Celebrating 50 Years of BriSCA F1 Stock Car racing
......with A Golden Dream Grid of World Final Winners
On 27th March 2004 at the Windmill Village Hotel Golf & Leisure Club, Allesley, Coventry around 200 guests celebrated BriSCA F1 Stock Car Racing's 50th birthday.
Among those in attendance were drivers past and present, promotors, officials, sponsors and fans and the eagerly anticipated, highly charged and emotional evening was enjoyed by everyone.
One of the highlights was a presentation to individuals who, in the opinion of a significant cross section of race fans, drivers, officials and promotors, had been responsible for major contributions to the sport. The final list contained over one hundred names, both living and dead. This was narrowed down to ten names who were present on the night. Those receiving a Golden Jubilee presentation were:-
1. Stuart Smith (391/1), 2. Willie Harrison (2), 3. Frankie Wainman Senior (212), 4. John Lund (53), 5. Frankie Wainman Junior (515/1), 6. Keith Barber (Promotor/Publisher), 7. Bev Greenhalf (The Commentating Voice of BriSCA), 8. John La Trobe (Promotor), 9. Al Henderson (Starter), 10. Peter Falding (33/1).
It was truely a night to savour and ranked alongside two other memorable BriSCA stock car events outside of the great racing occasions - the Stuart Smith Testimonial Meeting and the Willie Harrison Testimonial weekend. I count myself as fortunate to have been present at all three events.
My contribution to the Golden Jubilee celebrations was a selection of my scale models and I took as my theme 'The Golden Dream Grid of World Final Winners'.
My display box contained a mock-up of a section of the start/finish straight at Coventry International Raceway complete with starter's rostrum and all the flags.
50 years of BriSCA F1 Stock Car Racing - 5 decades of vivid memories was represented by three cars/drivers for each decade. This was the lineup:
ROW 1 - (1954 TO 1964) - 42 Aubrey Leighton, 103 Johnny Brise, 38 Fred Mitchell
ROW 2 - (1965 TO 1974) - 100 Tony Neal, 396 Doug Cronshaw, 252 Dave Chisholm
ROW 3 - (1975 TO 1984) - 212 Frankie Wainman Snr, 190 Len Wolfenden, 2 Willie Harrison.
ROW 4 - (1985 TO 1994) - 1 Stu Smith, 33 Peter Falding, 55 Bert Finnikin
ROW 5 - (1995 TO 2004) - 515 Frankie Wainman Jnr, 53 John Lund, 97 Murray Harrison.
What a mouth watering prospect! The ultimate race-off! And I did have reserves! 68 Trevor Frost for 1954 - 1964; 375 George Ansell for 1965 - 1974; 199 Mike Close for 1975 - 1984; 391 Andy Smith for 1985 - 1994 and 318 Rob Speak for 1995 - 2004.
As I said on the night - ignore the impossibility of such a race, let your imagination take over. Immerse yourself in the ultimate fantasy BriSCA F1 stock car race.
There is no significant power or tyre advantage.....
Drivers are at the peak of their driving ability....
It is a three abreast clutch start over 25 laps....
The shale is in perfect condition....
Add in the element of luck - both good and bad....
Drop in the settling of a few old scores....
Now feel the atmosphere of the big stock car occasion - the roars of support from rival fans in a packed stadium....
The sudden adrenaline rush experienced by drivers and spectators alike as the green flag is waved.....
Now see the race in your mind's eye - the clashes at the first bend - the pushing from the back - spinning cars - the bumpers going in.......
Fast forward to the final corner of the 25th lap.......
Who crosses the line 1st, 2nd and 3rd?
YOU DECIDE - YOUR RESULT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS.
My result for what it is worth - 1st. 53 John Lund, 2nd. 1 Stu Smith, 3rd. 252 Dave Chisholm.
A couple of pictures showing sections of my display box have been added to the gallery.
I hope you enjoy just the thought of such a race and all the memories that these stock car models revive for you from the first 50 years of our fantastic sport.
Your thoughts and comments on the idea, perhaps even your own result can be sent to my email facility.