So 3 months later I had another car, a 1600 Mondeo. I went to Skeg the following Wednesday. It was a different sort of meeting, being a 'team' meeting. I was still pretty ignorant of this type of racing, having seen plenty, but concentrating on F1 and F2 Stock Cars, rather than Bangers. However I didn't think much of it; little did I know what was in store for me, although I did get a video. I also managed to do my best race, despite not winning.

As soon as I arrived I was 'adopted' by a team. The chap who had beaten me in the first meetings was the points leader, an experienced and good Banger driver. He said to the team that adopted me "you'll do well with him, he flies" ....... Quite a compliment you must agree (grin).

Well I went out in the first race, got spun out a couple of times but finished, managing to avoid all the crashes, and there were plenty. One of my mates went back onto the terrace just after the race had started and thought it was 2litre Bangers, one of the roughest Banger formula at that time.

The next race I was stuck in traffic in the pits, not getting out onto the track until most of the other cars had, so was near the back. I was starting 28th; hmm been here before. Well we set off and a car spun at the end of the straight. I stopped, as did 3 others, but one hit the pack flat out. Sod it, I'm off, so started a crazy, yet successful race. I followed the points leader around, however when he faltered, I pushed him into a marker tyre...payback time LOL. I then continued to make good progress, pushing a few out of the way until I came to an experienced young chap. In the end I pushed him into a pack of parked cars, bulldozing my way though. I came up behind another, little realising I was now 2nd however instead of spinning him I tried to push him and he almost stopped. Another car hit me full speed at the end of the straight. I dropped to 5th but regained 4th at the finish, my car slowed by all the damage, however it was my most successful climb from almost the back of the grid.

I would have known non-of this, had we not taken a video.

The last race I was encouraged to get to the front again by Vic, who had been working locally and called to see us. I got out 4th and led for a lap or so, then swapping places with another good driver in a decent car for a few laps, before being spun out. I eventually restarted, and was doing well, until I made my only serious driving error. The shale track had been heavily watered, which meant I was using the handbrake to get the back end of the car to come round. I was caught out by a drying track as only a lap or so later I glanced the infield marker tyre, breaking the wheel and suspension. The race was slowed to help a driver, and I tried to continue but it wasn't to be.

I did three more very uneventful meetings, before heavy work was required, so I sold the car to someone.

The only talking point about the last meeting is that the Mazda, my original car which had sat in someone's garden, as the young man I had sold it to had taken fright, was given to yet another young man in his 20s. The aim being was to get rid of it and 'get me'. My friend at the garage, who warned me to be careful, told me of this when I was leaving for the meeting. Well thankfully I had a bit more experience than he had, and when we were 'alsorans' in the last race, having both been spun out at some point and looking for some fun, he tried to spin me out. Bravely I had jokingly told him to leave me alone, otherwise I'd have him when we'd been at the garage a day or so earlier. I spun him into the fence, leaving him with egg on his face, and glory on mine......a great way to finish LOL.

Later in the race I was spun out yet again. Drivers come after you when you are successful LOL. I was just rejoining, when someone hit me at full speed at the end of the straight. The car would still run, but required major work, so I sold the car to a young chap I met at the meeting, dropping it off for him on the way home.

I've still got the memories, the videos and of course the tales to tell.........all in all, a wonderful experience.