Biffo

Hope Chloe Marie gets well soon...

[attachmentid=22056]

 

Johnnie Walker The Autobiography

 

I had finished my previous book, yes I’d finally coloured in all the pages, and was being asked that annual question, What do you want for Christmas then ?

As we were standing in a book shop at the time and I had resisted the urge to buy the Lewis Hamilton autobiography. How can his book be that big at his age, pah .

I’ll wait until he’s past 40 and maybe it will read as well as the Nigel Mansell autobiography. Then spotted the Johnnie Walker book.

A quick look inside to see if there are any relevant photos, yes, and it’s on a half price offer, that’ll do nicely.

 

Those of you under the age of 30 probably only know of Johnnie Walker as some old geezer who worked for ages on Radio 2 and what the hell am I writing a book review about him on uk dirt anyway ? A good question so hopefully this is my quick explanation.

Real name Peter Dingly , he was brought up in Solihull, the posh end of Brum.

Having a keen interest in cars and just failed all his O levels at school he left and became an apprentice car mechanic. Just after this his interest in music lead him to become a D.J. in his spare time. Then got his first big break working for the short lived pirate radio ship Radio England who Christened him Johnnie Walker.

Then after some months he literally jumped ship and got a job on Radio Caroline.

Just as things were looking good the Labour Government of Harold Wilson passed the Marine Act, which made the North Sea radio stations illegal.

While all the other stations such as Radio London stopped broadcasting and their D.J.s lined up for jobs at the newly formed BBC Radio 1, Radio Caroline kept going along with our Johnnie Walker, who now really was a pirate and faced a 2 year jail sentence if he set foot in the U.K. again.

Unfortunately you cant keep a Radio station running for long with little or no advertising and so one morning the ship owners came alongside, cut the anchor chain and towed the ship back to Amsterdam and it was time for Johnnie to go home.

No one was interested in locking him up now that Caroline was off the air and to cut a small chunk off the book, he joined Radio 1 like most of the others.

 

Now for those of you still reading, I’ve almost got to my point.

In 1969 Spedeworth organised a charity event at Wimbledon which was to include a Team of Radio 1 D.J.s driving the new Saloon Stock Cars. This of course got loads of publicity for Spedeworth and Wimbledon Stadium on Radio 1 at the time.

Johnnie Walker enjoyed it so much he wanted more and did a deal with Graham North and Spedeworth to race on a regular basis.

Graham prepared his M.G.Magnette Stock Car, Spedeworth let him race when ever he could and Johnnie Walker got them more PR.

Johnnie also raced a Superstock which Spedeworth allowed him to race under the magic number One.

Now I do remember seeing Mr. Walker racing the Orange Superstock at Aldershot and Wimbledon on several occasions during this short lived racing career. Don’t think he got above a white roof and I never saw him win anything but usually ended up in the middle of the pack and obviously having fun for most of the time. He thought the M.G.Magnette saloon was safer to race so it was a bit ironic that it was when he was racing that one night at an Aldershot meeting he got into a pile up and broke his leg.

[attachmentid=22057]

 

[attachmentid=22058]

 

The BBC kept Johnnie Walker’s job open at Radio 1 and he returned, leg in plaster after 2 months and gave up the stock car racing.

Fascinating reading throughout the 406 pages.

A colourful journey with of, sex, drugs and rock n roll on the way, and why if you can at least try and be careful with the first and avoid the second you wont have to worry about the third.

Plenty of highs and lows during the rest of the book including moving to the U.S.A., a divorce, kicking a Cocaine addiction, depression, losing his Brother and Father to Cancer only to find just after his second marriage he too has to do battle against the big C .

Johnnie Walker now lives in Somerset with his second wife Tiggy and plans to build his own radio studio at home.

In 2006 the one time pirate, who was once told by Radio Luxembourg he’d never become a D.J., was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to broadcasting.

 

I ‘d like to think the moral to the story is, you cant keep a good lad down if he has enough ambition and a healthy interest in small oval racing.

 

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Marie Curie Hospice and Salisbury Hospital Appeal Fund.

 

Biffo

Wow ! You clever old Headbanger

 

 

Congratulations m8

I went to the crash-a-rama a few years ago at the very same one you did........................ The flag-pole race was my personal favorite when I was there.

 

On the way we saw some impressive looking dirt cars, they looked like open wheel grass track cars crossed with Long nosed dragsters. We ended up wishing we had seem them instead as we think they were just down the road from the crash-a-rama .............

====================================================================

 

Yes they are a bit slow getting started , a couple of years back, at the old Tampa track we stood for their National Anthem and then had a prayer read out for all those taking part from the local vicar.....

I was just thinking , come on and just get on with it, at the time.

 

Yes, Kruiz, I think the Flag pole race was about the best too.

 

[attachmentid=21575]

 

There`s a dirt oval right next door also a drag strip on the other side, I guess maybe thats why they call it Speedworld.

Talking of Lowes Motor Speedway , when we were out in Florida, it was on the Speed channel on the cable TV showing the World of Outlaws World Final from there.

Unfortunately we were just going out so I only got to see the first ten laps.....arrrrrrg dont you hate it when that happens......

 

Just have to get to North Carolina next time and then visit Lowes Motor Speedway.....although no plans as yet.........honest.

 

Crash-o-Rama night - Speedworld Bithlo Florida - 23/11/07

 

After an hours drive from where we were staying we arrived at the small town of Bithlo on the Eastern outskirts of Orlando, via a number of toll expressways and highway 50.

There was always a worry the Crash-o-Rama night could be rescheduled at the last minute , but we need not have worried.

The track here is a 3/8 banked tarmac oval , that’s just over the ¼ mile if you`re bad at maths.

Although we arrived early (5pm) allowing 2 hours before start time we found out that it wasn’t starting until 8pm, plenty of time to look around.

Lots of souvenirs and loads of food available, bought a Crash-o-Rama tee shirt for $10, that’s about £5.

Two of the school buses did free trips around the track for the kids, then we had a motor cycle display team doing the usual stuff that they do.

Start time had by now drifted to nearer 8.30 pm and their wireless mike started to play up becoming very intermittent, which I found amusing,, anyone old enough to remember Norman Collier and his dodgy mike and chicken routine ??….lol .

 

[attachmentid=21434]

 

[attachmentid=21435] Part of the pit area & kids bus rides

 

We then got a small speech for the Starting Marshal about how lucky we all were to be able to enjoy our freedom due to the American Military fighting overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We then had to listen to a country record track referring to a soldier away fighting overseas..

After that we had the Start Marshal say he’d been reminded that it wasn’t only the Americans that were out there but the Canadians , the U.K. and ….(pause for thought)….other countries as well.

Turns out half his family were out there in the Army so I let him off.

Now it was time to all stand with one hand on your wallet and sing the American National Anthem.

Things finally kicked off with a guy driving what looked like his normal road car around the track until he got enough speed up and jumped a ramp, a bus and 2x parked cars until T boning into 2x mini buses, along with a shower of pyrotechnics exploding at the same time.

 

First actual race was an Endruro 50 lapper. About 50 standard looking Bangers turned out for this one, lining up four abreast at the start line. Quite a lively race with only three stoppages , 2x fires and 1x car obstructing the straight which was removed by a giant fork lift, car and driver together !

 

Then we were introduced to four ladies driving mini buses ( they call them mini vans).

They were fighting over one parking space on the centre green in a kind of Demolition Derby.

Thought this was a pathetic waste of time as they just produced a few dents before three of the others gave up, but the crowd seemed to like it.

 

We were then told the basic rules to Car Roller Hockey.

Several teams line up for the Professional race, which just meant they’d raced at least twice before.

Each team consists of three cars, one small white car which doesn’t run and has to be pushed, these are called the Puck cars and two large old v8 cars with big front bumpers , one to push the puck car and one to defend the pusher or attack the other teams. First white puck car over the line after about ten laps is the winner.

Quite interesting as they were all in team colours and four teams were competing at the same time.

Several pucks lost their pushers for a while early on as they’d been spun out, and had to free wheel around until they were caught up again. by a pusher.

Some teams had the knack and some didn’t.

The Amateur teams were next, this time eight competing together.

Well something different I suppose.

 

[attachmentid=21436] A full Grandstand

 

Then it was time for a demo of the Mambo Jet Car driven by a guy called Doug Rose. Was used as a dragster by Mr.Rose until a big accident in which he lost both legs.

The cars now been rebuilt , alas Doug Rose is still missing his legs but can still drive it.

Fifteen feet of flames out of the rear end down the straights was impressive.

 

[attachmentid=21439] Mambo Jet car

 

At last time for those School Buses on the fig.8 track, 16 huge buses thundered round for 20 laps.

Lots of bouncing around but when it came to the centre green cross-over it was the brake pedal that was used most. Nobody was interested in taking anyone out, just a few near misses until we got one turning onto its side on the last lap . Disappointed, have seen better action with a Van fig.8 back in the U.K.

 

[attachmentid=21437] Blurry buses on rolling start

 

Time for Skid Car Racing - just take a FWD car, remove the rear tyres and weld onto the rear wheels a Skid Plate, get the picture ? A car which drags its bum along in a shower of sparks.

Thirty cars lined up for this one , after the flag drops they `re off into the first bend and the fastest one usually ends up facing the wrong way. Steering very flexible in this one as you can imagine.

An interesting novelty race over about ten laps.

 

Then it was the Flag Pole Race.

To represent the flag pole we had two mini buses lined up on the centre green opposite the Start/ Finish straight.

Another thirty odd bangers are lined up for this one as normal except that ,when the flag drops for the off, they have to drive across the start line and then turn sharp left to the centre green, drive round the mini buses using them as a roundabout, then back on to the track crossing the line again before starting round for their first lap around the track.. This is repeated over about 15 laps until we had a winner.

The beauty of this race is as they come round the Flag pole back onto the track they have to smash their way through the rest of the field which are still crossing the line ready to turn onto the centre green themselves. The result was chaos with cars being pushed in all directions.

Can just imagine that roundabout under the Chiswick fly over that gets grid locked at rush hour using this system……excellent fun.

 

Not too much time delay clearing away between races , if cars couldn’t be driven back to the pits they were just shoved into a pile on the centre green to be cleared off after the meeting.

 

Time now for the Boat & Trailer Race

About 20 laps in a straight banger race except you have to be towing a boat & trailer behind you.

If you lose both boat & trailer you’re disqualified, however if you’ve still just got the trailer you’re O.K. and if you’ve still got the remains of the boat roped on behind and no trailer your O.K. too. !

35 cars lined up for the start…. Lots of action in this one.

If you get too fast into the corners your trailer will fling out and drag the car round too.

Lads of wreckage across the track , mainly fibre glass.

A big yellow hearse which was disqualified , having lost its boat & trailer, just kept going, destroying any stray boats in his path.

Race of the night, very much like our caravan racing.

 

[attachmentid=21438] 4 Cyl. DD

 

Time now for the two Demolition Derbies, first for 4 cylinder Compacts and then the final for V8`s.

Sounds good but they only use part of the start / finish straight and wet the track too !

About the size of a fun fair Dodgem track .

About 16 cars started in the DD , lots of wheel spinning but no room to get up any speed.

The commentator seemed to be wetting his pants for the slightest little dent.

Took about 20 minutes to have one car left.

Why do they make it so boring ???

If that was their idea of a Destruction Derby we`d seen enough and weren`t bothered staying around for the V8`s , besides it was now Midnight so we left before the end along with many others.

Enjoyed a quiet hours drive back down the freeway in our Dodge Grand Caravan minibus (3.3 ltr auto) getting back at 1am.

Well Crash-o-Rama was fun but I wouldn`t rush back especially for that.

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt……..

 

Cheers Biffo

 

 

 

 

another Rootes Rotbox ........

 

............... Nice one Reg

 

Happy Birthday m8................ whats left of it.

i think rngwood would be pretty cool

===========================================

 

Wasnt someone half way through making Ringwood, ages ago ??

 

Had a look back but cant find the picture or artical now.

In regards to 50's 60's and 70's British Built tin..that still leaves hundreds of subjects to model.........

 

=============================================================

 

Those were the days Reg , we actually had a car industry making thousands different cars.......

...saying that maybe some should never have been made at all........lol

I know its stretching the subject matter (best meeting) but thought these might be of interest anyway...?

I took at the Goodwood Revival meet a couple of years back.

 

[attachmentid=20770]

 

Jack Brabhams Aussie Midget Racer

 

[attachmentid=20771]

 

[attachmentid=20772]

 

Flying A30

 

[attachmentid=20773]

 

Took about 6 goes to get this one right

 

[attachmentid=20774]

 

Now how does this go?

 

[attachmentid=20775]

 

Rowan Atkinson leaning on his Jag , on the left

 

[attachmentid=20776]

 

And lastly.......Never take to the track without warming the tyres first

 

Biffo

Happy Birthday Biffo and Spike

=============================

 

 

Thanks lads..........and Happy Birthday to Spike too

Good photos m8

I`ve gotta old Canon Powershot A10 , but still takes reasonable pictures and is still small enough to carry about. Usually set to manual and multi shot (3 in a row) when panning for those moving shots so you normally find one thats O.K. , if not just try again.

Biffo

.....and I usually am............just ask Dino...........

 

The Norweign Blue if I`m not mistaken.

A dead parrot

===================================================

 

Naaaa Dino .... Your thinking of a Polygon

 

lol

superb nezza.. the next rob speak eh... we will have to get ukdirt boys together and do this next year.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Excellent stuff , heres to the ukdirt trophy 2008........who`s up for it ?

 

 

Phew munster, plenty of weight on the front end there m8.

I was looking forward to racing the S318 Pinto Special at Horndean today.

Was there ready to sign on at 9.15 only to be told the bad news...

The car drove onto the trailer but after arriving at the track the clutch broke so couldnt even get the car off of the trailer, where it stayed all day.

Therefore my drive was off, promised another go when its fixed.

 

[attachmentid=19140]

 

Biffo is reduced to Victor Meldrew.......I dont believe it.......

 

The Meeting got off to a slow start with the relay race (yawn) , then some rods of various specs.

Then it was the first Heat for the Unlimited Open Bangers and wow, it was one of the best Banger races I`d ever seen.

Must have been 20-25 starters including 2 Yanks, quite a few Volvo estates, and Grannys, and a couple of BMW s.

 

[attachmentid=19141]

 

The Beast was one of 2 Yanks on parade.

 

[attachmentid=19142]

 

The race got off to a fine start with action everywhere.

 

[attachmentid=19143]

 

Although the Horndean track is pretty wide they managed to completely block it with 16 cars.

 

[attachmentid=19144]

 

As the rest of the field came round they kept hammering into the rear of the pile until the dam was breeched.

There were only 2 finishers and that was only the 1st heat.

The other heats couldnt match up to that one although quite lively.

 

[attachmentid=19145]

 

The Destruction Derby finished off the day with just nine cars but was better then expected.

 

[attachmentid=19146]

 

Wreck your own car after writing off another then walk up to your rival , shake hands and have a good laugh.....end of a almost perfect day.

 

Biffo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couldnt agree more M8, rather see an old racer still racing than stuck in a museum.

 

Took this at the 2004 Goodwood revival, most of the owners race on the limit cos they want to win.

 

[attachmentid=19116]

 

Sometimes someone goes beyond their limit...

A mate of mines dad used to have a proper tractor pulling machine with a 12 cylinder Merlin engine on it, it was pretty awesome.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Seem to recall a few years back (1970`s) a Mr. Dodd (not Ken) decided to squeeze a Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine into a Rolls Royce car with some success , that is until a couple a years later it caught fire on an Autobahn in Germany, and that as they say, was the end of that.

Went last year biffo and they were quite good one of them did sound rather epic lol how long did you go there for? we went from about 9 till 8 and still didnt see everything lol

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We went on the Friday to miss the crowds but it was still pretty busy, got there about 9.00 and left about 8.30 in the evening, think we saw most of it though.

It is spread out across 600 acres though ( they havn`t yet gone metric in Dorset ).

 

[attachmentid=19025]

 

[attachmentid=19026]

 

Just one of the things I didnt go on !

 

Biffo

ill be there biffo, dads racing bangers so might have a watch and see acctually how bad you are ahahah

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the encouragement lads.....lol

After all this time I`ll be interested to see how bad I am too.

 

Biffo

Calling all ukdirt lovers.

If anyones near the Horndean Raceway this Sunday 9th , they`ve got a Hot Rod Fun Day, which includes, Ladies race, Mechanics race and Relay race and other such things and more importantly its their......

Unlimited Banger Open meeting, lots of Beefy stuff hopefully.

 

Plus Kurtis Williams has kindly lent me his Pinto Special S 318 race car for the Mechanics race(s).

I havent raced round any ovals since 1977 so I`m looking forward to it, after all 30 years is a good enough rest for anybody!

Come and say hello if your there.

Got to be there for 9.30am for signing on........on a Sunday ????

 

Biffo

Sure you`ll all be interested in the Tractor pulling contest ahhh come on you are......

 

Seen it on TV in the States, usually in one of their huge indoor arenas.

Tuned up tractors dragging a specially designed trailer down a straight course against the clock.

Imagine my surprise..... seems a new event at the Dorset Steam Fair is the very same thing, Tractor Pulling.

 

[attachmentid=18999]

 

Custom Van on some super-chunky tyres

 

[attachmentid=19000]

 

This is a breathed on V8 diesel, rear tyres are let down for more grip

 

[attachmentid=19001]

 

The trailer has a heavy weight over the rear wheels at the start and winds its way forward until its over the front sledge

 

 

 

[attachmentid=19003]

 

This must have been the noisiest one, sporting a large V8 petrol engine, already the front is starting to rise up.

 

[attachmentid=19006]

 

These rural Hot Rods arent particually fast but powerful, thirsty and noisey, enough to give any one of Green Lobby a dizzy spell.

 

They should have called it drag racing but someone beat them to it......

 

Biffo