Superstox

File:Superstox.jpg

A typical Spedeworth Superstox, built by Carcraft

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 (the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium) 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 (non contact short oval racing cars) 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.

Year	Circuit	Winner	Runner-up	Third Place
2024	Hednesford	944 Jordan Robinson	154 Michael Green	5 Eric Walker
2023	Lochgelly	925 Craig McConnell	154 Michael Green	886 Chris Bradbury
2022	Aghadowey	955 Kyle Beattie	925 Craig McConnell	922 Curtis Greer
2021	Ipswich	77 Nick Roots	776 Dan Roots	886 Chris Bradbury
2020	Not Held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019	Lochgelly	154 Michael Green	309 Brian Forrest	265 Barry Stephen
2018	Tullyroan	914 Lee Davison	776 Dan Roots	416 Mark Smith
2017	Ipswich	265 Barry Stephen	60 Ben Marjoram	77 Nick Roots
2016	Lochgelly	Template:Flagicon 482 Jason Cooper	Bryan Forrest	Chris Bradbury
2015	Aghadowey	886 Chris Bradbury	177 Stuart Gilchrist	53 David Frames
2014	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 376 Steven Jackson
2013	Lochgelly	Template:Flagicon 376 Steven Jackson	Template:Flagicon 177 Stuart Gilchrist	Template:Flagicon 482 Jason Cooper
2012	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 177 Stuart Gilchrist
2011	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 151 Nick Smith
2010	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 51 Colin Aylward
2009	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 60 Ben Marjoram
2008	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 482 Jason Cooper	Template:Flagicon 69 Shaun Brooker	Template:Flagicon 51 Colin Aylward
2007	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon69 Shaun Brooker	Template:Flagicon 376 Steven Jackson	Template:Flagicon 482 Jason Cooper
2005	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 482 Jason Cooper
2004	Swaffham	Template:Flagicon 174 Paul Poulter
2003	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 22 Mark Kelman
2002	Swaffham	Template:Flagicon 612 Garry Sparkes
2001	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 18 Mark Eaton	Template:Flagicon 22 Mark Kelman	Template:Flagicon 69 Shaun Brooker
2000	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 323 Dave Turner
1999	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 612 Garry Sparkes
1998	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 612 Garry Sparkes
1997	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 77 Tony Roots	Template:Flagicon John Damen	Template:Flagicon 118 David Mason
1996	Arena Essex	Template:Flagicon 7 Glenn Salmon	Template:Flagicon 118 David Mason
1995	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 7 Glenn Salmon	Template:Flagicon 174 Paul Poulter	Template:Flagicon 222 John Damen
1994	Warneton	Template:Flagicon 212 Luud Lauriejssen
1993	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 612 Garry Sparkes	Template:Flagicon 69 Shaun Brooker	Template:Flagicon Dave Turner
1992	Ballymena	Template:Flagicon 32 Ian McKnight
1991	Venray	Template:Flagicon 88 Darren Innocent
1990	Wisbech	Template:Flagicon 4 John Mickel
1989	Wisbech	Template:Flagicon 612 Garry Sparkes	Template:Flagicon 170 Howard White	Template:Flagicon 4 John Mickel
1988	Arlington	Template:Flagicon 54 Martyn Brand	Template:Flagicon 397 Paul Pearson	Template:Flagicon 170 Howard White
1987	Kaldenkirchen	Template:Flagicon 54 Martyn Brand	Template:Flagicon 16 Ad van Besouw	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee
1986	Wisbech	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon 206 Robin Randall	Template:Flagicon 170 Howard White
1985	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon 94 Vic Russell	Template:Flagicon 84 Robin Brown	Template:Flagicon Dave Moir
1984	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon 4 Antony van den Oetelaar	Template:Flagicon 41 Jo van Rengs	Template:Flagicon 206 Robin Randall
1983	Cleethorpes	Template:Flagicon 4 Antony van den Oetelaar	Template:Flagicon 41 Jo van Rengs	Template:Flagicon 39 Les Clark
1982	Cleethorpes	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon 546 John Gray	Template:Flagicon 17 Roy Eaton
1981	Kaldenkirchen	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 397 Paul Pearson
1980	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	41 Gordon McDougall	Template:Flagicon 206 Robin Randall
1979	Yarmouth	Template:Flagicon 298 Jim Welch	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 211 Howard Cole
1978	Kaldenkirchen	Template:Flagicon 41 Gordon McDougall	Template:Flagicon 211 Howard Cole	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee
1977	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 298 Jim Welch	Template:Flagicon 380 Alan Cayzer	Template:Flagicon 55 Bob Morton
1976	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon 41 Gordon McDougall	Template:Flagicon 81 Bill Pullar	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee
1975	Kaldenkirchen	Template:Flagicon 482 Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon 546 John Gray	Template:Flagicon 217 Bob Perry
1974	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 443 Steve Monk	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 221 Derek Warwick
1973	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 221 Derek Warwick	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 364 Tony May
1972	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 294 Geoff Goddard	Template:Flagicon 264 Pete Welland	Template:Flagicon 381 John Cayzer
1971	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 294 Geoff Goddard	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 417 Roger Warnes
1970	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 530 Biffo Sweeney	Template:Flagicon 213 Doug McMahon	Template:Flagicon 264 Pete Welland
1969	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 500 Alan Wardropper	Template:Flagicon 213 Doug McMahon	Template:Flagicon 217 Bob Perry
1968	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 319 Denny Pearson	Template:Flagicon 304 Derek Fiske
1967	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 531 Todd Sweeney	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon 463 Dell Sticking
1966	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 2 Stan Ingle	Template:Flagicon 68 Trevor Frost	Template:Flagicon 320 Dave Pierce
1965	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 210 Eddie James	Template:Flagicon 399 Chris Studd	Template:Flagicon 307 Norman Crowe
1964	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 210 Eddie James	Template:Flagicon 70 Aubrey Dance	Template:Flagicon 17 Tony Maidment
1963	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 17 Tony Maidment	Template:Flagicon Chris Cutting	Template:Flagicon Dave Crittall
1962	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon 2 Stan Ingle	Template:Flagicon 95 Jan Scott	Template:Flagicon Ken Wade
1961	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon 95 Jan Scott	Template:Flagicon 17 Tony Maidment	Template:Flagicon 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.

Year	Circuit	Winner
2023	Ipswich	446 Dean Johnston
2017	Tullyroan Oval	515 Jordan Aylward	7 Jordan Salmon	530 Brett Wesbroom
2011	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Shaun Brooker
2010	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon Ben Marjoram
2009	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Matt Carberry
2008	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon Jason Cooper
2007	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Garry Sparkes
2006	Swaffham	Template:Flagicon Jason Cooper
2005	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Ben Marjoram
2004	Warneton	Template:Flagicon Mark Kelman	Template:Flagicon Paul Poulter	Template:Flagicon Kevin Ferris
2003	Warneton	Template:Flagicon Mark Kelman
2001	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon Mark Eaton
2000	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Dave Turner
1999	Warneton	Template:Flagicon Ad Mellisant
1998	Warneton	Template:Flagicon Geoff Bridges
1997	Warneton	Template:Flagicon Tony Roots
1996	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon Garry Sparkes
1995	Arena Essex Raceway	Template:Flagicon Garry Sparkes
1994	Wimbledon	Template:Flagicon Paul Poulter	Template:Flagicon Tony Roots	Template:Flagicon Steve Collison
1993	Netherlands	Template:Flagicon Shaun Brooker
1992	Venray	Template:Flagicon John Mickel
1991	Wisbech	Template:Flagicon Darren Innocent
1990	Armadale	Template:Flagicon John Mickel	Template:Flagicon Jim Harris	Template:Flagicon Gary Chisholm
1989	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon Garry Sparkes	Template:Flagicon Rob Perry	Template:Flagicon Howard White
1988	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon Martyn Brand
1987	Arlington	Template:Flagicon Roy Eaton	Template:Flagicon Rob Perry	Template:Flagicon Gerry Cooper
1986	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon Jo van Rengs
1985	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon Robin Randall	Template:Flagicon Howard Cole	Template:Flagicon Martyn Brand
1984	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon Les Clark	Template:Flagicon Robin Brown	Template:Flagicon John Adam
1983		Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce
1982	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon Les Clark
1981	Ballymena	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon Ian Murdoch
1980	Warneton/B	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon Martyn Brand	Template:Flagicon Antony van den Oetelaar
1979	Kaldenkirchen	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon Bill Pullar	Template:Flagicon Antony van den Oetelaar
1978	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon Bill Pullar
1977	not run
1976	Posterholt	Template:Flagicon Steve Monk	Template:Flagicon Mark Eaton	Template:Flagicon Alan Cayzer
1975		Template:Flagicon John Cayzer	Template:Flagicon Neil Bee	Template:Flagicon Doug McMahon
1973	Tilburg	Template:Flagicon Tony May	Template:Flagicon Ronnie Nisbet	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce
1971	Ipswich	Template:Flagicon Bob Perry	Template:Flagicon Dave Pierce	Template:Flagicon Tony May
1970	Cowdenbeath	Template:Flagicon Malcolm Paterson	Template:Flagicon Derek Fiske	Template:Flagicon Biffo Sweeney
1969	not run?
1968	Amsterdam	Template:Flagicon Tony May	Template:Flagicon Alan Freebody	Template:Flagicon Trevor Frost
1967	Hengelo	Template:Flagicon Tony May	Template:Flagicon Trevor Frost	Template:Flagicon Jan Scott
1966	Baarlo	Template:Flagicon Theo Jansen
1965	Baarlo	Template:Flagicon 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 (in 1972 and 1973) at Aldershot between the Aldershot Knights and the Cross in Hand Tigers.

Aldershot Knights

Team Manager: Ted Weaver
Drivers: Denny Pearson (captain), 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 (captain), Dave Hindle, Alan Cox, Biffo Sweeney, Art Fowler, Gordon Street.

The Tigers were based at Cross-in-Hand raceway 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 (captain), Tony Grant, Norman Crowe, Mike Read, John Biddle, Alan Cayzer. Reserve: Paul Rookyard

Ringwood Badgers

Team Manager: Alan Butler
Drivers: John Edwards (Captain), 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 (due to the demise of the league mid season) which was against the Wimbledon Dons.

Walthamstow (formerly White City) Lions

Team Manager: Roger Fennings
Drivers: 1971: Chris Denham (captain), 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 (Arlington Stadium) for the 1972 campaign.

Wimbledon Canaries / Dons

Team Manager: Reg Etherington
Drivers: 1971: Eric Taylor, Bryan Kensett (Captain), Tony Mellish, Frank Boyles, John Field, Keith Fransella
1972: Jim Davey (Captain), 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 (captain), John Gray, Rick Drewery, Tony May (1972), 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 (captain), 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 (from a Renault 4CV) 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.

External links

• Superstox website