ssg-racing

David Speed F2 #790
Newhey,Near Rochdale, Lancashire.

My history within Stock Cars goes back to spectating with my Mum & Dad,firstly at Belle Vue,Rochdale & Crewe, & eventually all over the country.
In 1988 My Dad (With me tagging along!) was a Mechanic for friend Pat Byrne, ex F1 310. 1989 & early 1990 and we were also helping Mark Holt ex F1 66 / 61 before he emigrated to America. That same year I left school, decided to become a signwriter,and also got my first stock car at the age of 16!

The car was an ex Derek Fairhurst / John Hulton F1 Stock Car,which was bought off Mike Heywood #424 for about £500 complete!!! (Only Ford 429 powered!).
By this time ex F1 World Champion Len Wolfenden was working for my Dad,so he had a fair bit of imput into altering the car for us. My first meeting was at Crewe racing as #461 & I managed to score points at least...the rest of the year was so-so really. In a bit too deep & a bit too young I suppose,but we did a few meetings & had fun along the way! (My Brother also did a couple of meetings in a Gary Walker 181 car he bought.....Buick 455 powered.....Raced as #517)
At the end of the year,I wanted a roadcar,money was tight,so it was put up for sale. Len 190 had a go in it at Hartlepool first though.....made it go better than I ever could!!! It was eventually sold - with profit! - to Charlie Yarrow. The replacement was a 1978 pale blue Vauxhall Chevette saloon,with 8 spoke wheels.....Nice!! lol

1992,and after a year or two just watching again,I had a chance meeting with Mark Taylor F2 #790. Before I knew it I was working part time for Mark,and then helping with the F2 at nights and weekends.....This went on up until about 2003 and by then was back in F1 as #490. They were probably some of the best times ever...all over the country every weekend,and having a laugh! Towards the end though I needed the rest,and my other half was getting fed up of not seeing me too....Working late all over the country signwriting cars,and then fixing them at weekends! So that was that...although I still see Mark fairly regularly,and bend his ear for advice ETC.

2003 and Id ended up putting some signs on a Buxton RookiRod for Nik Eastwood #161. Now this kind of formula had never appealed to me to be honest - but for whatever reason it was at the time,I went & watched a meeting or two. Non contact, but still looked a bit of fun, and very cheap......By October 04 I had built one!!!
It was a Fiesta Mk3 1600s #555- And at the first meeting I won the Final!! The next meeting I was put up to Blue - and won every race! lol. And so it went on....Think I got 4 meetings in before season end.

2005 and I built a MK2 Fiesta XR2 for the season, and sold my 'old' car to Joanne Helliwell 271. A great season was had,battling for the #1 & silver roof all year. It all came down to the last meeting,with the title either going to me or Dave Foster #34. All kinds of things went on that meeting...but in the end it was me the winner,and 05/6 champion!

2006 - I decided to do 1 more season so I could use my #1 ! lol. Another new car,which went really well - winning the first race of the year from the very back! To be honest,that was the highlight of the year though! I was right there in the points for a while,but then ended up wrecking cars!! I chopped 3 up in 2006,which isnt good for a non-contact formula! I was already getting a bit fed up in RookiRods and intended moving to Hot Fords...But with one thing & another,and other drivers personal issues with me, decided to call it quits & do something totally different again. I built 1 more new car,which was bought by Banger Driver Graham Heywood,& then sold all my spares off that I had accumalated. I really enjoyed my time in the RR's - some great people involved in it. However a few were also ruining it too! Would reccommend it to anyone for a good cheap way of racing!

About October 2006 and I was toying with the Idea of a F2 Stock Car. I wasnt sure,as I havent a pot of money to throw at one,and probably wouldnt do if i could! However Wayne Helliwell (F2 271/471 F1 261) bought a F2 from up in the North East,which he intended to race a few times & sell on. The price was right,and a deal was struck,and before I knew it I was the proud owner of an old & battered Higman F2! A quick tidy up turned into a major chassis & body rebuild & the car now looks a damn sight better than I could have expected!! Works still ongoing of course with constant help from wayne @ wayne helliwell racing. As a number, 461 did me no favours...and 555 was unavailable....so in the end I went for Mark Taylors 790 number..why not! lol. Not been a 790 yellow top since 1981 though......

So up to date and looking forward to the year ahead! Im not planning many meetings,and not expecting too much in the way of results - Just a bit of fun & maybe an odd decent finish as a bonus! Hoping not to have any expensive miss-haps & not to let anyone down! Also thanks to all those that have helped so far & made it possible, particularly Wayne Helliwell. Dont forgrt to visit my sponsors page! Roll on 2007.......

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