Off the Wall - Issue 3

Off the Wall - Issue 4



The Wonderfully Wide Web� Just for a change, I thought about writing something you might actually be interested in reading in � websites! Some of you will be amazed how many drivers use the internet as their first port of call for results and news � as a matter of fact you can find the F1 results on many sites only 30minutes after the meeting has ended such is the dedication of some people! Not only is the internet a great way of getting all the latest info, but there is also the opportunity to have belting discussions with fellow fans about last night�s meeting or who you think might win the next major title. Here�s a few recommended sites for you all�enjoy! First one out the hat is run by a chap called Michael Silver and is dedicated to the mighty BriSCA Formula One Stock Cars. Within an hour of the chequered flag falling on the Grand National at the latest F1 meeting, Michael will have for you the results and if he�s not pressed for time, the updated National Series and World Qualifying Points! Totally unofficial of course, but its sure handy for up-to-date stats before the monthly points charts are published. Run your fingers over to www.f1stockcars.co.uk and take a look for yourself� It�s also worth popping into his Bulletin Board and adding your contribution to the whole Speak vs Wainman debate which always rears its head even in the most innocent of threads. You�ll find such chaps as Paul Hines and even Des Chandler contributing when necessary, along with the loyal Speak and Wainman fans� Whilst on the subject of Formula One Stock Cars, ever wondered what it must be like to build one up from scratch? Well now you can find out on this brilliant and amusing site from soon to be Scottish F1 racer Alan Harwood #358 � push the right buttons to get www.f1-358.cjb.net and from there trawl around the Build Archives to find out how Alan and the top lads at JAPP Racing Services are getting along in their quest to get their F1 Stock Car out on track. Pay close attention to the JAPP Racing Glossary of Terms because believe me, some of you southern softies will be requiring it when the JAPP chaps invade Englandshire� Keeping the column with somesort of F1 bias, if you are pondering whether or not to plod along to Swindon or Northampton for their forthcoming F1 weekend then you will be able to find out by whacking your fingers on your keyboard and visiting the respective promoter�s websites. Startrax do a great job of providing up-to-date bookings lists for their upcoming meetings � saunter along to www.startrax.info and have a butchers. Every Thursday night Incarace provide a full bookings list on www.incarace.co.uk for your reading pleasure � full marks to both promoters! Tarmac Taster� Northampton on April 20th signalled the start of the National Series hunt on the hard stuff and what a belting meeting it was. A very special mention must go to one of the F1 debutants #269 Jason Matthews who is only 16 years old � amazing! Jason is a mechanic for Simon Brooke #92 and Simon had generously donated his car to Jason for the meetings at NIR, Arena and Birmingham before Simon himself got back behind the wheel. Thanks to Alan Brooke for passing on the info � who knows, we might see Jason throwing the car around somewhere else later in the season. Making his first appearance of the season was Michael Driscoll #176, son of ex-81 F1 Pat Driscoll and cousin to Danny #174. Michael has been out in a hire-car in the early 90�s and could well be seen out on track at a few more meetings. The 212 car was also at NIR but at the hands of Graham Moulds #56, Frankie Wainman�s sponsor. Graham showed that he can do just as well as �Smiler�, some competition for the �79 World Champ perhaps?!?!?! Was also great to see the number 85 back out on track with Iain Holden making use of the Wainman Downbar � a former mechanic of �Mr Beef� Ray Tyldsley. One of the top performances of the night came from the returning Paul Higgins #229 who had a great scrap with John Lund in the Grand National. However the meeting will long be remembered for the amazing last bend of the F1 Final which saw Andy Smith going very deep in anticipation of a big hit from Frankie Wainman Junior. However, on that last lap Frankie had clipped the wall on the back straight and would never have passed Andy had the 391 car not drifted all the way out to the Armco � brilliant stuff. Heat 2 was also something else as Wainman, Speak and Smith locked horns in superb style with Speak picking up a puncture and eventually retiring. Can�t wait for the World Qualifier in May� The F2�s were every bit as good with Daz Kitson in attendance along with Barry Goldin � throw in Neal Smith and Mick Sworder and you can expect sparks to fly!!! Heat 2 saw Goldin, Sworder and Kitson lock horns in amazing style with Sworder coming off worst, breaking his front left suspension despite a valiant effort to continue. Cue the Final and another brilliant display of Formula Two Stock Car Racing at it�s very very best as Daz Kiston and Neal Smith fought it out for the lead. Going into the last lap and Neal Smith goes for an almighty hit on Daz but somehow Kitson holds on and Smith is the one that spins � unbelievable hit! Last but by no means least were the ever exciting Rebels Racers and they certainly put on one helluva show around the Brafield oval. The Rebels crew � headed by the Hans Krimaa and the lovely Sophie Lawrence � always put in maximum effort off-track and the results can be shown on-track as the class boasts a couple of returning drivers such as Mark Whorton-Eales. Having not been put off by rolling a Rebel at his first ever meeting, my mate Jon the driver is intending to have a spin this season at Kings Lynn in May, certainly getting me tempted�wonder if Sophie and Hans are interested in a Scottish entry for the European in June??? Anyway I digress, despite being considered as a support formula these Rebels chaps deserve a lot of credit � whereas in F1 you need to have a bit of cash to really get up amongst the pigeons, the fact that every technical part of each Rebels Racer is exactly the same means that the racing is done entirely on driver skill�the guys who can win races can consider themselves to be pretty darn good! Doesn�t stop the Rebels chaps having a few spills though! And Finally� Popping up to Cowdenbeath for the May Weekend � expect a full and comprehensive round-up right here in Oval Racing News. Don�t forget to pop along to www.stockcarracing.cjb.net - all the latest BriSCA Heat Points are available for your viewing pleasure. Don�t hesitate to send your abuse, pies, milk, lemonade or chocolate to skeet@stockcarracing.cjb.net. Thanks again, cya around a marker tyre.

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