It was the culmination of an increased season for Rygor, hitting the dizzying heights of superstar for the first time and then topping it off with the World win.
At the start of 2013, he had all but sold his Randall, and set about looking for something else. After starting the season in a somewhat tatty Motorworld car with a blue roof, he ended the month with flashing lights and the Chris Bradbury tar car to play with.
A good season followed with final wins and the like in the old Bradbuilt car.
With a disastrous semi final which saw him be the car that George Macmillan (100) hitched into when he lost the lead on the last lap of his semi at Bristol, it was apparent that he'd have to go through the consolation semi final.
Come world final night, he took to the consolation semi, his local knowledge playing into his hands, giving him a 3rd place behind Goldin and Hooper.
As the green flag went down, and the hullabaloo that followed, come the post Speak/Moodie moment, Rygor was placed 11th, and ahead, many favoured names. But with bumpers flying everywhere and moving people across going into that fateful last lap, Rygor was 4th. After Aldridge was dispensed with, he stealthily sneaked past the jostling Hooper and Burgoyne, almost ninja like to take the title. Disbelief from all, including James himself who initally thought he was second. However when it was confirmed, the smile became apparent and back in the pits, with family members congratulating all over the shop. Father Mark had the biggest grin going, and grandfather Barry (who himself competed in the 1974 World Final at Wembley) was visible shaking in delight. Girlfriend Tia was absent, with another engagement, gutted to have missed the big day. Many in the crowd weren't aware of Rygor, they certainly were after.
So with the gold roof, an RCE was sought after for season 2014. He found on in the form of Jack Brown's car, which he turned up at Mendips with for the first time the weekend later. He later secured his first track championship, at St Day pipping local Liam Rowe (605) to the track championship.
2014 saw an update to his Bradbury car getting some paint for the first time since its birth. Resplondent in white, gold and blue, the car was shown off at the NEC show, along with a new chassis, bare and ready to go later in the season. The RCE had been sold to Gary Sillifant.
A final win at opening meeting at Taunton signalled his attentions for the season. It also earnt him a champagne shower from Mike Priddle - the meeting sponsor - and taking a win meant he also signalled across the bows that he wasn't going to be "lucky" champion.
Good Friday was certainly a high point with Rygor's gold roof. He certainly announced his intentions with a final win at Northampton, beating the likes of Bradbury and Moodie.
The brand new car was unvieled midway through the season, and the trusted Bradbury car was used to great success. The new TLF took a bit of shaking down and finally appeared towards the end of the season.
James then drove a saloon and a F1 round at the Teng Tools Champions Challenge, sadly not getting to grips with Stuart Shevill's saloon, but looking impressive in the F1. After some impressive results in the heats, the UK Open lasted one corner, in the massive first corner pileup that attributed for a few drivers.
The European at Northampton was very much a race that Rygor could have won. He held Moodie off to the end, however the Scot took the title.
Rygor took the brave decision not to contest the semi finals at Mildenhall. "I don't have a car or experience" was the cry, but the fact of the matter was that he was happy to defend his title from the back.
So what kind of World Champion has he been. He's certainly done a few miles showing off the gold roof and has certainly improved him as a driver. He has always been approachable and has shown that he isn't a one race pony. I'd like to think that this won't be the only title he will win.
So the champ is going off the back. With Cowdenbeath being a survival of the fittest, previous World Finals have seen someone come of the back to be in the shake up come the end. Surely, it can't happen again, can it???
For Rygor, he has certainly answered the question of James Who? His stature as one of the top drivers has certainly been added by this year of gold. He has gone from perennial "purple" top (too good for blue, not good enough for red)
Well done Rygor The Tiger....and good luck....
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