1970's » 1973 COWDENBEATH / ARMADALE

1973

SALOON STOCKS       111 CARS

No Driver No Driver No Driver
13 George Marshall 197 Stew Sneddon 319 Thomas Brown
16 John Leckie Jnr 200 Adrian Armit 320 Robin Borthwick
22 Barry Watson 202 Phil Crowther 322 Archie Craig
23 Dougie Farrer 203 Colin Forbes 325 Bill Cunningham
40 Howard Jarman 205 Rab Dorman 330 Robert Bruce
65 David Wylie 206 Ricky Smith 331 Ford Ferguson
67 Rab Ramsay 208 David Wallis 332 Dick Litherland
80 Jack Keeton 209 Michael Shiel 334 Fred Tait
83 John Paterson 210 Robert Coutts 344 William Plank
100 George MacMillan Jnr 211 Grahame Ellis    
102 John Smith 213 Pete McVay    
103 Robert Dow 214 Malcolm MacIntyre    
105 Bob Smith 216 Alan Crawford    
106 Hamish Buchanan 217 Des Murphy    
110 Ashley Reith 222 Fraser Dunlop    
111 James Yorkston 223 William Ross    
112 Arthur Gray 227 Duggy Brown    
113 Douglas Lavery 228 Neil Burnett    
118 Johnny Davidson 229 Jim Clark    
120 Harry Harris 230 William Paton    
121 Pete Malone 231 Richard Roy    
125 Eoin Kennedy 232 Tommy Thomson    
129 Alfred Clark 233 William McNight    
131 Gordon Brown 234 Ian McWhinnie    
134 Rab Stevenson 235 Jock Robertson    
137 Jim Duff 237 Alex Wright    
140 Graham Wait 239 Robert Hannah    
142 James Renton 240 Ian Turnbull    
146 James Hunter 241 Charlie Milne    
148 John Harvey 242 Bob Malone    
149 William Inglis 243 Murdo McDonald    
154 Andy Young 244 Jimmy Low    
158 Thomas Allison 246 Ronald McIntyre    
161 Dave McCulloch 247 Innes McRitchie    
163 Donald Keddie 248 Eddy Stevenson    
171 Tommy Davidson 251 Jack Robertson    
175 Roy Nicoll 254 Jimmy Smith    
176 James Innes 255 Edward Gilfillan    
178 John Gilchrest 261 Alan Paterson    
181 Bill Renwick 262 Rab Gibson    
183 John Brady 268 Rab Geddes    
184 John Brophey 270 Stuart Mitchell    
186 Andrew McLellan 271 John Myles    
187 Malcolm Mann 275 Ralph Sibbald    
188 Basil Aldous 281 Tim Stirling    
189 Ronald Tweedie 290 John Wightman    
191 Colin Kirk 299 David Philp    
192 John Scott 301 Bunter MacKinnon    
193 John Dudgeon 314 George Spalding    
194 Duncan Muir 316 Ronald Berry    
195 Andy Johnstone 318 George Law    

SUPERSTOX      50 CARS

No Driver No Driver No Driver
6 Walter Brown 47 Bob Wilson 84 Les Brown
7 Terry Henderson 49 Eric Moore 86 Brian Walker
8 Alex Colvin 51 William Mitchell 87 David Ross
9 John Duncker 53 Tam Farrer 88 Bob Sutherland
10 Ian Boyd 55 Bob Morton 94 Vic Russell
12 Bob Buchanan 57 Billy McNee 97 Camie Cameron
13 George Marshall 49 Eric Moore 104 Ronnie Nisbet
17 Mike Jack 59 Brian Russell 107 Malcolm Paterson
19 Richard McLean 66 James Reid 108 Derek Patrick
24 Ronnie Burns 68 Clark Thomas 109 Gavin McCreadie
29 John MacDonald 72 Bill Mackie 122 Rab Gilmour
30 Brian Allen 75 Bill Crawford 160 Alex Craig
31 Tenant Douglas 78 Pete Miller 196 Kenny Ireland
32 Lex Milloy 79 Cecil Denham 204 Lauchie Glchrest
39 Les Clark 81 Bill Pullar 207 Bert Stevens
41 Gordon McDougall 82 Kenneth Crouch 221 Tom Young
42 Brian Elder     224  Gordon Lyle 

HOT RODS        32 CARS

No Driver No Driver No Driver
007 Ian Bruce 52 Alexander Nicol 119 Alan Neilson
14 Neil Hamilton 54 Gerry Moore 123 Jimmy McCulloch
18 James Ramsay 58 James MacGaughay 130 Malcolm Watt
21 John Kirk 60 Jim Erskine 156 Ian Ostrau
25 Willie Taylor 64 Les Kay 162 Malcolm Chesher
26 Allan Chidwick 71 Duncan Fisher 165 Alan Brash
28 Tommy Menzie 90 Rab Train 167 Bill McLellan
35 Andrew Porter 91 Robert Dickson 201 Alistair Dziennick
37 Ian Simpson 92 Archie Ferguson 260 Lawrence Underwood
44 Robert Laing 93 John Campbell 313 Kenneth Munro
48 Jim Mills 95 Alex Butchart    

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The points awarded for the 1973 season were as follows:-  

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

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Stock Car patrons might have been a bit disappointed in the car turnout for the first meeting in 1973, 38 different Saloon Stocks & 25 different Superstox, Saloons down 9 or about 20% on previous season, the Hot Rods had a 100% increase up from 9 to 18 cars.               
The Hot Rod influence was now definitely affecting the numbers in the other formulae. Drivers were migrating from the Saloon Stocks to the Hot Rods, the Superstox were down 3 from 1972.              
              
However the car average was to go down over the season with the average attendance for the Saloon Stocks, down a further 5 on the previous season or 30% in two years to 33.              
The Superstox suffered worse over 30% in one year to 20. The Hot Rod numbers went up 3 to 13 cars. The pattern seemed to be the Saloon Stock drivers trying out Hot Rod racing instead of moving on to Superstox.               
The Cowdenbeath track has always been less than ideal for Hot Rod racing and extensive damage & resultant additional expense would become part & parcel of the Hot Rodders life in Scotland.              
Unfortunately many gave away oval racing entirely. I would argue the introduction of Hot Rods was worth it and in any case in the end there, was no choice. The Hot Rods were becoming the Spedeworth organisation's premier formula, - Spedeworth Scotland just had to be part of it. Although car numbers never got large, under the Spedeworth Scotland promotion, some of Cowdenbeath's largest crowds turned up for the International Hot Rod meetings.              
              
The highest attendances for the Saloon Stocks were 40 cars on the 18th March & 15th April.  The Superstox highest 26 cars on the 25th March, 4 cars down on last years average!            
The Hot Rods mustered 23 cars for the Open Scottish on the 8th July.              

The honours for the 1973 season were as follows:- 

Note on points totals              
Final published points totals not available, points calculated from the last published total, up to the end of the 7th grading period on the 30th September, with points to end of season added. Therefore no data on white tops points accrued.

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1973 SUPERSTOX POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

     Reds         Blues  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1st 107 Malcolm Paterson 753   9th 6 Walter Brown 302
2nd 104 Ronnie Nisbet 538   10th 31 Tennant Douglas 286
3rd 75 Bill Crawford 373   11th 55 Bob Morton 282
4th 84 Les Brown 367   12th 94 Vic Russell 264
5th 9 John Duncker 353   13th 49 Eric Moore 230
6th 41 Gordon McDougall 346   14th 12 Robert Buchanan 179
7th 196 Kenny Ireland 326   15th 39 Les Clark 84
8th 81 Bill Pullar 307          

 

    Yellows  
Pos No Name Pts
17th 221 Tom Young 71
18th 17 Mike Jack 38
19th 79 Cecil Denham 24
20th= 10 Ian Boyd 21
20th= 97 Camie Cameron 21


Steven went on to win the Scottish F2 Points in later years (not in this car though!) (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

 

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 26th AUGUST          OPEN SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 29th APRIL

1st 196 Kenny Ireland   1st 84 Les Brown
2nd 107 Malcolm Paterson   2nd 104 Ronnie Nisbet
3rd 41 Gordon MacDougall   3rd E352 Rick Drewery
4th   N/A   4th E320 Dave Pierce
5th   N/A   5th E221 Derek Warwick
6th   N/A   6th 39 Les Clark
7th   N/A   7th 6 Walter Brown
8th   N/A   8th 81 Bill Pullar


1973 Scottish Champion Kenny Ireland, only man to hold Scottish titles in Saloon Stocks, Superstox & Hot Rods (photo Frank Love / Retrostox.co.uk)

UK CHALLENGE CUP - 12th AUGUST      EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 29th JULY

1st 107 Malcolm Paterson   1st 107 Malcolm Paterson
2nd 94 Vic Russell   2nd 84 Les Brown
3rd E17 Roy Eaton   3rd 75 Bill Crawford
4th 75 Bill Crawford   4th 55 Bob Morton
5th 9 John Duncker   5th 196 Kenny Ireland
6th 55 Bob Morton   6th 6 Walter Brown
7th   N/A   7th 49 Eric Moore
8th   N/A   8th 94 Vic Russell

WEST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - DATE?           "COCK of the NORTH" - 4th NOVEMBER

1st 107 Malcolm Paterson   1st 55 Bob Morton
2nd   NOI   2nd 9 John Duncker
3rd   NOI   3rd 84 Les Brown
4th   NOI   4th 81 Bill Pullar
5th   NOI   5th 94 Vic Russell
6th   NOI   6th 12 Bob Buchanan
7th   NOI   7th 75 Bill Crawford
8th   NOI   8th   NOI

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The 2nd points period of 1973, 29th April, saw Malcolm Paterson, Gordon McDougall & Tennant Douglas drop to blue roof. It was evident the system  needed some tampering with. 


In the programme for the Scottish Saloon Championship 1973, Gwen discussed the previous meeting - the UK Challenge Cup. English visitors were down on that promised and Bob Perry (E217) was put out of the days racing in a dramatic & uncalled for way, the guilty party was? not named! However Derrick Warwick (E221) managed to gain a couple of 2nd places "a real future champion, I feel sure".


It should be pointed out that Derrick won the English Superstox Championship in 1971 at the tender age of 16, & of course went on to win the 1973 World Superstox Championship at Wimbledon, notwithstanding his Formula One Grand Prix exploits which followed later. 


The 1973 World Championship at Wimbledon saw Scottish representation from  Tennant Douglas, Gordon McDougall, John Duncker, Vic Russell, Bill Pullar, Kenny Ireland, Bill Crawford & Ronnie Nisbet. You will note Scotland's top driver was missing, -Malcolm Paterson - winner of 18 finals and 23 heats in 1973, a glaring example of the crazy Spedeworth Scotland qualifying system (designed to get the best drivers on the grid for the championships - according to the promoters), but actually designed as a promoting opportunity.              
Malcolm had been a hot tip to win the event in 73, even Arnold Leroy, one of England's leading Stock Car scribes tipped Malcolm to win it in the actual meeting programme!              
For the record young Derek Warwick won from Dave Pierce & Tony May.



Ronnie Nisbet next best to Malcolm Paterson in 1973 (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

Best away performances of the year - Ronnie Nisbet got 2nd place in the European Championship  to Tony May (E364) held at Tilberg in Holland, & Bill Crawford's performance in the British Championship at Ipswich, where he finished 6th, this was won by Bob Perry  (E217).

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 The stats for the most wins in 1973 were as follows:-

For these purposes the  Open Scottish, UK Challenge Cup & "Cock of The North" (Final & Championship winners race) are counted as finals.              
Armadale heat results will be added when available.  Malcolm Paterson won most Armadale finals.

Finals totals are correct (heats to be adjusted on receipt of completed Armadale results)

Pos No Name Finals Heats   Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 107 Malcolm Paterson 18 23   10th 84 Les Brown 1 4
2nd 196 Kenny Ireland 4 0   11th= 6 Walter Brown 1 3
3rd 104 Ronnie Nisbet 3 8   11th= 31 Tenant Douglas 1 3
4th= 9 John Duncker 3 3   11th= 49 Eric Moore 1 3
4th= 94 Vic Russell 3 3   14th= 12 Bob Buchanan 1 0
6th 41 Gordon McDougall 2 6   14th= 221 Tom Young 1 0
7th 75 Bill Crawford 2 3   16th 39 Les Clark 0 2
8th 55 Bob Morton 2 0   17th 79 Cecil Denham 0 1
9th 81 Bill Pullar 1 5            

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1973 SALOON STOCK POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP 

    Reds         Blues  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1st 299 Davey Philp 397   12th 65 David Wylie 105
2nd 106 Hamish Buchanan 341   13th 110 Ashley Reith 83
3rd 118 Johnny Davidson 337   14th 120 Harry Harris 78
4th 80 Jack Keeton 219   15th 344 William Plank 75
5th 131 Gordon Brown 216   16th 325 Bill Cunningham 69
6th 23 Dougie Farrer 208   17th 248 Eddy Stevenson 53
7th 121 Pete Malone 183   18th 125 Eoin Kennedy 51
8th 40 Howie Jarman 140   19th 100 George MacMillan Jnr 47
9th 330 Robert Bruce 135   20th= 244 Jimmy Low 46
10th 316 Ronald Berry 120   20th= 195 Andy Johnstone 46
11th 208 Dave Wallis 116   20th= 161 Dave McCulloch 46
          23rd 194 Duncan Muir 42


299 Davey Philp utilised the most modern of Saloon Stocks for the time the Escort Mk 1 to great effect in 1973 (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

 

    Yellows  
Pos No Name Pts
24th 275 Ralph Sibbald 39
25th 140 Graham Wait 37
26th 202 Phil Crowther 31
27th= 163 Donald Keddie 27
27th= 235 Jock Robertson 27
29th= 102 John Smith 22
29th= 222 Fraser Dunlop 22
31st= 281 Tim Stirling 18
31st= 290 John Wightman 18
33rd= 22 Barry Watson 16
33rd= 231 Richard Roy 16
35th 255 Edward Gilfillan 15
36th 171 Tommy Davidson 14

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 19th AUGUST              EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 7th OCTOBER

1st 80 Jack Keeton   1st 80 Jack Keeton
2nd 222 Fraser Dunlop   2nd 222 Fraser Dunlop
3rd 106 Hamish Buchanan   3rd 299 Davy Philp
4th 110 Ashley Reith   4th 131 Gordon Brown
5th 118 Johnny Davidson   5th 121 Pete Malone
6th 244 Jimmy Low   6th 105 Bob Smith
7th 40 Howie Jarman   7th   23 Dougie Farrer


80 Jack Keeton, 116 Mick Reilly (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

 WEST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 1st AUGUST      "COCK of the NORTH" - 4th NOVEMBER

1st 80 Jack Keeton   1st 330 Robert Bruce
2nd   N/A   2nd 40 Howie Jarman
3rd   N/A   3rd 80 Jack Keeton
4th   N/A   4th 275 Ralph Sibbald
5th   N/A   5th 100 George MacMillan
6th   N/A   6th   N/A

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Johnny Davidson 1973 most wins by a mile, why not points champ then? (think it needs checking!) (photo Frank Love / Retrostox.co.uk)

The stats for the most wins in 1973 were as follows:-             
Note the numbers of wins will be corrected when full Armadale results are available

Pos No Name Finals Heats   Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 118 Johnny Davidson 13 16   11th 40 Howie Jarman 1 0
2nd 80 Jack Keeton 6 10   12th 100 George MacMillan J 1 0
3rd 299 Davey Philp 6 9   13th 121 Pete Malone 1 0
4th 222 Fraser Dunlop 5 10   14th  125 Eoin Kennedy 0 8
5th 23 Dougie Farrer 2 7   15th 131 Gordon Brown 0 3
6th 106 Hamish Buchanan 1 18   16th 120 Harry Harris 0 2
7th 330 Robert Bruce 1 9   17th 325 Bill Cunningham 0 2
8th 344 William Plank 1 3   18th 110 Ashley Reith 0 1
9th 316 Ronald Berry 1 2   19th 171 Tommy Davidson 0 1
10th 275 Ralph Sibbald 1 1   20th 183 John Brady 0 1

Jack Keeton, Davey Philp, John Davidson, Doug Farrer, Fraser Dunlop & William Plank all raced at Wimbledon on 13th October for the European Saloon Stock Championship, there starting positions in the Championship race was as follows: 299 Davey Philp 4th, 222 Fraser Dunlop 13th, Willie Plank 19th, 23 Dougie Farrer 22nd, & 80 Jack Keeton 23rd, 118 Johnny Davidson doesn't look to have taken part in any of the races at the meeting. No Scottish drivers finished in the first six past the flag. As for the meeting itself the best results appear to have been gained by Dougie Farrer with a heat 7th & A consolation 7th.  I don't have the results information for the race at this stage, but hope to receive same shortly.           
               
In the programme 14.10.73 comments on some fine racing by George MacMillan Jnr - "with a little more experience this lad could do well."  Another great prediction he went on to win the final at that very same meeting! 

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1973 HOT ROD POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

    Reds         Blues  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1st 64 Les Kay 368   6th 93 John Campbell 176
2nd 21 "Captain John Kirk" 291   7th 54 Gerry Moore 126
3rd 52 Alex Nicol 217   8th 130 Malcolm Watt 118
4th 119 Alan Neilson 216   9th 37 Ian Simpson 107
5th 165 Alan Brash 187   10th 58 James MacGaughay 106
             11th 14 Neil Hamilton 94

 

    Yellows  
Pos No Name Pts
12th 156 Ian Ostrau 87
13th 25 Willie Taylor 84
14th 91 Robert Dickson 67
15th 95 Alex Butchart 55
16th 313 Kenneth Munro 49
17th 167 Bill McLellan 42
18th 196 Kenny Ireland 26

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 26th AUGUST            EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 23rd SEPTEMBER

1st 64 Les Kay   1st 52 Alex Nicol
2nd 21 John Kirk   2nd 130 Malcolm Watt
3rd 58 James McGaughay   3rd 64 Les Kay
4th   N/A   4th 165 Alan Brash
5th   N/A   5th 54 Gerry Moore
6th   N/A   6th 167 Bill McLellan

OPEN SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 8th JULY       "COCK of the NORT'H" - 4th NOVEMBER

1st E108 Bob Howe   1st 64 Les Kay
2nd 21 John Kirk   2nd 196 Kenny Ireland
3rd 119 Alan Neilson   3rd 71 Duncan Fisher
4th E99 Dave Bozzard   4th 54 Gerry Moore
5th 93 Alex Butchart   5th 58 James McGaughay
6th 165 Alan Brash   6th   N/A


Englishman Dave Bozzard's Escort sold to Kenny Ireland in 1973

The stats for the most wins in 1973 were as follows:-             
Note the numbers of wins will be corrected when full Armadale results are available.

Pos No Name Finals Heats   Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 93 John Campbell 7 4   10th= E108 Bob Howe 1 1
2nd 52 Alex Nicol 6 7   12th= 54 Gerry Moore 1 0
3rd 119 Alan Neilson 5 9   12th= 167 Bill McLellan 1 0
4th 64 Les Kay 5 7   12th= 196 Kenny Ireland 1 0
5th 14 Neil Hamilton 3 5   15th 156 Ian Ostrau 0 8
6th 165 Alan Brash 2 6   16th E306 George Polley 0 3
7th 58 Jim McGaughay 2 1   17th 71 Duncan Fisher 0 2
8th 95 Alex Butchart 1 3   18th= 21 John Kirk 0 1
9th 130 Malcolm Watt 1 2   18th= 162 Malcolm Chesher 0 1
10th= 7 Ian Bruce 1 1            

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Les Kay achieved a brilliant 3rd place in the National Championship at Hednesford behind 3 times National Champion Tom Laffey (121) 1st & Barry Lee 2nd.              
              
Kenny Ireland  though having qualified for the Superstox Champion of Champions event  at the end of the season took part in the Hot Rod event, having acquired the ex Dave Bozzard Escort (99) the previous week, Dave having just used it to finish 3rd in the British Championship at  Wimbledon, behind George Polley (306) 1st & Barry Lee (351) 2nd.              
Kenny won the final in his first Hot Rod meeting to qualify for the Champion of Champions race, in which he then went on to finish 2nd. signalling his intent for following season.              
              
Large numbers of drivers qualified for the "Final Winners Only" races at the end of the season, however the actual attendees were down somewhat due to damaged cars, retirements, injuries & suspensions. Les Kay was the winner. 

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