1970's » 1975 COWDENBEATH

1975

SALOON STOCK CARS      70 CARS

40 Howard Jarman   177 Brian Seago
46 Keith Jarman   180 Robin Kennedy
83 James Rae   181 Gordon Brunton
91 Desmond Murphy   182 Ronnie Dewar
100 George MacMillan Jnr   183 John Brady
102 Ronnie Burns   195 Andy Johnstone
105 Bob Smith   197 Stew Sneddon
106 Hamish Buchanan   198 George Gordon
108 John Thomson   199 George Chirray
110 David Harley   203 Colin Forbes
114 Franky Tait   205 John Nash
117 James Lumsden   208 David Wallis
118 Johnny Davidson   209 Bruce Nash
121 Pete Malone   210 John Grierson
123 Graham King   214 Jimmy McAlpine
124 Robin Dowie   217 Ian Stewart
127 Alex Grant   219 Derek Mackie
128 Norman Brown   222 Fraser Dunlop
129 Ernie Duff   226 William Bauld
131 Gordon Brown   230 William Paton
140 Graham Wait   235 Jock Robertson
142 Malcolm MacIntyre   240 Allan Ross
144 Peter Muirhead   241 Charlie Milne
150 James Blair   242 Bob Malone
154 Dave Cronin   244 Jimmy Low
155 William Gray   245 Bernie McConnachie
158 Thomas Allison   247 John Gibson
160 Cluffy Crichton   248 Eddy Stevenson
161 Bill Shortreed   251 Jack Robertson
163 Donald Keddie   255 Edward Gilfillan
164 Derek Donaldson   256 Brian Duncan
168 Alan McHattie   306 Archie Dewar
170 James Cochrane   314 George Spalding
171 Tommy Davidson   316 Ronald Berry
176 Billy Birse   330 Robert Bruce

SUPERSTOX CARS      39 CARS

7 Terry Henderson   51 Jimmy Gordon
9 John Duncker   55 Bob Morton
10 Les Page   56 Tommy Carruthers
12 Bob Buchanan   59 Brian Russell
15 Tommy King   60 Ronnie Golightly
16 Douglas McLean   73 Alex McKellar
17 Mike Jack   76 Harry Gilespie
18 Richard McLean   81 Bill Pullar
19 Tim Stirling   84 Les Brown
21 Stephen Watt   92 Bill Smith
26 James Aitkin   94 Vic Russell
27 Noel Colgan   97 Bob Cameron
31 Tenant Douglas   103 Bobby Dow
36 Billy McCourt   107 Malcolm Paterson
38 Ian Edmiston   109 Gavin McCreadie
39 Les Clark   115 Dave Morris
41 Gordon McDougall   132 John Bell
42 Peter Mann   146 James Hunter
44 Chick Findlay   325 Bill Cunningham
47 Orr Thompson      

HOT RODS            15 CARS

25 Willie Taylor   140 Graham Wait
30 Stewart Banks   162 Malcolm Chesher
37 Ian Simpson   167 Bill McLellan
64 Les Kay   194 Davey Philp
95 Alex Butchart   196 Kenny Ireland
116 Mike Reilly   206 Bert Stevens
130 Malcolm Watt   293 Ian Cook
138 William Turnbull      

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The points awarded for 1975 season as follows:-   

Note: I do not have published confirmation of this but believe points allocation did not change for 1974, 1975 & 1976.  

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

The Saloon Stocks averages were much the same as 1974, down one at 25. Unfortunately the Superstox were down again down four to 16 & the Hot Rods down again, this time by 3 to 7 cars.              
The highest total for the Saloon Stocks of 33 cars was at the last meeting of the season the "Cock O the North" meeting, always well attended. The best attended Superstox was the "UK Challenge Cup" on the 10th August at 22 cars & for the Hot Rods the "Open Scottish" on the 24th August at 13 cars.              
              
Spedeworth Scotland's first banger races took place on 18.05.75.  20 cars started the first race with Superstox driver 49 Eric Moore having the honour of being the first winner. A demolition derby rounded off the meeting with Janet Ireland (wife of Kenny) the winner.              
              
The bangers were originally due to commence at Armadale Raceway on the 2nd May, where they had been scheduled along with the Superstox. In the end this did not happen & in fact Armadale did not re-open for a number of years.

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1975 Superstox Points Champion chased by Malcolm Paterson (photo J Fyffe / GM Photos)

1975 SUPERSTOX POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP

    REDS  
Pos No Name Pts
1st 39 Les Clark 614
2nd 81 Bill Pullar 423
3rd 94 Vic Russell 392
4th 55 Bob Morton 329
5th 84 Les Brown 303
6th 41 Gordon MacDougall 288
7th 47 Orr Thompson 168
8th 107 Malcolm Paterson *** 162
9th 38 Ian Edmiston 155
10th 76 Harry Gillespie 147
***retired June

 

     BLUES         YELLOWS  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
11th  115 Dave Morris 144   21st  92 William Smith 19
12th  59 Brian Russell 102   22nd  21 Stephen Watt 13
13th  36 Billy McCourt 101   23rd  27 Noel Colgan 12
14th  109 Gavin McCreadie 87   24th  26 James Aitkin 11
15th=  73 Alex McKellar 73   25th  9 John Duncker *** 10
15th=  325 Bill Cunningham 73   26th  42 Peter Mann 9
17th  31 Tennant Douglas 70   27th= 51 Jimmy Gordon 6
18th  12 Bob Buchanan 68   27th= 132 John Bell 6
19th=  17 Mike Jack 64   ***retired April
19th=  44 Chick Findlay 64    

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 7th SEPTEMBER      OPEN SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 13th APRIL

1st 84 Les Brown   1st 39 Les Clark
2nd 41 Gordon MacDougall   2nd 107 Malcolm Paterson
3rd 55 Bob Morton   3rd 81 Bill Pullar
4th 47 Orr Thompson   4th 84 Les Brown
5th 81 Bill Pullar   5th E407 Jim Davey
6th 44 Chick Findlay   6th E685 Brian Jones
7th 27 Noel Colgan   7th 9 John Duncker
8th   NOF   8th 36 Billy McCourt


More than 13 years after commencing his stock car career 39 Les Clark collects his first points championship along with other major titles (photo Frank Love / Retrostox.com.uk)

UK CHALLENGE CUP - 10th AUGUST               EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 28th SEPTEMBER

1st 39 Les Clark   1st 92 Bill Smith
2nd E170 Howard White   2nd 59 Brian Russell
3rd 94 Vic Russell   3rd 38 Ian Edmiston
4th 38 Ian Edmiston   4th 81 Bill Pullar
5th E235 Stu Blyth   5th 41 Gordon MacDougall
6th E685 Brian Jones   6th   NOI
7th 44 Chick Findlay   7th   NOI
8th   NOF   8th   NOI


38 Ian Edmiston & 94 Vic Russell (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

"COCK of the NORTH" - 26th OCTOBER 

1st 94 Vic Russell
2nd 84 Les Brown
3rd   NOI
4th   NOI
5th   NOI
6th   NOI
7th   NOI
8th   NOI

 The stats for the most wins in 1975 were as follows:-

Pos No Name Finals Heats   Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 39 Les Clark 11 25   7th 31 Tenant Douglas 1 1
2nd  107 Malcolm Paterson** 5 2   8th E170 Howard White 1 1
3rd  94 Vic Russell 3 7   9th 92 Bill Smith 1 0
4th  55 Bob Morton 3 5   10th 41 Gordon MacDougall 0 3
5th  84 Les Brown 3 3   11th  38 Ian Edmiston 0 1
6th 81 Bill Pullar 1 4   12th 17 Mike Jack 0 1
** retired 8th June            

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Malcolm Paterson retired on 8th of June 1975, he had already 5 finals under his belt this season.                 
His name was removed from the 6th points chart, but the points gained were enough for him to finish in 8th position in the end of season totals.            
Malcolm is a major candidate for Scotland's greatest ever Stock Car Driver, his first major win was the UK Challenge Cup back in 1966, and his career incorporated 94 final wins and 212 heat wins, his biggest win was the European but he also won the British, Scottish, East of Scotland three times, West of Scotland twice, Open Scottish & UK Challenge Cup four times.               
Malcolm commenced racing in 1966, made 6th place in the points in 1967, and won the points in 6 out of the following 7 years, in the year he didn't win, 1970, he finished 2nd.               
               

It was rumoured in 1982 that Malcolm was to make a comeback, and indeed he did have quite a few races in Gordon McDougall's F2 collecting a number of wins as a white top, in fact was leading the Scottish F2 Championship in a star studded field by the proverbial mile until forced out with mechanical gremlins. Unfortunately the bug didn't take hold again. Trajically Malcolm died in 1990.                  
Malcolm's son Steven Paterson did take up F2 Stock Cars & had a very successful career winning the Scottish Points Championship. 
              
More of that to come later.

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1975 SALOON STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP  

    REDS         BLUES  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1st 330 Robert Bruce 423   12th 158 Eddy Stevenson 124
2nd 106 Hamish Buchanan 420   13th 150 Jimmy Blair 99
3rd 208 Dave Wallis 253   14th 100 George MacMillan J 91
4th 131 Gordon Brown 241   15th 209 Bruce Nash 86
5th 118 Johnny Davidson 229   16th= 121 Pete Malone 66
6th 222 Fraser Dunlop 228   16th= 183 John Brady 66
7th 241 Charlie Milne 218   18th 105 Bob Smith 57
8th 195 Andy Johnstone 213   19th 255 Edward Gilfillan 53
9th 124 Robin Dowie 200   20th 235 Jock Robertson 48
10th 244 Jimmy Low 179   21st 170 Jas Cochrane 43
11th 46 Keith Jarman 176   22nd 171 Tommy Davidson 35
12th 40 Howie Jarman 170   23rd 214 Jimmy McAlpine 34


131 Gordon Brown & 330 Robert Bruce on his side (photo J Fyffe / GM Photos)

 

    YELLOWS  
Pos No Name Pts
24th 198 George Gordon 24
25th 256 Brian Duncan 23
26th 117 James Lumsden 31
27th= 205 John Nash 19
27th= 102 Ronnie Burns 17
29th 155 Bill Gray 13
30th 180 Robin Kennedy 10

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 6th JULY           EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 31st AUGUST

1st 106 Hamish Buchanan   1st 118 Johnny Davidson
2nd 209 Bruce Nash   2nd 330 Robert Bruce
3rd 222 Fraser Dunlop   3rd 195 Andy Johnstone
4th 131 Gordon Brown   4th 241 Charlie Milne
5th 244 Jimmy Low   5th 46 Keith Jarman
6th 235 Jock Robertson   6th 106 Hamish Buchanan
7th 155 Bill Gray   7th 40 Howie Jarman
        8th 244 Jimmy Low

COCK of the NORTH - 26th OCTOBER

1st 330 Robert Bruce
2nd 118 Johnny Davidson
3rd 131 Gordon Brown
4th 241 Charlie Milne
5th 208 Dave Wallis
6th 244 Jimmy Low
7th 222 Fraser Dunlop
8th 106 Hamish Buchanan

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The stats for the most wins in 1975 were as follows:- 

 
Pos No Name Finals Heats   Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 330 Robert Bruce 7 19   11th= 40 Howie Jarman 1 0
2nd 118 Johnny Davidson 4 3   11th= 46 Keith Jarman 1 0
3rd 106 Hamish Buchanan 3 8   11th= 140 Graham Wait 1 0
4th 131 Gordon Brown 2 6   14th=  124 Robin Dowie 0 1
5th 208 Dave Wallis 2 2   14th=  158 Eddy Stevenson 0 1
6th= 150 Jimmy Blair 1 4   14th=  195 Andy Johnstone 0 1
6th= 241 Charlie Milne 1 4   14th=  205 John Nash 0 1
8th= 171 Tommy Davidson 1 1   14th=  209 Bruce Nash 0 1
8th= 222 Fraser Dunlop 1 1   14th=  219 Derek Mackie 0 1
8th= 244 Jimmy Low 1 1            

Johnny Davidson 118 returned after a two year away sabbatical from the Saloon Stocks to win the East of Scotland on the 7th September.

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1975 HOT ROD POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP  

    REDS         BLUES  
Pos No Name Pts   Pos No Name Pts
1st 196 Kenny Ireland 445   8th 293 Ian Cook 118
2nd 64 Les Kay                             * 335   9th 130 Malcolm Watt 114
3rd 194 Davey Philp 318   10th 162 Malcolm Chesher 85
4th 37 Ian Simpson 154    
5th 25 William Taylor              *** 147    
6th 140 Graham Wait 138    
7th 95 Alex Butchart 125    
*l/a  05.10.75     *** 08.06.75   ***Last Appearance

 

    YELLOWS  
Pos No Name Pts
11th 138 William Turnbull 50
12th 116 Mick Reilly 24
13th 167 Bill McLellan 12

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 21st SEPTEMBER      EAST of SCOTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP - 5th OCTOBER

1st 140 Graham Wait   1st 140 Graham Wait
2nd 196 Kenny Ireland   2nd 196 Kenny Ireland
3rd 293 Ian Cook   3rd 194 Davey Philp
4th 25 William Taylor   4th 25 William Taylor
5th 194 Davey Philp   5th 293 Ian Cook
6th 138 William Turnbull   6th   NOF

OPEN SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP - 24th AUGUST        "COCK of the NORTH" - 26th OCTOBER

1st 64 Les Kay   1st 140 Graham Wait
2nd 196 Kenny Ireland   2nd 196 Kenny Ireland
3rd E394 Roy Sheridon   3rd   NOF
4th E121 Tom Laffey   4th   NOF
5th 140 Graham Wait   5th   NOF
6th 194 Davey Philp   6th   NOF
            Only Two Competitors!


1975 Hot Rod Points Champion Kenny Ireland (photo knockhillimages.smugmug.com)

The stats for the most wins in 1975 were as follows: 

Pos No Name Finals Heats
1st 64 Les Kay 10 18
2nd 196 Kenny Ireland 8 12
3rd 140 Graham Wait 5 9
4th 130 Malcolm Watt 3 8
5th 194 Davey Philp 1 3
6th 37 Ian Simpson 0 1

 

This was definitely not a classic year for Hot Rods. Two contestants for the "Cock O The North" race seemed to exemplify this. Kenny Ireland secured a comfortable points win. Graham Wait signalled he would be a force to be reckoned with capturing the Scottish & East Of Scotland titles. Graham's driving style is best described as wild!, he was always taking the greatest of risks with the greatest commitment, his little Hillman Imp rocket ship spent more time on 2 and 3 wheels rather than 4.              
Les Kay didn't see out the season but finished in runner up spot in the points & also captured the prestigious Open Scottish Championship.

A You Tube video of the 1975 Hot Rod World Championship can be viewed here.

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