9th March 2017  Report (UK TRIP)

It’s always a sad occasion when a race track closes, but it’s even worse when it’s one that is steeped in history. Two of England’s premier tracks have been at risk from land developers for the last few years, and the end of the road is rapidly approaching. The Coventry Stadium, which has been the meeting place for BriSCA F1 fans from all over the UK, to congregate on the first Saturday of every month has been  in doubt for some time. At the end of last year it was given a reprieve for three more years, and although this was still not good, it gave fans hope. Unfortunately issues between the owners and promoters during the winter, appear to have robbed race fans the opportunity of seeing any more racing. I’m still hoping, but I don’t think we will be lucky.

The other track affected by development is London’s Wimbledon Stadium, where the land is required for the local football team. Just like Coventry , I have many happy memories of my visits to this place and feel it’s a tragedy , what is happening. There have been several appeals  to save both tracks, including a trip by a few friends of mine to the Prime Ministers office in 10 Downing Street, but to no avail.

It looks like fans have missed out on the chance to have a historic ‘ Last Ever Celebration ‘ event at Coventry, but with Wimbledon it was different story. Since before Christmas , it was well advertised that the venue would be closing and a “One More Time” for BriSCA F1’s was planned for 5th March 2017. It would be an ‘All Ticket’ event.

As soon as I heard about this, I started looking around for some cheap flights, so I could combine the event with a trip back to the UK to visit my mother. I had no medical appointments scheduled for this particular week, so providing I was feeling OK, it would be a good time for me. I’m still undergoing treatment for my ongoing Myasthenia Gravis condition.

During Air-Canada’s ‘Black Friday’ Sales, I picked up some bargain flights on my favorite Ottawa to Heathrow route, that would allow me a short 6 day trip.

Once again my good buddy Don Simpson allowed me to park my car at his place, and on the evening of  Monday, 27th February , he drove me the short distance to Ottawa Airport.  The over-nighter leaves  around 10 pm and arrives in London about 9-30 am the next day. My usual plan of having a couple of glasses of wine, and sleeping throughout,  worked well,  and I woke up just before landing.

TUESDAY 28 February 2017

The plane arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport on time and I was soon getting on the shuttle bus to the Budget Car Rental. I picked up my set of wheels, for the trip and within 15 minutes was heading out of the gate in a  black Vauxhall Corsa.

Once on the road , I was off to Oxfordshire, where My Mum and Sister Anne live.

First stop along the way was Witney in Oxfordshire (where I once lived) to re-activate my cel-phone ( or ‘mobile’ as the Brits call them) . By now it was after 1-30 pm so after a nice roast beef lunch in a local pub, I was on my way to Middleton Under Wychwood , where Mum and Anne live. Mum lives in sheltered accommodation and my sister and her husband Pete are just down the road, where I would be staying. I pulled into their driveway around 2-30 pm.

WEDNESDAY 1 March 2017

This was a day I had put aside to take mum out, and about 10-00  am we set off for the historic Stratford on Avon, home of William Shakespear.  We arrived mid morning and parked the car close to the main street , location of the mans birth place . Mum has a handicapped parking permit, which worked good for the two of us, as I cannot walk too far with my condition.

Just past the place where he was born, we came across a street entertainer, posing as a statue. He looked real, and caught me out.

After that we drove the short distance to  Anne Hathaway’s cottage, who was the wife of Shakespear.

It was still before mid day, and we had plenty of time before lunch, to take the short drive to Warwick Castle.

After taking a couple of photos, we decided against the tour, and headed off down the road to the local Harvester Restaurant for lunch.

Following our nice lunch, we took the short drive to Brandon, in Warwickshire, home of the previously mentioned Coventry Stadium.  With bad news filtering through social media every day, I wanted to take one last look before the bull dozers came in, and the place got demolished.

While we were there, another race fan from Birmingham turned up, to do exactly the same thing.

From Brandon, we took a round about trip back to Oxfordshire, taking in Cranfield (Bedfordshire)  and Milton Keynes, both places where I used to live.

Thursday 2 March 2017

I was up early on Thursday morning for a return trip to Milton Keynes where I was meeting my long time friends, Colin and Kim Herridge. We had planned a trip to London on the train to see the sights. Over 25 years ago , before I emigrated to Canada, I was truck driving for Iceland Frozen Food Stores, delivering to their outlets all over the UK, which included many in London. I was in the Capital City a lot, and often would pass by many of the famous landmarks , without taking much notice. Since being out of the country for so long, I thought it would be good to go back and look at the things I once took for granted.

 After meeting up with Colin and Kim, we boarded the train from Milton Keynes to Euston. We’d bought a day pass which included the London Underground, so once in Euston we got the tube to Green Park.

Green Park is handy for Buckingham Palace, so that was our first port of call. According to my hosts, H M  Queen Elizabeth was in residence because the Royal Standard was flying.

From here we took the short walk through St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade. I’m glad there were plenty of park benches around , so I could take a break every so often. My Myasthenia Gravis condition prevents me from walking long distances without the need of regular breaks .

Horse Guards Parade is next to Trafalgar Square , so from there we walked down White Hall to Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister.

 

From here , we went the short distance to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Thames Embankment, which gave us a perfect view of the London Eye.

The Embankment is right next to the Westminster Underground Station, so we boarded the tube for the Tower Hill.

Tower Hill station as the name suggests, brings you out at the Tower of London and the banks of the River Thames by Tower Bridge.

Next to the Tower, is St Katherines dock, where we found a nice pub , called the Dickins Inn.

After  lunch, we crossed Tower Bridge , to visit the Shard.

 

This is a new tourist attraction to London where you can take an elevator and look out over the city from one of restaurants and bars. We went up to the 32nd floor and relaxed with a couple of drinks as we took in the view.

 By the time we left the Shard it was getting dark, so it was time to board the tube from London Bridge to Euston. Once back in Milton Keynes, it was a drive back to Anne’s place in Milton Under Wychwood. 

Friday 3 March 2017

After saying good bye to Mum and Anne who were heading for some grocery shopping, I drove to Dorchester on Thames in nearby Oxfordshire to visit my friend Robert Sellar. 

He is in the process of building a replica of  George Ansell’s Pontiac powered , 1967 BriSCA F1 World Final winning car. He needs a fan blade for a  1973 , Pontiac 400 cu ins if anyone reading this can help.

Here is picture of the original car that I took at Brafield in 1968.

I had lunch with Robert , at a small Cafe , in Dorchester, located next to , what used to be, the breakers yard of former BriSCA F1 World Champion the late, Freddie Mitchell.

From Dorchester on Thames , I set off for the South Coast, my destination,  Christchurch in Hampshire. I was meeting up with Peter Dodd, who was a former mechanic for the late Tom Pitcher who won two Formula 2 Stock Car World Finals during his career.

I saw Tom win at the Rayleigh Stadium when I was there with my dad , back in 1968.

I’d been in contact with Peter via Face Book and he had a video and some old photos from Tom’s racing days for me.

I left Christchurch at around 4-00 pm , for my next destination, Havant in Hampshire. I was meeting up with my long time friend, Lynn Edwards.

I’ve known Lynn since we were teenagers and we still keep in touch after all these years. When I’m in the UK , I often look her up, and she’s visited me in Canada a few times. Back in 2007 she joined me at Super Dirt Week in Syracuse.

On Friday night we caught up ,  over a nice meal , at the Staunton Arms at Rowlands Castle.

Saturday 4 March 2017

I left Lynn’s place in  Havant, at 8- 15 am in the morning with my home town of Ipswich in Suffolk as my next destination. I was heading for a family reunion.

My Aunt and Uncle, Geoff and Sheila Westlake were celebrating their Diamond Wedding anniversary and my cousins were organizing a secret party. Both of them,  play a big part in my life long love affair with stock car racing. Along with my Mum and Dad, they were with me , the first time I saw the sport at the age of four, at the  Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich.

Mum was coming over that day, from Oxfordshire with Anne and Pete, and I would be meeting them and the rest of the family at the Oyster Reach Restaurant beside the Orwell River.

There was a Premier Inn right next door, where I would be staying for the night. From my room I had a good view of the Orwell Bridge.

The surprise party went well and a good time was had by all.

Sunday 5 March 2017

After a good fried Breakfast at the Oyster Reach, I was away again on Sunday morning, bound for Chertsey in Surrey. 

Today was the big day for the”One More Time” event for BriSCA F1 Stock Cars at the Wimbledon Stadium. I would be staying the night at Ian Hall and his wife Barbara’s place, and going  from there to the races with Ian, and Stuart Ralls who is another old friend . Stuart was driving up from Southampton to Chertsey.

Parking has always been limited at the Wimbledon Stadium and our plan was to be there about 2-00 pm for the scheduled 5-30 pm start time. Things went to plan and we managed to get one of the last parking spots in the official car park. As mentioned at the start of the report , it was an ‘All Ticket’ event and was sold out, well in advance.

Ian and Stuart are ‘real ale’ lovers, and wanted to sample some of the products in a pub opposite, so I went along too, and we were later joined by other friends. One of which included my old buddy Robin Shaw. (Far right in the group Photo)

I didn’t stay for too long as I wanted to take some pics around the pits. 

Unfortunately the majority of the present day BriSCA F1 drivers are a different caliber to the ones of my days, and showed apathy in regard to supporting this historic night, and the car numbers were down. The few that did turn up, I have to take my hat off to.

It was good to see my old friend Tim Warwick # 307 parked in the pits. Tim and I have been buddies since we were teen age race fans.

I also had a quick chat with long distance racer Paul Ford  # 388, who had driven down from Scotland to race. Paul went on to be the historic  winner of the ‘One More Time’ main event later in the night.

 

 

There were also one or two talented local F1 drivers in attendance I’d never seen before.

Luckily the support formulas of Superstox and Stock Saloons were there in good numbers and they can always be guaranteed to put on a good show

After getting enough pictures in the pits, I wandered in to the famous old track, which I first visited in 1967. 

I passed the famous race car tunnel and went around the corner to enter  through the spectator gates. 

I picked up the souvenir plaque and coffee mug I’d ordered from Dave Baldwins ‘goody stall’ and grabbed an official program before they sold out. As you would expect with a sell-out crowd, the place was packed.

Once inside it wasn’t long before I bumped into many old friends.

My first priority , before the light faded, was to get some pics of the cars on the track. Health & Safety regulations in the UK only allow a few photographers on the infield ( 4 at Wimbledon) , they have three regulars, and that leaves one vacant spot. That meant there were quite a few unlucky ones, including me , who was a long way down , in the pecking order. I did my best to get what I could from the packed spectator enclosure.

 

It then started to drizzle with rain, so I moved inside to the main grandstand and bar .

Once up in the warmth of the ‘behind glass’ grandstand and bar , I met up with many more friends and for a while, I sat with Paul and Joan Jenkins of the V.S.C.A ( Veterans Association) former top driver Alan Wardropper and his daughter Jane. I wanted to mingle, and see all the old friends I could so stood at the bar for a while. I was pleased to say, they had Grolsch , one of my favorite beers on draft.

There were so many old friends packed in for this historic night, I wont attempt to mention them all, in fear of missing anyone out.

Even though the F1 stock cars were short on numbers, they put on a good show, with plenty of ‘bumper work’ to keep the fans happy. As mentioned earlier, the popular winner of the nights big race was Paul Ford  # 388 from Scotland.

 

The last race was over soon after 9-30 pm and I met up with Ian and Stewart in the car park. 

We were soon on the road and were back at Ian’s place in Chertsey around 10-10 pm. Barbara had cooked us all a lovely meal, and after another beer it was time for bed.

Monday 6 March 2017

Chertsey is only a short drive to Heathrow Airport , so I left Ian and Barbaras house soon after 8-00 am and was dropping my Vauxhall Corsa rental car off at Budget before 9-00 am.  The shuttle dropped me off at Terminal two and I awaited my  12-00  mid day  (GMT) return flight to Ottawa.

Every thing went to schedule, and I landed about 2-45 pm (ET)

Don was waiting for me, and before too long, we were back at his place where, his wife Lise, had prepared yet another lovely meal for me.

It was now about 5-30 pm, and the weather had turned bad as I drove my Chevy  HHR back to Cornwall in the freezing rain.

Taking it really steady, I was back home before 7-00 pm to end another eventful trip.