Drivers Newsletter Issue#5
Hello to all our drivers and welcome to the latest edition of everything StarTrax. This time we have
all your up to date points charts final qualifying positions and news on National Bangers Attendance
Points and the StarTrax Drivers Championship. We bring you the first of our occasional features with
three interviews with the newest StarTrax champions.
5 Minutes with... New Champions
We talked to new British Champions Tim Crew and Lee Rudge and World Champion Simon Crew a
few days after their wins to see how the season is going and what it means to win a major title.
Fact File:
Name: Tim Crew
Age: 30
Hometown: Stoke-On-Trent
Occupation: Truck Driver
Number of years racing: 17
Formulas Raced: ORCi Ministox, Hot Fords, 1600cc Bangers.
SB: It has been a few days since you won, has it sunk in yet?
TC: Yes, just about, I am very happy to have won the British, having never won at Coventry before.
SB: After dominating the Points Championship for several seasons now how does it feel to win
another major title?
TC: It is always great to win something, but it does mean more when it is one of the major titles
SB: You are well on course to win Points championship number three. What makes you so
determined to keep chasing the Points Title?
TC: I think when you have won something you then want to retain it, and I love racing on the shale!
SB: What is your favourite StarTrax venue and why?
TC: Stoke is my best venue with it being my home track, there is always a good atmosphere and the
racing is action packed.
SB: Ambitions for your racing career?
TC: Staying with the 1600,s for now but I would like to have more time to do National Bangers at
some point.
Fact File:
Name: Lee Rudge
Age: 22
Hometown: Leek, Staffordshire
Occupation: JCB test driver
Number of years racing: 6
Formulas Raced: Incarods, Rebels, Lightning Rods, 2Ltr Hot Rods and StarTrax Hot Rods.
SB: It has been a few days since you won, has it sunk in yet?
LR: No! I am still buzzing with happiness.
SB: You are the first StarTrax Hot Rod British Champion. What does that mean to you?
LR: It means absolutely everything to me to be the first winner. It is a great achievement for the
whole team and the effort we have put into this season so far.
SB: What were your goals at the start of the season and how is it going?
LR: My goal was to go out and enjoy myself as this is my first full season of racing on shale. I certainly
didn’t expect to be doing this well and to have won the British as well. The season is really enjoyable
so far going to new tracks to race on and having such a good team around me to help out.
SB: Whats your favourite StarTrax venue and why?
LR: I like Coventry because it is a big fast track and winning the British has helped! I love Stoke
though because it is my local track and I had my first ever shale win there.
SB: Ambitions for your future racing career?
LR: To try and win more Championships and to keep on enjoying the racing.
SB: Anyone you would like to thank?
LR: The whole team for helping out, my girlfriend and all the Sponsors, more sponsors always
welcome, and to all the race fans who make it such a great sport to be involved in. I couldn’t do it
without them all!
Fact File
Name: Simon Crew
Age: 27
Hometown: Stoke-on-Trent
Occupation: Mechanic
Number of years racing: 15
Formulas raced: ORCi MiniStox Hot Fords Stock Rods 1600cc Bangers and Micro Bangers.
SB: It has been a few days since your win. Has it sunk in yet?
SC: Yes it has now I am very happy! It makes all the hard work worthwhile.
SB: It was a great race with Craig Riches, talk us through the last few laps.
SC: Yes it was a really close race between us. When Craig got past me with two laps to go I did not
think I would go on to win. Lucky for me though Craig went wide tangling with back markers and I
was able to pass him on the last lap.
SB: You already do every meeting but will being World Champion add more pressure?
SC: Yes there will be more pressure starting at the back now for every race will make it much harder.
SB: What is your favourite StarTrax venue and why?
SC: Belle Vue every time for me, it is a great venue with loads of action and I love the mid week
meetings in the summer.
SB: Ambitions for your future racing career?
SC: I will carry on with the 1600cc Bangers but I would like to do more Micro Banger meetings.
SB: The people you admire in racing?
SC: All the drivers who race week in week out are the ones I admire.
SB: Anyone you would like to thank?
SC: Mum and Dad for putting up with racing all the time. Tim for all his help at the yard and anyone
who lends a hand throughout the racing year!
National Bangers
Another great few weeks of racing from the National Bangers. We begin at Stoke and the first Micro
Bangers Potteries Team Championship won by Team Grey&Black of 73 Dean Cruickshank 82 Tom
Foster 180 Mark Foster and 807 Chris Murfin. The same night we had 2Ltr RWD and Non Mondeo,s.
275 Rusty took a Hat-Trick of wins in the RWD class and 138 Ant Timmins won a Non Mondeo Heat
with the other Heat and Final going to 82 Tom Foster. The action moved to Belle Vue for the
Unlimited Terminator on July 26th. A great day of racing in difficult conditions saw 261 Dom Davies
win the opening Heat, 209 Tom Waller won Heat Two and the Terminator Final with 180 Sparky
winning the all-comers. Stoke had two meetings in August with 2ltrs on the 1st where Heat wins
went to 999 Scott Hill and 797 George Plant before Hill won the Final. Micro Bangers again on the
23rd and Heat wins for 711 Charlie and 290 Jonny Harrison with Charlie also taking a destructive Final
that saw only three finishers.
Qualifying for all major events for 2015 is now complete. Congratulations to 275 Rusty and 382
Chubby who will represent StarTrax at the Unlimited World Final at Ipswich in October with 04
Mikey Croft 66 Farmer John 282 Snap-off 616 Flippit and 617 Danny Everitt also going for the Last
Chance Qualifier races. 197 Stanley will be at Taunton for the Alternative World Final and Arena
Essex for the PRI World Final.9 Tom Jordan and 275 Rusty will represent us at Kings Lynn for the
Unlimited WoS, so a big thank you and good luck to all our drivers over the coming weeks.
The chase for the Silver Roof and the last Champion of Champions spot runs until November 7th at
Stoke and has again developed into a two way battle between Rusty and Dom Davies, both drivers
determined to out do the other.
StarTrax Banger Points up to Stoke 23/8/15
Pos Num
Name
Pts
1
275
Joe Morgan
187
2
261
Dom Davies
138
3
82
Tom Foster
130
4
382
Jack Foster
118
5
66
John Hindley
84
6
374
Chris Collings
74
7
25
Joe Parsons
66
8
209
Tom Waller
57
9
290
Jonny Harrison
46
10
797
George Plant
45
Into September now and Stoke on the 5th in conjunction with Spedeworth Motorsports has the 2ltr
Banger World Series, a staggering 86 cars for this event last year and we can see this years event
being just as popular, another chance for someone to secure a place at Ipswich in October.
October and we stage the first running of the StarTrax National Championship at Coventry. The
following drivers have all qualified for this New Championship:
275/82/374/382/261/66/797/999/746/132/58/498/138/181/266/69/134/170/411/366/209/499/12
3/526/196/268/267/123/198/197/37. Reserves 107/600/34/142/60/290/92/252/164/281.
Steve will announce the Prize schedule when he puts the Booking-In thread on Ovalchat soon.
Attendance Points and StarTrax Drivers Championship
From September 2015 all StarTrax Registered Drivers will receive 10 Attendance Points for every
StarTrax meeting they attend. All drivers officially representing StarTrax at World Finals and Support
races or Team events will also receive 10 Attendance Points. Attendance Points AND all race Points
will be combined to form the StarTrax Drivers Championship. To qualify for 2016 events starting with
the World Cup at Cowdenbeath you must be in the Top Ten of the Drivers Championship. There will
be no separate qualifying rounds in 2016, to qualify for Ipswich Unlimited World Final will mean
finishing 1st or 2nd in the Drivers Championship with other Seeded Places then being offered to those
in the Top Ten first.
We hope these changes will keep all our drivers happy and give you some great racing from now
until August 2016.
These changes take effect from Stoke on September 5th and for 2015 include the meetings at
Coventry October 17th National Championship 2ltr Stoke October 24th 2ltr and Stoke November 7th
Micro,s and 2ltr 29th Unlimited Staffordshire Open and December 27th 2ltr. StarTrax Registered
Drivers will receive 10 Attendance for all the above meetings towards 2016 Qualfying.
1600cc Bangers
Coventry staged the British Championship on July 18th and 260 Tim Crew finally bagged himself
another major title. The all-comer wins went to 294 Luke Martindale and 355 Martin Mullins. August
1st and back to Stoke with Heat wins for 77 Tom Hertzog and 123 Paul Manning with 08 Mark
Baggaley taking the Final. The annual mid-week Belle Vue on Tuesday 11th and 96 Chris Randall won
a Heat and 290 Jonny Harrison took a Heat and Final double. The Rollover Championship is always a
highlight of the holiday session and the large crowd were treated to some spectacular attempts from
6 drivers, last years Champ 007 Dave Ramsay had to settle for 2nd this year as Team mate 999 Baby
Dave Clough managed a fantastic 360 degree roll coming to rest back on all four wheels to win the
crowds vote. Coventry again on the 18th for the World Championship. A good turnout saw a Last
Chance race run first with 60 Dan Rea taking the flag. World Final time and a brilliant race long battle
between Defending Champ 284 Craig Riches and eventual winner 160 Simon Crew, certainly made
this race of the year so far. We then had something different at Stoke on the 23rd as the first 1600cc
Team Challenge was run. Stokey Boyz took on the Weekend Wreckers in the £250 Head-to-Head. A
great race saw 834 George Ocherton first past the flag to win for the Wreckers. Massive thanks to 08
Baggo and the Sharratt,s Ian and Scott for sorting the teams out. Anyone else wishing to put up a
Team of 8 drivers for another Team Challenge let us know and I am sure Steve will be only too happy
to repeat the generous prize fund. A full two Heats and Final followed with 123 Paul Manning and
160 Simon Crew taking the Heats and 19 Joe Frankland the Final.
1600cc Banger Points up to Stoke 23/8/15
Pos Num
Name
Points
Heats
Finals
2
1
260
Tim Crew
349
3
2
123
Paul Manning
243
3
2
160
Simon Crew
243
6
4
08
Mark Baggaley
126
5
284
Craig Riches
118
1
6
834
George Ocherton
117
1
1
7
066
Dave Dorans
107
2
1
8
290
Jon Harrison
103
1
1
9
95
Paul Sant
85
2
2
10
230
Dan Gajewski
84
11
360
Daz Leech
77
12
002
Lee Hampson
74
2
13
17
Shane Heath
71
1
14
746
Deejay Tyler
62
15
66
John Hindley
57
3
1
1
1
260 Tim Crew continues his domination of the Points Championship but for the first time in three
seasons the stranglehold of the Brothers Crew is being threatened. 123 Paul Manning now sits joint
second with 160 Simon. 08 Baggo has been on fine form this year and a fourth place is just reward
for his efforts. Craig Riches return to top from see him make the top 5 for the first time this year
pipping 834 George Ocherton by 1 point.
Another big meeting next for 1600cc with the annual England v Wales at Stoke on October 3rd. This
year we have arranged a full meeting of 25v25. Two Heats of 15v15 and then an all-in Final. The
Team with the most Points at the end of the night being declared the winners. All drivers interested
in racing for StarTrax England contact me as soon as possible, first come first served basis.
Hot Rods
Stoke on July 11th saw the first Hat-Trick Hero of the season with 80 Lorne Pilip winning both Heats
and the meeting Final from 88 Stephen Butler 77 Jim Fletcher 180 Paul Lockett 101 Phil Mitchell and
85 Ben White. The first Major of the season saw Coventry stage the British Championship. This years
top man 2 Lee Rudge made no mistakes form pole position to win his first StarTrax title, 19 Shane
King 77 Jim Fletcher and 281 Matt Harris completing the top four. All-comer wins went to 284 Ryan
Latham and 180 Paul Lockett. Stoke on August 1st for the last World Qualifier and several drivers
made the most of this last chance to gain a place on the grid or improve their position. Heat wins
went to 284 Ryan Latham and 81 Kris Millar. Ryan then won the Final from 52 Dave Matthews 231
Peter Charlson 45 Scott Meir 85 Ben White and 281 Matt Harris. The next two meetings saw a rare
Tuesday night at Belle Vue and a Sunday at Stoke but one man dominated both meetings taking all
four Heats and both Finals. Well done to 184 Martin Smith, the ex Banger and Hot-Stox driver has
certainly got to grips with his very smart Hot Rod quickly. Martin has also shot through the grades up
to Red thanks to so many wins!
The Qualifying series for the World Final and the National Championship are now complete. The
grids for both events are as follows.
World Final Stoke September 5th:
Inside 2/281/52/56/45/17*/26/231/187/44 *Not Attending Reserve 77
Outside 85/282/19/284/92/43/86/81/180/701
Reserves 88/100
National Championship Sheffield October 11th
Inside 2/281/180/88/93/184/777/77/26/100
Outside 56/85/80/45/282/81/701/19/43/284
Reserves 52/17/101/187/231.
Hot Rod Points up to Stoke 23/8/15
Pos Num
Name
Points
1
2
Lee Rudge
228
2
281
Matt Harris
187
3
85
Ben White
184
4
56
Martin Jones
139
5
19
Shane King
136
Heats
Finals
3
3
3
1
6
45
Scott Meir
129
2
7
282
Paul Dutton
125
2
8
180
Paul Lockett
118
2
9
52
Dave Matthews
117
10
81
Kris Millar
110
11
43
Stuart Bromley
97
12
88
Stephen Butler
88
13
184
Martin Smith
84
4
2
14
284
Ryan Latham
80
1
1
15
26
Gary Meir
78
1
16
777
Mike Wright
75
17
701
Craig Dunning
74
17
77
Jim Fletcher
74
19
93
Dave Jones
68
20
80
Lorne Pilip
67
1
1
1
3
1
Other scores: 17-63pts: 231-59 839-53: 92-53: 86-52: 187-51: 100-47: 44-43: 40-33: 101-25: 171-15:
73-10:
September Grades: G/S 85 BrCh 2 S/S 281/56/19/45/282GR
Red: 180/52/81/43/184/93GR/839GR/701GR
Blue: 88/284/26/777/77/80/17/231/92GR
Yellow: 86/187/100/44/73GR
White: 40/101/171. GR=Grade Retained
Lots of changes in the grades this month. Up to Super Star for the first time come 19 Shane King and
45 Scott Meir. 52 Dave Matthews goes back to Red while 81 Kris Millar makes Red for the first time
as does 184 Martin Smith. Up to Blue come 284 Ryan Latham and 777 Mike Wright with 86 Ash
Tomkinson and 187 Lee Shovelton going the other way down to Yellow. The chase for the Silver Roof
is still headed by Lee Rudge but Matt Harris and Ben White are having a real tussle for second place.
Lady Bangers
July 11th at the usual venue of Stoke saw Heat wins for 205 Kayleigh Walsh and 100 Emma Mullins
with Kayleigh also winning the Final from 282 Kirstie Challendor and 627 Bekah Everitt. August 1st
and a Heat win for 11 Lucy White with Kayliegh again doing a Heat and Final double. Finally August
23rd and Heat wins for 3 Danielle Hewiitt and Emma Mullins with 44 Courtney Weston taking the
Final. The points are now done as far as qualifying goes for the British and World Finals in October
with the grids below. Grid places will only be reserved for those who Book-in.
Lady Banger Points up to Stoke 23/8/15
Pos Num
Name
Points
Heats
Finals
1
205
Kayleigh Walsh
153
3
4
2
219
Kim Faulkner
144
3
3
3
627
Bekah Everitt
130
4
700
Charlie Thacker
126
1
5
232
Sammie Dugmore
125
1
6
100
Emma Mullins
115
4
7
44
Courtney Weston
78
8
11
Lucy White
77
9
282
Kirstie Challendor
53
10
27
Rayanne Remblance-Carter
46
11
156
Mel Beckwith
42
12
293
Kelsey Smith
39
13
3
Danielle Hewitt
36
14
141
Maghi Haslam
33
15
411
Nikki Calvert
24
1
2
Other Scorers: 715-16pts: 901-13: 543-11: 112-10: 422-9: 212-6: 713-4: 92-2: 22-1:
Grid for British Championship October 3rd and World Final October 24th
Inside: 205/627/232/44/282/156/3/411/901/112/212/92.
Outside: 219/700/100/11/27/293/141/715/543/422/713/22.
Junior Bangers
Only two outings for the Juniors since last time both at Stoke. July 11th saw Heat wins for 10 Leeson
Pryce-Briggs before 16 Jamie Hopkins took a Heat and Final double. August the 23rd saw StarTrax
stage the Junior Bangers European Championship. A fine field of 30 Juniors assembled at Stoke with
visiting entries from Buxton Incarace Pri Spedeworth and Trackstar all present. Jamie Hopkins took
the Flag in the main race only to fail post race checks and hand the win to Spedeworths 333 Charlie
Randall, 104 Ellis Hopkins second and 823 Jamie Murrell(PRI) third. All-comer wins went to 801
Mason Foster and 405 Alfie Vince.
Junior Banger Points up to Stoke 23/8/15
Pos Num
Name
Points
Heats
Finals
1
90
Joey Holmes Jnr
230
2
2
2
16
Jamie Hopkins
218
5
2
3
801
Mason Foster
137
3
2
4
132
Connor Dando
104
5
104
Eliis Hopkins
95
6
4
Sam Cash
87
7
95
Elton Hopkins
85
8
14
Joe Persico
84
9
204
Travis Dring
79
10
299
Thomas Callaghan
74
11
99
Danny Davies
56
12
33
Mackenzie Almond
53
13
71
Olly Crowley
50
14
3
Mitchell Finney
44
2
2
2
1
1
15
21
Keiran Redshaw
38
Thats it for this time contact me on email spikeshome1@gmail.com or Facebook Seamus Burden
(Spike) Twitter @spikeStartrax