September 20
The world has changed in the past couple of weeks with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and it is hard to believe in some ways that not only has my own flying UK trip been and gone but I have been back in Australia
almost a week already.
Again, thank you so much to everyone who helped make the trip what it was. There are too many to list, and whilst it is a bit of a cliché, they know who they are and equally I'm sorry not to have caught up with all of those
that I had hoped to, and for some of those I did it was literally just a quick chat. The past couple of years have been tough but it was good to see just about all looking well and generally a positive outlook, despite the everything that is happening in the
world right now. There will always be challenges, but they are pretty steep at the moment. Hopefully a lot has been learnt from the Covid situation in a vast number of ways. I will leave it at that.
Being in the UK at the time of the passing
of the Queen was both fortunate and unfortunate in equal measures and certainly added to my work ahead of being part of the three race dates I was invited to present at. When the news broke on Thursday evening, there were naturally concerns and talks
as to whether the BriSCA F1 World weekend could/would/should go ahead. A number of sporting codes were quick to cancel or postpone as we know. But, the word from the government and local authorities was that we could go ahead, just as long as they
were conducted in a respectful manner and this specifically included sticking to the dot on time and noise curfews for Mildenhall and in particular Ipswich.
BriSCA F1 “World Final night” has long since ceased being that more of an all day
affair regardless of where and which racing surface. However, there are factors that need to be taken into consideration and these had a double whammy with Foxhall Stadium, especially in light of the above. With staging promoter Buxton Raceway
having leased the venue for the event and requiring Spedeworth staff to plug any staffing gaps, plus the BSCDA having their own necessary officials there was the situation where a lot of people who did not know or had worked with each other previously were
together for one of the biggest events of the season.
The main issues were what could and could not happen on track. As a fan first and foremost I totally get that the fans paid for their tickets and had little or no entertainment
prior to the racing commencing itself. There were reasons for this and the biggest one was noise and not only from the sound of roaring V8’s but also the public address system. Ipswich is only permitted one “all day” noise event
per annum and that will always be the Spedeweekend in July. The F1 World Final does, I believe, have a one in five-year dispensation of sorts but what we got was, well, what we got. The two afternoon practice sessions and overseas time trials
was it, and many did note that the PA was very quiet for my commentary of the said time trials. That was the max it is/was permitted for that short period at that time of the day. It would have been great to have had pre-meeting entertainment
of sorts, but again, from 1600-1700 there had to be a time of quiet with no on track engine noise and no speaking over the PA or at least to a higher noise level. This effectively wiped out any opportunity to interview driver/s on stage prior to the
event. I believe the BSDCA were running such on their social media, but even they were affected by the rain showers that kept on coming and going and naturally drivers were more concerned about which set ups they were going to be running with. Despite
the noise constraints, myself, BriSCA Chairman Steve Rees and Sophie Clark from the BSCDA did make a concerted effort to parade and interview Tom Harris prior to the start of racing but for varying reasons we could not get it to happen. Then latterly
the time curfew bit again with the loss of the Grand National. Running two big races on the same evening, at the venue where time is an issue was always set to be a risk. It was the BriSCA F1 World Final meeting and whilst it was excellent that
the National Ministox got to race for their Gold Roof at the biggest show of the year (as has been done before) there was no denying that the time lost was on the parade for that event and the time it took to line the cars up, responsible adults chaperoning
minors off the speedway and so on. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there shouldn’t have been a parade for the race this time, as harsh as it sounds. The meeting had to finish by 2200 no ifs or buts and I’m sure lessons have been
learnt from this. Or at least I hope.
There was no real reason why there could not have been some sort of a fan zone and driver meet and greet just as there was for the F2 World at Kings Lynn. Hopefully this can be worked on and rectified for
next year at Northampton.
Despite all the pre-meeting and weekend negatively, particularly surrounding Ipswich we were lucky to witness a superb World Final race and a very worthy winner in Charlie Sworder, who at 20 years old (and less so than Peter
Falding was) is the youngest ever winner of the race. Being part of the emotion in victory lane with the Sworder family, and a great impromptu interview with dad and crew chief Mick was excellent. At the opening of the meeting, I recall stating
that there was a changing of the guard going on and a new generation was coming through. It is through.
Very well done to Charlie on his win. Also, to Dave Polley in the F2 World Final at Kings Lynn a week prior, who is one of the
‘old guard’ these days but thoroughly deserved and watching him chase down and remove Charlie Guinchard, one of the new generation just echoes the above. Charlie has since added the English Open title to his British and UK Open and will surely
be a favourite (again) next year. Lewis Smith’s last bend victory in the Ministox was classic and perhaps unexpected and showed that the ladder is working for I remember commentating him on Ninja Karts at Aldershot and now here he will be
with a gold roof ahead of a move into F2’s in 2024.
Finally, Aldershot was a little bit of an unexpected bolt on with Graham (Woodward’s) England cricket schedule being moved around following the passing of Her Majesty. A great day
at what was once my local track, in warm sunshine in front of a good crowd and some spectacular and (yes, slightly mad) action from the 1300 Stock Cars on their biggest day of the year and a successful defence of the World title for Lee Pearce, by literally
inches ahead of Jacob Bromley. Great racing from the young stars in the Ninjas too and it was great to do a bit of commentary on the National Bangers. I wish we could have similar in Australia. They’d be so popular….
But
that is just it. We want what we cannot have a lot of the time and we ultimately just have to go with what we have got. Even on track presenting is not what it was, for the H & S constraints now mean that the days where I, or whoever was able
to get on to track as soon as possible, with a camera operator following to get a near instant reaction is no longer possible. I had to wait until it was 100% safe to do so to enter the arena to speak with Lewis, Charlie and Lee. We all know
why and I for one am fine with that.
Despite the obvious issues, which are similar to the rest of the world anyway, from what I could see the sport is in good health in the UK and certainly appears to be in the Netherlands. It’s a great
product. Don’t waste it.
July 26
It is the time of year in at least the ‘bottom’ half of Australia that it is cold enough to require a coat or even a jumper, and that is where the whole “Christmas
in July” thing comes in. Many do go for the full Christmas roast lunch on a 40c day, but equally many do not and I come into the latter. Beach and a barbie for me thanks.
But this is the thing; weather and seasons. Europe and
the UK experienced record-breaking temperatures last week with in particular the centre of England, i.e Northampton which is as far from the sea as it is possible to be seeing highs just shy of 40c. This was the time when the clay/granite/dirt track
for the BriSCA European weekend was being prepared.
It is very difficult to the point of being impossible to curate a great track in such extremes. Dust will always become an issue and/or the track surface going too hard and simply breaking
up. Here in Australia, where such summer temperatures are a lot more common, the same thing happens. And this is with Sprint Cars rather than the bigger, heavier F1 Stock Cars. Meetings have been postponed, delayed and so on simply because the weather was
too fierce or even in some cases simply forecast to be. Race meetings do not run in the heat of a summer day here, and that was also an issue at Northampton on Sunday. Trying to run a dirt meeting on a warm to hot afternoon that was suitable for competitors
and customers alike – Deane Wood and his team had at least one hand tied behind their backs throughout by the look and sound of it. Yesterday (Monday) Deane went to great lengths via social media to explain and show claims that to say the track was “down
to tarmac” was false.
I get that many bemoan Northampton, for so many years a doyen of tarmac racing, was turned to a dirt track in 2018. But, the venue had lost its way. The tarmac surface was old, broken up, patched up with concrete but
on top of that, one of its grandee events, the European Championship weekend had lost its spark. The growth of the sport across the North Sea in the Netherlands, rather than being a boost to the UK was starting to be a threat and a number of top English names
opting to race there on the same weekend in 2017 (without wishing to rake up old news) as well as Coventry Stadium closing lead to some serious decisions being made to help protect the sport as a whole, rather than just one of the heritage tracks. It
was decided to make Northampton a temporary dirt surface for 2018 but it has remained and will do so. It was simply unfortunate that then both the 2018 and 2019 weekends were blighted by wet weather but equally in the same year, when I was on the PA for the
rescheduled European and World Masters, it was a great event in front of one of the biggest crowds in recent times at Northampton.
Deane stated in his Facebook message on Monday that he does and will listen and will attempt to rectify. He rightly mentioned
that other tracks have issues but do not appear to receive the same level of criticism. But, as I mention above, sometimes such will be near impossible when faced with the elements of too wet or too hot. I don’t recommend running daytime dirt events
in such extreme temperatures, but they are of course pretty rare. If the times for the European weekend could be tweaked that might be an idea – but only an idea, I am not going as far as suggesting that they should be.
Deane/Spedeworth
recently purchased the venue which is hugely positive for the future of the sport and has almost gone under the radar in all this. It is also known that the F1 World Final will be at Northampton next year where you can bet that there will be improvements.
Focus on the positives.
Thank You Bill.
When I return to the UK for a visit in late August/early September, it goes without saying that so much will have changed in the three years. Equally lots of things will likely
not have changed! But, nothing gets away from the fact that so many that I knew and respected in various walks of life will not be there this time. And by so many it is not just figuratively speaking. It really is. Sobering thoughts.
Legend is overused. There are true legends, and they live on beyond their time and that will certainly be the case with Bill Batten, who the oval racing community in Britain and indeed far beyond are mourning and reflecting on the passing of last
week. So much has been written and said about ‘Uncle Billy’ whose ultimate records of everything will probably never be beaten. F2 Final wins, yes, World titles – Rob Speak will likely hold down that one – but the
whole bundle? No, I cannot see it.
As a child, I had a poster of Bill on my bedroom wall which I took from one of my dad’s old “Rods and Stocks” magazines. The one where he was sat by his low-slung car with the rear areofoil,
wearing his leather cap which I believe he got in the United States along with his great friends Howard Cole and Ivor Greenwood, who would also been seen wearing theirs. A “household” name. The first time I really remember seeing Bill
race was at Howard’s memorial meeting at Wisbech in 1991 when Superstox and F2’s appeared alongside each other for the first time since 1961. He had “hello Spedeworth fans” specifically sign written on to his areofoil that
day which I thought was a nice touch. A year later I was very disappointed, having got my dad to drive us to Skegness for the World Final that Bill withdrew due to the wet weather. As a kid I was angry that I had not got to see Bill race off the
front row. Speaky won it driving one handed, hanging the rear end out to the post and wire fence with his car collapsing around him, Bill could have least given it a go for me and many others. However, as an adult a few years later I did understand
why. You enter a race, especially a World Final to win it. If the car was not likely to perform in the conditions, even for ‘The Master’ then why bother. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.
When I was
given the opportunity by Graham Bunter to commentate at Mendips in 2001, despite my previous Spedeworth and Ringwood Raceway connections, I was still an unknown young one in BriSCA circles and I remember being quite nervous for my first appearance and this
was heightened when I drive through Shipham village and who should turn into the lane towards me, but, yes Bill Batten. OMG… I am going to be calling 167. Low and behold and perhaps naturally he went on to win the Final that day. It
was perhaps a good thing at that stage that Graham himself was still undertaking the on track MC duties and conducted the interview, as I might have been a tad star struck. However, this passed as I gave myself a talking to – and remembered the
words of the late James Hunt which I carry to this day. “Don’t be overawed by anyone or anything in any situation, for we are all human beings”
I really need not have worried, for Bill was an absolute professional on the microphone
– he knew what to say and just how to say it, even if it meant tweaking the tail of the promoter or race organiser. Unlike many who I have had to place a microphone in front of after defeat in a big race, Bill was also gracious. The 2003
World Final at Smeatharpe for instance, a race that he knew and felt was probably his last serious crack at winning a World title. It went wrong before it even started as he was involved in the big crash on what was a false start and he famous
commandeered one of the tractors and towed his own car back to the pits! Barry Goldin went on to win the race at a canter, I remember the raw emotion that was involved for him and his family in victory lane that I unusually interviewed the runner
up first, and that was Bill who stated “I was beaten by a better man today and he really deserves this” He wasn’t just saying it, he meant it and it was hard not to have a lump in the throat in all that.
Of course, Bill’s
fourth title did come, a year later when on his 57th birthday he took the title at Barford. A World Champion again, at 57. Oh yes! He went on to have a storming year with the gold roof too, including another British title on a
hot afternoon at Smeatharpe. However, a very nasty crash which happened right in front of my commentary position at Mendips a year later very nearly ended Bill’s racing career, on hindsight maybe it should, but with it well and truly in his blood,
he couldn’t stop he had to come back. But his competitive edge was sadly gone. It was simply great to still have Bill Batten out there racing.
By the 10’s, ongoing illness, did lead him to ease his racing right back to
just a few appearances in the southwest of England and in 2014, when Autospeed announced that a “BriSCA F2 Salutes Bill Batten” meeting was due to take place, and that his protégé Eddie Darby had raced his car during that season it
was obvious what was coming. He raced that day, there was to be no fairytale but he did play a part by trying to break up a bit of “Punch and Judy” between Rob Speak and Gordon Moodie during the Final. What an honour it was for
me to be the last to interview Bill Batten as a driver and the emotion is clear in this video here; Bill Batten farewell interview 2014 - YouTube
Bill did not disappear of course, he
was still present in the pits, enjoying the sport – indeed right up to his passing. One day at Smeatharpe, start time of the meeting was approaching and I needed to go down to the “Banger end” of the pits to make sure my notes were
correct on who was who in them on that particular day. On my way, Bill popped in front of me, holding a mug of tea. I nodded to say hi, but it was clear he wanted to talk. I could have carried on, but this was BB, so I stopped. His
words to me that day; “I have never really said this, but you are bloody good at what you do boy, keep it up” How could I respond to that?! Other than “thank you Bill”… This was Bill Batten, a legend who had been
on my childhood bedroom wall, telling me this. I did not know whether to pinch myself or slap myself. I just do the talking, the competitors are the stars of the show.
It was also an honour to be part of a presentation to Bill after his
retirement, where it was remembered that one of his greatest World Final drives was actually one he did not win, or even finish and that was Crewe in 1993. Bill Batten 167 - YouTube
Thank You
Bill. The Master.
May 15
It’s certainly been a minute! A long overdue blog update - 7 months! - with it being well into 2022. We are only 6 weeks away from being halfway through the year. How scary
is that….
With the ongoing Covid situation around the globe, and face it, it still is (albeit differently) I have held back on putting much of a blog update up. Covid-19, the omicron thereof took a long while to catch me but did last week
and I am currently moving towards the competition of my seven days isolation. Not a chance to give the house the once over because I will confess that for three days last week I felt the most unwell that I had done for a number of years, but, I will
be fine. I can however see how those who are more susceptible in life for whatever reason might not be so.
Since the last update, I had a pretty busy racing season, fitting in as many dates as I could, both behind a microphone and watching>
All between working and enjoying my job with Jetstar Airways. If you ever thought Airline was acted up for the cameras then think again. But that’s another story for another day! I enjoyed being part of the team at Riverland Speedway
once again, a great and very well supported regional venue as well as helping out at Sunline Speedway when asked and also from the 21/22 season joining Trevor Scott at Gillman Speedway in Adelaide for the action on two and three wheels. Nothing really
beats the gladiatorial spectacle of Sidecar Speedway and being part of some big shows there, including in the pits at the national titles over the Easter weekend was a great honour. So, yes, I do still do a bit.
You might have also seen me pop
up from time to time with Graham Woodward on Spedeworth TV too, which is, I am pleased to say an ongoing arrangement for whenever I am required. Always great to look back on archive footage and remain in touch with the old gang in the UK too.
It was never intended that it would be three years without a visit, but that is where the pandemic – or rather Australia’s approach to handling it – put me and literally millions of others.
I had hoped to be able to announce
that I was heading back in a few weeks for the Ipswich and Skegness Spedeweekends and enjoy a bit of the English summer, but unfortunately this is not to be. Circumstances have worked against me. Australia is still only just getting back on to
its feet with international travel – I know only full well now working in the industry – and flights and routes are still scarce, booked out and also expensive. Particularly from a small market such as Adelaide. Staff travel is a perk,
yes, but only available if the seats do not have a full paying backside on them. Currently many understandably do. I was also struggling to have enough annual leave approved to make the visit viable, given that it is the winter school holidays in Australia
at the time. Add to that a lack of available hire cars, not to mention the apparent expense and also the hotel that had been booked for Ipswich cancelling my booking because it has now been designated as refugee accommodation by the British government.
So, I had to admit defeat.
However, there is always a plan B! I will be heading over late August and early September for a bit of a mini tour comprising the BriSCA F1 and F2 World Finals at Kings Lynn and Ipswich respectively plus hopefully visits
to Arlington, Mildenhall and Aldershot. It seems that the extra couple of months make a lot of difference in the things outlined above.
It will be great to be back to catch some ‘proper’ UK action and I am looking forward to it greatly
but between now and then I will be watching the summer action from afar.