How did you find Brisca F1 Stock Cars?
Mum and Dad were keen Speedway fans and we went to lots of meetings. Dad got it wrong one night and we turned up at Belle Vue on Saturday 14th Sept. 1963 to find Stock Cars on the bill. Wilf Blundell #75 won heat 1 and I was hooked.No relation but I did call him "Uncle" Wilf, but not to his face when I got to know him years later. Opening of Nelson saw me and John Park #157 going to every meeting from 1968 and starting Mike Parkers Hell Drivers (Bangers) in 1970. I raced two banger meetings at Hednesford in 1969.
What gave you the incentive to race
I was quite good in Hell Drivers and decided to try Formula 1.
First Car - Built, Bought or Borrowed
I bought a Hedley Hill #268 car for £250, with a spare engine in bits and a van full of spares and a towing dolly. It had a chrysler 383 in it and I had one the same at home.
Memory of your first race.
Nelson 18th March 1972. Started at the back behind Tony Neal #100. I followed him for the entire race, never more than half a straight behind him. He won, but the lap scorers dismissed me as being a lap down, therefore no place given. Gutted! Started cons at front, but was put in the fence on the first bend - end of race! Started GN at the front but after about two laps, I knocked the big end out.
Best Racing Memory
Lots of them! First Final at Coventry, winning at Wembley, Qualifying for the World Final via first ever Consi Semi Final 1988. (Created at my instigation when I was BSCDA Chairman)
Worst Racing Memory
Career ending accident at Hartlepool, 1st April 1990.
Reason for Retiring
Tried to race again after the accident, but my neck could not cope with the contact nature of racing. Last meeting was 28th July 1990 at Bradford, although I kept my licence till 1994. Always intended to come back, but never did. I raced 895 meetings at 38 different tracks + 6 Veteran Races at Coventry.
After Retiring - What Then?
Supervised my Son Peter racing ministox 1991 - 1994. 1994 - 1999 were wilderness years, but late 1999 I had renewed enthusiasm due to the Veterans Race. Started sponsoring Ray Witts #180 and driving his bus. 2005 Peter raced in a borrowed Ray Witts car that he help build. 2006 to present, I am Team Manager for Peter, who races Oval Track Legends, as we could not afford Formula 1.
