Bev Greenhalf and Les Eaton

Two pioneers of our sport have passed away, leaving a legacy that we can all look back in merriment at.

Bev GREENHALF

Sad news from the Midlands as the voice of F1 Stock Car, commentator Bev Greenhalf, passed away a few weeks ago.

For me he will be remembered as the voice of my away days at Northampton, combined with the tones of "Rinky Dink" - the tune that is now a piece of the furniture of F2.

The consummate professional, rarely flustered, and even learnt, and then commentated in Dutch, he was a pioneer for the sport. A strong link for Anglo/Dutch relations, he probably is responsible for the strong relations and presence at now grace Holland, having commentated at numerous venues up and down the country,

Despite scaling back his commentary duties and being an excellent mentor to all the commentators that have since took residence in the comm boxes up and down the land, Bev was truly THE voice of the sport.

Les EATON

One of the forefathers of the sport of Stock Car in the early days. The Godfather of Spedeworth, Les Eaton, passed away today. Like Redmond, Parker and Dommett, he took the sport from its birth and sew the seeds of the modern day formula that we know today. Sadly, the acrimonious split in 1961 that saw Eaton go his separate ways from Brisca, and promoted at Arlington and Aldershot, under the guise of the "The Formula Two Stock Car Company". Towards the end of the decade, the company was renamed Spedeworth, and during the 70's went of forays into Europe, at Ruisbroken and Warneton, when F2 racing was struggling to get out of the Westcountry! Despite the percieved bitter feud between Spedeworth and Brisca which gave near carbon copies of each of the formula. Spedeworth did its thing in the South and East (and to a lesser extent at Cowdenbeath during the 70's and 80's), whilst Brisca took the rest.

The Spedeworth that Les Eaton leaves behind is now in one of the strongest powers, if not the, in the UK oval racing scene. Yarmouth, Aldershot, Eastbourne, Wimbledon, Hednesford, Birmingham, Northampton and now Lochgelly, it is certainly in rude health.

Those who are worried about the perceived influence of the current Spedeworth grand fromage Deane Wood on the ORCi will be urged to remember that Spedeworth created a lot of the formulae that are the mainstay of the ORCI. The Saloon Stox and Mini Stox both were both creation and now are perfect bed fellows for the main formula we love.

The Heaven Raceway's Race Control just got that bit more stellar tonight.

Race in peace, lads.