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.[1]
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.[2]
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lochgelly | 925 Craig McConnell | |||
| 2022 | Aghadowey | 955 Kyle Beattie | |||
| 2021 | Ipswich | 77 Nick Roots | |||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 | ||||
| 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 | 482 Jason Cooper | Bryan Forrest | Chris Bradbury | |
| 2015 | Aghadowey | 886 Chris Bradbury | |||
| 2014 | 376 Steven Jackson | ||||
| 2013 | Lochgelly | 376 Steven Jackson | 177 Stuart Gilchrist | 482 Jason Cooper | |
| 2012 | 177 Stuart Gilchrist | ||||
| 2011 | 151 Nick Smith | ||||
| 2010 | 51 Colin Aylward | ||||
| 2009 | 60 Ben Marjoram | ||||
| 2008 | 482 Jason Cooper | 69 Shaun Brooker | 51 Colin Aylward | ||
| 2007 | 69 Shaun Brooker | 376 Steven Jackson | 482 Jason Cooper | ||
| 2005 | 482 Jason Cooper | ||||
| 2004 | Swaffham | 174 Paul Poulter | |||
| 2003 | 22 Mark Kelman | ||||
| 2002 | Swaffham | 612 Garry Sparkes | |||
| 2001 | 18 Mark Eaton | 22 Mark Kelman | 69 Shaun Brooker | ||
| 2000 | 323 Dave Turner | ||||
| 1999 | 612 Garry Sparkes | ||||
| 1998 | 612 Garry Sparkes | ||||
| 1997 | 77 Tony Roots | John Damen | 118 David Mason | ||
| 1996 | Arena Essex | 7 Glenn Salmon | 118 David Mason | ||
| 1995 | 7 Glenn Salmon | 118 David Mason | |||
| 1994 | Warneton | 212 Luud Lauriejssen | |||
| 1993 | 612 Garry Sparkes | 69 Shaun Brooker | Dave Turner | ||
| 1992 | Ballymena | 32 Ian McKnight | |||
| 1991 | 88 Darren Innocent | ||||
| 1990 | Wisbech | 4 John Mickel | |||
| 1989 | Wisbech | 612 Garry Sparkes | 170 Howard White | 4 John Mickel | |
| 1988 | Arlington | 54 Martyn Brand | 397 Paul Pearson | 170 Howard White | |
| 1987 | 54 Martyn Brand | 16 Ad van Besouw | 482 Neil Bee | ||
| 1986 | Wisbech | 482 Neil Bee | 206 Robin Randall | 170 Howard White | |
| 1985 | Cowdenbeath | 94 Vic Russell | 84 Robin Brown | Dave Moir | |
| 1984 | Tilburg | 4 Antony van den Oetelaar | 41 Jo van Rengs | 206 Robin Randall | |
| 1983 | Cleethorpes | 4 Antony van den Oetelaar | 41 Jo van Rengs | 39 Les Clark | |
| 1982 | Cleethorpes | 482 Neil Bee | 546 John Gray | 17 Roy Eaton | |
| 1981 | 482 Neil Bee | 320 Dave Pierce | 397 Paul Pearson | ||
| 1980 | Cowdenbeath | 320 Dave Pierce | 41 Gordon McDougall | 206 Robin Randall | |
| 1979 | Yarmouth | 298 Jim Welch | 320 Dave Pierce | 211 Howard Cole | |
| 1978 | 41 Gordon McDougall | 211 Howard Cole | 482 Neil Bee | ||
| 1977 | 298 Jim Welch | 380 Alan Cayzer | 55 Bob Morton | ||
| 1976 | Cowdenbeath | 41 Gordon McDougall | 81 Bill Pullar | 482 Neil Bee | |
| 1975 | Kaldenkirchen | 482 Neil Bee | 546 John Gray | 217 Bob Perry | |
| 1974 | 320 Dave Pierce | 221 Derek Warwick | |||
| 1973 | 320 Dave Pierce | 364 Tony May | |||
| 1972 | 294 Geoff Goddard | 264 Pete Welland | 381 John Cayzer | ||
| 1971 | 294 Geoff Goddard | 320 Dave Pierce | 417 Roger Warnes | ||
| 1970 | 530 Biffo Sweeney | 213 Doug McMahon | 264 Pete Welland | ||
| 1969 | 500 Alan Wardropper | 213 Doug McMahon | 217 Bob Perry | ||
| 1968 | 320 Dave Pierce | 319 Denny Pearson | 304 Derek Fiske | ||
| 1967 | 531 Todd Sweeney | 320 Dave Pierce | 463 Dell Sticking | ||
| 1966 | 2 Stan Ingle | 68 Trevor Frost | 320 Dave Pierce | ||
| 1965 | 210 Eddie James | 399 Chris Studd | 307 Norman Crowe | ||
| 1964 | 210 Eddie James | 70 Aubrey Dance | 17 Tony Maidment | ||
| 1963 | 17 Tony Maidment | Chris Cutting | Dave Crittall | ||
| 1962 | 2 Stan Ingle | 95 Jan Scott | Ken Wade | ||
| 1961 | 95 Jan Scott | 17 Tony Maidment | Pete Godsmark | ||
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 | Shaun Brooker | ||||
| 2010 | Ben Marjoram | ||||
| 2009 | Matt Carberry | ||||
| 2008 | Jason Cooper | ||||
| 2007 | Garry Sparkes | ||||
| 2006 | Swaffham | Jason Cooper | |||
| 2005 | Ben Marjoram | ||||
| 2004 | Warneton | Mark Kelman | Paul Poulter | Kevin Ferris | |
| 2003 | Warneton | Mark Kelman | |||
| 2001 | Mark Eaton | ||||
| 2000 | Dave Turner | ||||
| 1999 | Warneton | Ad Mellisant | |||
| 1998 | Warneton | Geoff Bridges | |||
| 1997 | Warneton | Tony Roots | |||
| 1996 | Garry Sparkes | ||||
| 1995 | Garry Sparkes | ||||
| 1994 | Paul Poulter | Tony Roots | Steve Collison | ||
| 1993 | Netherlands | Shaun Brooker | |||
| 1992 | Venray | John Mickel | |||
| 1991 | Wisbech | Darren Innocent | |||
| 1990 | Armadale | John Mickel | Jim Harris | Gary Chisholm | |
| 1989 | Tilburg | Garry Sparkes | Rob Perry | Howard White | |
| 1988 | Tilburg | Martyn Brand | |||
| 1987 | Arlington | Roy Eaton | Rob Perry | Gerry Cooper | |
| 1986 | Tilburg | Jo van Rengs | |||
| 1985 | Tilburg | Robin Randall | Howard Cole | Martyn Brand | |
| 1984 | Cowdenbeath | Les Clark | Robin Brown | John Adam | |
| 1983 | Dave Pierce | ||||
| 1982 | Cowdenbeath | Dave Pierce | Neil Bee | Les Clark | |
| 1981 | Ballymena | Dave Pierce | Neil Bee | Ian Murdoch | |
| 1980 | Warneton/B | Dave Pierce | Martyn Brand | Antony van den Oetelaar | |
| 1979 | Dave Pierce | Bill Pullar | Antony van den Oetelaar | ||
| 1978 | Cowdenbeath | Bill Pullar | |||
| 1977 | not run | ||||
| 1976 | Posterholt | Steve Monk | Mark Eaton | Alan Cayzer | |
| 1975 | John Cayzer | Neil Bee | Doug McMahon | ||
| 1973 | Tilburg | Tony May | Ronnie Nisbet | Dave Pierce | |
| 1971 | Bob Perry | Dave Pierce | Tony May | ||
| 1970 | Cowdenbeath | Malcolm Paterson | Derek Fiske | Biffo Sweeney | |
| 1969 | not run? | ||||
| 1968 | Amsterdam | Tony May | Alan Freebody | Trevor Frost | |
| 1967 | Hengelo | Tony May | Trevor Frost | Jan Scott | |
| 1966 | Baarlo | Theo Jansen | |||
| 1965 | Baarlo | Adrian Kleyngeld |
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.
Managed by Frank Howlett
Managed by Charlie Dugard.
Managed by Pop Perry
The team's home fixtures were shared between Wimbledon and New Cross Stadia
Managed by Ted Payne
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.
The Auto Spedeway team league[3] 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.
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.
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
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.
Team Manager: Harry Barnes
Drivers: Skid Parish (captain), Tony Grant, Norman Crowe, Mike Read, John Biddle, Alan Cayzer. Reserve: Paul Rookyard
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.
Team Manager: Roger Fennings
Drivers: 1971: Chris Denham (captain), Barry Kelleher, Jack Percy, Rod Waller, Jim Stuart, Les Holland. Occasional - Leon SmithThe 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.
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.
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.
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
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.