Stock car racing: The good old days

[Milkyway]

I used to love going stock car racing,
My older brother used to do a lot of magazine work, so I used to tag along with him to the various tracks.
I suppose it was about 1990 when I stopped going, so I don’t really know how it’s evolved since then.
I have seen pieces on YouTube...but it doesn’t seem the same.
Aldershot ( Tongham), Wimbledon, Coventry & many others have sadly disappeared.

Any memories... either as a spectator or competitor.

Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 25th November 22:48

[Milkyway]

MitchT said:

My dad used to take me to Odsal stadium (Bradford) when I was a kid. The name Frankie Wainman rings a bell, though I seem to recall it being "Jnr". I also remember John Lund. Nothing better than the noise, the smell and a dodgy supper from the hot dog van!

FW Jr, remember his Dad, & the above.
Big V8’... & the ground shaking. Balls of steel.
I was just thinking of the fat burger & chips... pukka pies & mushy peas ‘Up North’.

Edited by Milkyway on Thursday 25th November 23:16

[Milkyway]

Drumroll said:

MitchT said:

My dad used to take me to Odsal stadium (Bradford) when I was a kid. The name Frankie Wainman rings a bell, though I seem to recall it being "Jnr". I also remember John Lund. Nothing better than the noise, the smell and a dodgy supper from the hot dog van!

The whole family is (or have been) involved. Frankie, Frankie Jnr. and now Frankie JJ and Phoebe

I can remember the TV series, a few years ago.
Mainly about the Wainman v Smith rivalry.
Google: Gears & Tears... crikey 2010

Being from the South, a lot of our BRISCA was @ Northampton.& Coventry (RIP).
Spedeworth had their version... but it was a lot tamer & nowhere near as exciting.
The South was more Hot Rod focused.

Edited by Milkyway on Friday 26th November 00:50

[Milkyway]

ARHarh said:

Loved stock car racing, used to go to Tongham with my Dad in the 70's and carried on going until it closed. Often used to go to Matchems down in ringwood after that, Lats time I saw banger racing was up in North Shropshire a few years back and H&S had taken over and it just wasn't the same.

Bangers boys.... &

Edited by Milkyway on Friday 26th November 21:24

[Milkyway]

Music of my youth...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X6bsoyT86LE

& https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aO5GWJJP3FM

Edited by Milkyway on Friday 26th November 15:55

[Milkyway]

Went to St Austell a few times.
Went to Cornwall a few years ago on holiday...Now just huge indoor market.
(Very good though).

Edited by Milkyway on Saturday 27th November 18:16

[Milkyway]

IanUAE said:

Watched many events at the Long Eaton stadium (stockcar and speedway). I remember Dave Mellor (no. 304) sticking with Rover v8 power rather than moving to US engines.

I can remember John Lunds six wheeler ( 4x2)... different.

[Milkyway]

When World of Sport covered the World final weekend from Ipswich.
Saturday afternoon... Novelty race, x1 other Formula & of course the Hot Rod world final.

Banger Caravan race;
The little cream / red roof one, nr the front was hand painted with sand in the paint to achieve a pebbledash effect.
Those of you who were regulars @ Aldershot ( Tongham)... it was the old photo caravan (the flashing lights) up by the pits.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9_axIytjoJU

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 28th November 12:01

[Milkyway]

I can remember my brother had a few ‘inter magazine’ races;
A F1 @ Northampton... not bad for a white top.
The funniest one was at Aldershot, for a banger race.
The car was prepared for him, but he didn’t know what it was until he arrived at the track.
Most had big Rovers, Jags etc & meant business...His was a Hillman Minx.
(The look on his face was priceless, but went well though)
https://images.app.goo.gl/gSsahBCHrKyCSHz66

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 28th November 12:23

[Milkyway]

Bit embarrassed really... my ex missus competed in a ladies banger race.
Used to know a couple of Banger Racing brothers who used to try & push each other across red lights.... Just for a bit of fun you understand.


My Dad used to build Superstox in the 60’s / early 70’s...but I was a mere pup then. His old Fiat Topolino was used for the body.
I Can just remember a race on the Indy Circuit @ Brands Hatch.
( As opposed to the oval)

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 28th November 15:46

[Milkyway]

LukeBrown66 said:

Long Eaton closed in 97, was a very active track until then, is now a housing estate.

Sadly on this thread all you read is "used to go"

And that is the sad part of all of this, it is still the closest, most easy to follow motorsport around, but noone really knows about it anymore.

When Wimbledon closed, I heard rumours that the lorries & coaches were not allowed in the area....which would have made things a bit difficult.
But agree... it is entertainment for ALL of the family.

[Milkyway]

Just Googled ‘defunct stock car tracks’.
Crikey...there was loads that I’d never heard of.

Another FB page that is interesting;
remembering the old Aldershot raceway.

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 28th November 18:39

[Milkyway]

The Big Three... Barry ‘Leapy’ Lee, George ‘The Driver’ Polley & Mick ‘Duffy’ Collard... RIP. ‘Duffy’
All great drivers & great characters.

Barry... Immaculate cars & a showman.
George... In his purple Anglia,
Mick... He was just naughty.
(OK from the South... so a little bit bias)

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 28th November 18:51

[Milkyway]

av185 said:

Was that the FD if so was probably an early one. Always thought they were either 1.6 or 2.0 litre. I had a Ventora after the Victor which was an FC 101 with a 3 speed column change. And yes it had hearing aid beige upholstery too with the obligtory Feu Orange traffic light air freshener dangling from the centre view mirror lol.!

Watched stock car racing and speedway with a mate occasionally at Rochdale Hornets rugby stadium a which was long since demolished and redeveloped as a Morrisons.

Ah yes... travelling the Country to watch Speedway...even at the old Wembley.
Give me an ‘R’ etc.
Given that a lot of stadiums have gone... Speedway took the hit as well.
Used to follow Reading Racers... great team then.
Tilehurst then Smallmead.

Stock cars used to race @ Tilehurst... but a bit before my time.
Each track had their own Superstox teams... so had inter track team events.
ALDERSHOT KNIGHTS...

Edited by Milkyway on Monday 29th November 19:05

[Milkyway]

A few random memories that have sprung to mind.

The Boxing Day meeting @ Wimbledon & all the cars decorated as floats.
Fireworks meeting.. .The two tanks firing @ each other, & cheering for a particular colour.

Start Marshal Ted Weaver getting knocked off his stand.
( Thankfully No injuries... probably a brown trouser job though)
It Amazed me how they never got hit sometimes, running across the track.. a few close calls

Seeing one of the Cortina Mk3 start Cars in a banger race.

Production car lap trials...always a crowd pleaser.
The race;
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=btXR4ej4QoA

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 30th November 12:02

[Milkyway]

ARHarh said:

this keeps bringing back memories. Production car laps, I remember seeing a very new 3 ltr Capri hit the fence at Aldershot. It also bought back the memory of the marshals running out with a bucket of postcreat to fix the fence after it had been knocked over.

I think that the odd lamppost went for a burton too. (No pun intended).
There was a banger driver who bought a car to the trials... fenced it on purpose.
Eddie George kept an rag in his Stock car & would set it alight, just for effect.
Just watching the start car / marshal & breakdowns in action... such joy.
Sheer entertainment.

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 30th November 12:26

[Milkyway]

I was looking for ‘ Stock car racing is magic’ by Bill Maynard...
( Wasn’t his daughter Dating / Married to a F1 Driver at the time)
But came across this stranger.
Label & title caught my eye.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bAI-o6DvAUI

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 30th November 19:48

[Milkyway]

Special Guests;
The Norman Abbott ‘Rent a rod’.
Used to get guest drivers racing at some meetings.
I can remember Derek Warwick & Russell Brookes having a go.
( Of course... DW started his career in Superstox)

Martin Brundle going around in his Formula 2 Circuit car around Wimbledon...gave it a bit of ‘welly’ too.
K. Rosberg & N.Piquet watching a meeting @ Wimbledon.
( Think they had been testing at Brands & popped in)

The Rallycross boys racing with the Hot Rods.
The grasstrack Hot Rods Racing at Matchams.
( V8 Rover in the back of a MKIi Escort... went well)

Edited by Milkyway on Wednesday 1st December 15:31

[Milkyway]

Hednesford... 1973

Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 2nd January 17:05