Season 2007
The season started well for Mark Jnr, on his first meeting of the year @ Wimbledon with a 3rd in the first heat and a win in the second and then having mixed results @ Ipswich for his second meeting of the year. Mark Sr would join in the season with the return trip for Jnr to Wimbledon and a first for Mark Snr. A dry track to turn wet just before the start of the heats with Snr to claim an 8th place in the first heat and Jnr for a 12th heat 2 would see a 12 car pile up and Jnr too find himself in the unforgiving fence almost wreaking his car, and over the next few meetings would the see Mark Jnr having car troubles (attributed to the crash) which would then get sorted out. In April Jnr was made up to yellows which is where he would stay for most of the season as for Snr he would stay on the whites till almost the end of the season finally making the dizzy heights of yellow grade . A trip to Bovingdon would see the first for some good results for both Snr and Jnr with Mark Snr almost getting a win (would have been nice) with Jnr hot on his bumper (not for the fist time), Yarmouth was a little more troublesome for both drivers as both drivers having trouble getting their cars around this tight track. Ipswich would again have mixed fortunes for both, October would also see both out again @ Northampton for the English Championship (only big meet of the year) fortunes reversed this time out with Jnr having troubles all day with handling problems with Mark Snr to qualify for the Championship even if it was to the rear of the grid with some star drivers who also found themselves at the back of the grid and Jnr to start even further back, although both would finish the main race but not in any of the top placings (would have been nice) Both have agreed they like the Bovey track as it reminds them of a smaller Alwalton Raceway with Yarmouth come well down the order especially for Mark Snr who just cant seem to get to grips with it, not like Jnr who even managed to get two second placings in one meeting there. Mark Jnr has now even managed to get himself into the blue grade now which is where he should start the 2008 season.
Season 2006
With both drivers having new car's for this season, Mark Jnr having his for the start of the year & for Mark Snr later in the season. Having decided to give Spedeworth another try this year Mark Jnr debut his new car on the 11th March with mixed results over the next few meetings as he was adjusting to the way it handled which was a lot better than his old car he reported! The new car would improve as the year & even went on to take a few wins on the way & would also feature in the top 10 for the Lyndale series with a creditable 7th overall although not all meetings were attended. For Mark Snr it it was going to be one of those years with a few results over the season but would struggle, (the old adage if it goes wrong, it went wrong) even getting his car written off mid season. Even with a trip to Northampton Raceway saw Jnr taking a win & Snr having problems all day (new car).
Season 2005
So with a new season starting both cars have been prepped for the seasons campaign with sights set on the Rolling Thunder Show right up to the last minute. With Mark Jnr now joining the ranks of Stock Rods full time as well. We have had to change our plans of where we will be racing for cost saving reasons have now signed for Spedeworth & will be racing mainly @ Swaffham & may take the odd Ipswich & Yarmouth (at least drivers don't pay to race) & Swaffham only 50 miles away against 98 miles to Arena Essex. Now with paint brush in one hand & a tin of white paint in the other, white roof colours are to be painted. The first race meeting will be on 26th March (see results). Over the next 3 meeting both cars attending with mixed results even a win for the 199 car. Sadly loads of damage were had at all of the meetings & seeing the 199 car written off at Ipswich after begin spun backwards into a parked car. Time was called as it was just not worth keeping on repairing the cars only to come back with heavy damage. This then saw a switch back to the RTS for Mark Jnr as he had bought his license before he got his Spedeworth. Mark Jnr was now enjoying his racing even getting a couple of wins. This year also saw a return trip to Blyton Raceway with Mark Snr taking the Finals win. All in all not too bad a season with the results that were had. Both cars are now put away for the winter. Both drivers are having new cars built for the start of the 2006 season. (see race prep)
Season 2004
This is going to be a strange year with the closure of Alwalton Raceway & decorating on the list the options are not too many so it looks like we shall been just doing just a few meetings. Work has started on the car with a few minor changes for Northampton looking favourable, we are hoping to attend on April 12th Easter Bank Holiday Monday, we are hoping to bring you the results when we can, & after racing 16yrs at Alwalton it certainly will be different. Northampton was certainly different to what we were used to & managed to finish all the races but not in any of the top places. The next meeting for the stock rod was going to be even stranger, a meeting that was organized for Blyton Raceway on the 22nd August with most of the former Alwalton Stock Rods taking part. After finding the track very similar to Northampton but with a lot tighter corners & a lot bumpier as well. (see results) Also racing for the very first time in the stock rods class was Mark Jnr in car no:19 who was taking a brake from the junior rod class . September 11th we were back in action again, this time @ Arena Essex in the Euro rod class (stock rodish) finding the track somewhat between Alwalton & Northampton with the best result in the final claiming a 5th place. Race 1consisted of basically getting used to the raceway running in a class that has a variety of spec cars in this class finishing in 9th place. Race 2 was almost the same as race 1 but finding a little more pace in this one but only to get boxed in for several laps costing to much time! With the introduction of Stock Rods in their own class for 2005 & Mark Jnr racing taking up this formula this looks like a full season @ The Rolling Thunder
Season review 2003
This year we got of to a flying using last years car starting from the rear of the grid, this year would have more highs than lows getting good results early on put the season in good stead. I suppose you could say that the lowest point was the East of England weekend leading the main race for a sure win for the exhaust to drag on the track so much receiving the black flag! then another meeting going around the outside of Tim Ruff 297 having slight contact on the front wheels sending the car of into the Armco very heavily damaging the passenger side front & then managing to get the car out for the final only to breakdown. The highest point winning both Heats & Finals Championships. Sadly now with the loss of Alwalton Raceway we will have to wait & see though possibly may have a few meeting else where.
Season review 2002
2002 season campaign
car
This was a season which had a lot of high & lows or maybe just expected too much, their was though good racing for most of the time but at times very frustrating like beginning nudged out of a corner sending the car across infield (grass)& hitting a couple of Grand Prix Midgets doing extensive damage to the car & the midgets, just one of a few incidents. On the other hand still finishing up in the points, 2nd Heats Championship 1st Finals Championship & the big bonus not having to repair the car in the closed season.
Season review 2001
Well this year didn't start of to well as it should of done after winning the class championship last year (2000 season). I did a couple of meetings with last years car then wrote it off on a wet meeting coming out of what we call pit bend got it out of shape & lost it! found two parked cars & with too much damage it would was easer to finish off the new car that was almost ready. The cars first outing was on 13th May 2001 for a new car it didn't go too bad with DNF for the first race,3rd for heat two & a 3rd for the finals we thought the car was to not bad & having mixed results over the next few meetings also with a few minor prangs with it even managing to break the hub assembly, still it's all fixable.
2000 Championship winning car
2001 season campaign carThis car has taken some time setting up & i am not really happy with it yet. It's almost there but might as well be miles away, still that's racing. The East of England Championship race was probably the best meeting to date after some very close racing with Lionel Lord (car no 699) ended up finishing second, couldn't quite get by a car that got wider & wider, with Darren Lord (car 69) getting closer every lap. Now the car was getting better all the time then disaster after 6 meetings in to the season with the new car a race was red flagged due to an incident the car was hit from behind spun around & fenced & now it is a write off. (see pics)
This was a waste of a good car with the rear chassis too bent & the roof pulled down it's just too much damage & not enough time to repair. Time to get the old car out again & finish the season off with this car & still haven't done the double yet.