1970's » 1970 COWDENBEATH


1969 Superstox Points Champion Malcolm Paterson (photo J Fyffe / GM Photo)

 We should commence 1970 with a record of how the drivers finished the 1969 points season

 1969 SUPERSTOX POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP 

RED           BLUE        
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1 107 Malcolm Paterson 513   10 30 Robin Honthy 157
2 6 Walter Brown 453   11 55 Bob Morton 146
3 31 Tennant Douglas 422   12 128 George Findlay 120
4 41 Gordon MacDougall 375   13 85 "Happy" Sam Page 115
5 119 Alan Neilson 297   14 81 Bill Pullar 90
6 5 George MacMillan 294   15 25 Gavin Paterson 74
7 145 Ron Anderson 219   16 104 Ronnie Nisbet 70
8 94 Vic Russell 192   17 84 Les Brown 60
9 22 Al McLeod (211) 170   18 210 Bob Lyons 52

 

YELLOW      
Pos No Name  Pts
19 36 Billy McCourt 44
20 95 Ron MacGregor 39
21 46 James Gilchrest 38
22 51 William Mitchell 34
23 144 Robert Geddes 30
24 13 George Marshall 27
25 159 Roy Findlay  24
26 11 Bill Williamson 22
27 67 Dick Ritchie  21

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Inaugural Saloon Points Champion Les Kay (photo J Fyffe / GM Photo)

1969 SALOON STOCK POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

 RED           BLUE        
Pos No Name Pts     Pos No Name Pts
1 64 Les Kay 91     5 104 Ronnie Nisbet 43
2 116 Mick Reilly 88     6 34 Brian Carnegie 42
3 23 Doug Farrer 87     7 63 Colin Borthwick 41
4 40 Howard Jarman 73     8 82 Alex Baxter 38
            9 19 Basher Forrest 25

                                                                                             

YELLOW      
Pos No Name Pts
10 156 George Penman 20
11 10 David Reid 17
12 170 Ron Turner 17
13 67 Dick Ritchie 16
14 103 Richard Owens 16

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1970

SALOON STOCKS     97 CARS

No Name No Name No Name
16 Alan Robertson 111 James Yorkston 164 Lawrence McNeill
19 Basher Forrest 113 David Wilson 165 Alan Brash
20 Dave Nelson 116 Mick Reilly 166 Jim Sharp
23 Dougie Farrer 117 Robert Sommerville 167 Bill McLellan
24 Alex Coupar 118 Johnny Davidson 169 Donald Elliot
34 Brian Carnegie 120 Harry Harris 171 Tommy Davidson
35 Eddie Lynch 122 Robert Gilmour 172 Sonny Bennie
38 Johnny London 124 Philip Winfield 173 Thomas Meickle
40 Howard Jarman 126 Dennis Watson 174 Edward Shaw
50 Bill Butler 129 Alfred Clark 175 Dean Roberts
53 Thomas Farrer 130 Malcolm Watt 177 William Fray
58 Gus Ellis 133 James McNeil 178 Ronald Thom
60 John Dall 135 James Dunlop 179 James Davidson
61 Ian Ramsay 136 George Wotherspoon 181 Bob Cunningham
63 Colin Borthwick 139 David Wylie 184 Alistair Campbell
64 Les Kay 140 Billy Wait 185 Peter Moran
67 Dick Ritchie 141 Earnest Thompson 186 Andrew McLellan
69 Hamish Murray 142 Robert Heeps 187 Terrance Carr
71 George Wright 143 Reginald Keene 189 Brian Hiscock
73 George Barnett 146 James Gordon 190 James Coyle
77 Bill Cormack 147 David Neil 192 Ian Deerness
80 Jack Keeton 149 William Inglis 195 Andy Johnston
82 Alex Baxter 150 Robert Neil 196 Kenny Ireland
86 Rab Train 151 Laurie Bunyan 198 Robert Watson
95 Ron MacGregor 152 James Begley 201 Sandy Menzies
96 Matt Campbell 153 Alexander Hall 202 John Farquhar
101 David Kelly 155 David Rennie 206 Robert Baxter
102 William Findlay 157 Norman McDonald 210 David Reid
103 Robert Dow 158 Bill Kennedy 211 Hugh Fraser
105 Bob Smith 160 Alex Craig 214 George Dees
106 Hamish Buchanan 161 Dave McCulloch 264 William Gourie
108 Danny Smith 162 Tom Aitkin      
110 Ashley Reith 163 Donald Keddie      

SUPERSTOX      69 CARS

No Name No Name No Name
3 Colin Redmond 42 Brian Elder 92 Ian Graham
5 George MacMillan 43 Tammy Elder 94 Vic Russell
6 Walter Brown 46 James Gilchrest 95 Ronald MacGregor
7 Andrew Cameron 49 Eric Moore 100 Les Page
8 George Strachan 50 Bill Butler 104 Ronnie Nisbet
11 Bill Williamson 51 William Mitchell 105 Jack Reid
12 Bob Buchanan 52 James Cuthbert 107 Malcolm Paterson
13 George Marshall 54 David Longmuir 112 Bill Renwick
14 Billy Mathieson 55 Bob Morton 114 Michael Moran
15 Ronald Crighton 57 James Gordon 115 David Morris
17 Bill Shooter 58 Gus Ellis 119 Alan Neilson
21 Robert Lyons  59 Ian Gilmour 128 George Findlay
22 Al McLeod (211) 62 David Forrest 132 David Smith
23 Dougie Farrer 66 Roger McEwan 134 Douglas Rae
25 Gavin Paterson 70 Andy Davidson 138 John Lindsay
26 Ian Fitzsimmons 72 Ross Thompson 145 Ron Anderson
27 Thomas Wallace 75 Bill Crawford 148 Jim Easton
28 Alan Valante 78 Charles Walker 159 Roy Findlay
30 Robin Honthy 79 Bert Young 182 Donald Morton
31 Tenant Douglas 81 Bill Pullar 191 William Feeney
33 Ian Wilson 83 Doug Boyd 208 Alan Edwards
36 Billy McCourt 84 Les Brown    
39 Les Clark 90 James McCellan    
41 Gordon McDougall 91 Bill Copland    

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The points for the 1970 season were awarded as follows:- 

Saloon  Stocks     Superstox   
  Heats  Final     Heats  Final
1st 8   1st 12  16
2nd 6   2nd 12
3rd 4   3rd 10
4th 2   4th 8
5th 1   5th 6
         6th 4
         7th 2
         8th 1

First meeting 1970, 29 different Saloon Stocks & 34 different Superstox.                
The average attendance for the season was 34 Saloon Stocks & 29 Superstox.                
The highest attendance for the Saloon Stocks was 44 cars on the 16th August, 1st Scottish Championship Qualifying.                
The highest attendance for the Superstox was probably the European Championship on 19th July, unfortunately I do not have complete records of this meeting, so the next best attended was 36 cars on the 20th October for the UK Challenge Cup.  

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1970 Superstox Points Champion Alan Neilson (photo J Fyffe / GM Photos)

1970 SUPERSTOX POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

    RED  
Pos No Name Pts
1st 119 Alan Neilson 711
2nd 107 Malcolm Paterson 666
3rd 41 Gordon McDougall 550
4th 6 Walter Brown 466
5th 31 Tenant Douglas 466
6th 5 George MacMillan 302
7th 81 Bill Pullar 210
8th 104 Ronnie Nisbet 174
9th 27 Thomas Wallace 167
10th 145 Ron Anderson 162
    BLUE   
Pos No Name Pts
11th 55 Bob Morton 133
12th 70 Andy Davidson 121
13th 182 Donald Morton 106
14th 128 George Findlay 104
15th 49 Eroc Moore 100
16th 94 Vic Russell 94
17th 51 William Mitchell 84
18th 84 Les Brown 83
19th 25 Gavin Paterson 80
    YELLOW  
Pos No Name Pts
20th 22 Al McLeod 74
21st 115 Dave Morris 73
22nd 92 Ian Graham 62
23rd 114 Michael Moran 56
24th 46 James Gilchrest 55
25th 75 Bill Crawford 45
26th 57 James Gordon 36
27th 91 Bill Copland 35
28th 30 Robin Honthy 31
29th 13 George Marshall 31

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Alan Neilson made a great leap forwards from the previous season capturing no 1 in  the points from 5th in 1969 & demoting Malcolm Paterson to 2nd from top position he had held in 69 & 68.                
Dougie Farrer 3rd in the 1969 Saloon Stock points table, (only 1 point behind Mike Reilly & 4 points behind winner Les Kay, how's that for a close finish?) had brief try in Superstox in 1970, but put his car up for sale mid April. He rejoined the Saloon Stocks about 50 points behind the leaders, by the end of the season he was 4th including 6 wins. While 6th in the 1969 Saloon Stocks table Ronnie Nisbet also made the transition but with a lot more success finishing 8th in the Superstox points in 1970 & capturing the East of Scotland Championship, one other final & five heat wins.                
                
The most prestigious meeting held in Scotland thus far was the European Superstox Championship, Malcolm Paterson demonstrated again his awesome ability by leading home a gaggle of top English visitors, Derek Fiske (1970 British Champion), Biffo Sweeney (1970 World Champion), Geoff Goddard (1969 English Champion), Tony May (1970 World International Champion). Of the minor placings, 6th was captured by Tenant Douglas, 7th George MacMillan & 8th Dave Pierce (1969 English Points Champion).      

Also worthy of special mention for the 1970 season was Gordon McDougall, finishing 3rd in the points championship, & winning the Scottish, Open Scottish , & West of Scotland  Championship.               
In preparation for European Championship at Cowdenbeath in 1970, Gordon had some additional practice by taking in some racing at Walthamstow & Wisbech, and achieving a 2nd at the previous Wisbech, however unfortunately he failed to finish in the European. 
                

 

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European Championship  -  19th July

1st 107 Malcolm Paterson  
2nd E304 Derek Fiske (1970 British Champion) 
3rd E530 Biffo Sweeney (1970 World Champion) 
4th E294 Geoff Goddard (1969 English Champion) 
5th E364 Tony May (1970 World International Champion)
6th 31 Tennant Douglas  
7th 5 George MacMillan  
8th E320 Dave Pierce (1969 English Points Champion) 


1970 UK Challenge Cup & European Championship winner this year, but very quite by Malcolm's standards (photo Frank Love / Retrostox.co.uk)

                 Open Scottish Championship  -  5th April              UK Challenge Cup  -  20th September                 

1st 41 Gordon McDougall     1st 107 Malcolm Paterson  
2nd 55 Bob Morton     2nd 119 Alan Neilson  
3rd 119 Alan Neilson     3rd 41 Gordon McDougall 
4th 6 Walter Brown     4th E294 Geoff Goddard  
5th 84 Les Brown     5th 104 Ronnie Nisbet  
6th 22 Al McLeod     6th 84 Les Brown  
7th 81 Bill Pullar     7th 81 Bill Pullar  
8th 5 George MacMillan     8th 31 Tenant Douglas  

 East of Scotland  -  2nd August                            West of Scotland  -  24th May

1st 104 Ronnie Nisbet     1st 119 Alan Neilson    
2nd 41 Gordon McDougall    2nd 5 Bob Morton   
3rd 119 Alan Neilson     3rd 13 George Marshall  
4th 182 Donald Morton     4th 91 Bill Copland   
5th 107 Malcolm Paterson     5th   NOI    
6th 6 Walter Brown     6th   NOI    
7th 27 Thomas Wallace     7th   NOI    
8th   NOF       8th   NOI    
      NOF no other finishers         NOI no other information

 SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP  30th AUGUST                          "COCK of the NORTH""   25th OCTOBER

1st 41 Gordon McDougall    1st 119 Alan Neilson 
2nd 119 Alan Neilson    2nd 107 Malcolm Paterson 
3rd 107 Malcolm Paterson    3rd 41 Gordon McDougall 
4th 81 Bill Pullar    4th 115 Davey Morris 
5th 5 George MacMillan    5th 31 Tennant Douglas 
6th 31 Tennant Douglas    6th   NOI 
7th 27 Thomas Wallace    7th   NOI 
8th   NOF    8th   NOI 
      NOF no other finishers      NOI no other information

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The stats for the most wins in 1970 were as follows:-               
For these purposes the European, Open Scottish, UK Challenge Cup & "Cock of The North" (Final & Championship  winners race) are counted as finals.  
  
           

Pos No Name Finals Heats    Pos No Name  Finals Heats
1st 119 Alan Neilson 8 21    9th 5 George MacMillan 0 3
2nd 41 Gordon McDougall 8 14    10th E364 Tony May 0 2
3rd 107 Malcolm Paterson 6 20    11th= 57 James Gordon 0 1
4th 31 Tennant Douglas 4 7    11th= 30 Robin Honthy 0 1
5th 6 Walter Brown 3 10    11th= 27 Thomas Wallace 0 1
6th 104 Ronnie Nisbet 2 5    11th= 182 Donald Morton 0 1
7th 115 Davey Morris 1 1    11th= 81 Bill Pullar 0 1
8th E294 Geoff Goddard 1 0    11th= 114 Michael Moran 0 1

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1970 Superstox Scottish Champion Gordon McDougall
(photo J Fyffe / GM Photos)

Meeting Top Point Scorers

Pos No Name No
1st 41 Gordon McDougall 10
2nd= 107 Malcolm Paterson 5
2nd= 119 Alan Neilson 5
4th= 6 Walter Brown 3
4th= 31 Tenant Douglas 3
6th 5 George MacMillan 2
7th= 104 Ronnie Nisbet 1
7th= 115 Davey Morris 1

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1970 SALOON STOCK POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

    RED           BLUE   
Pos No Name  Points    Pos No Name  Points
1 64 Les Kay 260    11 130 Malcolm Watt 74
2 80 Jack Keeton 192    12 86 Rab Train 73
3 196 Kenny Ireland 181    13 53 Thomas Farrer 58
4 23 Dougie Farrer 117    14 19 Basher Forrest 51
5 40 Howard Jarman 107    15 82 Alex Baxter 47
6= 20 Dave Nelson 99    16 122 Robert Gilmour 42
6= 118 Johnny Davidson 99    17 153 Alex Hall 41
8 116 Mick Reilly 91    18= 95 Ron MacGregor 37
9= 140 Billy Wait 76    18= 139 David Wylie 37
9= 146 James Gordon 76    20 173 Thomas Meikle 35
             21 106 Hamish Buchanan 34
             22= 152 James Begley 31
             22= 167 William McLellan 31

 

EAST OF SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 4th OCTOBER        "COCK OF THE NORTH" - 25th OCTOBER

1st 152 James Begley      1st 64 Les Kay   
2nd 161 Dave McCulloch      2nd 160 Alex Craig   
3rd 53 Tom Farrer       3rd 118 Johnny Davidson  
4th 146 James Gordon      4th 116 Mick Reilly   
5th 116 Mick Reilly       5th 153 Alex Hall   

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The stats for the most wins in 1970 were as follows:-

Pos No Name  Finals Heats    Pos No Name  Finals Heats
1st 64 Les Kay 9 21    16th= 40 Howie Jarman 0 3
2nd 116 Mick Reilly 4 4    16th= 86 Rab Train 0 3
3rd 80 Jack Keeton 2 14    16th= 171 Tommy Davidson 0 3
4th 196 Kenny Ireland 2 9    20th= 63 Colin Borthwick 0 2
5th 118 Johnny Davidson 2 8    20th= 95 Ronald MacGregor 0 2
6th 20 Dave Nelson 2 5    20th= 106 Hamish Buchanan 0 2
7th 130 Malcolm Watt 2 2    20th= 175 Dean Roberts 0 2
8th= 23 Dougie Farrer 1 5    24th= 53 Tom Farrer 0 1
8th= 140 Billy Wait 1 5    24th= 96 Matt Campbell 0 1
8th= 146 James Gordon 1 5    24th= 110 Ashley Reith 0 1
11th 122 Rab Gilmour 1 3    24th= 120 Harry Harris 0 1
12th= 153 Alexander Hall 1 2    24th= 133 James McNeil 0 1
12th= 195 Andy Johnston 1 2    24th= 139 David Wylie 0 1
14th= 152 James Begley 1 1    24th= 163 Donald Keddie 0 1
14th= 167 Bill McLellan 1 1    24th= 173 Thomas Meikle 0 1
16th= 19 "Basher" Forrest 0 3    24th= 181 Bob Cunningham 0 1

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Meeting top point scorers

Pos No Name   No    Pos No Name   No
1st 64 Les Kay   6    9th= 19 Basher Forrest  1
2nd= 116 Mick Reilly   3    9th= 122 Rab Gilmour  1
2nd= 130 Malcolm Watt  3    9th= 140 Billy Wait   1
4th= 20 Dave Nelson  2    9th= 152 James Begley  1
4th= 23 Dougie Farrer  2    9th= 167 Bill McLellan  1
4th= 80 Jack Keeton  2    9th= 175 Dean Roberts  1
4th= 106 Hamish Buchanan  2    9th= 195 Andy Johnstone  1
4th= 118 Johnny Davidson  2    9th= 196 Kenny Ireland  1

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16 Year Old Kenny Ireland
(complete with shrunken overalls!)
(photo J Fyffe / GM Photos)

Fantastic performance by young Kenny Ireland (just turned 16 years old) to finish 3rd in the points championship in his first season.         
          
Les Kay continued his dominance in this formula, having won the inaugural points championship in 1969 (the class having been introduced on 28th September 1968 to Scotland).

Malcolm Watt started the season in blistering form, taking two firsts and three seconds in the first five finals to top the points chart - then packed up? He re-appeared with a Hot Rod later in the season and managed to get a 9th at Wimbledon in his Imp.               
               
Dougie Farrer & Howie Jarman both dropped a position from the previous season finishing 4th & 5th respectively, the two drivers jumping ahead of them were Jack Keeton finishing 2nd & Kenny Ireland 3rd.               
               
An interesting aside was that racing was taking place at other non Spedeworth Scotland venues, as in the programme 30.08.70 it was announced that a penalty of a 3 week ban had been placed on driver 133 James McNeill in that he allowed his car to be raced at another raceway.               
Driver 20 Dave Nelson was banned for 6 weeks for assisting at another raceway & allowing his mechanic to race at another track. Losing all points & prize money from meeting on 23.08.70.               
Dave Nelsons mechanic Graham Reid was banned from all pits & track area for the 1970 season.               
If anyone can advise me where these misdemeanours took place, I can update this section accordingly.

In all probability it was at Corbie Wood near Bannockburn. The first meeting there was scheduled for July 5th when the Spedeworth Superstox would be away at Ipswich. The promoter was Bob Forsyth, he was hopeful there would be over 50 Saloon Stocks at the opening meeting. They were hoping to gain the bulk of their competitors & spectators from the Edinbugh / Glasgow areas.               
               
The big meeting for the Saloon Stocks in 1970 was the first ever running of the Scottish Championship, it was officially called the National Championship, I think to avoid confusion with the Superstox Scottish Championship, but well we could tell the difference between the Superstox & the Saloon Stocks, generally then it was known as the Scottish Championship.               
The qualifying was over two meetings, the original first meeting was cancelled due to flooding, so the qualifying rounds were re-scheduled. Strangely the title race was restricted to the top 18 qualifiers. Les Kay captured the first Scottish Championship from David Kelly and Alexander Hall.               
               
At the 4th grading period 1970, the number of Saloon Stock red tops was increased to 9 & the number of blue tops to 12, still no yellow tops though.               
                
1970 saw the debut of Hamish Buchanan, he showed a glimpse of what was to come by winning the 1st heat at the meeting 02.08.70.             
               
In the end though this season of Saloon Stock racing was totally dominated by Les Kay, in a season where 40 or more cars were in attendance at 8 meetings and the average was 36 over the season.                 
To a number of the Superstox aficionados (drivers & spectators) that looked down on this style of racing, even in a formula where biff and bash were the order of the day, this demonstrated that driving skill & car preparation will produce the results. Les winning no less than 30 races with a further 8 runner up positions. The Scottish Championship & the Final / Championship winners race (Cock of The North).   

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