Garage Gazing 3

So we look at the Sky at Night, and we can certainly look at some stars who coming out to show us!

Certainly with a bit to do is"Char" Lee Dimmick (59) if this picture is to go by....

The Shale beaut from George Turrucki (186) looks fairly awesome

One of the most travelled drivers, Tom Adcroft has new one...

Practice. St Day Style!

Twas a bit nipply, err nippy!

It's ironic that one of St Day's most local drivers, Liam Rowe (605) has chosen this week to go snowboarding. Given the conditions at St Day today, the frosty conditions could have stayed at home and got a chill. However, there were plenty of hot cars to warm the cockles, and the added bonus of JHo Girl, Beth!

Whispering Jon Wyatt in the background..

The Purple People set about a cunning masterplan to try and bring a lasting legacy of sneaking a shale track by letting the dust settle on the winter, as the track was a little Springfield (Dusty of course). No doubt the good folk of Autospeed will give it good brush up before next Sunday.

First car to be unleashed onto the prying eyes was Justin Fisher's (315) new Motorworld, complete in Purple with St Austell Bay Motor Auctions sponsorship, but from the Motorworld catalog, he chose Spinny Chair special, akin to the that of Andrew Bennett (830) (see blow)

One commentator (you know the one, rhymes with Leaf Sinfield) made a sweeping statement on Twitter that small aerofoils don't work, and it was like 1984/5. I asked the 315 pilot if he noticed any difference in the two foils, and he said there was no difference, other than weight.
Speaking of Andrew Bennett, he was more than happy to have Beth on his car. After a few spits and farts from the Duratec it seemed to give it some beans. "Too cold" was the cry.

Jamie said get my best side.

Late last season, Jamie Beere (954) gave returning bad boy Dave Sansom (352) a taste of his own
medicine which stopped his season prematurely. His aims for the season is to qualify for a semi and not to not get banned. Speaking of Super Sammo, he was out in the ex Mark Guinchard (183) RCE, which is his new steed for the 13 season. His Randall is being kept, and may come out "if someone pisses him off enough"
Now over to the Hoopers, and Gary's old number 686 has passed to novice Jay Scott, and there is more than a nod to the wily old veteran in his trademark colours. Meanwhile Neil Hooper (676) was eager to get on with things. He wanted to be home to sit and watch the Daytona 500. So keen he was one of the quickest there. Signalling that he was not keen to lose the track championship this season and very quick and sprightly was the purple Motorworld.

A chap who had a few health problems during last season was former European Banger World Champion and now regular F2 driver Jay Tomkin (290) whos car is now resplendent in his banger colours of yellow and red. Looking very much on the money from the get go and looking very quick, despite having the equally folically challenged hairstute fellow Mid Cornwall resident Mark Moon for company.

Jay's 2012 car has found its way to Davidstow, which is a feat in itself, considering it is always misty and drizzly in Davidstow, and that they still point at the moon up there in wonderment. The name Sillifant is well known in Westcountry racing. Neale was the driver in the 1970's, Derek raced at St Columb before embarking on an F2 career at the turn of the century and now the torch has been passed on to son Gary who is fresh from minis.

Another ex Westworld driver was in attendance. Jason Phillips was out with his Randall and one of his old Higman chassis is in the hands of 2013 novice Tom Clark (575) in a very Ross Rowe grey!

One of the stars of the Autosport show was Ryan Hoskin (991) complete with new Higgy car. The Pensilva tradition continues and when your uncle is the richest man in Pensilva (except of course when Bill comes to visit family) the good machinery will follow. Anyone who knows the Hoskins knows about, the Blue Stripe which adorns every vehicle his construction company owns. Ryan is quite clear of his goals, red top and a semi.

And some really good news folks... despite saying midway through the season last year that last season was to be her last season, the Legendary First Lady of the Pits, Margaret Jollands has announced that she is staying on for one more season, because "it's the World Final". So, in anticipation of a natter and delay, wholehearted apologies to any semi skimmed Banger drivers who miss their consolation, cos me and Madge are having a chin wag...

Right, I'm off to put my feet in the microwave, 4 minutes on defrost with 1 minute standing time, although how you can stand with your feet in a microwave is beyond me....

Cheers n gone

Jonny

Ex Stock Rodder in a Randall

Cheers Johnny, very Kind!

Garage Gazing 2! More new cars

Prof Brian is back....

Skegvegas is where this one is heading. Luke Grimer (882) is part of the Grimer transport dynasty and had this beaut signed by Turdle Signs :p Luv ya Timothy!!

and also....

New one for Mike Green.It's Flaming Good! Love the bubble wrapped nerfs!

One more....

Michael Lund (995) adds a new one to go playing, ready for next Saturday at Lynn

More coming thick n fast when its time for the report from St Day, coming very very soon....

Garage Gazing Live!

King's Lynn's 2 billion watt floodlight drew attention to the Prof

It seems Springwatch has been dropped in favour of the more funky Stargazing live. Kate Humble and the bloke from the Really Wild Show have gone back into their presenter holt in preparation , only to be replaced by Prof Brian Cox and Dara O Tobesure. So farewell Workshop Watch, hello Garage Gazing Live....









So where to first. Now bear in mind that Chris Bradbury (886) spent most of 2012 doing a big car swap. His home built shale beauty was one, 2 Spedeworth Motorsports came and fell, there was a Higgy for a Higgy, a borrowed Polleysport vehicle, a borrowed RCE of Sam Wagner, before the tarmac home build special came out to play. So with his new RCE not too far away, a new shale beast was required. This baby will get his former Spedeworth brethern salivating with delight on just how slow they are on the tar at Coventry tomorrow night! Quest for gold starts at King's Lynn can his Braddersness take another maximum on the loose stuff..

So what about his old shale beast. Everyone's 2nd favourite novelty X Factor act, Sam Wagner (823) - (nominate your stox Jedward now) has purchased the shale car to spice up his shale act this year. It's started well and the helpful Mr Bradbury has even done the stickers too! A lot of hours required to tart the old girl up, but she's in good hands...

And from the shores of Super Weston Mare, comes Chris Mikkula's awesome new RCE. Having dispatched his old one off to Stiggins Thomas (756). Last year he won the opening St Day, will he this year??

More garage gazing, as when we get it!

Workshop Watch - The Return

So the fruits of many cold winter evening freezing your proverbials off in a cold and dismal garage are starting to come to fruition. With the season just over a week away, cars are getting finished left right and centre, and those who haven't broken rank already at shows or practice days are here, via the mediums of Twitter and Facebook.....

Simply gorgeous, lovely resplodent in Focus ST orange, George MacMillan (100) signals his intentions this year. This actually is probably my favourite of the new ones... mint signs and paint. Too nice to get trashed at Cowdenbeath!

This car from John Hogg (92) is also very very nice. Methinks the yellow roof will be coming off sooner rather than later. Do like a cartoon on the roof too - something we had on our cars over the years!

From Cabtec's Stationary Cam Tour, the new Motorworld of Jay Tomkins (290) back to his old banger colours of yellow and red!

.... whereas Dangerous Dale Moon (302) has taken a smaller wing from the innovation Cabtec Technologies, much to the ire of one lively commentator

and some, well have a long way to go. Adam Deeble (685)'s slightly dated Motorworld getting some much needed TLC, however he might need to get a crack on if he's going to St Day in a fortnight!

Practice Makes.....

...perfect according to old adage. So with cars rapidly getting finished and ready to rumble, it was a sunny "shake down" at Skegness and at Cowdenbeath....

For more excellent pics - go to Samsonspics.co.uk

In the land of the skirt, all eyes turned towards the next bright thing, fresh out of Minis, Liam Rennie (3) carries the hopes, and maybe installed as an early favourite for "Novice of The Year" being the new one of note

Over at Skegness, the immaculate RCE of Bobby Griffin (866), and lovely looking motor for Dave Pannett (836). Jack Cave (801) and the returning Barry Turner (333) was also there.









Next up is St Day, lots of new cars ready to rumble, that is, of course, your drivers in Florida for some redneck race, or snowboarding or something extreme

<<<<< Countdown clock

Cheers n Gone

A Meshy State of Affairs

So Stoxnet hate me, join the queue!! However, it is foolish of me to really "launch an assualt" (their words, not mine, most reasoned folk have admitted that I made a lot of good points) on the F1's without looking and passing judgement on the debacle that has befell the mighty Tooz. Meh...sh.

It has been quite a closed season for the good folk of F2.

Now, in this man's opinion, which like the fellow man, am entitled too, the committee took some brave decisions for the greater good of the sport. Sort of reign in the development a bit, too allow catchup, and to try and make it slower. Car attendances have been on the wain for a few years, due to a culmination of things. The price of fuel, the cost of racing and an uneven playing field were the main grumble. Now unless the new Emir of Qatar is Deane Wood, fuel prices remain out of control (the fuel discount card was a very good idea btw) Tyres are under consideration, but it might be the track surfaces which cause the added degradation, with some some tracks having drifting events, which require diesel to be put down to give the drift smoke. As a result, the asphalt can deteriorate over time, making it more abrasive. Perhaps a tyre rule like Formula 1 will bring the wallet openers back to that of the scrimpers, limiting the amount of tyres that can be used in a meeting.

Now with an air of caution, the majority of rules had been talked about at a higher level for some time.  Some drivers decided to sell up and throw their toys in the pram hastily, stamp their feet and hark back to the good old days when northern gobshites thought they run the show. Yes, at the moment, the drivers would like some consultation, but selling up and going off to another formula isn't going to solve the problem. The promoters still own the cards, the rulebook and stamp their feet whatever the formula, so as my mum would say "it's biting your nose to spite your face"

Dave Richardson of RCE is a very very clever bloke. Too clever for F2 many would say, his engineering has taken chassis design to another level. The debate of whether they are race cars or stock cars is for another time, but the sheer supremacy of these cars has perked the ears of the powers that be. Whether its in act of being fair to all, or a luddite like look at technolgy they don't quite understand or fathom. Like the people of Shipham look at the moon

I seriously think that they are the foolish ones - do you think that Daveyboy RCE hasn't thought about this already, and I know some were looking at 2013 spec towards the end of the season. Those who are moaning and saying that their car is scrap or rendered useless are doom mongers!

The latest set of rants have been caused by the latest set of clarifications of the rules, with one thing in particular, the mesh cab guard. Now for the background to this, the mesh was brought in to protect the drivers from loose material that gets thrown up. When it was introduced it was met with protests (seem to remember "What is this grasstrack kak, Mr Coventry" adorning a few cars), but in general, and with what happened to Felipe Massa (albeit at a higher speed), its been generally accepted.

It was announced The mesh now has to be welded and not held in place with zip ties or have any. Great idea in November/December when cars aren't painted, but when cars are being prepped and painted, more notice is better than last minute changes which would incurr costs onto an already stretched finances of our drivers.

However, depends on where you sit on this debate, common sense has prevailed due to the uproar and furore or Brisca F2 has flip flopped and showed weak leadership.

However, points need to be made that if F2 has mesh, should all the other formula? If an F2 can be hit by a stone, surely bangers need it too, if not more so. I remember in my only trip to Warton, every formula had mesh across the windscreen. Bear in mind, Warton is in a quarry!

I don't think anyone questions the legitimacy of the mesh, just the timing. Rulebooks should be released at the very latest after the world final, and those are the rules of the game for the following season, unless there are safety concerns, or there has been a new discovery of an advantage....

I think F2 is in a state of flux at the mo. The drivers are unhappy that they have no say, the promoters are fed up of low turnouts and petulant drivers, and the fans are left with a substandard product. Perhaps now is the time to look at a new radical way forward

I do think that due to the fact the season goes to Mid November now, promoters, drivers and driver's associates need to have year long correspondence and meetings, maybe at a regional level, and then a national level, so that the great, the good, the grumpy, the greedy and the gobshites can sit and discuss the way forward...

For 2013, and beyond, a focused approach must be taken, and if the promoters have to appoint an independent chairman to act in all parties interest, then surely this must be a good thing. No accounts of bias or favouritism to any party, a neutral working party to draw up rules, fixture planning, with more driver, and get this, more fan involvement. Without the fans, there is no formula, and man cannot live on bangers alone...

For many Formula 2 promoters, F2 is not the primary focus of  their bread and butter. For the tracks where F2 is the sole focus, things have to be done with the greater good in mind. It may cause a ballache for those in areas not affected by these rules but  . How many more seasons can Birmingham, NIR et al survive with sub 30 attendances before they pull the plug.

I've been watching Formula 2 for near on 30 years now. Changes come, drivers throw baby out with the bathwater, but the following season, its the moaners who work a way around it. If for season 2014, square wheels and a lemonade bottle full of lemon juice and bi carb as a power unit, the usual suspects would rise to the top, but some would fall foul for using Diet Coke and Mentoes....

Not long now....

Cheers'n gone

Jonny

Tractors - A State of the Nation Address

Now being the son of an agricultural engineer, I have seen more than my fair share of tractors in my time. Cumbersome to drive and noisy, this wasn't the things for me.Often seen bombing up and down a field to plough.  So on my rare occurrences of travelling up the line, it was a bit strange. Big noisy things, big brutes of things, with the power and turning circle of HMS Ark Royal on a RACE TRACK?? Oh, these are Formula 1.

Last season I saw an awful lot of F1, being on with the 2's at Skeg, NIR or Brum and I have to say, the product is much, much, better than when I saw it last. A new breed of young and very talented drivers and several crossovers from other formulae, and not the family feud of years ago.

So the formula is now not about the Smiths and the Wainmans. Andy has retired, Stu Jnr seems to have spent the repeat appears fees of "Gears and Tears" on pies. Frankie and Danny seem to be bit part players. So why do some promoters still dine out on this fact. "Gears and Tears" was made in 2009, and to be honest the sport has moved on so much. The last time this happened when a certain driver from Manchester went over and "put it up 'em". An influx of young guns, sons of and F2 crossovers has given F1 a much needed shot in the arm. Sworder, Finnikin, Green, and plenty of sons of give the grid gravitas and actually make big races hard to call.

The drivers are sorted, but the venues are still in the North and in the Midlands. Trips to London, Ipswich, Scotland and the Westcountry have all been tried, all deemed a success and not followed up. Most of the stadiums left are shared with speedway or other sporting developments, often in urban developments, and under constant threat from the Bulldozer.

Lets have a look at the venues. Coventry, the home, the mecca of F1, looks to the unblinkered eye, a sports stadium that looks tired, and to a land developer, a prime bit of brownfield land. Prime for demolition for a retail park or large housing development. You only have to look at former track at Long Eaton, now a large housing development. Birmingham, the premier tar track for short oval racing is also on council owned . Birmingham City were sniffing around the Wheels Complex to replace and bring up to date the nearby St Andrews. Again, it looks tired and needs investment to keep the property developers away - a brand replacement new stadium would cost far more. I cannot say how long Belle Vue will stay there too, seeing as the Speedway team are looking likely to move to the new National Speedway Stadium just down the road. I doubt very much in the long term, that greyhounds and stock car could sustain a stadium that size, and being surrounded by houses its predecessor made way for!

Urban developments also have the good old noise abatement and regulation control on their backs too. If a track in the middle of nowhere such as Taunton and Skegness have noise controls thanks to the killjoys with a nimbyist attitude, it makes me wonder how tracks in the middle of the 'burbs have 30/40 cars racing with decibel levels approaching 100 on a Saturday evening or indeed a Sunday afternoon get away with it.

So basically your tracks are dying and despite a loyal fanbase, give 10-20 years, the tracks will go, the fans will go, and lo and behold, dead as a dodo. Action has to be taken now to build a fanbase and spread the gospel, not just with Formula 1, but all over.

North, South, East and West there are areas for development for the fans. Scotland is a case in point, the F1's loved coming up for a weekend at Cowdenbeath and Knockhill. And then it stopped. Both Alistair Forsyth and Eric Brown had full seasons in the F1's, and knockabout sessions for St Gordon of Moodie means there is quite a following for the "Big League". If, for instance, Moodie and Burgoyne were given "guest drives" again, or Moodie gets a F1, which is always a rumour flying about in the closed season. The RCE F1 cannot be too far away! Why not try it again, and now the added attraction of Lochgelly too.

Now the North East was also a hotspot for the tractor boys. Barford was given a one off F1 meeting a few years back. General consensus was that it was good meeting, all action, but the fans moaned that it was too far. I think they must have very short memories, as Aycliffe and Hartlepool were both F1 tracks. Down in the westcountry, F1 never went further south than Bristol. Bristol had a few meetings, but was the victim of a fixture clash and general apathy from the drivers. If it had been part of a weekend perhaps partnered with Taunton, then I'm fairly sure the crowd and the drvers would be there. It would be also good for Timmy and Jamesy to play on tracks they know!

Yes these tracks have not got carverys, video screens and grandstands, but with a bit of support things will get better. If you had said 20 years ago, that Taunton would be the best in the west, you would have been presented with nice coat with buckles on the front and back!

Then, the fans. As a stock car fan, with F2 my religion, I'm used to peeing in a bucket, and no cover. Perhaps the F1 fans are too precious. NIR is a poor venue and Skegness a dump according to many F1 fans. "Suitable for the hair dryers" is the call. Perhaps when you are crying at the vigil outside the new Brandon Tesco Extra, following the demise of the track, you might grow to appreciate what you have and not.

One thing I've learnt is that stock car drivers and fans don't go away. The amount of drivers now active in Cornwall is a case in point. I could have retired at 17 if I charged everyone a fiver who said "I used to go to St Austell."Address old areas and look to move the sport if it is to be the true top formula....

I just wish there wasn't so much snobbery about other formula from promoters,fans and drivers alike. F1 in general sees itself as holier than thou, and its this which makes people who aren't fans of the formula despise them. F1 Fans seem to be the rudest, most obnoxious and cretinous people. When the 1's are on, they will stand in front of families with small children, with their boxes, thermos flasks and clipboards, and moan on Stoxnet that the promoter didn't heat the bovril to the optimum temperature, make up rumours about drivers and slag off the delays on the other formulae. They are happy to be served up the same week in week out, and do not like change. At all. Some of the promoters do not help to promote other formula, yes F1 is a guaranteed cash cow, but with all the numbers in other formulas, and with the right support, things can be better, although to be honest, the F2 at Birmingham last season was very flat, due to poor formats and total dominance of one chassis.

F1 is in the rudest health driver and talent wise, a product which is good, and television (albeit an obscure Irish channel with the remnants of the failed Setanta that ESPN or Sky didn't want) will come calling. For that to happen, things might have to change. Live meetings covered? It might have to be on a Friday night or Wednesday early evening, but surely, if the money is to come, then you dance to the tune of tv like some lapdancer...

So there it is, my thoughts on F1.... I'm expecting a barrage of abuse

Laters y'all