How did you find Brisca F1 Stock Cars?
When I was a young child, from about the age of 7 my Dad would take me along to Speedway at Belle Vue in Manchester. He was a big Speedway fan and would go every week during the season. One evening I looked out of the window and knew that because dusk was falling that it was time for Speedway. “It’s time to go” I said and he replied “It’s not on tonight, it’s Stockcars” I mithered to go anyway and so he took me. I was enthralled at the noise and crashing cars, I was hooked. Stockcars was on each month at Belle Vue so I managed to get him to take me even though he wasn’t a big fan of Stockcars. Once I got to about 12 years old I would go on my own or with my friends who had seen Stockcars when they came along with me and my Dad.
What gave you the incentive to race
The excitement of the cars and noise. To watch was amazing so to race was the next level, the thought of being in control of a 500 horsepower engine…Mindblowing. I have always been mechanically minded, I understand engines and how to work with metals. It just seemed natural that I should race.
First Car - Built, Bought or Borrowed
My first car was bought from my friend Dave Thomas. It was built by Frankie Wainman and had been through a few owners before Dave got it. I had been a mechanic for Dave for a season or two and he decided to buy a better car, so knowing I didn’t earn much he sold it to me for £500.
Memory of your first race.
It was at Belle Vue in 1984 on Boxing day. It was weird, I wasn’t nervous at all, quite the opposite, I couldn’t wait. I started at the back of the grid and when the yellow flags came out to start the rolling lap the engine wouldn’t start. Behind me was Bert Finnikin and he pushed me to start the car. It was like meeting a film star to be pushed by one of your heroes. When the green flag dropped, I knew I would be slow and didn’t want to get bashed first lap so I went to the outside of the track and drove at my own pace for about 6 laps. I felt I was getting better so decided to drop more to the inside line for some grip. I felt like I was travelling at one heck of a speed when Ray Tyldesley jammed passed me at one heck of a speed so I realised that actually, I was going quite slowly. I went back towards the outside of the track but lost control in the slippy area and hit the fence. That was the end of my race but I had the biggest smile ever.
Best Racing Memory
This has to be in my second racing career in Modstox. I had a race long battle with Chris Lancley. We were very similar in speed and ablity and knocked the stuffing out of each other changing places many times during the race. This was at Grimley race track in Worcestershire.
Worst Racing Memory
I was racing the F1 at Bradford and the engine developed a misfire that I couldn’t fix at the track. I had not driven at Bradford before but I knew I could go a lot quicker as the car seemed to like the circuit. I wanted so badly to get the car running right but did two races at what seemed like a snail’s pace and loaded up to go home.
Reason for Retiring
Formula 1 Stockcars are expensive. I was earning about £100 a week at the time and that was the cost of going racing for a night. Dave Thomas was very kind and “let me off” with a lot of expenses as we were sharing transport costs and tyres but when he decided to race Formula 2 Stockcars that was the end of my F1 career.
After Retiring - What Then?
When I was 38 years old I had started to earn money enough to have some spare and my dream of racing had never diminished. Supporting the F1s at Stoke one evening were Modstox, a budget Stockcar formula using parts from road cars. This was my way into racing. A car was only £400 ready to race so I bought one. I did upgrade this car to one that was top flight after a few months and that took me to many wins and a red roof my son Chris also raced Modstox in my old car. I have kept some of my trophies but not many. I don’t race any more but the desire to race again is very strong. Maybe one day…
