RICK @ the RACES (UK TOUR PART 2)

Following our busy day doing the Arlington Stadium trip, we chose to take it easy on Thursday (18 Sept). Roger joined my Dad on a outing to the Shuttleworth Collection ( a plane and car museum) at Old Warden while I got on with stuff I had to do on the computor. The evening was spent at the Cross Keys in Totternhoe, where we met up with Mick 'Blacky' Black. He was my traveling companion and stock car mechanic in the 1970's.

Our second day of racing on Friday (19 Sept) took us to the Skegness Stadium in Lincolnshire for the start of the 'BriSCA F1 World Final Weekend'. We set off at 9-00am in the morning for Milton Keynes where we picked up my old buddy, Colin Herridge who was joining us for the weekend.

The roads in Lincolnshire were never very good , and apart from a few by-passes, it's still a tedious drive. These days the drive is made even more frustrating by the annoying speed cameras that have been planted every where you go in the UK.

We arrived at the East Coast resort of 'Skeggy' around lunch time, which was just right to sample some traditional 'fish and chips' at the sea front.

From there we drove down to the track, located at Orby, just outside the town. The Skegness Stadium opened up in 1977 and I raced my BriSCA F2 stock car at the inaugural event. It's changed a lot since then.

 For me, this UK Tour was not only about the nostalgia of visiting the tracks and seeing racing, it was a time for me to meet up with many old friends.

When we pulled up in the parking lot, the first thing we noticed was the large contingent of Dutch fans partying in the camping ground, but the motor-home I was looking for would be flying a Canadian flag. Former co-worker and race fan, Robin Shaw and his partner Sue had told me to look out for the Maple Leaf flag they were going to erect on their camper. It didn't take us long to find them, and it wasn't long before they started cooking Hot Dogs and Burgers for us. An ex - pat from British Columbia spotted the flag and came over to join us too.

Parked next to Robin and Sue was another couple I knew well in the 70's and 80's. It was Kitty and Nol Bernsden Claes from Nijmegan in the Netherlands. Kitty was the daughter of the late Jac Van Claes, who was the boss of the Dutch NACO organization. Jac was one of the best promoters I've ever come across ( he knew how to 'promote') and when he passed away in the 1980's Kitty took control. Sadly, their 'jewel in the crown' track at Baarlo no longer holds races.

The next couple we bumped into was Stan Cole ( who visited me in Canada earlier this year) and Tony Butterfield. Stan I've known for many years and Tony was a former driver who bought my BriSCA F2 from me back in 1978 . I'd always wondered how he got on with it and this was my chance to ask him. He told me that on his second time out, at Bradford Stadium's first ever F2 event he 'totaled' it in a wreck . ( That's the car pictured in the 'Ricks Cars' section of the website...page two, the middle two on the top row). Stan and Tony were kept busy over the weekend helping out one of the visiting Australian drivers.

 While we were in the parking lot waiting for the gates to open I also met up with Bev Greenhalf, the veteran BriSCA announcer as well as my photographer and TRACKCHASING friend Colin Casserley. Later in the evening I bumped into Steve 'Spike' Rixon and his wife Linda, making a grand total of six 'listed' TRACKCHASERS in attendance ( Colin C, Colin H, Robin, Spike, Linda and myself) www.trackchaser.net

Once the gates opened it was time to see the racing and while wandering around the terraces I met even more old friends. I've been a member of the VSCA (Veteran Stock Car Association) for over 20 years and I came across fellow members, John Goodman, Paul and Joan Jenkins.

With it being the World Final weekend there was a big overseas presence at Skeggy and South African driver Quinten Sayman won one of the heats. At a guess, I would say there were more overseas F1 drivers present than British as well as plenty of Dutch fans too. For some time , I've been corresponding with Robert Wilms from Baarlo in the Netherlands who I met for the first time, along with his friend Luc Sijbers who is the webmaster for www.rienrutjens.homestead.com

Two other people I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time were Steve Rees, promotor of this years BriSCA F1 World Final and Guy Parker of the BSCDA (British Stock Car Drivers Association). Guy was the liaison officer I worked with, when Laurent Ladouceur and Dave Heaslip represented Canada at the event a few years back.

In addition to a regular program of BriSCA F1 and F2 stockcars there were time trials for the overseas drivers to determine their grid positions for the next days World Final at Ipswich.

Frankie Wainman Jnr # 515 took the BriSCA F1 Final and Chis Bradbury # 886 took the BriSCA F2.

The races were all over by about 10-00pm and within minutes we were out of the gate for the long trek back to Bedfordshire. We arrived back at Mum and Dads place at about 1-30 in the morning to grab a few hours sleep before Saturdays big day at Ipswich.

PIC 1   Colin and Roger pose by the Honda in Skegness

PIC 2   Robin Shaw and Sue beside their camper at Skeggy

PIC 3   The Canadian flag flying at Skeggy

PIC 4   Stan Cole (right) and Tony Butterfield (left) at Skeggy

PIC 5   Nol and Kity Bernsden Claes at Skeggy

PIC 6   The car of Axel Nijs # 32 and fellow Dutchmen partying in the background

PIC 7   Racing at Skeggy

PIC 8   Final winner Frankie Wainman Jnr # 515 at Skeggy

PIC 9  The smart F1 of Chris Bonner # 105 in the Skeggy pits

PIC 10  The smart F1 of Ian Venables # 60 in the Skeggy pits

PIC 11  Flashback to World Final weekend at Skeggy 22 years ago.

RACES ATTENDED IN 2008

1           JAN  19          ARENA ESSEX (Thurrock UK)

2          JAN  27            LAC MORIN (Que)

3          JAN 27             ST EULALIE (Que)        

4          FEB 16             KAHNAWAKE (Que)

5         FEB   17            CLARENCE CREEK (Ont)

6         FEB    24          BERTRAND FABI CIRCUIT . Sherbrooke, (Que)

7         FEB     24         BEAUHARNOIS , (Que)

8       MAR    21           WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY (PA)

9       MAR    22           LINCOLN SPEEDWAY (PA)

10     APR    19         CAN AM SPEEDWAY,Lafargeville, (NY)

11    APR    20         CAYUGA COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY,Weedsport, (NY)

12    APR   26         MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY (Ont) 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

13    APR    27        HUMBERSTONE SPEEDWAY, Port Colborne (Ont)

14    MAY  3         MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg  (NY)

15      MAY  9          CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , OTTAWA  (Ont)

16     MAY  10       MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY , Hogansburg (NY)

17     MAY 17      BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY, (Ont)

18    MAY  18      CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

19    MAY   24     MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg (NY)

20    MAY  25     CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY  (Ont)

21   MAY 29      CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont) KART TRACK

22   MAY 30     AUTODROME EDELWEISS , Cantley, (Que)

23   MAY  31   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY, (Ont)

       JUN  1     AUTODROME ST EUSTACHE, (Que)  RAINED OUT

24   JUN 6    AUTODROME EDELWEISS Cantley, (Que)

25    JUN  7    FULTON SPEEDWAY (NY)    SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

26   JUN  8    CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

27    JUN  11  CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa, (Ont)

28   JUN  21   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

29   JUN  22   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS

30   JUN  28    CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa (Ont) RAINED OUT

31  JUN  28   MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg, (NY)

32  JUN 29   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

33  JUL 3    CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY Ottawa, (Ont)

34  JUL 5   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

35  JUL 6   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

36  JUL 9    CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY ,Ottawa (Ont)

37   JUL 10  BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)  SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

38   JUL  12  ICAR CIRCUIT, Mirabel, (Que)

39   JUL   12  AUTODROME DRUMMOND (Que)

       JUL 13   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY(Ont) , RAINED OUT SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

40   JUL  16   CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY,Ottawa (Ont)

41   JUL  18   BRIGHTON SPEEDWAY (Ont)

42   JUL  19  AUTODROME DRUMMOND (Que)

        JUL  20  CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  RAINED OUT

        JUL  23   CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY,Ottawa, (Ont)  RAINED OUT

        JUL  26  MOWHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg (NY) RAINED OUT                  

43   JUL 27  CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

44    JUL 30  CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont)

45    JUL 31   MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, Hogansburg NY (LUCAS OILS CDS)

46    AUG 1    AUTODROME EDELWEISS, Cantley (Que)  (LUCAS OILS CDS)

47    AUG 2   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)  (LUCAS OILS CDS POSTPONED)

48    AUG 3   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  (LUCAS OILS CDS)

49    AUG  6   AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY PARK , Plattsburg ( NY)

50   AUG   9  CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont)  (ACT SERIES RACE)

       AUG 10   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  RAINED OUT

51   AUG 13   CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa , (Ont) 

52   AUG  16   CAN AM SPEEDWAY, Lafargeville, (NY)  SUPER DIRTCAR  SERIES

53   AUG  17   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  SUPER DIRT CAR SERIES

54   AUG  20   CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY Ottawa (Ont)

55   AUG  21    MOHAWK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY , Hogansburg (NY) 358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

56   AUG   23   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)

57    AUG 24  CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)

58    AUG 27   CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY , Ottawa, (Ont)

59   SEP 1    CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  358 SUPER DIRTCAR SERIES

       SEP  6    CAPITAL CITY SPEEDWAY, Ottawa, (Ont)   ACT SERIES RACE (RAINED OUT)

       SEP  6   BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)  358 LUCAS OIL CDN / SUPER DIRTCAR (RAINED OUT)

60   SEP  7   CORNWALL MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Ont)  ENDURO

61   SEP  13  BROCKVILLE ONTARIO SPEEDWAY (Ont)  RUN WHAT YA BRUNG

62   SEP  17   ARLINGTON STADIUM , Eastbourne, (UK)

63   SEP  19   SKEGNESS STADIUM, Orby, (UK) 

My RICK @ the RACES race report goes out to a mailing list of about 200 people, which includes, family, friends and acquaintances, I've either met or known during my life in auto racing. Please feel free to pass these on or use on websites etc.

My RICK @ the RACES (RETRO) reports are a little different, as they are an ongoing account of my times spent at the races through the years. Some time in the future, once they have been tidied up and edited, I may look into getting them published. I still have a long way to go before I'm up to the present day, but in the meantime, please contact me for consent before before using ( websites or publications) Thanks Rick