Ringwood Return? Nice one Cyril???

Well normally in years gone by, we would all be heading to the Dorset/Hampshire border, to Matchams Park, for a qualifier at the well suited Ringwood Raceway on Good Friday. Originally a track that started in the 60's, with Gerry Dommett promoting, it consisted of marker barrels. It fell from the Brisca fold, and was taken over by Reg Slack, who gave the circuit a massive overhaul, and ran Superstox there. It wasn't until 1995, and as a direct result of Newton Abbot closing, Autospeed moved into town, with monthly events and Thursday night meetings during the summer. Car turnouts were either extremely good or extremely bad, and in its prime in this resurrection, countless local drivers (Locke, Boorer, Tim Jones, Graham and Alan Bunter) were regulars there. The track had a reputation of being an engine killer, and it was too fast for some. Its finest moment in the recent history of Ringwood was the holding of the 1995 World Final. Despite a hairy first lap roll for Mick Sworder (152) it was mostly dull stuff. Speak was in his pomp, and there was nothing Batten could do about it. It still remains one of the best sponsorship deals ever seen at a World Final Weekend. Every race winner won a set of shock absorbers, and there were prizes galore, including a white top only race!

Autospeed then concentrated their efforts on making the Good Friday meeting one of legend, and when Reg Slack passed away it became clear that the track was going to need a new owner. Step forward Deane Wood, with his first foray into promoting took over the track and allowed Autospeed to continue it's Good Friday tradition, (which is as much as watching "The Greatest Story Ever Told" which of course ends with John Wayne saying "He truly was the Son of God" to which my mind equates "what, Rob Batten"). Then rumours abound that Matchams was going to be sold for redevelopment and Trojan Promotions took over the stock car side of things.

More recently, the track had been in the news as the wider complex was part of the infamous "grotty grotto" scandal that affected the outbuildings.
Ringwood seemed consigned to the Brisca dustbin and seemed never to return.....until this popped up from current promoter Craig Robinson.

"Recent rumours surrounding Trojan International and Barford Raceway have been causing a stir lately, and I would like to update more on this matter:

An agreement has been made between Trojan International and Barford Raceway that will only better racing at Ringwood Raceway, Ringwood Raceway is still under our control at Trojan International.

In light of the agreement made, I can confirm that Ringwood Raceway will be licencing all drivers to ORCi with immediate effect.

We will be recalling all STAR licences given to date to our driver base, This will happen with immediate effect and we will be re-issuing all of our current licenced drivers with ORCi licence books as these have arrived today. (no addtional charge will be made). However all adult licences will from today be charged at £65.00 for the season.

Trojan International are pleased that we have agreed terms with Cyril at Barford and in view of our progress All drivers licencing with us will be able to utilise their licence at other Orci affiliated race tracks once received.

Drivers whom are licenced with us at Trojan International will be asked to book in with us in the first instance if you intend to race at another Orci affilaited race circuit/promotion, we in turn will then forward your booking to race. Likewise if you are not Ringwood Licenced but hold an Orci licence, we would ask that you contact your promoter to book in with us to race.

I would also like to add that we will be honouring all Orci bans.

We hope this will make for better racing, and we thank you all for your patience in this matter while negotiations were ongoing between myself and Cyril."

So Barford Supremo, Cyril Whitfield has gotten hold of a stake of Ringwood and brought it back into the ORCi fold. This can only be a good thing, if Brisca F2 can get back there, I do feel that some of the Spedeworth boys might be tempted to go for a 2 car situation and race a bit of Brisca. There is quite a suprising amount of South Coast driveres in the Brisca fold who would love to have a go at a track that isnt too far away. I think Arena would also benefit from a heightened attendence if, and I do stress if, these rumours are true.

Much as I hate the journey to Ringwood, the A35 with the pissy little Dorset villages with silly names, and the A31 with a roundabout every chuffing mile, I do miss the Good Friday's there. Northampton just doesn't have the same effect. I would have preferred Autospeed to go somewhere which we don't usually race, like an Aldershot, Eastbourne or something like it. Ringwood could be back on the map, so fingers crossed Cyril can pull it off...