HOT ROD RACING ONLINE MAGAZINE ● ISSUE 14 ● APR MAY JUN 2013
World qualifying complete Full analysis for Spedeweekend
Unstoppable Haird Controversial
European New car built in a week More driver profiles Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 1
WJS EDITORIAL
This is the biggest issue ever and personally I don’t think I could have ever produced 40 pages of my own content but here it is. The Spedeweekend section has boosted the publication by several pages and the stats produced have never been assembled to such depth for the sport, enjoy!
PAUL BALLARD
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Contents GENERAL RACING 6
RACE OVERVIEWS
Title races during the winter across the UK
10
LATEST NEWS
Nick Thomas, Stu Carter, David Haird
22
RACE REPORTS
2L European and English Championships
FEATURES 12
SPEDEWEEKEND NEWS
Latest news approaching the weekend event
14
SPEDEWEEKEND
Road to silver and last chance qualifier
REGULARS 4
SNAPSHOTS
Spins and engine blow ups
36
DRIVER PROFILES
Gavin Murray, Jason Kew and more
11
14
38
ON THE COVER Pit action from the final Hednesford qualifying round © whistlinjacksmith.co.uk Photo: Peter Ballard Magazine contains reports, news and articles from the website whistlinjacksmith.co.uk which has been built and maintained by Paul Ballard. All photos have been taken by Paul Ballard unless otherwise stated.
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Snapshots
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PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
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Race overviews
30th March: Birmingham
6th May:
The third Classic Hot Rod final of the year was won by Colin
Hednesford
Hitch, the winner of both the other finals this year Stu Donald wasnʹt present but he still leads the points chart, 10 clear of Tim Foxlow. Jamie Johnson and Graham Boyd won the other heats.
The highest grid of the year for National Hot Rods had 15 cars make the finish of the final;
1st April: Tullyroan
Jack Blood won all his heats and the final, Dick Hillard winning the other heat. Also,
Wayne Woolsey was on top form as the Northern Irish season
Neil Stimson debuDed the ex-
got into gear at Tullyroan. Returning to National Hot Rods he
Stockton Tigra.
won all 3 races (albeit from the front) and also the final in the 2 Litre Hot Rods at the same fixture.
14th April: Taunton Stock Rods: English Championship Stuart Smyth won English the title for record sixth time when held at Taunton (first time it had been held here); this takes him clear of Mel Cooke who won the title five times. In the race Smyth moved past pole siDer Tyler Collison to win from Andy Sturt and Mark Barber (his sixth podium finish in this event). The heats were won by Smyth, Collison and Ashley Brown.
25th May: Birmingham Definitely the form driver in the Classic Hot Rods Fil Gambone won the Midland Championship at Birmingham. He eased home to the second heat after being docked places in the opening heat handing the win to Brian Starr - his first victory in the class.
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27th April: Lochgelly
27th & 28th April: National Hot Rods: European Lochgelly Championship A great entry gathered with drivers from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, the The title was run in Scotland for the ďŹ rst time in 23 years
spoils went back to Northern Ireland when
but sadly no defending champion Shane Murphy. Chris
they took a 1-2-3 in the title race.
Haird won the European title from pole position, fellow front row starter Andrew Murray crashed out in the
2.0 Hot Rods - Saturday
opening laps and then ran into by Billy Bonnar. Haird
Heat 1: 75, 50, 54, 72, 972, 17, 26, 941, 71, 982
has now won all titles in the class barring the British
Heat 2: 26, 941, 72, 50, 75, 54, 972, 982, 721, 61
Championship in National Hot Rods.
Final: 50, 54, 75, 72, 959, 342, 972, 982, 71, 745
Heat 1:174, 117, 115, 95, 962, 9, 278, 76, 994, 844
2.0 Hot Rods - Sunday
Heat 2:994, 940, 996, 997, 369, 339, 467, 77, 39, 174
Heat 1: 54, 342, 75, 70, 972, 745, 50, 71, 959, 17
Heat 3: 304, 76, 467, 997, 115, 9, 962, 77, 629, 940
Heat 2: 50, 54, 745, 75, 70, 31, 959, 26, 61, 614
European: 115, 994, 76, 9, 940, 95, 304, 962, 467, 629
Internations Trophy Final: 54, 50, 70, 75, 745, 342, 31, 71, 941, 26
28th April: Lochgelly National Hot Rods: Scottish Open The main title race was twinned with the Malcolm Chesher Memorial, Haird followed up his European success with another title. Heat 1: 95, 700, 117, 940, 174, 996, 115, 962, 994, 339 Heat 2:115, 76, 994, 174, 629, 940, 962, 117, 700, 871
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Race overviews
23rd June: Swaffham Congratulations to 5 Terry Sewell for winning the Hot Rods East Anglian Championship on Sunday 23rd June. Nine cars gathered including the first outing of the season for returnee 76 Neil HowiD. Heat 1 - Following a draw for grid positions for the opening heat 17 Michael Benstead led from the second lap to the very final bend when a hard chasing 5 Sewell was able to slip through on the inside after Benstead had gone wide. Res: 5, 17, 371, 19, 95, 76, 067, 15, 217 Heat 2 was a straight flag to flag victory for 95 Ashley Crofts with 067 Marc Walker on his back bumper for the whole duration of the race. Res: 95, 067, 15, 5, 19, 371, 76, 17, 217 The final saw 5 Sewell in pole position and he was away from the green flag opening a good lead over the second placed 95 Crofts who was then forced to retire just after half distance due to mechanical problems. This left the door open for 067 Walker with 371 Mark Sewell moving upto third and this is how they finished with 5 Sewell be crowned the champion. EA - 5, 067, 371, 15, 19, 76 Next meeting....Sunday 14th July with hopefully the return of Richard Ansell, Liam Probert and possibly Jem Proberts first outing..
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23rd June: Great Yarmouth Unlike the National Hot Rods, the Spedeworth 2L Hot Rods do not have the luxury of a final meeting at Ipswich but raced at the tight Great Yarmouth track. Mark Paffey won the final that included Frans Joubertʹs first run.
29th June: Arena Essex V6 Hot Rods: English Championship The SwaLam based V6 Hot Rods raced at the Rolling Thunder Show for their English Championship that was won by 44 Steve Tandy who was back in his the Ford Mondeo that he used successfully last year at Arena Essex, the other podium finishers were 32 Wayne Hearn and 144 Benn Mann. The formula will next race at SwaLam on Sunday 14th July and is back at Arena Essex on Saturday 27th July.
30th June: Hednesford Classic Hot Rods: Bill Morris Memorial For this year the fixture was moved from the National Championship weekend to earlier in the season, coinciding with the 50th year anniversary meeting at Hednesford. After missing a lot of the season Daz Owen returned to win a heat and the title followed over the line by Tim Foxlow and Dave Fry. The opening heat of the day went to Graham Fulker.
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News
Nick Thomas
(TPR Signs is seeking no profit from this, only to cover costs). The decals are 300mm wide x 100mm high, the idea is to be display these on as many race
TPR Signs is producing a decal in memory of Nick
cars as possible, although if you have more ideas of
Thomas who sadly passed away last weekend. We
how to display these then please feel free. We will
have been given the blessing of Nickʹs wife, Kara,
get as many as physically possible ready for the and Spedeworth and were initally given the idea by weekend and more will be available after the weekGavin Taber, to create a fiDing tribute to Nickʹs end- end for other oval supporters wishing to play their less work and passion for short oval racing. The de- part. The decals can be bought directly from TPR cals will be available at as many circuits as we can Signs and after the weekend we will be aiming to physically get them to across the Bank Holiday
find other outlets. Please share this status to all your
weekend. They will cost £4, £2 of which will go to
racing friends in order to show our support to a
Macmillan Cancer, at the wishes of Nickʹs family
great oval man.
Stu Carter Former National Hot Rod racer Stu Carter passed away on Friday night after a road accident. Stu moved into National Hot Rods in 2004 after racing domestic Hot Rods at Buxton. Qualifying for the World Final at his first aDempt, he qualified on six occasions moving through Ford Focus, Peugeot 206, Vauxhall Tigra and lastly to a Mercedes SLK. He may never have tasted championship success in the class but he was a driver who would represent England at the international meetings – 3 third places in a row at the Irish GP showed his consistency in such said events. National Hot Rods lined up on the centre green at Northampton for a minuteʹs silence that also included Legends, a class where Stu made his last oval appearance. WJS extends its condolences to the Carter family.
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
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David Haird
Sadly his racing career didn’t continue that much longer, but his enthusiasm for the sport continued, and the family name was carried on by son Chris
Former National Hot Rodder David Haird passed
racing with the same 115 number. The defunct Ste-
away late Thursday night. David moved into Na-
ve Wills Motorsport became Haird Motorsport
tional Hot Rods in the mid 1990ʹs qualifying for the
which has since produced World Championship
World Final on three occasions between 1996 and
winning cars in the hands of his son Chris. David’s
98. In those years he was able to qualifying in the second qualifying block and brought the car home
involvement with Hot Rods was still clear to see and he is one of the men responsible for shaping the
twice in 8th position. However in 1998 his Peugeot
current National Hot Rods, a massively respected
205 was wriDen off by a horrific fire at Hednesford,
man who will be missed on the terraces of any Hot
David returned with a lot of support from fans and
Rod meeting.
fellow drivers in a VW Corrado a few months later.
Donut returns Andy Steward is set to return to the ovals this season in a Classic Hot Rods that is being prepared by SHP. Andy famously lost out on the National Hot Rod World Championship on the final corner to Ormond Christie weeks after winning the Stock Rod PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Forthcoming Rookie Rod meetings
World Championship.
South African entrant The 2L Hot Rod World Final returns to the Ips-
A few days before the Spedeweekend (3rd July) the Rookie Rods race for one of their oldest titles the Southern Championship, qualification for this event is based upon position in the National points chart. At this stage only 15 of the 23 qualifying drivers have confirmed their booking.
wich Spedeweekend this year to headline the Saturday night and will include Frans Joubert who won the South African spec World Final last year. Like Neville Loosemore in the National Hot Rods World Championship last year a brand new car is being assembled for him by Spedeworth Fabrica-
Rookie Rods also have an additional meeting on Sunday 22nd June at Aldershot replacing the 7.5 tonne trucks that have failed to get a decent entry....Rookie Rods to the rescue.
tions. Frans previously raced in the UK at the 2009 Spedeweekend in a 2L Vauxhall Corsa, though it was the British title being contested that year. Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 11
News—Spedeweekend 2013
Pat Canavan National Hot Rod racer Pat Canavan passed away fourth place in the 2002 National Championship. this month. Pat joined the National scene at the end of 1994 after racing at Waterford; that first Na- Back in Ireland he had most of his success winning tional Hot Rod was a Nova numbered 39 before
the Irish Grand Prix and Celtic Thunder in a car
moving onto his familiar number of 939 when he
that transformed over time from a Peugeot 205 to a
upgraded to a Peugeot 205. It was a year later
206 and onto a Vauxhall Corsa – those brightly
when his name hit the headlines when he won the coloured green, yellow and red cars will be remeeting final at the International Challenge Cup
membered.
an event that had aDracted the biggest names from England. His first trip to Ipswich failed to trouble the lapscorers in 1996 (which was the last qualifying round of the year) as he prepared for his first appearance in the World Final. In total he made 5 World Final appearances and making the finish twice, he had beDer form at Hednesford taking
New faces at Great Yarmouth World Champion Frans Joubert is booked in to race the brand new Spedeworth Fabrications built Citroen Saxo 2L Hot Rod at Great Yarmouth on Sunday. Although the entry is barely into double figures having National Bangers on the bill will definately make conditions alot harder. Gary Farrington is also booked into race, this will be the first time he has raced for the ex-Randell Tigra at Spedeworth.
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Northern Ireland NHR qualifiers
Important positions as they both have a guaranteed place within the top 4 rows at the World Final. The other qualifiers are Stewart Doak, Mark Heat-
Another mega tight qualifying series in Northern Ireland produced 6 qualifiers but sadly disappointment for those that didn’t make the cut. Once the points were calculated after the final qualifying round at Ballymena Glenn Bell was crowned Northern Irish champion with John Christie taking second
rick, Gary Woolsey and Keith Martin. The dropped scores system seriously hampered Adam Maxwell who had 37 points reduced which would have put been good enough to qualify. The drivers that represented the nation for the past 2 years at Ipswich have yet again qualified.
place (Christie had won the final at this meeting).
NHR World Qualifiers With the results clarified from the final round the English drivers will starting from the following groups: Group 1 - Chris Haird, Jason Kew, Rob McDonald, Danny Fiske Group 2 - Gavin Murray, Neil Stimson, Shane Brereton, Colin Smith Group 3 - Dick Hillard, Jack Blood, Kym Weaver, Tony Moss Group 4 - Carl Waller-BarreD, Mikey Godfrey, Sam Shudall, Terry Hunn Group 5 - Russell Wilcox, Dick Burtenshaw, BreD Walter, Shaun Taylor
Murphy doesn't qualify The biggest shock of the qualifying series is the fact former European Champion Shane Murphy has missed out on the two automatic qualifying positions, after a poor campaign he recovered to get back up to second place entering the final round but outscored by Eddie Wall he fell back to third place by the end of the meeting - this year Ireland only has 2 spaces. If Wall decides against racing then Murphy has an opportunity that requires the fastest lap time otherwise he is not guaranteed a start from the front 4 rows. It is more than likely he will enter the Wild Card race on Saturday night of the Spedeweekend. Latest news - Eddie Wall has declined his place that will allow Murphy into the World Final
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Feature
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
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Spedeweekend 2013
The Top Block
T
he block system for National Hot Rods is the longest running form of qualifying for deciding grid positions for the World Final, this year will be the 20th year the grid will be created via this format. 2013 is slightly different to previous years as the whole of the front block will have guaranteed spots instead of just English drivers guaranteeing their slot. The front block is also eight drivers instead of six, those that join the four top scorers from England are the points champion from Scotland and the Republic of Ireland plus the top two from Northern Ireland. This means the current World, European, English, Irish, ScoDish, Northern Irish and National champions will start at the front; the British champion (Tom Casey) hasn’t qualified for the event.
NHRPA have already notified changes for the next qualifying series in terms of dropped scores, grid positions in those qualifying rounds and the number of rounds but missed out on the critical area of moving away from the out-dated block system or even changing the number of qualifiers from each nation – perhaps the current crop of drivers don’t want to change this system. The first year the process was used was a mainly English affair and only one non-English qualified in each block – in the first block was Norman Woolsey who was the only Northern Irish driver to compete that year. The system benefited Ricky Hunn that year who started 5th but was the 11th fastest overall, Hunn went onto to win that race. Since the system has been used only two drivers have won the race outside the top block of six cars– McKellar and Bell.
They can only be beaten by one driver if that said driver has the fastest overall time, assuming that those 8 are placed at the front of the grid that one block alone has 40,524 combinations.
Who has started in the top block the most? It’s a tie between Carl Boardley and Colin White on 10. Next up is Gary Woolsey – 7 starts there and no wins; on 5 are John Steward, Andy Steward, Colin White, Shane Murphy Once a driver has qualified for the World Championship and MaD Simpson. Without going through everyone as the way they got a grid position has changed over time, 40 drivers have so far had the honour of starting there, from a random draw to lap times, to heats that score the ones in this year’s race that haven’t been mentioned points up to the current system that was put in place to are John Christie (4), Chris Haird (4), Colin Smith (3), benefit those that race more during the season. However Keith Martin (3), Stewart Doak (2), Gavin Murray (2) when that was put in place England had 48 qualifying and Dick Hillard (1). rounds, racing had almost stopped in Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Republic was only just sending The next thing rookies in the top block, the last driver to over representatives. During the mid 1990’s racing was- qualify in the top 3 rows on his debut was John Christie n’t particularly healthy in England – if you raced reguin 2006 and it’s a feat achieved by 9 drivers. Having two larly you would be in the World Final – drivers outside rookies at the front (like 2013 with McDonald and Fiske) the top 20 raced on some occasions as well as ScoDish has occurred once before in 2000 with Keith White and drivers who weren’t even running to the same specifica- Carl Boardley. tion of car. Each driver has 3 timed laps and their best lap is used to Times have definitely changed and drivers can now race decide their position with the block, this qualifying sesthroughout the year and still not make the cut in Engsion starts on Saturday at 10,30am (after free practice) land and Northern Ireland just showing the intensity of that will lead up to the opening race of the Spedeweekthose series, while the need to make the top 4 in England end at noon. Expected pole position time 14.2 seconds. does add undue pressure to a driver and their team. The
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 15
The road to silver
A
piece that was always enjoyable in Spedeweekend programmes of years gone by was the ‘Road to gold’ that Jim Gregory would write about the English Series and their qualifying series – technically it was never to gold but just silver. This year’s road to qualification has been a great one with the final places going down to the wire.
significantly Chris Haird was flying in the final and made second from the back this put up to second in the points siDing behind Danny Hunn who returned to the top. At the other end Fiske and Stimson had poor rounds and fell out of the top 20, former finalists Sam Holland made her only appearance of the year and Mark Baines didn’t race beyond this round.
Round 1 – Northampton
Round 4 – Birmingham
35 cars kicked off the campaign that included a debut for Danny Fiske in the car that was used during the Spedeweekend and National Championship by Carl Boardley. Ralph Sanders was out in a new Peugeot 206cc but only racing a few times he never made challenged the qualifying positions. The heats fell to Colin Smith (who was jumping for joy with that one), Russ Wilcox and Sam Shuddall – Shudall also going onto win the final but it was Danny Hunn who scored the most points and subsequently led the Points Series. A lower point after 18 months of struggling Frank West had finally got his Audi TT up to speed but crashing out a podium finish in a heat he ended his qualifying campaign a liDle too early.
Similar theme regarding heat and final, this time Neil Stimson being the victor. Touring car driver Chris Stockton had his first win in the class but he was disqualified in a later race for spinning out team-mate Ben Taylor. Shane Brereton won the final heat of the day.
Yet again there was another heat and final winner this time being Tony Moss that pulled him back into a qualifying position. Paul Frost won the opening heat, which was his first win in the class and Taber won the other heat, scoring well throughout the day was David Brooks and he jumped from 25th to 10th in the points, but more
Round 6 – Northampton
The big talking point was James O’Shea being loaded up in the final for taking out Terry Hunn. Chris Haird took third in the final which put to the top of the points as the qualifying positions started to seDle down. Round 5 – Ipswich
No heat and final winner this round, the final falling to Ben Taylor who was also first across the line in an earlier Round 2 – Hednesford heat but docked for contact. Colin Gomm was making his first appearance of the season and won one of the The bank holiday meeting had another heat and final heats albeit with no exhaust, Taber and Wilcox won the winner this time being BreD Walter that launched him to other heats. the top of the leader board – these were his first wins in the class. Murray took a heat win and moved to second The final was a controversial one, first being Terry Hunn in the points and Kym Weaver had the other heat. A suc- and Fiske clashing which meant Hunn was loaded up. cessful day for James O’Shea (2 seconds and a fourth) Fiske was able to get back into the race and eventually pushed him up to third in the points. At this point 3 took 8th place but another caution was needed when drivers that would qualify for the World were still outKym Weaver slammed into Tommy Maxwell that side the top 20 places, Shaun Taylor being back in 30th caused cars to plough into him. Top scorer of the day after scoring just aDendance points in the early rounds. was Dick Hillard who had slipped out of the top 20 before this round, Haird still lead with Wilcox, Rob Round 3 – Ipswich McDonald and Gavin Murray holding the other places.
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Jason Kew came closest of all year to taking a hat-rick but ended up second in the final behind Colin Smith who was using Kew’s spare gearbox after picking up problems earlier in heat 3, Smith though did win the
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
opening heat of the day. When looking into the sport sometimes the overheated clashes may at times look like Round 8 – Birmingham drivers have serious hatred for each other, though on the flipside the kind lending from Kew showed the sport is BreD Walter became the first driver to win 2 finals during still one big family. this qualifying series and also the first driver to take a hat-rick which brought him back into a qualifying posiKew’s near maximum catapulted him to third in the tion. Tony Moss won the other heat of the day as the sepoints chart behind Stimson (who had finished on the ries hit the halfway mark and winter break. podium all day) and Haird. A point of note from the meeting was Wilcox and Taber Round 7 – Hednesford clashing in heat 3. Wilcox initially loaded up and his chances a good group disappeared while Taber had Going back 20 years a driver could have made the World things worst and he would sit out the next two rounds, Final if racing from the mid-point in this mega competi- his chances of qualification looking much slimmer hiDing tive series it won’t happen now, making their debuts at the halfway point in 18th place. Haird ended the season Hednesford was Shane Bland initially to hire the Tigra leading the points being 16 clear of Jason Kew; McDonthat Neville Loosemore used in the World Final, but by ald and Stimson held the other top group positions. the turn of the year he had bought that car and David York in the ex-Paffey Tigra. Also on the car front Wilcox Round 9 – Birmingham was also out in the ex-Jason Cooper Tigra and Danny Hunn swapped Tigra A for Tigra B, this one being the Fast forward 4 months and racing was back; Gomm took barely used Mike Oliver machine. BreD Walter changed the all too familiar heat and final double; Jack Blood took his ex-Willis 206cc for the Blackman World Championthe chequers in heat two but a penalty gave the win to ship winning 206cc. Shaun Taylor, Blood did win the third heat. Kew had a fairly successful night in terms of outscoring Haird narAfter scoring well in his opening meetings Danny Fiske rowing his lead to 5 points. never really had the opportunity to start from the front of the grid, it took him to this round to taste success in Na- Although no real change for cars over the winter Mikey tional Hot Rods. The final went to Kym Weaver who had Godfrey was now racing with a Ford Duratec in his started the meeting outside the top 20; Carl WallerTigra. BarreD won the other two heats of the day.
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 17
Round 10 – Northampton The day after the Birmingham round and light snow featured in a biDerly cold weekend of racing. Warren Farazmand rejoined the class in a Peugeot 206cc that he had bought from Northern Ireland.
Burtenshaw was back racing at this meeting in a brand new car assembled in roughly 2 weeks, he took a second place in one the heats. Colin Smith raced the ex-Andy Lane Tigra at this meeting but would be back out in the BMW for the rest of the season.
In the final York was spun out by Walter and then hit After serving three meeting from the back of the grid by Godfrey to cause a stoppage, Walter then passed Bland made the most starting at the front to win the Shaun Taylor to record his third final win of the year. opening heat, Ben Taylor had the next one before Haird Kew was disqualified from the final for taking out slaughtered the field in the final heat. In slightly damp Shane Brereton that enabled Haird to stretch out his conditions Gomm was slicing through the field and lead further at the top of the points. Fiske’s good round moved up to second with Haird on his heels before moved him into the top block. Haird cut inside and pulled clear of him and easily passing Maxwell for a contender for victory of the year. Round 13 – Hednesford In the final Wilcox lead the majority of the race before being hampered by the spun car of Carl Waller-BarreD that enabled Ben Taylor to nip by for the win. As the chequers fell a five car pile-up ended the race on the final turn. Although Haird was definitely flying in the meeting he only scored 8 more points than Kew, McDonald their nearest rival in third but 47 points adrift. Smith and Murray were tied for the final group 1 position. Round 11 – Northampton
Jack Blood took a hat-rick at the May Day meeting that aDracted 35 cars. The entry included debuts for Stuart McLaird and Mick Cave, Chris Lehec was out in his first meeting of the year and Neil Stimson racing the exStockton Tigra, although an older shape it was a newer car than he had been campaigning all year. It was a good day for those baDling for the final few places on the grid, realistically 23 drivers were going for 20 places. Haird had his lead cut down but it was now McDonald in second followed by Kew and Hillard who had also won the opening heat of the day.
Racing hadn’t even begun at the Good Friday meeting and there was trouble for Dick Burtenshaw, his throDle stuck open in practice writing off his car. Sam Shuddall won his first race since upgrading to a Tigra in the opening heat and was denied the win in the final when adjudged to have used contact in the final that handed the win to Terry Hunn who had looked preDy poor in the earlier heats.
Round 14 – Ipswich
Overtaking was always going to be difficult at such a small track and David York used his front row start to win two heats, the other heat going to Danny Fiske who started 14th – that race would be in contention with Haird’s round 9 heat performance as one of the memorable drives of the season.
Haird now needed to keep out of trouble to take a fifth straight points title. Fiske was able to finish the race in 8th which was enough to keep him in the top group, though Stimson and Murray were within 7 points of him.
Entering the round Danny Hunn was placed 23rd in the points and qualification chances improved when he won the opening heat, the next heats fell to Taber and Rod Brewer in his home built Fiesta. It was the final that got everyone talking when Fiske and Haird came through the field at an incredible rate, however Fiske got caught up with Shaun Taylor – Taylor had lead the Lee Pepper and Shane Bland won the other heats to take majority of the race but his bonnet flew off the car and points off those baDling for the qualification places. Bar- he was disqualified for a technical infringement, as Tayring Shuddall (who jumped up to ninth) no driver real- lor slowed Fiske bounced off him leaving the door open ly cleaned up in the points, Hillard moved into fourth for Haird who quickly swallowed up the front two to place – but the incredibly tight series had 11 points sep- take up the lead with a lap and bit remaining to take arating 4th to ninth. rapture of applause – it should be noted that Chris’s father, former racer and a driving force behind the forRound 12 – Aldershot mula David Haird had passed away a few days earlier.
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At the other end Ben Taylor had decided to move over to the circuits, Danny Hunn was now 2 points adrift of 20th placed Shaun Taylor with Gomm a handful of points further back. Round 15 – Northampton BreD Walter didn’t do his chances of qualifying any good when he didn’t race and Shuddall failed to get beyond practice; Murray’s chances of group one qualification went bang in the opening heat with a huge blow-up but with the help of many teams he was back out in the final only to make a few laps before being caught up in a crash with Shaun Taylor and York. Those prospering in the sunshine were heat winners Colin Smith, Bland and Terry Hunn. In the final Lehec looked like taking his first win but he suddenly slowed handing the win to Terry Hunn ahead of Mikey Godfrey. No change in the top block; Walter dropped out of the top 20 to be replaced by Danny Hunn, 18th and above looked relatively safe for qualification entering the final round having a 36 point cushion. 19th Shaun Taylor 353 (with a round to drop), 20th Danny Hunn 335, joint 21st Walter and Gomm 331.
Walter won the second heat and had second places in the other races to get him into the main race. Murray was trying his hardest to make the top group and did win heat 3 but was disqualified from the final after winning that race – even though he finished fifth in the points those lost 20 points would not have been enough to move up another place. By the end of heat 3 Haird had done enough to clinch the points title, his nearest rival entering the day McDonald had a poor day and once the final points had been calculated he had been bumped out of second place by Kew, Fiske made up the top group. At the other end of the chart Walter leap-frogged into 19th place and Shaun Taylor took the final place on the grid with 359 points, Danny Hunn 6 behind and Gomm another point behind that. Overall it was a great year after many thought the loss of Blackman, Simpson and Hardie would diminish the quality of racing – there was many ready to step up to challenge, both McDonald and Fiske qualified for their first World’s in the top group a feat that hasn’t been achieved since 2002. Shuddall and Walter will also make their debuts.
Round 16 – Hednesford
For those that didn’t qualify Gomm was definitely fast enough to but miss 3 rounds out meant he was always For this qualifying campaign Hednesford had the honour going to start behind his rivals on the grid and out score of hosting the final round, a round where dreams are re- them. In total there were 13 former World Finalists that alised or destroyed. Frantic measures are made in an didn’t do enough to qualify this year. For those that like a aDempt to claw back every point, by the end of the race stat over 30% of races were won by drivers that didn’t dropped scores would also be applied. qualify, BreD Walter won the most races (7) followed by Jack Blood (5), Rob McDonald and Dick Burtenshaw Lehec made up for his Northampton disappointment and were the only World qualifiers that didn’t win a race durwon the opening heat which saw Burtenshaw blow up ing the season. that also wiped out Godfrey and Gomm, Waller-BarreD and Hillard also retired in a race of nutrition having only 10 finishers, Danny Hunn had suspension damage but still managed to drag his car home for 6 points but that was his best finish of the day.
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 19
The Last Chance
T
he semi, the last chance, the wildcard – call it what you like it’s one last roll of the dice for National Hot Rods drivers to get into the World Championship. As a bonus to the 2013 event the final on the Saturday night will double up as a last chance race for 2 drivers to start from the rear of the World Final the following day. Each driver will have 2 reverse heats before the final, but only those drivers that have competed in at least 4 qualifying rounds will be eligible to qualify for the race. It is a qualifying process that many have wished for years. The semi-final is not something new to National Hot Rods in fact it was used back in the 1980’s but not for the final few places but for every driver, very much like Brisca F1 and F2 do nowadays – this had it problems as drivers that qualified well in the points failed to proceed (eg Neil Facey).
Woolsey winning the final from Ricky Hunn and Andy Steward. The following year had one great but often forgoDen races due to those racing and it being just a heat. Keith Tatum led from flag to flag but with aDack after aDack on the outside line he kept his nerve, the main man outside was Mark Jones in a one-off appearance in Chris Haird’s Focus. Numbers were a liDle bit thinner than the previous year but with World Finalist allowed to race in order to get some track time 26 cars were out for this one. Since then there has been some high quality winners of the support final like Steve Thompson, Ian Thompson Jnr and Neil Stimson; while it has also enabled Neil Reeve and Ray Harris to win their first races in the class during the heats.
The system was then amended most famously for the 1990 World Championship when the top 16 points scorers qualified for the World and places 17-36 raced on the Saturday. As a variation to this year points scored from qualifying rounds were combined with points from the Saturday heats and there was no final. The reason of that year’s notoriety was former World Champion Mick Collard racing with a brand new car, qualifying and then leading the race briefly due having an advantageous grid position that then drawn from the hat. Collard soon slowed and pulled off, the fairy-tale was over.
This year predicting the top two finishers is definitely trickier than guessing who will win the World Final itself. From England Bland, Pepper, York, Gomm and Taber have all won races this year and then there’s a host of Irish and ScoDish drivers in the same frame. Tom Casey proved by winning the British Championship last year you don’t need to be the quickest car to beat everyone in a reverse grid format just make your leading when the chequers is dropped – Casey is the biggest name racing in the semi-final and probably raced in more World’s (contested 18) than those he will be racing against.
It was often stated that Collard qualified through “the skin of his teeth” that year and yes it was true he qualified 24th in the series ended up joint 20th by the time the points from the semi were added but on the other-hand he was the highest scorer of the day and several points clear of his nearest rival Keith Newman.
The name on everyone’s lips for success is Adam Maxwell who finished a few car lengths back from Haird in the Thunder 500 and ahead of World Finalist. Just for a liDle bit more spice Andy Lane returns, regardless of what he does he won’t in the World but with something new.
The following year the Spedeweekend stopped being the 2 day event at Ipswich, the semis disappeared and having an entry of support cars at the Spedeweekend dwindled away. Just before the end of the millennium numbers were back up in National Hot Rods and a support car final was run on the Saturday night, in 1999 a respectable entry of 15 non-qualifiers raced with Norman
20 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
NHR World Qualifiers Driver
App.
Best
Starting
Best
Av.
Best
Av.
finish
group
grid
Grid
time
time
9 Glenn Bell
4
1st (ʹ12)
Gr. 1
8th (ʹ09)
11
14.45 (ʹ11)
14.61
27 Mikey Godfrey
1
DNF (ʹ11)
Gr. 4
24th (ʹ11)
24
14.95 (ʹ11)
14.95
31 Dick Hillard
17
2nd (ʹ93)
Gr. 3
3rd (ʹ95)
17.2
14.70 (ʹ10)
14.94
39 Terry Hunn
1
DNF (ʹ12)
Gr. 4
22nd (ʹ12)
22
14.55 (ʹ12)
14.55
66 John V.D Bosch
6
13th (ʹ11)
Gr. 2 -5
16th (ʹ09)
26.6
14.69 (ʹ12)
14.82
77 Ian McGuigan
3
DNF (ʹ91 - ʹ93)
Gr. 2 -5
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
92 Jack Blood
1
DNF (ʹ12)
Gr. 3
19th (ʹ12)
19
14.4 (ʹ12)
14.4
95 Gavin Murray
4
2nd (ʹ12)
Gr. 2
6th (ʹ11 ʹ12)
8.5
14.56 (ʹ12)
14.67
100 Dick Burtenshaw
3
9th (ʹ12)
Gr. 5
22nd (ʹ11)
23
14.57 (ʹ12)
14.83
115 Chris Haird
11
1st (ʹ10)
Gr. 1
1st (ʹ12)
7.7
14.2 (ʹ12)
14.6
117 Rob McDonald
0
N/A
Gr. 1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
152 Shaun Taylor
1
17th (ʹ12)
Gr. 5
32nd (ʹ12)
32
14.79 (ʹ12)
14.79
162 Carl Waller-BarreD
2
DNF (ʹ11 ʹ12)
Gr. 4
12th (ʹ12)
15
14.61 (ʹ12)
14.67
174 Jason Kew
4
8th (ʹ10)
Gr. 1
12th (ʹ11)
18.3
14.55 (ʹ12)
14.83
192 Tony Moss
1
DNF (ʹ11)
Gr. 3
17th (ʹ11)
17
14.73 (ʹ11)
14.73
209 Kym Weaver
1
4th (ʹ12)
Gr. 3
13th (ʹ12)
13
14.62 (ʹ12)
14.62
217 BreD Walter
0
N/A
Gr. 5
N/A
N/A
N/A
219 Russell Wilcox
1
11th (ʹ07)
Gr. 5
22nd (ʹ07)
22
15.15 (ʹ07)
15.15
261 David Casey
4
10th (ʹ12)
Gr. 1
7th (ʹ09)
21.8
14.54 (ʹ12)
14.75
271 Neil Stimson
8
7th (ʹ10)
Gr. 2
10th (ʹ06)
15.3
14.83 (ʹ06)
14.96
304 Danny Fiske
0
N/A
Gr. 1
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
348 Shane Brereton
5
6th (ʹ01)
Gr. 2
9th (ʹ00)
14.8
14.66 (ʹ01)
14.82
444 Sam Shuddall
0
N/A
Gr. 4
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
467 Winnie Holtmanns
14
16th (ʹ07)
Gr. 2 -5
15th (ʹ10)
26.4
14.49 (ʹ12)
15.06
491 Colin Smith
12
2nd (ʹ99)
Gr. 2
5th (ʹ98 ʹ99)
10.9
14.75 (ʹ10)
14.86
629 John Sibbald
1
DNF (ʹ08)
Gr. 2 -5
N/A
31
N/A
N/A
844 Billy Bonnar
8
7th (ʹ12)
Gr. 1
9th (ʹ12)
25.3
14.42 (ʹ12)
15.08
940 Gary Woolsey
13
4th (ʹ99 ʹ01 ʹ03)
Gr. 2 -5
1st (ʹ03)
6.9
14.31 (ʹ12)
14.69
960 Mark Heatrick
3
17th (ʹ10)
Gr. 2 -5
16th (ʹ10)
25.3
14.75 (ʹ10)
15.05
962 John Christie
7
3rd (ʹ07 ʹ11)
Gr. 1
2nd (ʹ06)
6.5
14.25 (ʹ12)
14.6
970 Shane Murphy
9
2nd (ʹ10 ʹ11)
Gr. 2 -5
2nd (ʹ10 ʹ12)
10.4
14.25 (ʹ12)
14.67
994 Keith Martin
20
1st (ʹ05)
Gr. 2 -5
1st (ʹ05)
13.1
14.48 (ʹ12)
14.82
996 Stewart Doak
9
9th (ʹ11)
Gr. 2 -5
4th (ʹ11)
19
14.46 (ʹ12)
14.76
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 21
Race Reports 2L Hot Rods 13.04.2013 Ipswich European Championship
R
ain greeted the quality field with drivers coming from Scotland, Northern Ireland and England (Spedeworth plus Incarace). Heading the field was reigning champion (no pun intended) Shane Murray and he was definitely a favourite after his recent form when visiting England. Typical championship formation with reverse grids for the 2 heats and final decide the grid position for the final.
on the inside and the leading duo approached side by side. Close your eyes, breathe in and hope for the best…..they made it through and Miller moved himself to a safer position. Pannell did stick to the outside but couldn’t make it beyond Busby. Res: 87, 39, 8, 565, 310, 338, 959, 199 (x-2), 70, 972 Heat 2
Heat 1 Without a rain gauge to hand it is difficult to explain how much raining was falling at the start of the meeting, there’s definitely been worse conditions but it was on par with last year’s National Hot Rod World Final. The first spinner in the difficult conditions was 3 Chris Harvey though he slide off the relative safety of the centre. 87 Jason Busby splashed through the puddles to take up the running from 920 Derek Martin, 310 Sean O’Leary briefly nipped by but sliding off turn 2 he almost ran into the wall and had to ease off the power. The back straight was the action spot as 65 Mark Willis spun and clipped the passing 27 Roger Dormer that sparked a pile-up of cars going in all different directions. The yellows came out and Willis was moved to the centre. Once restarted 543 Tommy Miller took a spin on turn 3 and so did Martin who had been running in second place. Busby started to pull away at the front. The man on the move in the later part of the race was 39 Rick Pannell; he eased by 8 Damon Wellman and O’Leary for second place and started to hunt down the leader. He caught him with 5 laps to go and braved the outside line (which is not such a disadvantage when the track is completely soaked).
From pole position 745 Dan BenneD took up the running, behind him Harvey had another wild first lap, this time he was punted across the kerbs going into turn 3 by 31 Charlie Jowers but was able to hold it together. Within a few laps the pack really started to bunch up, 537 Billy Clarke had a moment but was able to straighten up the car – the cars in his vicinity had to scaDer and it was 959 Adam Best was left as victim of this, he crawled along the wall into retirement on the outside of turn 3. At the front of the race 972 Willie Hardie and Murray moved beyond BenneD while 338 John Payne spun out reversing hard into the fence on turn 3, he was joined BenneD who put himself in the wall from third place. BenneD slipped out wide hiDing both Payne and Best who had stopped against the fencing. The previous heat winner Busby spun out in this heat and re-joined just in-front of second placed Murray that halted his progress on catching leader Hardie who went on to take the flag. Although Murray had performed well in this race it was a poor one from the Irish with 54 Adam Hylands and Best retiring, 964 Bradley Dynes and Martin circulated slowly on the outside line finishing a few laps down.
Miller had another spin and this time was broadside Res: 972, 70, 565, 31, 75, 303, 43, 3, 8, 928 across the track on turn 3, there was room for cars to pass
22 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Grid:
565 8
87
303 39
972 70
310 199 43
31 928
75
3
88
17
503
537 54 65
Final After two decent places in the heats 565 Dan Smith had quietly got the job done to get pole position but that is only half of the baDle. The rain had stopped by the time the 35 lap race began but there was no dry line. Lining up at the back of the 21 car grid was 65 Mark Willis who failed to finish both heats. Once the pack were into their stride the front eight queued up nose to tail in a formation that wouldn’t look out of place on a dry track but once Busby went bouncing over the kerbs going through turn 1 that broke up this train and the front three of Smith, Hardie and Murray edged clear. Smith added a few lengths over Hardie who was fending off Murray; Murray dived to his inside at the first chance going down the back straight. The pair collided with Hardie going sideways for the second half of the straight, both of them going deep into the corner that followed. Murray was now into second though that kind of manoeuvre was something that could land him in danger once the chequers had fallen. After that brief excitement the race seDled down and too often in a championship event the quickest driver starts at the front, so to quote Del Amitri ‘nothing really happens’, the Union Jack was waved at the half way point and the gaps had seemed to be quite stagnant, but then Murray suddenly started to reel in Smith and within 10 laps he was there on his back bumper and the race was back on, the crowd started to become vocal no maDer
964
what driver you normally support, that goes out the window when the old England – Ireland rivalry appears. Murray was now looking a lot quicker and went to the outside but the inside line had been drying out and once he stepped off that line he shot out wide in turn 2 and fell back significantly but in the space of 5 laps he was back on the rear bumper of Smith for a final aDempt – time was not on his side as the 5 lap board were displayed. If the weather was similar to the NHR World of 2012 then the controversial point of this title race happened in similar fashion as well (eg Blackman/ Bell and Blackman/ Simpson). The rear of Smith’s car drifted slightly off line exiting turn 4 and the faster car behind (Murray) dived to the inside but ended up spinning the leading car across the front of him, Smith was flicked off to the centre. Smith didn’t rotate but instead glanced off the barrels before practicing his Rallycross skills across the drenched grass and shale; then bumping over the kerbs on the back straight to return ahead of Hardie which became the lead position as Murray was disqualified for this altercation. Smith ticked off the final few laps for his first major championship success in the class ahead of Hardie in his third meeting since returning to the class and 303 Gavin Botfield who had quietly got on with the job, only 12 cars made the finish. Res: 565, 972, 303, 43, 54, 310, 88, 31, 3, 964
Following the controversial final second over the line Willie Hardie lodged a protest regarding winner Dan Smith taking to the grass when he was pushed off track. The result remained as announced on the night. Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 23
Race Reports Na'onal Hot Rods 14.04.2013 Aldershot W/Q Round 12
H
ooray the weather is ge=ing warmer, it is typical British behaviour to moan about the weather when it isn’t really that bad but March was cold and things needed to change. The Aldershot meeting started with sunshine and unheard of temperature measured along the way – that being 20 degrees.
ond place. After a few laps 192 Tony Moss tried the outside line of Taylor which cost him a place to 39 Terry Hunn. Hunn then switched to the outside line that briefly cost him a position to Moss before he edged ahead of Moss and Taylor for second place. That move did take several laps and York was clear for his first win in the class.
It is a joy to get back to Aldershot once a year as the track has fantastic viewing spots and plenty of hard surfaces for the drivers/ mechanics in the pits. The entry was as expected with the usual drivers baDling for the important qualifying positions. To the untrained eye 100 Dick Burtenshaw may have looked like he was racing his usual car but it was a brand new spaceframe underneath the Tigra clothing that had been built in two weeks since his Northampton crash. Also in a new Tigra was 491 Colin Smith racing the ex-Andy Lane car, the BMW not suitable for this track. Although some fans were confused about the status of 271 Neil Stimson he was eligible to race but is on a suspension period after the actions of his team during the previous round.
At the back the two men challenging for the points title 174 Jason Kew and 115 Chris Haird had spent the whole race together and unable to pass anyone in front, Haird though did slip by Kew in the final few laps which gives Haird a two point advantage. Res: 196, 39, 152, 271, 192, 155, 117, 95, 162, 27 Heat 2 S Taylor led off this race while there was early clash for 219 Russ Wilcox and Smith, Smith got back out in front of the leaders. Taylor’s lead didn’t last that long as Burtenshaw swept by on the inside going into turn 1, Taylor soon pulled off with a misfire.
Heat 1 18 Ben Taylor failed to move away when the green flag dropped that caused the cars behind to pile into him, all cars were allowed back into the restart though 31 Dick Hillard had to pull off with radio receiver issues. Former Lightning Rodder 196 David York turned pole into the lead with 152 Shaun Taylor dropping into sec-
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
24 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
If Hot Rods are racing at Wimbledon it is the wire posted wire that can cause damage as it sucks car in that run too wide, at Aldershot it is the opposite with the huge tractor tyres that lay inches inside the racing the line. From the middle of the pack 348 Shane Brereton clipped one of these in turn 4 that immediately unseDled his car causing the bunch of cars to spear into the wall. 278 Colin Gomm was left facing the wrong way while 444 Sammy Shud-
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Northampton 16 days previous Dick Burtenshaw slammed into the wall during practice which wrote off his car, during that gap between the two meeting the damaged machine was completely stripped down and new car put together for the Aldershot meeting. A second and third places in the heats were a great reward for the efforts his team had made recently.
A full grid of 24 cars lined up for the final race of the day. S Taylor made the beDer start from the outside of the front row to lead the opening few laps, York took up As the cars built up speed for the green flag 209 Kym the second place and after a few laps he was punted Weaver pulled off from third place; Burtenshaw now led from behind by Walter that put him sideways going into Stimson, 155 Lee Pepper and 92 Jack Blood. Stimson turn 3, the pack suddenly compressed and it was 27 took up the lead but collected a black cross in the proMikey Godfrey slamming into him that created a yellow cess while a huge gap appeared for Fiske to go beyond flag. Pepper and Blood into third place. Fiske caught the front two quickly and his previous 2L experience really start- Taylor led the restart until Walter dived inside him ed to count, the inside pass on Burtenshaw on turn 4 which opened up the door for others. Moss was into secwas created by Fiske being able to power down earlier ond place as Burtenshaw started lose out on the outside from the previous bend (using a wider line through turn line though his decline was not as dramatic as Taylor’s. 4). Fiske then used a different tactic on Stimson going Opportunities to pass were limited and as usual the Fithe long way around the outside. In reality outside pass- nal usually sees the most frantic action as they go for es happen quite a lot in Hot Rod racing, but when they smallest of gaps; a notable incident happened through make the difference in winning and second place they turns 1 and 2 as Gomm t-boned T Hunn while going for become that liDle bit special, hence Fiske being heralded fourth place – this did slow Gomm who lost out two for the victory here from 14th on the grid at the track places on the road while Hunn dropped out of a points where you can’t supposedly pass. position once they untangled themselves. Moving by them were Fiske and 117 Rob McDonald who closed in Res: 304, 271, 100, 155, 42, 162, 115, 92, 348, 491 on the final podium places as the chequered flag was dropped. Heat 3 Gomm escaped a penalty during the race but McDonald York turned pole into the lead while Walter moved out was docked two places for another incident, worse off to the outside line and failed miserably so he was quick- though was Kew who received a black cross when he ly at the back of the front group on the greasy track spun out 348 Shane Brereton in the final few laps but (caused by a small shower). York defended his lead well this was upgraded (or downgraded depends on your all race with Burtenshaw close to his rear bumper view of a penalty) to a disqualification – which will althroughout, once again T Hunn was trying the outside lows Haird to stretch out his lead at the top of the points. line but this cost him places, Gomm being one of those beneficiaries in the final laps to take fourth place. Res: 217, 192, 271, 304, 278, 162, 117 (x-2), 491, 115, 100 dall had gone hard into the wall for the first caution of the day.
Res: 196, 100, 192, 278, 39, 209, 304, 92, 95, 174
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 25
Race Reports
A
lot of work has been done to create an upturn Classic Hot Rods 05.05.2013 in the cars racing in the class and 20+ cars arNorthampton riving in the sunshine at Northampton was another reason why they should be at the Spedeweekstraight clear. Looking towards the back of the grid 172 end. Colin Hitch and 144 Tim Foxlow went around the outWith the season in full swing the points championship is side of 445 Graham Boyd to be the leading red tops, they took advantage of 161 Daniel Holden sliding out wide really beginning to take form and there’s several men for another place. that could take it and they were all racing, heading into this round 29 Stu Donald leads the title and duly lined up at the rear with the reigning points champion 20 Dave Fry. Starting with them in the reds was 32 Glen Moore in his first appearance this year still armed with a Ford Escort mk2.
P Bowring also lost out when coming off the racing line, in the space of one lap he went from third place to seventh – Hitch and Foxlow were now up to fifth and sixth. Then came the most significant moment of the race as Fulker had a huge blow up entering turn 3 – it was inevitable that cars would struggle on the adverse conditions Heat 1 and it’s not a nice place siDing there in the crowd hoping Starting on the front row 244 Fil Gambone quickly pulled no one is going to slam into the fence. Leader Gambone out a big lead and the baDle for second place became the was one of those impeded and so was P Bowring; Donald went into the wall with 03 Brian Starr running into main focus. 10 Paul Bowring held that position and as him. the final laps started to draw closer this group became twelve cars, 39 Dean Hunt made good progress as he took third place at the end. Gambone took his first win in The yellow was aired to clear up the track but the officials found it difficult to re-grid the cars as Gambone had the class in emphatic style being half a lap clear. lost the lead, Wright subsequently became the leader but this wasn’t know so he was disqualified for overtaking Res: 244, 10, 39, 30, 161, 924, 6, 144, 16, 29 cars under the yellows when he was breaking any rules (a further blog piece will follow for my interpretation of Heat 2 yellow flags). After five minutes of reshuffling cars the restart now looked like R Wright (reinstated), Gambone, 333 Lee Wood gridded for this heat (after missing the previous heat) but he pulled off before the green flag. Yet Boyd (lap down), Donald (lap down), J Bowring, Foxlow, P Bowring, Fry and Hitch. Hitch was a big loser from this again Gambone moved into the lead though not as substantial as the previous race with 271 Jamie Johnson and melee as he was previously infront of Foxlow and now 3 places behind him. 24 Roger Wright only the length of the straight behind, 30 Jamie Bowring had been baDling with these but he spun himself out exiting turn 2. On the final lap Johnson pulled off which hampered Wright allowing P Bowring and 6 Graham Fulker to close right up as the cars crossed the line. Res: 244, 24, 10, 6, 161, 924, 445, 172, 144, 20 Final This race was extended to 30 laps after apparently impressing the promoters, perhaps the early running of the meeting due to half a dozen bangers not requiring much clearing up time was a bigger factor. After taking both heats Gambone was moved back to the front of the yellows but it didn’t take him long to pass the lone white top 222 Shane Taylor and pull clear. By the time R Wright had passed Taylor he was already the length of a
26 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
The green was only out for a few laps as Gambone conked out going into turn 1 and he cruised around of the bends before being stranded on the back straight up against the wall, the yellows were needed to remove this car and a small fire broke out. The final few laps didn’t have any change for the major positions though Donald did close in on the leader R Wright problem being he was a lap down. Res: 24, 30, 144, 20, 16, 172, 161, 222, 03, 29 Unofficially in the points Foxlow leads on 62 followed by Donald on 59, 16 Pat Smith 51 and the biggest mover of the day 30 Jamie Bowring on 46. Roger Wright was the top scorer of the day with 23, his previous three meetings had yielded zero points.
Stock Rods 11.05.2013 Northampton Midland Championship
A good grid of cars included a mixture of a Spedeworth he soon charged into the lead with Barber in tow. and Incarace drivers racing in a reverse grid format. Definitely a meeting for the hardcore fan as Northampton Res: 136, 755, 624, 28, 447, 191, 151, 68, 91, 669 lacks a covered grandstand and when the start time approached hail started to fall. Final Heat 1
Like all the previous heats for Stock Rods the final was a rolling start, Barber had qualified on pole followed by 669 Ed Trofer led away in the stormy conditions and Gooch, Smyth, Trofer, 171 Dean O’Dell and 28 Alan quickly up to second place was 755 Mark Barber. A few Thorndyke. From the green Gooch decided to stay on the laps into the race in the difficult conditions 128 David outside line of Barber, he was there for 4 laps before fallGale got deep into turn 2 and although he survived a trip ing in line behind Barber, O’Dell took third place off into the wall as he straightened up the pack on the back Smyth but these were already several cars lengths back straight cars did start to clump up and 876 Lewis Clark from the front two. was unfortunately flicked into the wall which ended his meeting. The yellows were aired when Grandon was facing the wrong way at turn 1, Paterson failed to realise the meanUpfront Barber disposed Trofer of the lead but Trofer ing of this flag and didn’t slow, he ran into the back of kept close to him as the pair weaved in and out of the 942 Jason Gibson which damaged his car causing him to traffic. The biggest problem being the baDle between 116 retire. Michael Madden and 42 Jake Jackson towards the end, this enabled Trofer the chance to come back through but Once the final restarted the top three remained unonce Barber was able to position himself on the outside changed, all seemed quiet in the race until one crazy lap. of Jackson on the final lap there was no opportunity for First 91 Wayne Leedell tangled with Gale but all eyes Trofer to retake the lead position. were immediately drawn to other end of the circuit as Thorndyke had a monumental blow-up going into turn Res: 755, 669, 447, 171, 874, 136, 845, 900, 823, 128 3. As the smoke started to disappear a fire had broken out in the engine bay and the car started to burn quickly. Heat 2 The caution flags were out and the fire put out almost instantly, well done to all the marshalls involved for the 68 Graham Booty led off the reverse heat before being way they handled the situation. passed by 624 Ady Taylor, he pulled away as second to sixteenth raced as one mass – an incident looked inevita- The cars were lined up in single file with Barber still ble and 447 Stuart Smyth was bumped sideways that heading Gooch, third placed O’Dell had five backtriggered the crash where 900 Dave Paterson rode up on markers in his way of the leaders. Barber got a great start two wheels immediately causing cars to disperse in all as the green flag fell for the third time though he was directions; 207 Jack Grandon and silver top 823 Paul Wil- reeled in by Gooch but he could only close onto his tail liams ended up retiring on the centre while 125 Stuart when the chequered flag was flown. Butcher coasted around the bend before stopping against the wall entering the straight which caused the yellow Res: 755, 136, 171, 874, 447, 669, 74, 823, 257, 942 flag. 136 Steve Gooch had started fourth at the restart but
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 27
Race Reports Na'onal Hot Rods 14.04.2013 Aldershot W/Q Round 12
C
harlie Jowers was able to rip up the form book and take glory in the wet English Championship, in the main race he fell back to third before passing Gaving Botfield and Paul Wright for the lead and spent the final few laps with Dan Smith closed down on him.
back straight and 503 Ben Murray rotated on turn 2. On the final lap 338 John Payne got very sideways in turn 4, he was able to straighten the car up but this was all in front of the leader Botfield and suddenly Crane was on his back bumper. This was all too late as seconds later Botfield took the chequered flag.
Only a few weeks after the controversial European Championship there was more rain forecasted for the 2 Litre Hot Rods English Championship. 43 Paul Wright had won that title last year at Wimbledon and proved a great champion as he was voted ‘Wheelspin readers’ driver of the year. 31 cars had been booked in for the event though a few didn’t appear – the entry did include 7 drivers that had previously been on the podium for this event although graded as a blue top now 60 Mark Paffey has won this title 5 times. Although 565 Dan Smith has had no notable finishes in this race his recent championship success and move to the top of the points did make him favourite. Incarace had a few of their drivers contesting the event though it was mainly the Spedeworth men racing.
Res: 303, 75, 565, 60, 543, 928, 7, 110, 199, 45
Although the track conditions looked bad there weren’t that many spinners; 275 BreD Collison spun out on the
Res: 31, 43, 3, 537, 745, 65, 88, 7, 118, 199
Heat 2 31 Charlie Jowers converted pole position into a lead and after only a few tours he was already the length of a straight clear. In the packed midfield there was a crash down the home straight to prove 3 cars a breast doesn’t work, the end result was 48 Layton Milsom being flicked head first into the wall across the front of 65 Mark Willis who slammed on the brakes and avoided him. Milsom was facing the wrong way but being out tight to the fence there was no caution necessary.
Wright moved by 745 Dan BenneD, 537 Billy Clarke and 3 Chris Harvey in quick succession and started making Heat 1 inroads into the lead that Jowers had created. Further back (baDling for 9th place), Moss turned 27 Roger DorAfter the usual shenanigans for lining up the grid it was mer into the wall entering turn 3 in a move that is illegal recent returnee 110 Jason Wilks on pole with Paffey bein stock cars! Dormer turned his car around and pulled side him for a wet race though the rain/hail had halted. straight across to the centre not worried about the cars Wilks led only one lap before 75 Chris Crane dived to his that were bearing down on him. inside, Wilks continued on the outside of Crane for a lap before yielding that position. 303 Gavin Botfield was the As the laps were dwindling down so was the lead of Jownext man by Wilks and he took chase of Crane – he took ers, entering the home straight to start the final lap the lead one lap before the half distance. Paffey had Wright swung out wide and instantly put his nose ahead moved by Wilks for third place and this was the most as the cars entered turn 1, swinging through that bend on interesting baDle on the track, 45 Mark Edwards was the slippery track the cars ran out wide and Jowers was looking most likely to move beyond him but he fell back now back ahead by a cars length, but with the back once Smith overtook him, Smith then eased by Paffey for marking Collison just ahead but off the racing line it imthird place. peded Wright who had to seDle for second place.
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Grid:
43
303 7
537 199 88
65
31
565 75
3
745 39
543 60
928 110 118 45 310 8
503 38
338 48
27
275
Final For such a major championship it was a shame that it was only run over 25 laps (same length as the supporting Stock Rods final). Once the cars were lined up Dale Atkins had to push his car off to leave 26 cars contesting the main event of the night. The control car lead around the cars for 2 rolling laps, the earlier rain had stopped and the track had been geDing quicker all evening. Behind the control car the blocks of six started to compress and were almost as one as they took the green flag, Wright turned pole position into a lead with Botfield making the most of his inside line to take up second place. Jowers seDled into third place before making his move on Botfield that also enabled Moss and Smith to move up a place. With Moss into third place he looked like a real challenger for the title (this was the track where he won his European title a few seasons ago) though the front two had moved several cars length clear this gap started to narrow. Once Jowers disposed Wright of the lead the duo behind were gradually reeling them in, Smith though dived inside Moss to snatch third place as the leading four raced as a pack (at this stage is seemed that any four of them could win the race). Wright then stepped off line which proved costly as Smith and Moss were immediately into that gap. Moss was keen to take another place and got a great run coming out of turn 2 but ended up clouting the back of Smith half way down the back straight, Smith did start to snake but held it together in the braking zone and maintained his position. All this was good news for lead-
er Jowers who was steadily increasing his advance of the rest. As the final few laps were run down the gaps between each of the leading cars amplified and soon Jowers was passing the chequered flag for his first major championship. Moss had taken third place on the line and was docked 2 places for contact which allowed Wright to move up and claim a trophy, but Incarace suspended the full result on the night. After 2 days the result was announced and Moss had his black cross removed so he took the final podium place. Res: 31, 565, 7, 43, 199, 303, 60, 39, 543, 3
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 29
Race Reports Na'onal Hot Rods 18.05.2013 Ipswich W/Q Round 14
C
hris Haird took a stunning victory from the back of the grid going around the outside of the leader Danny Hunn only hours after the sport remembered his father David Haird in a minuteʹs applause. Haird built cars also won the opening heats (Gavin Taber and Danny Hunn) before Rod Brewer won his first ever race. National Hot Rods under lights at Ipswich what more can you ask….well Spedeworth made a great call and decided against Bangers as support act running with Superstox and 2L Stock Cars. Those within the top 20 were all present but 22nd placed 18 Ben Taylor wasn’t racing which probably ends his chances of qualification. All drivers and officials made it out onto the track for a minute’s applause before the racing started as a memory to former racer David Haird who passed away a few days earlier.
in the sprint to the flag with 192 Tony Moss and 39 Terry Hunn crashing out on that final straight. For those looking into Ipswich form for the World Final 95 Gavin Murray started in the back group and he dropped 31 Dick Hillard and 348 Shane Brereton from the green quickly catching the middle block of cars. He was also able to prosper in the baDle for second place when he moved to the outside line. Res: 339, 152, 316, 444, 209, 92, 95, 271, 278, 192 Heat 2 555 Gavin Taber made an incredible start from row two to lead this one, in fact it was so good the officials needed a replay to check out he hadn’t jumped it; Taber was clear and the baDle behind caused the first major incident of the race. T Hunn dived inside 27 Mikey Godfrey going into turn 3 but ended up t-boning him, the cars swung to their outside but ended up running out wide on turn 4. 491 Colin Smith and 209 Kym Weaver ended up in a heap in the wall that required yellows flags. T Hunn also picked up damage.
From the restart 117 Rob McDonald made a demon start Heat 1 taking 2 places before the first turn (Frost and 42 Shane Bland being his victims) that moved him up to third. 174 After a dusty practice session the meeting kicked off with Jason Kew was up on the outside of 162 Carl WallerNational Hot Rods opening the day; 259 Rod Brewer was BarreD, Kew had been on his outside earlier in the race now eligible to start the race from the front in his Fiesta before glancing the wall on the back straight. As he tried (built by brother and former Outlaw racer Wayne who to progress beyond Bland cars were sliding off line, used to have a tidy looking 205). Brewer led for several which enabled first 444 Sam Shuddall inside those, follaps though was taking a slightly unusual line into the lowed by 115 Chris Haird and 304 Danny Fiske – the race bend as the car didn’t seem to want to turn in as well as was geDing a bit messy in this group and at the end it the other cars, this wasn’t causing him to be dramatically was Haird that was dropped places. slow but when 339 Danny Hunn put the pressure on him he ran deep into turn 3 to lose that position. Upfront McDonald had taken second place off 196 David York but didn’t have enough laps to catch Taber. 152 Shaun Taylor was next beyond Brewer who fell back severely once on the outside line. D Hunn was now in Res: 555, 117, 196, 162, 304, 115 (x-2), 444, 174, 31, 219 clear air and the baDle was heating up for second place. 39 Terry Hunn was the first in this block to go to the out- Heat 3 side and although he was quickly beyond 316 Paul Frost he couldn’t get himself beyond Taylor; soon 209 Kym Brewer turned pole into a lead while behind there was Weaver was trying that line as the final laps approached. plenty of sideways action albeit the cars behind giving Final lap and T Hunn clipped the wall on the back them an unnecessary nudge. Taber had York sideways straight, with cars going 3 abreast through the turn was which allowed him to move by and Taylor was also never going to work and the pack bounced off each other knocked sideways off of turn 4 that again allowed Taber
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through with Danny Hunn in tow. D Hunn moved by Taber for second place before Taylor went spinning out on turn 3, his car reversing back to the inner safety of the speedway but was stuck on the kerb; no maDer how much he thought he could shake his car internally it wasn’t moving and after several laps the wise decision to bring out the yellows happened. Although the cause of the stoppage Taylor did line up at the back racing several laps before pulling off with mechanical gremlins.
order. Stimson was then caught up with Hillard who rotated on turn 3; Shuddall hit Hillard head-on – not a major smash but enough to cause them to retire.
This stoppage now gave the stars men some opportunity to see the leaders – Fiske was up to 9th followed by McDonald, Murray and Haird. Fiske did seem like the man on the move taking 92 Jack Blood and Godfrey in one move he got himself up to sixth place that was on the rear of the leading group. The lead had changed with Brewer made a very slow restart (more speed next Taylor moving by Brewer but then his bonnet (that had time!!) which gave the following drivers the opportunity been flapping throughout this race) suddenly whipped to be on his back bumper as they crossed the start/finish high into the air before landing inside the safety neDing line – if this was a stock car race he would have been on the back straight. drilled into that opening corner. Brewer was able to hold off the pressure of D Hunn but suddenly 271 Neil Stim- Taylor was then disqualified for a technical infringeson and Kew had appeared on the scene with Taber now ment, harsh but apparently within the rules. Those with back to sixth place. Brewer now had Stimson, Kew and a memory long enough to remember the previous quali217 BreD Walter breathing down his neck with his first fying round at Ipswich would remember Colin Gomm’s win looming – Stimson had just one option, the outside car being damaged (broken exhaust and possibly illegal) line, but he misjudged that going off line and it was Wal- that was still able to a) carry and b) win the race. Anyter making the most of this going inside Kew as well to way back to this event: Taylor was notified of his dissnatch second place. Brewer took his first win in the class qualification and made his move to retire from the race, to prove you don’t need a factory built car to win in Na- this came at a vital moment as Fiske had positioned himtional Hot Rods and he celebrated on his lap of honour self on the outside of Brewer. The end result being Fiske in a way that Terry Skeef would have been proud of. ploughing into the back of Taylor that pinballed him into the wall at turn 3, Fiske came off marginally beDer as he Res: 259, 217, 174, 271, 555, 115, 278, 95, 117, 304 did hit the wall but not at the same angle as Taylor. Fiske glanced off it and was able to continue but had lost Final many places as he powered round the very outer line the track offered. In the melee Haird was now up to third A frantic start to the last race of the evening saw 219 and close to the new leaders D Hunn and York. It didn’t Russell Wilcox running out wide through turn 4 while take him long to take around the outside of these two Moss was an early casualty spinning off moments later and with just over a lap left he headed the race and took on the home straight. There were plenty of incidents in the flag. the early laps Bland, Taber and Shuddall all ended up in the wall at turn 1 before the yellows were brought out on It is difficult to really explain what a drive it was from lap 5, this was to retrieve Weaver who had stopped on Haird, Fiske was definitely making great strides during turn 2. the early part of the race but Haird was simply following those gaps before keeping his head and staying out of The running order at this early stage was Brewer, York, trouble at the crucial part of the race; those last few laps Taylor, D Hunn, Frost and Godfrey. Brewer seemed to of him blasting around the outside line for the win was make a beDer restart than his previous aDempt but the pure joy and he made it look easy. A win from 24th on field were still close to his rear, as per earlier Kew was the grid in such a competitive race was well observed by again trying the outside line. Kew went to the outside of the fans that were cheering him once he had taken the Stimson for tenth place but that just allowed McDonald lead, the lap after he won the race and of course on his to move up on his inside, Stimson then fell down the lap of honour. That lap of honour was a special one as the majority of fans stayed on to show their appreciation to a driver who had not only driven one of the best races Ipswich had seen in years but to a driver who would have undoubtedly been through an huge emotion experience during the past few days.
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 31
Race Reports Na'onal Hot Rods 26.05.2013 Northampton W/Q Round 15
A
fter a terrible previous round at Ipswich Heat 2 where Terry Hunn ended up being loaded up before the final he turned that around at Taylor initially led this heat until he was overtaken on Northampton taking heat and final in the sunshine. the outside by 42 Shane Bland a move copied by 39 Terry Hunn. 209 Kym Weaver took a liDle bit longer to get Coming to the end of the season there’s always the feel- by, once past the front two were long gone. Things were ing of everyone keeping their cars out of the fence and geDing a bit frantic in the midfield 92 Jack Blood was keep on scoring points to get into the World Final. nudged sideways through turn 2 which caused a brief Northampton has normally been the place where the three a breast moment; after that the race seemed to calm English points championship is decided but a slight redown until a monumental blow up for 95 Gavin Murray shuffle in the points means Hednesford has that honour who had made great progress to fifth. Murray’s blow up in two weeks’ time. From the top 22 drivers that were happened with just over a lap to go and thick smoke baDling out for the elusive top 20 positions 217 BreD covered turn 2 and the back straight – not the best time Walter was missing and 444 Sam Shuddall had engine in a qualifying campaign to have serious engine probproblems in practice so didn’t race. lems. Heat 1
Res: 42, 39, 209, 491, 304, 115, 162, 174, 152, 278
152 Shaun Taylor turned his front row start into a led followed by 615 Chris Lehec; Lehec was soon passed by 491 Colin Smith who then started to reel in the leader Taylor. Just before the halfway point Smith had caught Taylor and went to the outside – within one lap he headed the field. Further down the grid 117 Rob McDonald and 31 Dick Hillard clashed going into turn 1, Hillard ended up being left in the middle of the track but he powered up and pulled clear just before the leaders got to him.
Heat 3
Towards the end of the race 219 Russ Wilcox spun by himself out at turn 4 but was able to reverse off the track to avoid any stoppage. Flying at the end of the race was 271 Neil Stimson who shot by Lehec for third place and caught second placed Taylor on the last lap going to the outside on turn 3, somehow within those 200 yards he was able to edge ahead for second place. It was a great win for the birthday Colin Smith. Res: 491, 271, 152, 615, 196, 115, 27, 339, 174, 348
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Lehec started from the front row by himself and he overtaken by Bland on the outside, T Hunn followed him by on that line. T Hunn then aDacked on the outside line which began to slow the front two down so Lehec and 27 Mikey Godfrey started to close back in on the front two. Although the front four stayed close together none of their positions changed, the next baDle on track was Weaver v Stimson, Weaver eventually pulling clear of him for fifth place. Res: 39, 42, 615, 27, 209, 271, 192, 162, 278, 31 Final The best news of the day that emerged from the pits was Murray replaced his engine for the final after multiple teams rallied around to help. There had been no yellows in any of the heats so they were saved up for the final, after just two laps Taylor was spinning out on turn 2, 196
David York piled into him. Cars split in either direction of the pileup but the result was Weaver being pinned up against the wall and Murray parked up further down the fence. The race was red flagged so all those able to restart would be eligible to as the race was completely restarted. Lehec led the final with Bland and T Hunn baDling over second place before Bland retired. At roughly halfway through the race there was carnage in turns 3 and 4 as Danny Hunn was facing the wrong way (the culprit would later be reprimanded), 192 Tony Moss was in wall – 174 Jason Kew made a quick spin before speeding off and Hillard was also caught up in the melee losing a lot of ground. D Hunn was deemed the cause of the stoppage and removed from the restart. The running order for the restart was Lehec, T Hunn, Godfrey, Smith, Hillard (lap down) and Stimson. Lehec made a great restart puDing several lengths over the competition who didn’t seem to be able to catch him, but suddenly Lehec was slowing and ended up stopping on the outside of the track on turn 4 –judged to be in a dangerous position another yellow was aired.
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Hillard was now second on the road but a lap down (just to confuse the commentator) though he had moved by some of the front runners, Stimson was just behind him having passed Godfrey and Smith. Once the green was out Stimson was easily by Hillard who was shown the blue flag, Stimson caught the leader but there was not enough laps to mount a serious challenge, like the first heat of the day he tried the outside of the final bend but couldn’t move beyond him. Once the videos were reviewed Stimson was disqualified for spinning out D Hunn to move Godfrey and Smith up to podium. Res: 39, 27, 491, 209, 115, 92, 162, 348, 304, 117 In the quest for points Chris Haird was not a spectacular as the previous round but still scored some good points quietly taking fifth place in the final, his place in group 1 is guaranteed but the English points title is not, it does look likely he will take a fifth straight title. Unofficial points at the top 115-579, 117-528, 174-518, 304-495, 271489 while Walter’s non-appearance has dropped him out of the qualifying positions.
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 33
Race Reports Na'onal Hot Rods 09.06.2013 Hednesford W/Q Round 16
T
he final round is always a tense affair as the points chart finally reflects their true positions, once the results from all the race were finally announced Chris Haird was crowned the English points champion for the fifth straight time, group one would be filled along with Jason Kew, Rob McDonald and Danny Fiske
when Haird moved inside Kew for fourth place another English title was almost in his grasp, Kew though held onto the outside of Haird for those last few laps. At the other end of the qualification table Danny Hunn limped home well off the pace with a front wheel bent underneath the car, however this was good enough for tenth place giving him an extra 6 points.
For this qualifying campaign Hednesford had the honour of hosting the final round, a round where dreams are realised or destroyed. Frantic measures are made in an aDempt to claw back every point in an over complicated and dated qualifying system that was set-up 20 years ago to benefit those that raced more often. Realistically there were 22 drivers chasing 20 guaranteed positions for the World Final, though some drivers had more advantageous starting positions.
Lehec won his first race in National Hot Rods, Lehec taking advantage of the lucky ‘whistlinjacksmith.co.uk’ logos. Res: 615, 42, 209, 115, 174, 92, 491, 141, 89, 339 Heat 2
117 Rob McDonald had a near impossible task to overhaul Haird for the points title, wins were needed, the Heat 1 race started badly for him as he was passed by WallerBarreD; he was able to take back that place within the 141 Martyn Ginger turned pole into a lead followed by first few laps. The first caution was required when 196 615 Chris Lehec who by lap 4 had moved into first place, David York and D Hunn clashed on the back straight at this point though 100 Dick Burtenshaw had a big blow liDering the track with debris. Once that was cleared up up going into turn 3 that saw 27 Mikey Godfrey and 278 Ginger carried on leading the race, 217 BreD Walter Colin Gomm crash into the fence, plus 339 Danny Hunn moved by 152 Shaun Taylor for second place before and 491 Colin Smith had rotated. Before the race could bumping into the back of Ginger. A few laps later the restart there was a huge clear up required and at this same manoeuvre was enough to put Ginger off line and point 162 Carl Waller-BarreD and 31 Dick Hillard pulled Taylor into the lead. Ginger was subjected to more off. Hillard had brake issues and once back in the pits it bumping from behind before falling back down the orwas discovered that a piece of Burtenshaw’s exploding der. engine had lodged in the caliper. Another caution was required as D Hunn was again The race restarted from the last completed lap which put caught up in a crash this time with Waller-BarreD. The Ginger back in the lead, Lehec was quickly by with 42 restarted race enabled 31 Dick Hillard to close right onto Shane Bland in tow. Behind those 92 Jack Blood lost his leader Walter’s tail, although a lot closer Hillard wasn’t fourth place to 209 Kym Weaver that enabled 174 Jason quick enough to pass Walter. That win enabled Walter to Kew and 115 Chris Haird to also prosper. Weaver was leap-frog D Hunn into a qualifying position. quickly by Ginger who fell back down the order. Res: 217, 31, 95, 304, 192, 39, 27, 271, 348, 209 With points being so critical every place did maDer and
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Heat 3
Final
York got the jump on Lehec to take up an early lead with Bland also taking advantage of the inside line, Lehec then moved into line in third place. That third place didn’t last too long as he was punted out by 95 Gavin Murray. With Lehec spinning out the man who made the best move was 304 Danny Fiske who dived to the inside of the spinning car to make up several places.
Stimson sat out this one out, his group 2 place then looked risky with this decision. Lehec stormed into the lead with Taylor in second place. Taylor held up the main pack with both Murray and Walter going out for the wide line. Murray moved into second place but had picked up a black cross on the way before a yellow flag that ended Hillard and Haird’s race – the pair being stranded on the outside of turns 3 and 4.
From this point the biggest baDle on track was for fifth place, after several laps of pressure Fiske moved out to the outside and swept past him, 271 Neil Stimson’s aDempt didn’t go so well and he spun out York on the home straight and was later disqualified. At this point Murray was now leading the race.
Lehec had D Hunn as a backmarker between himself and Murray when the green dropped but Murray was quickly onto the leader’s tail before turfing him aside. Murray went onto to take the flag from Blood but was disqualified after completing his lap of honour. Blood then inherited the win, his second Hednesford final of the year anThe yellow made another appearance as 192 Tony Moss other driver carrying the lucky whistlinjacksmith.co.uk rotated at a similar place to where York left the track and logos Lehec spun out within seconds. Once restarted Bland’s fourth place looked vulverable and he was quickly Res: 92, 217, 27, 348, 174, 42, 304, 209, 491, 117 passed on the outside by Fiske and Kew. Towards the rear of the field McDonald spun himself out with 3 laps The final points saw group one unchanged from entering left which made it mathematically impossible for Haird the day though Kew had returned to second place a poto be beaten to the points title. sition he had held for a lot of the year. At the boDom of the chart Walter’s successful day pushed Danny Hunn Res: 95, 217, 92, 304, 174, 42, 348, 115, 278, 491 out of the main race while Shaun Taylor scored enough points during the day to stay in. Colin Gomm had a poor Amendment: Stimson was was disqualified for contact on Rob day starting 2 races rolling from the back of the grid and McDonald doesn’t make the cut – he will start as one of the favourites for the wild car races. Well done to all the drivers that have qualified for the World Final.
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Another points title Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 35
Driver Profiles Jim Comrie
Gavin Murray
Race Number: 195
Race Number: 95
Why did you pick this race number: Family history
Why did you pick this race number: This was dads racing number I used it when I started like many others who have family in racing
Formulas raced in: F2, Hot Rods Title success: LOL
Formulas raced in: Ministox, 1300 Stock Cars, briefly in 2L Hot Rods, Lightning Rods and National Hot Rods
Title success: Most memorable race competed in: 1300 Stock Cars Banham Poultry Series, 2nd in English ScoDish championship, was half a lap in lead, 4 laps left, Lightning Rods 2nd and 4th World Final Nationals, winfan belt snapped. Grrr! ner Best in Britain Nationals Years active as driver: Too many, but not enough
Most memorable race competed in: World final 09, the car was right an I was on a mission!
Favourite track: Knockhill
Years active as driver: 23 years give or take the odd holiday
Racing idol: Red Johnston
Favourite track: Ipswich
Who introduced you to oval racing: Red
Racing idol: No one person stands out think everyone who is dedicated to the sport full time deserves respect. But used to love watching SkiDy, Hunn and Simpson as a young lad Who introduced you to oval racing: Father dug my first Ministock out of the neDles where it had sat for three years loaded it up for my first meeting at Wisbech aged 13 didnʹt go as planned!
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Kev 'Baggy' Bagnall
Gary Farrington
Race Number: 32
Race Number: 448
Why did you pick this race number: It was my old race number when I raced before.
Why did you pick this race number: My number issued to me by Spedeworth was 48, and 448 for Lightning Rods, so I have to run under 448 in the 2L Hot Rods as 48 is issued to another driver.
Formulas raced in: Lightning Rods Title success: 3 wins & a second in a final (2012)
Formulas raced in: Stock Rods, GT Hot Rods, Lightning Rods, National Super Rods, and 2L Hot Rods
Most memorable race competed in: Birmingham Wheels in September, a load of the lads from work turned up to watch me. I had a great tussle with Jacob Roff but managed to hold him off for the win.
Title success: East Anglian Champion, Long Track Champion, National Points Champion in Super Rods. Track Champion in SwaLam 2L Hot Rods
Years active as driver: 5ish. Late eighties, early nineties. 2012.....
Most memorable race competed in: World Final National Super Rods, runner up to the late great Hoss Parry, came over the line side by side he won by a nose.
Favourite track: Hednesford and Birmingham Racing idol: John Carding, he raced in the early Lightning Rods and made it look easy Who introduced you to oval racing: My ex father-in-law, we raced at LuDerworth banger club on a mud track. Once I had been to Hednesford I thought, Iʹm having some of that. Any other comments: I began racing in the Lightning Rods in the late eighties in a mk4 Cortina. The grids were large & all too often there was a lot of damage, as the handling wasnʹt the best. I moved on to a Sierra but due to family commitments I had to pack it all in. Now Iʹm a Grandad in my forties I decided why not have another go! I picked up a bit of sponsorship, built a car & Iʹm back again after 20 years off. Itʹs much faster than I remember but itʹs just a bit of fun for me, although winning my first ever race ahead of Frankie Cunningham was that liDle bit special for an old timer...
Years active as driver: Started 1998 to present, had a few in the early 1990s in Stock Rods. Favourite track: Foxhall under the lights or at Spedeweeknd Racing idol: Graham Murray - Peasenhall on a Friday night and Geoff Hubbard in the stock cars Who introduced you to oval racing: My Mum and Dad used to take me to Peasenhall on a Friday and Ipswich when Dad wasnʹt playing football
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 37
Driver Profiles Tim Foxlow Race Number: 144 Why did you pick this race number: My first Super Rod was bought from Dave Oates, number 44, times were hard and we could not afford to sign write the car, so we painted a 1 in front and that was how we got 144!
Who introduced you to oval racing: Martin Morris Any other comments: Enjoying my racing more than ever after 19 years away, competitive, fast Classic Hot Rods!
Formulas raced in: Bangers, Super Rods, National Hot Rod, Saloon Stox (odd meetings over the years) and Classic Hot Rods Title success: 2 times National Super Rod Champion, English Super Rod Champion, Runner up many times on Super Rod World, Northern and Midlands SR Champion, 3 times national points Champion, 2nd in British SR Championship at Ipswich, 2nd on ESRA championship, 3rd in comeback season in Classic Hot Rod points. Most memorable race competed in: 3 Races come to mind and non of them were wins for me, ESRA Super Rod Chapionship final at Buxton, came second to Jon Brookes, he was then found to be running an illegal engine and banned, they did not award the race or big cash prize so cheating did pay off! Super Rod World Championship, second to Tiger Bill Smith, after 60 laps of Hednesford we finished as we started only I was 6 inch back! So close and god how did my arms and shoulders hurt! No contact with Bill and on the outside for lap after lap. British at Ipswich, second to the late Hoss Parry, I came from the back round the outside at Ipswich and chased Hoss over the line! Years active as driver: 18 years total. 17, then a 19 year break and just finished first season back. Favourite track: Ipswich or Hednesford Racing idol: Martin Morris, Ormond Christie 38 whistlinjacksmith.co.uk
Lewis Geraty Race Number: 44 Why did you pick this race number: It was already on the first race car I bought! Formulas raced in: Superstox, 1300 Stock Cars, Bangers and Lightning Rods Title success: Best in Britain 2013 Most memorable race competed in: Winning a race in 1300 Stock Cars at Spedeweekend, amazing performing well in front of such a big crowd. Years active as driver: 7 years Favourite track: Ipswich or Wimbledon Racing idol: Frankie Wainman Jnr Who introduced you to oval racing: My dad raced when I was young, so I naturally loved it
PICTURE: PETER BALLARD
Jason ‘kewy’ Kew
Most memorable race competed in: Thereʹs been a few races Race Number: 2011 NHR British: love the track and first major champi174 onship placing in NHR’s and on the same day I raced the borrowed 2 Litre Hot Rod of Vince Campbell and Why did you pick this race number: Because I couldn’t have 74 lol. My Dad (Chris Kew) has come 4th in the Irish open seDing fastest lap along the way started way down the grid. always been 74 from when he first started racing in the 2012 NHR World Final worked my way up to 4th from 80’s, when he came to Nationals he was 174 as James OʹShea was 74, and Iʹve just carried on using his number. 14th on grid was in front of Bell (who won) as well but back markers ruined my race, annoys me to think about it. Formulas raced in: 2012 NHR National Championship 2nd place, started Segto Junior Minis, Standlake Arena Hot Rods, 6th on the grid and to overtake drivers like 41, 970, 115 Spedeworth 2 Litre Hot Rods, National Hot Rods and and 9 to take the lead for the first 10 laps was amazing. occasion outings in Standlake Arena Bangers. Title success: 2003 SEGTO Junior champion 2004 2nd Standlake Arena Hot Rod points 2005 2nd Wimbledon Hot Rod Open 2006 2nd 2 Litre Hot Rod Hertfordshire Championship 2006 4th 2 Litre Hot Rod Best in Britain 2007 1st 2 Litre Hot Rod Long Track Championship 2007 3rd 2 Litre Hot Rod National Championship 2008 2nd 2 Litre Hot Rod Winternational Championship 2008 1st 2 Litre Rob Collard sponsored series 2009-2012 qualified for 4 National Hot Rod World finals best result 7th 2009 2011 3rd National Hot Rod British Championship 2011 4th 2 Litre Hot Rod Irish Open in a borrowed car 2012 3rd National Hot Rod Thunder 500 2012 2nd National Hot Rod National Championship
Years active as driver: Started at 10 years old in segto juniors, been racing 16 years now! Got a few years left in me to hopefully land a major win lol. Favourite track: Wimbledon/ NuDs Corner Racing idol: My dad, he gave up to give me the best we can afford and supports me 100%. 657 Neal Smith is amazing too, you canʹt fault the talent and knowledge the man has. Who introduced you to oval racing: Dad
Whistlinjacksmith.co.uk 39
“The boy don't have the balls to pass me on the outside� ROWDY BURNS
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