Superstox


Superstox is a type of single seat formula racing, similar to Sprint car racing developed in the 1960s in the United Kingdom. Racing is 'contact' whereby drivers can use the front bumper to help dislodge any car in front. Like most other forms of short oval racing, the higher rated drivers normally start at the back of the grid for each race.
Its original roots come from the mid-1950s, it derived as a cheaper alternative to BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing, where a smaller junior formula was raced nationally before the Southern 'Spedeworth' short oval tracks broke away from the main promoting body in 1961 to run their own version of Juniors which they called Formula Two. The cars were originally standard or 'stock' but became more modified over the years until 1968 when a new 'stock' car formula was introduced and the original much modified class became known as Super Stock Cars. This was later shortened to Superstox.
Today the class bears no resemblance to a road going car. Chassis are generally built by specialist companies and all the components are special racing ones. The cars are all of front engine design although rear engine was allowed up until the mid-1970s.
Previous famous drivers include 1973 World Champion Derek Warwick and British Champion, Paul Warwick.

World Championship

First raced at Ipswich in 1961 before moving to its longtime home at Wimbledon Stadium. The 1962 World Championship was actually the first car meeting held at Wimbledon. The race originally was a World title in name only although it was an English domiciled Czech, Jan Scott, who won the first running. Later in the sixties the event attracted Spedeworth's Scottish drivers and then the European competitors from the NACO organisation. The first European cars to race in the UK were different specifications to the UK counterparts - the 1966 Dutch team having V8 powered saloon cars. A stronger affiliation in the early 1970s saw the European drivers racing rear engine cars although this type of machine proved less robust than a "Super Stock Car" and they become Midgets leaving the newer front engine cars that were appearing on the continent as Superstox. The Superstox formula remained essentially a European one until the appearance of some South African drivers in the late 1960s when Spedeworth gained an affiliation there. The South Africans only contested the championship until the mid 1970s as there was no longer an equivalent class there. One American driver, Al Contreras, represented the USA in the early 70s but he, like the inaugural champion, Scott was serving as an airman in this country at the time.
The Scottish Superstox died out in the 1980s when Gordon McDougall started his own promotion, breaking away from Spedeworth and affiliating to BriSCA. The Scottish were represented in the title again in 2011 when the class started up again north of the border.
2019Lochgelly154 Michael Green309 Brian Forrest265 Barry Stephen
2018Tullyroan914 Lee Davison776 Dan Roots416 Mark Smith
2017Ipswich265 Barry Stephen60 Ben Marjoram77 Nick Roots
2016Lochgelly 482 Jason CooperBryan ForrestChris Bradbury
2015Aghadowey 886 Chris Bradbury
2014Wimbledon 376 Steven Jackson
2013Lochgelly 376 Steven Jackson 177 Stuart Gilchrist 482 Jason Cooper
2012Ipswich 177 Stuart Gilchrist
2011Wimbledon 151 Nick Smith
2010Wimbledon 51 Colin Aylward
2009Wimbledon 60 Ben Marjoram
2008Ipswich 482 Jason Cooper 69 Shaun Brooker 51 Colin Aylward
2007Wimbledon69 Shaun Brooker 376 Steven Jackson 482 Jason Cooper
2005Wimbledon 482 Jason Cooper
2004Swaffham 174 Paul Poulter
2003Wimbledon 22 Mark Kelman--
2002Swaffham 612 Garry Sparkes
2001Ipswich 18 Mark Eaton 22 Mark Kelman 69 Shaun Brooker
2000Wimbledon 323 Dave Turner
1999Ipswich 612 Garry Sparkes
1998Wimbledon 612 Garry Sparkes
1997Ipswich 77 Tony Roots John Damen 118 David Mason
1996Arena Essex 7 Glenn Salmon 118 David Mason
1995Wimbledon 7 Glenn Salmon 118 David Mason
1994Warneton 212 Luud Lauriejssen
1993Wimbledon 612 Garry Sparkes 69 Shaun Brooker Dave Turner
1992Ballymena 32 Ian McKnight
1991Venray 88 Darren Innocent
1990Wisbech 4 John Mickel
1989Wisbech 612 Garry Sparkes 170 Howard White 4 John Mickel
1988Arlington 54 Martyn Brand 397 Paul Pearson 170 Howard White
1987Kaldenkirchen 54 Martyn Brand 16 Ad van Besouw 482 Neil Bee
1986Wisbech 482 Neil Bee 206 Robin Randall 170 Howard White
1985Cowdenbeath 94 Vic Russell 84 Robin Brown Dave Moir
1984Tilburg 4 Antony van den Oetelaar 41 Jo van Rengs 206 Robin Randall
1983Cleethorpes 4 Antony van den Oetelaar 41 Jo van Rengs 39 Les Clark
1982Cleethorpes 482 Neil Bee 546 John Gray 17 Roy Eaton
1981Kaldenkirchen 482 Neil Bee 320 Dave Pierce 397 Paul Pearson
1980Cowdenbeath 320 Dave Pierce41 Gordon McDougall 206 Robin Randall
1979Yarmouth 298 Jim Welch 320 Dave Pierce 211 Howard Cole
1978Kaldenkirchen 41 Gordon McDougall 211 Howard Cole 482 Neil Bee
1977Wimbledon 298 Jim Welch 380 Alan Cayzer 55 Bob Morton
1976Cowdenbeath 41 Gordon McDougall 81 Bill Pullar 482 Neil Bee
1975Kaldenkirchen 482 Neil Bee 546 John Gray 217 Bob Perry
1974Wimbledon 443 Steve Monk 320 Dave Pierce 221 Derek Warwick
1973Wimbledon 221 Derek Warwick 320 Dave Pierce 364 Tony May
1972Wimbledon 294 Geoff Goddard 264 Pete Welland 381 John Cayzer
1971Wimbledon 294 Geoff Goddard 320 Dave Pierce 417 Roger Warnes
1970Wimbledon 530 Biffo Sweeney 213 Doug McMahon 264 Pete Welland
1969Wimbledon 500 Alan Wardropper 213 Doug McMahon 217 Bob Perry
1968Wimbledon 320 Dave Pierce 319 Denny Pearson 304 Derek Fiske
1967Wimbledon 531 Todd Sweeney 320 Dave Pierce 463 Dell Sticking
1966Wimbledon 2 Stan Ingle 68 Trevor Frost 320 Dave Pierce
1965Wimbledon 210 Eddie James 399 Chris Studd 307 Norman Crowe
1964Wimbledon 210 Eddie James 70 Aubrey Dance 17 Tony Maidment
1963Wimbledon 17 Tony Maidment Chris Cutting Dave Crittall
1962Wimbledon 2 Stan Ingle 95 Jan Scott Ken Wade
1961Ipswich 95 Jan Scott 17 Tony Maidment Pete Godsmark

European Championship

Second to the World Championship in status of the races held for this formula, the European was, in the early seasons, the highest status race to be staged outside of the Spedeworth promotion's home circuits. The European Championship has a remarkable history with its first runnings at Baarlo in the Netherlands.
2017Tullyroan Oval515 Jordan Aylward7 Jordan Salmon530 Brett Wesbroom
2011Ipswich Shaun Brooker
2010Wimbledon Ben Marjoram
2009Ipswich Matt Carberry
2008Wimbledon Jason Cooper
2007Ipswich Garry Sparkes
2006Swaffham Jason Cooper
2005Ipswich Ben Marjoram
2004Warneton Mark Kelman Paul Poulter Kevin Ferris
2003Warneton Mark Kelman
2001Wimbledon Mark Eaton
2000Ipswich Dave Turner
1999Warneton Ad Mellisant
1998Warneton Geoff Bridges
1997Warneton Tony Roots
1996Wimbledon Garry Sparkes
1995Arena Essex Raceway Garry Sparkes
1994Wimbledon Paul Poulter Tony Roots Steve Collison
1993Netherlands Shaun Brooker
1992Venray John Mickel
1991Wisbech Darren Innocent
1990Tilburg John Mickel
1989Tilburg Garry Sparkes Rob Perry Howard White
1988Tilburg Martyn Brand
1987Arlington Roy Eaton Rob Perry Gerry Cooper
1986Tilburg Jo van Rengs
1985Tilburg Robin Randall Howard Cole Martyn Brand
1984Cowdenbeath Les Clark Robin Brown John Adam
1983 Dave Pierce
1982Cowdenbeath Dave Pierce Neil Bee Les Clark
1981Ballymena Dave Pierce Neil Bee Ian Murdoch
1980Warneton/B Dave Pierce Martyn Brand Antony van den Oetelaar
1979Kaldenkirchen Dave Pierce Bill Pullar Antony van den Oetelaar
1978Cowdenbeath Bill Pullar
1977not run
1976Posterholt Steve Monk Mark Eaton Alan Cayzer
1975 John Cayzer Neil Bee Doug McMahon
1973Tilburg Tony May Ronnie Nisbet Dave Pierce
1971Ipswich Bob Perry Dave Pierce Tony May
1970Cowdenbeath Malcolm Paterson Derek Fiske Biffo Sweeney
1969not run?
1968Amsterdam Tony May Alan Freebody Trevor Frost
1967Hengelo Tony May Trevor Frost Jan Scott
1966Baarlo Theo Jansen
1965Baarlo Adrian Kleyngeld

1966 National Team League

Spedeworth set up a National Team League comprising six teams based at seven stadia. The first match took place at Aldershot on 21 May 1966 when the Knights beat the visiting Ipswich team.

Aldershot Knights

Managed by Frank Howlett

Eastbourne Eagles

Managed by Charlie Dugard.

Ipswich Witches

Managed by Pop Perry

London Sparrows

The team's home fixtures were shared between Wimbledon and New Cross Stadia

Yarmouth Bloaters

Managed by Ted Payne

Chichester

The team that never was. The team is referred to in texts from the period with top driver Don Mason mentioned as a driver. The team would most likely have used either Aldershot or Eastbourne as its base but no fixtures were contested by the team.

1971 & 1972 Auto Spedeway Team League

The Auto Spedeway team league was set up by Stock Car promoter Spedeworth International for the 1971 season. The competition only lasted just under two years. The racing featured the promotion's regular Superstox cars with identical bodies although underneath the chassis often varied. The body style was based on those sported by the touring South African Team in the 1970 season.
The prototype car was displayed on Spedeworth's stand at the 1971 Racing Car Show. The season was structured so that all the teams had two matches against each other, one home and one away. Outside the League competition there were also a couple of multi-team tournament meetings.
The 1972 fixture schedule was not completed due to some driving standards problems and also the closure of Cross in Hand raceway in August that year.
Each team was managed by a key person from the within the Spedeworth organisation and the team line ups included most of the top drivers from the era.
Despite the closure of Cross in Hand, Spedeworth later staged two friendly matches at Aldershot between the Aldershot Knights and the Cross in Hand Tigers.

Aldershot Knights

Team Manager: Ted Weaver
Drivers: Denny Pearson, Derry Warwick, Roy Wood, Stan Warwick, Ken Etwell, John Field
The Knights were based at Aldershot Stadium in Tongham.

Cross in Hand Tigers

Team Manager: Les Eaton
Drivers: Dave Pierce, Dave Hindle, Alan Cox, Biffo Sweeney, Art Fowler, Gordon Street.
The Tigers were based at Cross-in-Hand stadium in Sussex

Eastbourne Lions

Team Manager: Ken Denham
Drivers: Chris Denham, Barry Kelleher, Rod Waller, Jim Stuart, Nigel Fox, Graham Minchin
The Lions joined the league in 1972 and were based at Arlington Stadium, near Eastbourne - the team effectively the old White City / Walthamstow outfit relocating.

Ipswich Foxes

Team Manager: Harry Barnes
Drivers: Skid Parish, Tony Grant, Norman Crowe, Mike Read, John Biddle, Alan Cayzer. Reserve: Paul Rookyard

Ringwood Badgers

Team Manager: Alan Butler
Drivers: John Edwards, Tom Edwards, Cliff Maidment, Gordon Maidment, Derek Warwick, Roy Eaton
The Badgers joined the league in 1972 and were based at Matchams Park although they only ever hosted one home match which was against the Wimbledon Dons.

Walthamstow (formerly White City) Lions

Team Manager: Roger Fennings
Drivers: 1971: Chris Denham, Barry Kelleher, Jack Percy, Rod Waller, Jim Stuart, Les Holland. Occasional - Leon Smith
The team was originally going to be called the 'White City Slickers'. Neither White City nor Walthamstow were allocated a team for the 1972 season, the driver line up transferred to Eastbourne for the 1972 campaign.

Wimbledon Canaries / Dons

Team Manager: Reg Etherington
Drivers: 1971: Eric Taylor, Bryan Kensett, Tony Mellish, Frank Boyles, John Field, Keith Fransella
1972: Jim Davey, Frank Boyles, Barry Plummer, Pete Welland, Bryan Kensett, Steve Monk, Keith Fransella, Reserve: Eric Taylor
Based at the Wimbledon Stadium in Plough Lane, the team were originally known as the Canaries but changed their name to the Dons for the 1972 season.

Wisbech Fen Tigers

Team Manager: Jack Gray
Drivers: Roger Warnes, John Gray, Rick Drewery, Tony May, Stu Blyth, Jack Savage. Reserves: Trevor Blyth, Malcolm Burrell
The Fen Tigers were the inaugural champions in 1971.

Yarmouth Greyhounds

Team Manager: Ted Payne
Drivers: 1971: Joe Cracknell, Horry Barnes, Colin Byrne, Trevor Blyth, Alan Taylor, Doug McMahon
1972: Doug McMahon, Alan Taylor, Bob Perry, Brian Randall, Pete Marshall, Doug Wardropper

Corgi Toys

Toy manufacturer Corgi produced and sold die-cast models of two major championship winning cars in their 'Corgi Rockets' range. The cars were those of four times British Champion Derek Fiske and 1967 World Champion Adrian 'Todd' Sweeney. These were a good choice to represent the formula as Sweeney's car still had a cut down stock body whilst Fiske's was one of the newer home made cabs not derived from a road car.
The cars were sold individually and in varying sets which also included tow cars, trailer and a Jaguar Pace Car. The cars were launched in the 1970 season. The Todd Sweeney shell was later re-used by Corgi as a generic silver liveried "Superstock" car.