, as he rolled and passed the starter's gantry upside down. Westcountrymen Paul Shepherd (161) (who many say should have won the controversial world the year before) and Garry Hooper (686) also retired. The restart saw the race settle down, with King leading, Jimmy Moodie (7) second, from Malc Locke (698) and defending champion Jimmy Wallace (16).
At the midway point, it was Graham Luscombe's turn to ride the wall and over he went, bringing out the yellow flags and with it a few more retirements, including Wallace, who's reign was over thanks to a puncture. At this point, the 1-2-3 was King, Moodie and Locke. Another 5 laps, and the yellows were out for........ errant wheel. At this point, the threat of Batten was clear. He was in third and clearly the quickest out there. Moodie's car started to miss, and once we were racing again Batten swooped for 2nd. With the boards out, Batten charged through the traffic and set about the 74 car.
With the laps dramatically dropping down, the Batten car was certainly catching the 74 car. As King himself said "Billy was catching really fast in last 4 laps. I feel it should have been Billy's race if he hadn't challenged too early" He saw his opportunity to take it with 6 corners left to go, he pounced, but failed to connect and ended up out of the race. An all or nothing move which sadly, ended in nothing, the partisan crowd going bonkers as another one of their own would have the gold roof again.
Meanwhile, Rob Speak (218)'s engine expired from 3rd. Alistair crossed the line and he was the champion. Speak and Batten's misfortune and misjudgement allowed perennial podium botherer Jimmy Moodie (7) with his ailing car up to second, bridesmaid again and Steve Green (90) coming home to third.
King reminds us of the post race "Billy like the true sportsman he is was one of the first to congratulate me on my win". He admits that it wasn't going all his own way. "It was a hard fought race as Jimmy Moodie challenged me for two thirds of the race until Jimmy's car started misfiring and then Billy made his challenge towards the end. So I was kept on my toes the whole race"
King's win signaled a start of a new era. It was the first win for Brisca's new power unit, the Pinto. King also set a record, as he became the youngest man to win a world title, at the age of 19 years. However that title was short lived, as the following year, some whippersnapper called Speak nicked that record by the space of three months.....
FULL RESULT
Alistair King (74)
Jimmy Moodie (7)
Steve Green (90)
Ian King (804)
Steve Widdowson (635)
Errol McGill (696)
Martin Briggs (944)
Andy Davies (252)
Buster Sage (602)
Graham Bunter (28)
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