The Lochgelly Question...

Now when it was announced that the Racewall was coming down, it put fear and trepidation into stock car North of the Border, who for near on 30 years, have been reliant on their weekly fix of Cowdenbeath. However when it came under threat, a new track was sort after, this was Lochgelly. However this currently has split the sport down the middle in Scotland


I spoke to Scottish Stock Cars' webmaster Kevin McQueen to bring us up to speed on the situation...

Looking imperious

New track, same old rain!

In the Outlaw days

"Lochgelly was originally built when Cowdenbeath announced there intention to close and re-develop the land, before the recession kicked in. As Lochgelly was being built though, the information coming from Cowdenbeath changed, and they were no longer looking to close, if anything, they would now 'relocate'.

That obviously put a spanner in the works at Lochgelly so to speak, as they were building counting on Cowdenbeath going, and picking up the pieces from there, and keeping stock car racing in Fife. So, when Lochgelly did finally open, it was seen as competition. Somewhere looking to close Cowdie down.

Cowdenbeath weren't happy, and blocked there membership to the ORCi, Brisca Etc in the early days. Although, the Cowdenbeath name was never officially mentioned. The wording was along the lines of, 'no, due to the recession, but possibly the next year'. That didn't happen neither, and thats when Spedeworth became involved and took Lochgelly under its banner, and basically forcing GMP/ORCi's hand to allow Lochgelly due to the position of power that it holds by the number of tracks it has already.

So, Lochgelly got into the ORCi. But Spedeworth isn't Brisca, so they couldn't flex in getting Lochgelly Brisca status, instead, going the other way to the Spedeworth equivalent.

Lochgelly, if you haven't been, is similar in length to Skegness, but shape of Taunton ish. The track is wide, and there is plenty run off area on the outside off racing line, and the inside of the track. In my opinion, it would have made an excellent brisca track, that could attract visiting drivers, and not cause a lot of damage to the cars.

The Superstox British weekend last year at Lochgelly, was brilliant. The hits were going in big, and every lap, but there was very little 'physical' damage to the cars. The odd puncture, and mechanical failures. Think there was maybe 2/3 cars tractored off the track over the weekend, the rest were pushed, or drove off. There were 34 cars on the track at once as well.

In my opinion, Brisca has missed out on a potential gem of a track, that could have given Scotland a huge boost in terms of F2 racing. but for politics, and stuborness, it appears that it won't become a Brisca track, nor ever hold Brisca Meetings.

The tracks need to work together. Whether its F2, Superstox, Stock Rods, Bangers, Saloons, whatever, they need to communicate, and work with each other, not against, instead of running meetings head to head"

Food for thought, and considering the number of pictures of cars being tested at the Thunder Valley this close season, it certainly would be a great addition to the Brisca fold, and a much needed shot in the arm for the sport in Scotland. Man cannae live on Cowdie alone!

GMP have also responded to the lack of turnouts last year and driver and spectator complaints about excess damage, inner fence, and lack of parking, by announcing a improvement package...

"After a significant consultation period, GMP are happy to announce a new two year capital expenditure programme at the Racewall, Cowdenbeath. Work is due to start in the close season of 2011 and continue in the close season of 2012. Financial resources have been made available to: 

The Racewall, errr Raceplate!?!

• Replace the inner-fence with marker tyres
• Resurface the tarmac track
• Restore the perimeter wall to its original dimensions and reinforce it with steel plate
• Create a spectator car park in the wasteland area to the west end of the Central Park site and apply for a temporary secondary site access

New investment in the race track and facilities reaffirms GMP’s commitment to the Racewall for the foreseeable future. GMP continue to try to improve the stock car racing experience at the Racewall for both drivers and fans in these difficult financial times."

Good moves, but will they work and be popular - only time will tell.... just over a fortnight to go now!