RICK @ the RACES (2 May to 9 May 2012)

5 May         Coventry Stadium , Warks , England

6 May         Aldershot Raceway, Hampshire, England

7 May         Sheffield Sports Stadium, South Yorkshire England

This weeks report starts on Wednesday 2 May, when I left my home in Cornwall , Ontario, bound for another trip back to England to see family and friends.

The first part of the trip involved a drive to my employers Quebec depot in Baie Durfe, Montreal where the HHR was to going to be parked for the week. My good friend and co worker, Barb Forsythe, then taxied me to the airport in Dorval.

My British Airways flight , departed at 10-30pm and was due to land at London Heathrow at about 9-30 am on Thursday morning. Although it was late taking off, it turned out to be an enjoyable flight, and I killed time watching the movie ‘Iron Lady’. The factual film that tells the story about Margaret Thatcher, one of the best prime ministers, Great Britain ever had. ( I remember it quite well when she was in power, she was the first female premier of the country, and in my opinion she had a lot more ‘grit’ than any of the male political leaders of that era)

Thursday 3 May

The late take off meant a 20 minute delay on my arrival in London, but after a quick turnaround at customs and immigration, by about 10-30 am , my old buddy Colin Herridge had picked me up and was driving me towards Bedfordshire. After a bacon ‘sarney’ at the Watling Street Truck Stop at Flamstead, we were at my Mum and Dads place in Toddington, by midday.

Mum had prepared lunch and not long after this I was on the move again. My Dad, is sadly in poor health right now and the afternoon was spent in Dunstable visiting him at the nursing home.

Friday 4 May

On my previous visits back to the UK, I’ve always had the use of my parents car, but due to the changes in the insurance regulations, this time it was cheaper for me to have a rental.

On Friday morning, my brother Chris , drove me to Luton Airport to pick up my Avis Rental car. I’d booked the cheapest and smallest car available so was pleasantly surprised when I found they’d upgraded me to a Vauxhall Astra 1-6 SRI.

The rest of the day was spent getting used to driving on the left again. I accompanied Mum to see Dad again in the afternoon which was followed by a shopping trip into Milton Keynes and a visit to my sister Anne’s place in Hockliffe.

With Dad in poor health, I was ‘playing everything by ear’ and had only planned on one definite racing trip, with the slight possibility of one other. On Saturday evening Colin would be taking me to the Coventry Stadium for the traditional ‘first Saturday in the month’ BriSCA F1 races, and on Sunday there was a chance of  some Banger Racing at the Horndean track near Portsmouth. I’d planned to visit my long time friend Lynn Longdon , in nearby Havant, who’s son Glen would be racing there. Leading up to the weekend, I’d been keeping an eye on the track’s website because recent heavy rainfalls and flooding, had put the event in jeopardy . It was on Friday I spotted their decision to cancel .

Saturday 5 May

On Saturday I took mum for an early morning shopping trip into Hemel Hempstead , followed by a visit to see Dad after lunch.

At 4-00 pm Colin picked me up in Toddington for the one hour drive to Coventry.

BriSCA F1 stock cars were traditionally topping the bill  and were supported by kids Ministocks and the BriSCA Heritage Cars.

I was looking forward to seeing the Heritage Cars , as it’s an attraction that has developed since my emigration. Many of the replica’s and reconstructions involve race cars I fondly remember .

One of my ‘old mates’ Stan Cole was going to be racing the Ellis Ford (3) car. One of the organizers of the Heritage cars is Kingsley Thorneycroft , who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. Colin and I got there early enough to wander around their display on the center and chat with everyone before the nights program got under way. I even got the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of the Ellis Ford  (3) car.

As well as all this Heritage stuff going on, there was a tribute to the ‘Harrisons’ , the ‘Royal Family of BriSCA’. I’ve known the Harrison Team for many years, and this was an added bonus for me. During the night the cars of  legendary Willie,

his son Paul ( the present BriSCA F1 World Champ) and grandson Bradley ( currently racing Ministocks) were paraded around the track.

A night with so much nostalgia, meant that many old friends from the past were in attendance’

It was great to meet up again with stock car racing’s all time ‘Mr Starter’ Al Henderson. I met so many faces from the past , I wont even attempt to name them all. ( in fear of leaving someone out ! )

Once the racing got under way I spent most of the night watching the action from the main front straight bar, in the same spot where I used to do so, over twenty years ago. Rosemary Gale, the widow of my old mate Mick, was still in ‘our’ regular spot and that’s where I based myself.

The racing was action packed with the final going to James Neachell (322) , second Mick Sworder (150) and third Ryan Harrison (197). All of these are second generation drivers, who’s fathers raced in my era. (James, son of Malc (322), Mick, son of Dick (150) , and Ryan, son of Murray (97).

Another group of old friends I reunited with during the course of the evening were Ian and Bob Hall , along with Steve Mayhew. To save Colin having to make a 20 minute detour from Milton Keynes to drop me off in Toddington, I got a ride back with Ian who was heading back to West London.

Sunday 6 May

With the races at Horndean called off, I decided to go for ‘plan B’.

A family supper at a local eatery had been organized for the evening , so after visiting Dad again in the morning, I decided on an afternoon trip to Hampshire.

One of the many mid week tracks I used to visit regularly in the past was the Aldershot Stadium at Tongham, which ran every Thursday night. It was a favorite ‘haunt’ until it got knocked down to make way for redevelopment.

A few years back Spedeworth boss Dean Wood found a nearby replacement track at Fleet, and it happened to be running this Sunday. I got there just in time for the 1-00 pm start for the program of Classic Stock Cars ( Stock Saloons), Junior Rods and Reliant Robins. ( for those that don’t know, Reliant Robins are those amusing glass fiber 3 wheeler cars that have a habit of turning over in oval racing) .

Unlike Coventry the night before, there was only one person in attendance that I knew. It was my Dutch ‘Face Book’ friend Geert Roubroeks  who had towed his (259) Ford Cortina Classic Stock Car over from Roermond in the Netherlands. It was nice to meet Geert and his crew for the first time.

It was also a first time visit to the Aldershot Raceway for me , and it became track # 201 on my TRACKCHASING totals.

About half way through the afternoon , I made my exit and was back in Toddington in good time to take mum out to meet the rest of the family for a supper at Dunstable’s ‘ Mullberry Tree’.

Monday 7 May

This week end happened to be the ‘May Day’ holiday weekend and Monday was a statutory holiday for many people. Originally , I hadn’t got anything planned for the day, but when my ‘old mate’ Mick Black offered me a ride to see the BriSCA F1’s , BriSCA F2’s and Mini Stocks at Sheffield I decided to go.

The Sheffield Sports Stadium is one of the best ( if not ‘the best’ ) appointed stock car stadiums in England and I first visited the place in October 1977. It ran regularly on Monday nights during the 1970’s and early 80’s until it closed for a few years. The last time I was there, was in August 1982, and I remember it well. My wife Pat was heavily pregnant with my daughter Carla on that occasion and we were at Sheffield on our way to a caravaning holiday on the Yorkshire coast.

Mick and I got there early and just like Coventry two days before , there were plenty of old friends to meet.

In the pits I had a good chat with Nev Woodhull who’s son Mark (335) supplied a car for my Canadian friend Dave Heaslip to drive in the 2003 BriSCA F1 World Final.

It was also great chatting to Derek Hines and his son Paul. Back in the 1980’s Derek and I would often be at the races together, and as kids , Paul and Carla were about the same age. I recall when we were at the Long Eaton Stadium, we’d often keep them ‘quiet’ by giving them a bit of cash to spend with the tracks ‘Candy Man’ .

Paul who is now a top BriSCA F1 driver  (259) , laughed and said ‘yep, and it worked’ when I reminded him.

There was a slight drizzle during the afternoon so after taking a few pictures I joined more old friends up in the luxurious ‘fourth turn’ restaurant and bar. It’s really nice in there, it’s behind glass, has plush carpets and fine dining.

Inside I found Phil “Bootsie’ Chance who was representing the Veteran Stock Car Association and organizing the Victory Lane presentations. Phil is one of my earliest racing friends and we ‘go back’ to the 1960’s . ( Check out RETRO Episode 3 on www.rickattheraces.com  .

Accompanying him on his table were, Vic Bidulph , as well as Joan and Paul Jenkins.  I ended up downing a few pints and watching the remaining races with them.

When it came to the nights ‘Final’ race I was honored when they asked me to present the Trophy to race winner Tom Harris ( 84) of Oxfordshire.

The whole thing was being televised by Premier Sports and during the course of the night, presenter Natalie Quirk gave a nice plug for www.rickattheraces.com.

After hearing this, another of my buddies from the past made him self known by coming up to say hello.  It was Robin Shaw , a race fan and former Iceland Co Worker . He was the one I have to credit for getting me started in all this racing media stuff , when he suggested to SHORT CIRCUIT MAGAZINE that I write articles for them.

When the show was over, Mick and I made our way back to Toddington and were back there by a respectable 10-00 am.

Tuesday 8 May

Tuesday was my final full day in England , and my rental car had to be returned to Luton. Mum and I did this in the morning before a shopping excursion around my ‘old town’ of Dunstable.

In the afternoon I spent some time with Colin and his wife Kim in Milton Keynes where we took a look at the HQ for the F1  Red Bull Team. I visited Dad once again with my sister Anne before spending my final evening with Mum, dining in our favorite Dunstable Chinese restaurant.

Wednesday 9 May

Wednesday was the day I had to return to Canada , and after Mum dropped me off in Hemel Hempstead , I got my bus to London’s Heathrow Airport. I was there nice and early and after a 90 minute delay the plane finally took off at about 7-45 pm (GMT). My choice of movie for the return trip was Contraband, an excellent thriller which I enjoyed.

As expected, the plane landed late in Montreal (at 9-50 pm)  and not long after that , Barb had picked me up and was taking me to Baie Durfe. The HHR was fired up and by 12-15 am I was home in Cornwall.