UK TOUR PART FOUR

Following Saturday's BriSCA F1 World Final at Ipswich (20 Sept) , the 'traveling road show' moved on to the Brafield Stadium near Northampton for Sunday's action (21 Sept)

Brafield is only about 30miles from my Mum and Dads house and I always considered it my local track when I lived in the UK. I visited the place regularly from 1965 until 1994 when I emigrated,  rarely missing a meeting. Today it was the 'World Masters' which has become a traditional follow up to the World Final.

This time , it was my turn to drive, so Roger and I picked Colin up from Milton Keynes en route to the track. We arrived soon after midday and the first person I bumped in to was photographer Dave 'Smithyman' Smith.

Dave, a good buddy of mine must have the worst record for 'long distance rain outs' this year. He flew over to Canada from his home in Kent (UK) for a three track racing tour in the summer. It included the World of Outlaws show at Oshweken plus regular weekly shows at Merrittville and Humberstone. All three succumbed to the wrath of Mother Nature and Dave returned to the UK without seeing a race.

I then had the pleasure of meeting former Brafield promotor Philip Bond. I've been corresponding with Philip for a number of years and this was the first time we'd met in person. He had arranged photographic credentials for me, which I'm very grateful. I joined Dave and the regular UK photographers of Colin Casserley, Dave Bastock and Mike Greenwood. Mike is another guy I've known for many years, and I used to be one of his regular customers.

To keep the H&S people happy the ensemble of 'snappers' took it in turns to stand in the best positions on the center.

The first photo shoot of the day was at the start of the show, when newly crowned BrISCA F1 World Champion Andy Smith # 391 posed with his family and trophy for the crowd to see.

I didn't stay on the center for all the races as there were a couple of old buddies in attendance I wanted to see.

When I started racing stock cars back in 1974, I shared a car with Chris Pickup # 50 . We bought an old chassis, put a 3-8 Jaguar engine in it, topped it off with an Austin A40 body and went racing. Chris doesn't go racing these days but after I'd e-mailed him in advance, telling him about my visit, he decided to come along. He also brought along with him, another one of our old Beds & Herts clan, Steve Bird # 52. It was great to see them both after all these years.

I also came across former BriSCA chairman Malc Aylott in the crowd. Malc who I've known since his involvement with the Notts and Derby Stock Car Club in the 70's is taking a rest from the racing scene these days, and this was a rare visit for him.

Joining the BriSCA F1's and 2's on the program were the 'Rebels' which for the benefit of my North American readers are similar to Legends. The main difference being the bodies are scaled down fiber glass replicas of the old Ford E93A Pops/Anglias and all have Reliant engines. Contact is permitted.

The BriSCA F2 Final was won by Mick Sworder # 150 and the F1 by Ed Neachell # 321.

When the racing was over, we returned to Mum and Dads place for a prearranged family get together, as it was our final night in the UK.

On Monday 22 Sept, we drove to the National Bus Depot in Hemel Hempstead to catch our ride to the airport. Due to Motorway holdups the bus was late, but the driver made up lost time, and we got to Gatwick in plenty of time for our flight. The plane was also late taking off and we landed in Ottawa at around 7-00 pm. Rogers daughter Denise was there to meet us and we were soon on our way home. It was back to work on Tuesday for me !

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THEIR HELP AND KINDNESS IN MAKING THIS TRIP SO ENJOYABLE .

PHOTO 1     Photographer Friends, Robert Wilms (L) and Dave 'Smithyman' Smith (R)

PHOTO 2     Newly Crowned BriSCA F1 World Champion Andy Smith and family

PHOTO 3    F1 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 4    the smart BriSCA F1 of Murray Harison # 97 at Brafield

PHOTO 5    F1 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 5   F1 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 6   F1 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 7   F1 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 8    The F1 stock car of Tim Aldridge # 257 after rollling at Brafield

PHOTO 9   F2 stox action at Brafield

PHOTO 10   REBEL Racing at Brafield

PHOTO 11   Mick Sworder burns the tires of his F2 stocker after winning the Bradfield Final

PHOTO 12   Mick Sworder in Brafields Victory Lane

PHOTO 13  Ed Neachell in the Brafield Victory Lane.

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) 

64   SEP  20  FOXHALL STADIUM , Ipswich (UK)   BRISCA F1 WORLD FINAL

65  SEP 21   BRAFIELD STADIUM , Northants (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