Stock Car Racing - Brandon and beyond

For Bees-specific talk, please see Coventry Bees Speedway - Brandon Stadium.

There certainly was. The regular arrangement was that the Bees rode at home on Saturday nights through the season, March to October. However some other tracks also rode on Saturdays so Bees had some weeks where they would be at Belle Vue, Swindon etc. It therefore became the custom that the Stock Car racing took place on the first Saturday night of every month. The crowds it attracted were as good as for the speedway, although many people went to both. The track staged some big events, including World Championship Finals. My first experience of Brandon was being taken there by my parents for Stock Car racing in the early 60s. Buses ran to the stadium from Wheatley Street every week. In later years I preferred speedway, but still went to Stock Cars several times a year.

One of the stock cars was always on display on the forecourt of Spon End filling station (next to the arches). The advertising poster on the wall next to my home in Gosford Street often featured the stock car meetings at Brandon, more often than speedway meetings if I remember correctly.

Re stock car racing at Brandon Speedway. If I remember correctly, Chris Summers the racing driver from Ansty garage sometimes drove stock cars at Brandon in the 60s.

Local scrap dealer Jim Potter was a big name some years ago (As a speedway fan, never really took to Stock Cars as they ripped up the precious shale track)

Hi, is that Potter's of Swan Lane?

That's right. Jim lived there, last known at Brandon running a riding stables. Spent many a happy hour with Jim we were in 12th Coventry St Margaret's scout troop. Jim (146) in his Kilroy-esque "Potter's Bin 'ere" car (free advertising for his skip hire business,complete with Mickey Mouse "tattoo." He used to transport his car on one of his own skip lorries. He later took over the old Roach's yard in Red Lane Coventry

This is BRISCA F1 stock car racing

Anybody remember the early days when the cars were just old cars with a few welded scaffold poles to protect the driver. I was just trying to remember some names but I can only remember Doug Wardropper (I think he came from Stratford way).

Follow my link to BRISCA F1, click on "About BRISCA F1", then click on "Roll of Honour" and you'll find loads of names from the past Interesting to see that Des Chandler from Hinckley was twice on the rostrum in the World Final

Me and my dad (R.I.P) went to the stock car racing in the 70's. No. 391 Stuart Smith was the champ then. I think some of his family still do it today. I remember catching the special buses from Pool Meadow next to the Staff block, at about 6.30. The buses would wait at the layby near Brandon about 10.15 for the return. It's funny how history repeats itself. I take my son to the Banger racing there now. "But go by car"

We use to go banger racing my x husband drove for Ajax whom Dave Wilson set up, scrap man on the round about down Bayton Road which he owned up until the 80s. Lol Baz the woman are more daring than the men in my experience. There use to be the Dadlington Destroyers too

A friend of mine used to go with a chap up Foleshill Rd on the his wagon to Hednesford Raceway. I remember him talking about the Ajax crew, and another group who i cant remember, But were Coventry based. Banger racing has been around for a great many years. Still very much fun to watch, but gets cold these nights.

I went to Hednesford, with a mate of mine, when they had figure of eight stock car races. Very interesting.

Yes Baz it has been out many years it was in 1975 when we used to go, they used to go to Dadlington to race too on a weekend on a dirt track, I have been to Hednesford too, but to watch.