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I went to my first ever Stock Car meeting at 3 months old (or so I am told). Mum, Dad and grandparents were all
into racing. My first recolection of racing is a race at Spedeweekend where the leader of each lap got some money. Barry lee
won the race and came away with most of the loot. I was hooked, but as a child I did not go to many meetings. We then moved
to the other side of Ipswich (with in cycling distance of Foxhall) and I started Copelston High School. I went to a few meetings
with friends from School. At the time Polley and Longhurst were racing 1600cc HotRods. After an annoucment at Foxhall we joined
the Foxhall Foxes supporters club, where I become friends with a few members that travelled all over the country to watch
racing. I then spent many years travelling round the country watching racing, my favourite formulas being F2, F1 and Saloon
Stock Cars. I had just started work when we moved to Needham Market. This is where I really became involved in racing. I had
become friends with the Brett family. With Mark Brett No. 18 Saloon stock I soon become involved in the building and racing
of Stcok Cars then later 1300cc stock cars. Also just round the corner lived another friend and stock car driver,
438 Tony Lay.
I helped Mark for several years, untill he emigrated to New Zealand. I went on to other things, including model
stock car (slot stox) racing. It was here that I met up with Peter Rose. He offered me a go in a Rookie Rod at a Foxhall practice
Night. I got on pretty well, with in a few laps I was on the pace (all that watching had paid off) As much as I wanted to
race I could not afford it. Later that year Peter built me a banger, A Nissan Bluebird. I did not finish one race, but thats
racing. I decided it was now time to give it a go. I purchased a van and found a workshop. All I needed was a car, I was not
sure what I wanted to race, Then after a call to Tony Lay he offered me Michaleas old car. It was a mk2 Fiesta. It had
more steel in it than a Saloon Stock car. But I knew I would not get hurt. Whilst getting the Fiesta ready to race I built
and raced a couple of bangers with limited success. I always seemed to have the biggest of crashes. I managed to get follwed
in and broke two ribs.I done a full season in 2005 with the Mk2 Fiesta picking up some reasonable results, particularly in
the wet.Towards the end of 2005 I burnt my arm badly at Yarmouth, my own damm fault. Do not take a rad cap off a hot engine.
DOH! This gave me the time to build my new car, a Mk 3 Fiesta. We raced the Mk3 at the last meeting of 2005 at Foxhall, in
the Ice. We ended up with a bit of damage but nothing too bad.
2006 bought mixed fortunes. I blew 3 engines up at the beginging of the season. It was time to build a good reliable
engine. This we done, buying all parts on E-Bay. As time goes on we are getting better and more reliable, So bring on 2007.
See you around the raceways,
Noel
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