Think Pink...

Now stock car peeps, this is worth a worthy visit to Bristol later this month. Here's Andy Maidment (dad of Nathan (935) and chief TART) to tell us more....

"Mendips Raceway 24th July will what only can be described as a Pink Day, the annual Filo's Crashmania, and this year for the first time the Formula 2 Stock cars will also play there part in what will be for
many of us a very emotional day.
We in the South West have had our lives touched by the recent passing of Rog Willcock (95) one of the last
characters of the sport. The day will have many fun events going on, back waxing, pink ballerinas and by the time we get to the day a well worn Pink Morph outfit. 
The F2's will be racing for "The Pink Ribbon Trophy"

The trophies have been hand made very kindly by the sheet-metal department at GKN Aerospace, and kindly painted by AC Coatings in Yeovil.
The trophies were the idea of 935 Nathan Maidment and will be presented on the day by Charlotte and Jessica Maidment.

Nath racing at Mendips, before his steering and throttle failed .....

Our family has been affected very much by this awful disease their mum and my wife has
terminal cancer but every day continues laugh in the face of it.
Unfortunately due to a "minor incident" Nathan will be unable to race, but one thing is for certain as a family we will stand together on the bank very proud to have Lesley by our side.

On a personal note I would like to thank everyone in the south west stock car circle who has
stood by our family as we continue to fight this horrible disease. 




It's good to know we have great support from so many people.
Lets make the 24th July a day to remember a day of fun and laughter lets not let
Cancer spoil this day the Bangers and Hotrods make up the other
formulas on the day.
For those of you that don't know me I will be the one with tears in my eyes and a big
smile on my face as we stand as a family with Lesley by our side.
 
Andy Maidment"

Thanks Andy. It just puts it all into perspective really what at an absolute arsehole the Big C is.

So then chaps and chappesses, get painting your bumpers pink, dust off those fuschia bloomers and start practicing your sponge throwing, especially for Mr Starter, who's going in the stocks, as a mean of retribution for previous misdemeanours! Would Mendips allow water boarding???

Anyways lets square up to cancer like a couple of drivers at a Northampton speedweekend and give it large!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time to think pink!

The World this Week....

All I can say is - what a week. I havent had much chance to catch breath it has been, in the words of commentary legend Murray Walker, all "go go go". Here's the weekend according to this scribe...

FRIDAY 1st JULY - ROCKING FOR ROG

When Cat Ede, the current chairman of Callington Young Farmers, approached me to assist with this event, due to my fact I knew too many stock car drivers. This was back in November. I heard nothing about it until the day before the Taunton Weekend, leaving me a spamming session to drum up support for it! Despite various other attractions including Nicky (wife of Andy (550)) Sobey's 40th birthday party and for the YFC related lot, watching the Lanceston club perform with the Fisherman's Friends, a quite magnificent turnout assembled at Polhilsa's big grain shed.

My role on the Friday involved sorting out the shed, cleaning it out, hiding a combine behind the black sheet, and moving in loads of trailers for the band and disco. It was so hot, I went through 3 t shirts, due to saturation with sweat! It was like a sauna....

After a quick stroll from car park to venue (a small matter of a quarter of a mile!), a tenner was taken and thus you entered the complex, complete with bar and barbecue supplied and manned by the Lions Club of Callington.

The band, led by Pete Delbridge, one of Roger's school chums, played some good hits and went down well.
I then made my debut as auctioneer, note to self, if your trying to sell something its probably a good idea to have a look at your audience, and not to to it in a pitch black shed! Despite the efforts of Tim Farrell to win the ticket with a RRP of £29, the ticket went for £80, and one slightly inberiated ex-young farmer went in with  a bid of £70, which forced the hand of the winner! Also some fines were dished out in good taste by the ORCi (the Overly Rotund Cornish Idiot), which fined Chris Cuming (who's wife Julia is now heavily preggers) for not taking the relevant precautions, Tim Farrell for displaying the wrong colour hair (he's now resplondent in silver), and Jon Palmer, well for being Jon Palmer....

Initial estimates put the amount raised for Megan and Joe's future driving lessons at around £1200, an excellent effort all round.

SATURDAY 2nd JULY - BUX MAX





From the video, it's apparent that the return of the Legend Rob Speak (218) this time he means business. He maxes out his qualifying round, and boosts those points up. All over by 7:45 - hardly an evening meeting!

Sponge then spent the rest of the weekend looking at tractors, due his motor not playing ball!

Junior Wainman (515) professed that his new F1 would need a few hot laps to build up a head of steam....

Meanwhile, Crimond had its first ever Brisca Speedweekend. Summed up easily. Follow Gordon.

SUNDAY 3rd JULY - AVERY HAS A VERY GOOD (ST) DAY


Glorious sunshine befell the Druth D as a disappointing 29 cars contested the World Qualifier at St Day. Despite plenty of interest from lots of drivers which had the numbers around 40, a lot of drivers chose not to partake. The added attraction of Speaky and new British Champion Barry Goldin (401) along with East Coast Legend Mark Sargent (798) added to spectacle.
Heats went the way of the aforemention Speak who inheirited the win from Paul Rice (990) who was deemed to have the dodgiest of jumpers. Dale Moon (302) took heat 2, proving that there was much of a muchness between all the drivers. The Consi saw a battle between Sarge and Dan Moss (797) and Jonny Kind (229), with only a Fisher between them. Then the final. Yellow and Blues including both Rowe Brothers, and the by the time the reds come in, Speak took out the main threats in front with one foul swoop as both local reds Rygor (783) and Hooper (676). Then followed the hilarity of Ross Rowe (105) trying to remove his damaged aerofoil, to get him out for the restart, much guffaws as he tried and tried and tried to remove it. The restart saw Speak, Goldin and the remaining blues trade blows, however whilst the champions were tading blows, the yellows of Moon, Ashley Rundle (116) and leader Jamie Avery (126). Paul Rice looked to threaten, but could only muster second. With two to go Speak's car was slowing after chasing after the peleton, it started to spit and fart, which allowed Goldin to get the better of him. However the top 8 was yellow blue lock out. The national saw Nathan Maidment (935) take the top points, after his motor had failed him in the heat and consi.

MONDAY 4th JULY - BARBECUE BARRY


Now some of the chosen few went round to Neil Truran's (306) for the annual bit in the middle barbie. Now Barry Goldin is a regular, even the bbq had been resprayed in the British colours....

The Goldin Golden one has been ordered sale or return....

Sources undisclosed have leaked the following as we see Karaoke Queen Jo Polley being arrested for the murder of Amy Winehouse

Sources undisclosed have proclaimed that the only way Jolene was coming of the mike was if "someone wrestled the mic off her, or that she gets so drunk that she wont notice when we turn it off".

Bangers (off the sausage varite) and beers done... it was back to racing...

TUESDAY 5th JULY - SPEAK OF THE DEVIL....

My name is Jonny Hoare. I've just had an accident and woken up in 1996. Am I mad, in a coma.....
Our very own "Manc Lion" had me thinking I was living a "Life on Mars". Like DCI Gene Hunt, Speak takes no prisoners with his no nonsense approach to dealing with the job in hand, and he certainly schooled all the pretenders this weekend...



It was a dominant display by Mr Speak, despite Moodie's best efforts in the first heat, which he took clear advantage of a momentary lapse by Speak. Moodie took the heat from Speak, and Heat 2 looked destined for Dale Moon, however Maidment spun on the exit as oil was deposited on track which made things trick. This allowed Matt Stoneman (127) to catch up which went to the last corner... the slippiness didnt help Moon and Stoneman won by a bumper. Maidment made amends for the spin by taking the Consolation from Rice.

The final saw 2 aborted starts which killed a few yellows and blues, and on each start Speak, who was at the rear of the reds. When the yellows came out for the stricken cars on the pit bend at Lap 7, Speak was leading, and Moodie some 3 cars back. Murray Jones (276) joined in from a lap down and allowing himself to be a fellow elite wing man, just as when Moodie was threatening. Speak rolled back the clock and spent the last couple of laps driving one handed, like he always did. The fire is back and he's enjoying the sport! Goldin completed the top 3, to give a rostrum with 10 world titles on it.

The GN was a Moodie affair, gone in the distance, however there was some incidents post race with Maidment and Stoneman, which has Nath up before the BOC....

Like fellow Mancs (ok Robbie's from Stoke) Take That, Speak was big in the 90's, and well with his comeback, like the Mum bothering balladers, he certainly seems to be as good as he ever was, and even the fans that were loyal back in his hey day are leaving there new found loves and returning to the legend.

Now some mad eejits are already up at Skegvegas. I don't think I could do it this year, lack of funds is one factor, lack of energy to keep up with the Janners is another....

Rocking for Rog...... further update

2 days to go and its coming along nicely...

£10 on the door now... good lot of interest, but we could do with more.

Those coming here's the all important directions...

From the A30 Launceston....

Follow the A388 to Callington. As you approach the town, you will see Camelot Kennels on your right hand side, take a right, and the next right will be the farm.

From the A30 Bodmin

Come off at Plusha, go through Congdons Shop, and through the village Bray Shop, you'll eventually come to the A388 cross roads, turn right and follow the above route.

From Liskeard/Plymouth

Once you reach the town, take the A388, and go past the town. Go through and towards Kelly Bray. Go Past the Swingletree pub, and follow the road- the Camelot Kennels will be on your left. Take a left there, and the farm will be on your right....

as for I... its a lovely drive through some quality rally stage!


So its a goood time to get rocking, and if your there, come see that fat bald chap, he might buy you a drink*

*subject to status, funds and state of inberiation

Lets get rocking so that Rog can here it!

Knock Knock Joke....

... after weeks of relative calmness in Formatwatch, another ridicolous format came to light, at the Knockhill qualifier...

There were just under 30 cars, so if it was a domestic it would have been 2/3rds. As it was a world qualifier, that rule now applies also. As a result of poor turnouts at Arena and Crimond in previous years, the powers that be said that 2/3rds format could be used if there was insufficient cars.

Knockhill decided to dispense with tried and tested 2/3rds and went with an all in heat 1, top 8 to go through, an all in heat 2, minus the 8 who went through, and then the Consolation, where top 6 went through, at the third time of asking.

It was kind of like the B finals and repocharges that prevail in Olympic sports such as Judo and Rowing. 3rd time lucky!

Now whereas most people would take a maximum of 2 attempts to qualify, the Fife track gave people 3! Is this actually fair?

(watch from about 7:40 for an apt moment)

Now what should be addressed next season is that, in the interests of fairness, is that any track that fails to get  full format for a WCQR, should be "on report" and 2 seasons with low turnouts would mean there WCQR status is revoked. Higher turnouts are achieveable with better fixture planning. Last year the Scottish QR's were in a batch, and it encouraged many visitors. It was deemed a success, so why did they drop them for 2011? In 2009 attendance records were smashed at the Cornish venues becuase they did them back to back, with Taunton on the way home - the lowest figure was 70 cars! With more cooperation between promotions, a speed week of World Qualifiers could and should work.

More should be done by promotions to get a decent turnout for the Qualifiers by making sure that there potential travelling force that can bolster a semi decent turnout.

It's something that needs to be addressed over the closed season!

The way the weekend rolled... well last weekend!

So then blog fans, I have been a little remiss with the updates this week, so as a means of recompense, it's a brief bullet point fashion for Taunton, Mildenhall, Knockhill, Brum and the Belle Vue British....

TOYTOWN CHAMPTASTIC

Saturday was soggy to start, and after a spot of "is it, isn't it", the definitive answer was "it is", as the heavens opened for the Young Guns, just as Lively fired up the summery 80's sounds of Wham. The young guns tiptoed round the corners like they were coming home from the nightclub at 4am, and trying not to wake the none the wiser mum. The wet conditions seemed to suit Dan Moss (797) who seems to thrive in damp stuff, but it was Jack Aldridge (921) and Taunton "regular" Tom Adcroft (768) (regular when you date Sophie Priddle - Mike (14)'s daughter), who exchanged blows on the tricky surface. Dan the Man started to catch the two, as the boards came out, and it looked as though it was going to be a last bender. Aldridge waded in hard on Adcroft, both rode towards the wall, allowing Moss to get inside only for him to spin too. Aldridge recovered to cross the line 1st, but he was docked for not doing his homework or something. Onto Heat 2, which saw fellow TART, Paul Butcher (189) make the best use of his yellow roof and the slippy conditions. The National Points gap was the major talking point after Gordon's family feud, allowed Bradbury to close the gap, and the wet conditions allowed to gain another gap
The consi saw a drying track, and perhaps a contender for the Pringle title Matt Stoneman (127) crossed the line first, and then had it taken away, and then had some severe remonstrations in the middle.
The downgraded James Rygor (783) walked the final, now in dry conditions with Murray Jones (276) tagging along for blue grade company in the 32 car final. Fairly busy.


You think that was busy. Like the late famous Falklands and Gulf War reporter Brian Hanrahan, I counted them in and I counted them out again. 43 cars! Lewis Holden (950) started as a novice, but he could have been the pole white it was that close! See for yourself - and witness the gaps open for Gordyness (7)



RUDDY MUDDY MILDO

Meanwhile, our intrepid Rachel Bunn reported in from a Mildenhall, which resembled a slurry pit. Drivers took to cutting the corners onto the concrete, and very few cars made the distance. In stark contrast, only 7 turned out for the GN on a truly forgettable night, and if it was speedway, it would have been called off...

MEANWHILE AROUND A BBQ IN EAST DEVON....

Overnight.....in the apres stox, we learnt that Ross Rowe (105) hadn't adjusted back from Australian Time, as he was the last to bed at 4:30am, and took fellow blue Adam Deeble with him.
Mike Priddle broke from the traditional speedweekend fayre of burgers and sausages, and offered cheese and biscuits round complete with cheeseboard and knife. However the new Plymouth retiree drinking team of Kane and Unable (at the moment, until July) hit appley shores, and were beeched.

SUNNY SUNDAY AT SMEATHARPE....

The Teen Sensations started with gratitous glam rock, really did the name come first then the song? After the 2 favoured runners Jaguar Skeels (124) and Jack Aldridge (921) tangled.

How we gonna explain this to our Dads? 

Last year Chris Kincaird (NI312) shocked the drivers by taking the Ben Fund - this year he took advantage of the misfortune above and took the Teen Sensations.

The Nationals Trophy was up next. Cue Lively and his bag of lovingly prepared pieces of paper for the public draw. Sighs of resignation took place as the local favourites drew rubbish numbers. 3 drivers left, Aldridge, Moodie and Murray Jones. 2 back of grid tickets, and the immortal pole. As the lap record went in practice to Moodie, a degree of inevitably would have made the race rather dull if he drew one. Fortunately for Jack Aldridge - his luck come in, he drew pole, and held off the Moodster and took the win. Now for the benefit of my viewing, and to the hilarity of the Spongetrix, aka Sharon Meeds, the actual way that follows courtesy of the SpongeCam. Now what I thought was 1. that Aldridge was a lap down as he got caught up in the early tangles, and 2. his family in front of us, cheering him on was actual cheering for Chris Mikkula (522). Epic fail of the highest order, when I turned to Sharon and said... "Moodie made that look easy, he's different gravy today". No, Aldridge won it, was Ms Meeds' reply.



One thing we've found out this weekend is that the talent of the class of '11 is certainly going to put the cat amongst the piegons, and who knows, the next Speak/Batten/Moodie has probably took his 1st chequered.

So back to the meeting proper, the consolation was won by Rygor the Tiger, who was looking to add to his final win. Then in the final, the driver of the day was undoubtedly Murray Jones (276). The Elite car had been threatening a race win or 3 for a while. Back to red for Muzza.

Then the weekend's entertainment was rounded off with another Moodie win, opening up a far gap between him and Bradbury in the Silver race...

Or was is Jack Aldridge? I can't be sure......

Damn you Sharon...!

Rocking For Rog---- update

Thanks to the genorousity of Autospeed, we have a Family ticket for any Autospeed Meeting, to be auctioned off at the do. However, telephone and email bids will be accepted too!

Rocking For Rog - 1st July 2011

Now the passing of Roger Wilcock (95) was a very sad day indeed for our racing community and for all those who knew him. None more so than the Callington Young Farmers for which Rog was a big part in the late 80's and 90's. Indeed, a younger version of myself used to regale at the wonderment of Wilcock hi-jinx at discos and dos with the YFC lot. So in the best tradition possible, and as a fitting tribute, the current members of Callington YFC, ably assisted by some of Roger's peers from his time in the youth group are putting on a do in his honour.

What better way to start your Westcountry World Qualifier Week by starting it with a nice shindig, to lubricate those singing voices, and loosen the racing feet on the dancefloor, and for those coming from further afield, a period of acclimatisation to the diet of proper Cornish pasties (rest assured although the Ginsters factory is in Callington, we won't force them on you), hevva buns, saffron cake and the local firewater...... the mighty Rattler, which has scuppered many a foreigner on it's appley shores. Although it's tendencies for producing qualifying round wins is renowned. Just ask Paul Butcher (189) who, after 7 pints of said cyder, woke up the following morning head clear as the day, and scooped the final at St Day.

So if your coming down to Pixieland in July, why not break your journey down to deepest darkest 'druth, by paying tribute with a pint of Tribute (another local tipple) and boogie on down to the live band and generally enjoy and remember a legend....