Slot-Racing 2000's

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Slot-Racing 2000's

2000

During the season, I assisted to form and became a founder member of the Claydon Slotstox Club and was elected treasurer for this new Club.

Slotstox

The Claydon Slotstox Club's first meeting was an open night on 6th September.

I was 8th with Red grade status on the first Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the season with 126 points.

I was up to 6th and Superstar grade status on the second Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the season with 288 points.

I finished 6th in the Slotstox Claydon Points Championship - appropriately scoring 546 points!

I continued to race at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club and was 3rd in the Slotstox Foxhall Championship held over the 15th and 22nd September.

This was my fourth Slotstox Foxhall Championship final and the third time that I had finished 3rd following 1997 and 1998 in addition to being runner-up in 1992.

I also won the Slotstox Foxhall Team Championship for the third time. Whilst the previous two in 1996 and 1997 was as Captain of the 'Gumbys' team, this was as a member of the 'Cheque Book Racers' team.

At the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club 'Open' Team Championship on 22nd April, I raced as part of the '21st Century Gumbies' team representing the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club (as in 2000, I teamed up with Ben Freeman and Mark West). We were 6th highest points scorers following the three sets of heats with 110 points. We won our first heat against a team representing the host club 45-14. In our second heat we beat a team representing the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club 38-17. We lost our third heat against a fellow team representing the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club 27-28. We lost our quarter-final against a fellow team representing the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club 19-43 and were eliminated.

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship on 26th November was this season run to their construction rules. Undeterred, I made the trip and racing an 'old' Slotstox I scored 42 points in my heats (including 19 points in my first heat and 5 points in my second heat). I finished 5th in my quarter-final with 10 points and was eliminated at this stage.

At the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 10th December, I qualified from the heats as the 7th highest points scorer with 39 points: 11 points in my first heat (1st in lane 1, 2nd in lanes 2 and 3 and 4th in lane 5), 15 points in my second heat (1st in lanes 1, 2 and 3 and 2nd in lane 4) and 13 points in my third heat (1st in lanes 1 and 2, 2nd in lane 3 and 3rd in lane 4). I finished joint runner-up in my quarter-final with 9 points (I started in lane 3 and won in that lane, 3rd in lane 4, 4th in lane 5 and 3rd in lane 1) and raced in a three-way run-off with the winner qualifying for the semi-finals. I started the three race run-off on the inside and won before finishing 2nd in the third race on the outside. With 7 points, I won the run-off and qualified for the semi-finals. I finished as runner-up in my semi-final with 12 points (as in my quarter-final, I started in lane 3; I finished 3rd in that lane, 3rd in lane 4 and 1st in each of lanes 1 and 2) and qualified for the final of the Slotstox World Championship for a second time following 1996. I started the final with a win in my first race in lane 1, I finished 2nd in each of my two races in lane 2, 3rd in my first race in lane 3, 4th in my first race in lane 4, 3rd in my second race in lane 4 before finishing with a 4th in my second race in lane 5). At the end of a close final (1st scored 22 points whilst 5th scored 14 points) I had scored 16 points and like 1996, finished 4th.

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL TEAM CHAMPION (member: 'Cheque Book Racers' team with Captain Noel Whinney and fellow team members Carl Brett, Sharon Brett, Lorraine Hunting and Anthony Squirrell)

SLOTSTOX CLAYDON POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH - 546 points

2001

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club and the Claydon Slotstox Club.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, early in the season, I was elected as the Club Chairman in addition to being elected to remain as treasurer.

With the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club leaving the Foxhall Stadium following the end of the 2000 season I did, at least, have no table tennis to organise!

Slotstox

Following the decision by the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club to run the 2000 Slotstox English 'Open' Championship to their club rules, the Claydon Slotstox Club took the decision to run a Slotstox English 'Open' Championship that allowed both National Slotstox construction rules and Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club construction rules to compete. I qualified from the heats with 39 points: 14 points in my first heat (1st in lanes 1 and 2 and 4th in lanes 5 and 6), 9 points in my second heat (1st in lane 2 and 2nd in lane 1) and 16 points in my third heat (2nd in lanes 2 and 3, 3rd in lanes 4 and 6 and 4th in lane 5). I finished as runner-up in my quarter-final with 18 points (I started in lane 6 and was 3rd in that lane, 1st in lane 1, 3rd in each of my races in lanes 4 and 5 and 2nd in my race in lane 6). I finished 4th in my semi-final with 18 points (as in my quarter-final, I started in lane 6 and finished 5th in my second race in that lane, 2nd in each of my two races in lane 2 plus my second race in 4, 3rd in my first race in lane 5 and 4th in my race second race in lane 5) and was eliminated from the main championship. Although I started the consolation final with no points from my two races in lane 1: I won my first race in lane 2 followed by each of my races in lane 3 and my first race in lane 4. I finished 4th in my second race in lane 4 and 3rd in each of my second race in lane 5 plus each of my two races in lane 6. With 31 points, I won the consolation final and finished 7th overall.

I was 7th and Red grade status on the first Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the season with 171 points.

I was up to 6th and Superstar grade status on the second Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the season with 326 points.

I retained 6th and Superstar grade status on the third Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the season with 444 points.

I had qualified for 4 semi-finals and converted these into 3 final appearances.

I was still 6th and Superstar grade status on the fourth Slotstox Claydon Points Championship chart of the sesaon with 580 points.

I had qualified for 6 semi-finals and converted these into 4 final appearances.

The Claydon Slotstox Club then moved to a neighbouring village and was renamed the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club.

I was down to 7th and Red grade status on the fifth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season.

I had qualified for 7 semi-finals and still converted these into 4 final appearances.

I was still 7th on the sixth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season.

I had qualified for 10 semi-finals and converted these into 5 final appearances.

I then took the decision that with my responsibilities at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club that I wanted to spend less time on Slotstox related activities and so took a break from racing regularly at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and resigned as Club treasurer.

I was down to 14th and Blue grade status on the ninth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 845 points (although having not raced for a while, I was on the sleeping chart).

I had qualified for 11 semi-finals and converted these into 6 final appearances.

I was also Blue grade status at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club and having not won a final for quite some time my fortunes changed on acquiring a new R.T.D. Slotstox - winning two finals in a row over three days. The first was the final at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 12th October whilst the second was the hightlight of my Slotstox racing to date being the Slotstox World Championship on 14th October. This was my fifth Slotstox World Championship and my third appearance in the Slotstox World Championship final following 4th in each of 1996 and 2000.

my 2001 Slotstox World Championship story

I was eager to race as the Slotstox World Champion but was off on holiday before the next Slotstox meeting at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. Therefore, my first Slotstox meeting following winning the Slotstox World Championship was on 21st October at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club.

I was down to 15th and still with Blue grade status (although as Slotstox World Champion, I was starting from the back with Gold roof status) on the tenth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 877 points.

I was down to 17th with Blue grade status on the eleventh and final Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 925 points.

I had qualified for 12 semi-finals and converted half of these into a final appearance. I did not win any finals or score any heat maximums.

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship on 25th November was, as in 2000, run to their construction rules. I qualified for the quarter-finals and with 5 points: as in 2000, I finished 5th and was eliminated at this stage.

Slot-Saloons

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I finished as runner-up in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Championship for the third time following 1997 and 1998.

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPION

SLOTSTOX CSC ENGLISH 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: CONSOLATION WINNER (7th overall)

SLOTSTOX GREAT BLAKENHAM (formerly CLAYDON) POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 17TH - 925 points

SLOTSTOX GREAT BLAKENHAM (formerly CLAYDON) STATISTICS: 12 semi-finals, 6 finals, 0 final wins, 0 heat maximums

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: RUNNER-UP

2002

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club as well as occasionally at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club.

Slotstox

The Slotstox English 'Open' Championship hosted in 2001 by the Claydon (now Great Blakenham Slotstox Club) became the Slotstox British 'Open' Championship. I qualified from the heats with 41 points: 19 in my first heat (1st in lane 3, 2nd in lanes 1 and 4 and 3rd in lanes 5 and 6), 13 points in my second heat (2nd in lane 3, 3rd in lane 1 and 4th in lanes 4, 5 and 6) and 9 points in my third heat (2nd in lane 4, 3rd in lane 1 and 4th in lane 5. I finished 3rd in my quarter-final with 10 points (I started in lane 3 and was 2nd in lane 4 and 3rd in each of lanes 1 and 2). I finished 6th in my semi-final with 13 points (I started in lane 4 and was 5th in each of my two races in lane 5, 2nd in my first race in lane 1, 3rd in my second race in 2 and 2nd in my first race in lane 3) and was eliminated from the main championship. I started the consolation final in lane 4 and won my second race in that lane. I finished 5th in my first race in lane 5, 2nd in my first race in lane 6 and 4th in my second race in lane 6. I won each of my two races in lane 1, was 2nd in my first race in lane 2 and won my first race in lane 3. Having won the consolation final in 2001 with 31 points, this season I finished as runner-up (8th overall) with 31 points.

I was racing on the occasion at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club.

I was 36th and White grade status (although I was starting from the back as the World Champion with Gold roof status!) on the fifth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 71 points.

On the sixth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season I had 208 points.

I was the only visitor from the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox East Anglian Championship on 5th June. I did not qualify for the semi-finals.

I was up to 27th still with a White grade status on the seventh Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 332 points.

I had qualified for 5 semi-finals but had yet to convert any of these into a final appearance.

On the eighth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season I had 383 points.

I was down to 28th but up to Yellow grade status (due to additional drivers) on the ninth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 419 points.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I finished 3rd in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship.

I qualified for the final of the Slotstox Foxhall Championship for the fourth time and having finished as runner-up in 1992 followed by 3rd in 1997 and 1998, this season I finished 4th.

I attended a the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club for a domestic meeting so that I had at least raced once as the Slotstox World Champion at each of the four clubs that had been represented at the 2001 Slotstox World Championship: Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club, Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club.

I was not in the best form going into the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 20th October but, if nothing else, I did at least want to put up a good defence. I qualified for the quarter-finals as 17th highest points scorer in the heats with 44 points (the 20th place and final qualifier scored 43!) I scored 8 points in my first heat (2nd in lane 1 and 3rd in lanes 3 and 4), 21 points in my second heat (1st in lane 1 and 2nd in lanes 2, 3, 4 and 5!), 11 points in my third heat (2nd in lane, 3rd in lane 3 and 4th in lanes 2 and 5) and a mere 4 points in my fourth heat (2nd in lane 1). I finished joint 3rd in my quarter-final with 13 points (I started in lane 2 and finished 3rd in lane 3, 2nd in lane 4, 4th in lane 5 before a much needed win in lane 1) and raced in a two-way run-off with only the winner qualifying for the semi-finals as a highest scoring 3rd place quarter-finalist. I won each of the two races and qualified for the semi-finals. I finished 4th in my semi-final with 8 points (I started in lane 4 and finished 3rd in that lane, 4th in lane 5 and 3rd in lane 2 - my final race as the Slotstox World Champion) and was eliminated from the main championship. I finished 3rd (8th overall) in the B-final with 23 points (I started the B-final with a 2nd in my first race in lane 4, I finished 2nd in my first race in lane 5 before winning my second race in lane 2 and each of my races in lane 3).

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship on 1st December was again run to Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club construction rules. I raced a Slotstox built by Graeme Canty Racing and scored 0 points in my three heats! The same meeting also featured the Slotstox Southern Championship for National Rules Construction Slotstox i.e. those Slotstox raced regularly at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club. I was the highest non-heat winning points scorer in the heats with 50 points (runner-up after a one-race run-off in my first heat with 19 points, runner-up in my second heat with 12 points and 19 points in my third heat) and qualified for the semi-finals. I finished as joint runner-up in my quarter-final with 17 points but was eliminated following a one-race run-off. In addition, the meeting featured the Parmastox Southern Championship and I borrowed a Parmastox from Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club chairman Gary Reynolds and scored 19 points in my three heats (3 points in my first heat, 13 points in my second heat and 3 points in my third heat) and did not qualify for the semi-finals.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I won the Slotstox Foxhall Team Championship as a member of the 'Westy's Flyers' team. This was my fourth Slotstox Foxhall Team Championship win following 1996 and 1997 as Captain of the 'Gumbys' team and in 2000 as a member of the 'Cheque Book Racers' team.

I was 27th and still with Yellow grade status on the tenth Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season with 440 points.

Still with 440 points, I finished joint 28th in the points and still with a Yellow grade status on the eleventh and final Slotstox Great Blakenham Points Championship chart of the season.

Parmastox

On 7th November, I represented the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club along with Mark West and James Scales at the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club end of season 'Open' Team Championship. Borrowing Parmastox from the hosts this was the first time we had raced metal Slotstox. With eight teams racing we were seeded eighth and in our first heat, I raced in lanes 5 and 6 and scored 4 points as we lost against the third seeded team representing the host club 16-57. In our second heat, I raced in lanes and 1 and 2 and scored 18 points as we lost against the first seeded team representing the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club 22-34. I scored 4 points as we won our third heat against the sixth seeded team representing the host club 19-5. We finished 3rd in our group of four and were eliminated from the main championship. In the C-final, I scored 0 points as we lost 10-28 against another team from the host club. We finished 6th overall.

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: B-FINAL 3RD (8th overall)

SLOTSTOX BRITISH 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: CONSOLATION FINAL RUNNER-UP (8th overall)

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND PRIX SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL TEAM CHAMPION (member: 'Westy's Flyers' team with Captain Mark West and fellow team members Rachael Butcher and Rachael Parsons)

SLOTSTOX GREAT BLAKENHAM POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP 28TH= - 440 points

2003

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.

Slotstox

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I was 6th and Superstar grade status on the first Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season.

I had qualified for 4 semi-finals, converted half of these into a final appearance and including 1 final win, earned 19 bonus points.

I was also 1st with 15.5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was 4th in the 2002/2003 Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after 2 rounds with 112 points.

Due to issues arising from being Club chairman of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I decided not to race at the Slotstox British 'Open' Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club on 2nd March. A decision that did not go down particularly well in some quarters!

I was up to 4th and still with Superstar grade status on the second Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 254 points.

I was down to 5th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points with 139 points.

The highlight of my season was the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club ‘Open’ Team Championship where I raced as a member of the `Alan Cullen Fan Club` team representing the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. We only arrived with two members: youngster Alex Dickings and I. I eventually persuaded my sister Sandra Hudson (who was only there to watch my Brother-in-law and Nephew race) to be our third team member having not raced for many years! Out of 19 teams we were probably 18th favourites but with some reasonable draws, tactical racing and a little bit of luck we qualified for the quarter-finals as 6th highest points scorers with 37 points. Alex won our first and third heats and I finished as runner-up in all three of our heats (with 17, 21 and 22 points respectively) as we beat 'The Ozzys' team representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club 12-9, lost narrowly 10-11 to 'The Mitchells' team also representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and beat host club team 'Mad dogs' by a maximum 15-6 score. In our quarter-final against host club team 'Norfolk N Good', we had a lucky start in the first race as both me and Alex crashed out only to see the two remaining 'Norfolk N Good' team drivers, who were 1st and 2nd, crash out trying to lap Sandra who went on to win as the only finisher! Sandra went on to win our quarter-final heat and I finished 3rd (with 15 points) as we qualified for the semi-finals 12-9. The run ended there: I finished 4th (with 17 points) as we lost our semi-final to a maximum 6-15 score against the eventual winners representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club 'Team Viagra'. I finished 3rd (with 22 points) as we lost the 3rd/4th place final 8-13 against another team representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club: 'AKS'. Even so, we had still achieved a remarkable 4th place finish.

I was up to third and still with Superstar grade status on the third Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 390 points.

I finished 4th in the 2002/2003 Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship with 315 points.

I finished 4th in the Slotstox Suffolk Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 6th June. This was my second Slotstox Suffolk Championship final appearance following 3rd in 1998.

At the Slotstox East Anglian Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club on 11th June I qualified for the semi-finals as the 12th and last qualifier. I finished 6th in my semi-final and was eliminated from the main event. I then lost a three-way run-off for fourth in the B-final and so finished 6th (12th overall).

I was still 4th and Superstar grade status on the fourth Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 525 points.

I had qualified for 15 semi-finals, converted these into 9 final appearances and with still 1 final win, earned 64 bonus points.

I retained 1st with 35 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was up to 3rd in the points and still Superstar grade status on the fifth Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 622 points.

I had qualified for 18 semi-finals, converted these into 10 final appearances and with still 1 final win, earned 72 bonus points.

I was still 1st with 47 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was 9th in the 2003/2004 Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 1 with 40 points.

The Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 2nd November did not go well. In my three heats, I scored points in only 5 out of my 15 races and scored only 15 points: 5 points in my first heat (3rd in lane 2 and 4th in lane 3), 6 points in my second heat (2nd in lane 1 and 4th in lane 4) and 4 points in my third heat (2nd in lane 3). I failed to qualify for the quarter-finals only two years after winning the Slotstox World Championship!

I was down to 4th still with Superstar grade status on the sixth Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 734 points.

I had qualified for 21 semi-finals, converted these into 11 final appearances and with still 1 final win, earned 80 bonus points.

I was still 1st with 54,5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was up to 3rd in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 2 with 97 points.

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship on 30th November was again run to Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club construction rules. I scored 27 points in my three heats (8 points in my first heat, 10 points in my second heat and 9 points in my third heat) and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

I finished 4th on the seventh and final Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 770 points.

I had qualified for 23 semi-finals, converted these into 13 final appearances with 1 final win and earned a total of 85 bonus points.

I finished 1st still with 54.5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points. I finished 4th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship final held at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club end of season gala night on 12th December.

Parmastox

On 20th February, I raced at the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club Parmastox 'Open` Championship. Borrowing a car from the hosts, I failed to qualify for the latter stages.

On 6th November, I represented the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club along with Mark West as we borrowed Parmastox from our hosts and teamed up with Arena-Essex Slotstox Club member Liam Friel at the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club Open Team Championship. With ten teams racing we were seeded ninth and in our first heat, I scored 10 points as we lost to the third seeded team and eventual champions - a mixed team representing the host club and the Wellage Slotstox Club 22-41. In our second heat, I again scored 10 points as we lost to the second seeded team representing the host club 12-44. I scored 12 points as we won our third heat against the eighth seeded team representing the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club 36-26. I scored 0 points in our fourth heat as we lost against the sixth seeded team representing the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club 15-25. We finished 3rd in our group of four and were eliminated.

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship meeting on 30th November also featured the Parmastox Southern Championship and I borrowed a Parmastox from Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club chairman Gary Reynolds. I scored 14 points in my three heats (0 points in my first heat, 5 points in my second heat and 9 points in my third heat) and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Slot-Saloons

I was 9th with Yellow grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 1 and 2 on 7th and 28th March respectively with 43 points.

I was still 9th but with Blue grade status (due to additional drivers) on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 3 and 4 on 18th April and 9th May respectively with 105 points.

I was up to 8th on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 5 and 6 on 30th May and 20th June respectively.

I was up to 7th with Blue grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 8 on 1st August with 169 points.

I was back down to 8th and still with Blue grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 9 on 22nd August with 215 points.

I had qualified for 7 semi-finals, converted these into 2 final appearances and including 1 final win, earned 28 bonus points.

I was still 8th on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 10 and 11 on 12th September and 3rd October respectively.

I had qualified for 9 semi-finals, converted these into 3 final appearances with still the 1 final win and earned 35 bonus points.

I did not race at round 12 of the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship on 24th October due to a holiday but I was still 8th in the points with a Blue grade status.

I did not qualify for the semi-finals at the thirteenth and final round on 14th November.

I finished 8th with a Red grade status in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club end of season gala night on 12th December, I qualified for the Slot-Saloons and Caravan Foxhall Championship final for the fourth time. Following winning in 1999 and joint runner-up in 1997 and 1998, this season I finished 3rd.

Slot-Bangers

I was 7th with White grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 1 and 2 on 7th and 28th March respectively with 18 points.

I took a break from racing Slot-Bangers.

I was still 7th with a white grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 3 and 4 on 18th April and 9th May respectively still with 18 points.

I was down to 8th and still with a White grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 5 and 6 on 30th May and 20th June respectively still with 18 points.

I was still 8th and White grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 7 on 11th July still with 18 points.

I then started racing Slot-Bangers again,

I was down to 9th and still White grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after rounds 8 and 9 on 1st and 22nd August respectively with 30 points.

I had not qualified any finals.

I did not race at round 10 on 12th September.

I was still 9th on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart with 30 points.

I also did not race at the eleventh and final round on 24th October.

I finished 9th and Yellow grade status (due to additional drivers) in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship with 30 points.

I had not qualified for any finals.

Slot-Rubbish Rally

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club end of season gala night on 12th December, I finished 5th in the Slot-Rubbish Rally Foxhall Championship.

SLOTSTOX WISBECH FEN TIGERS 'OPEN' TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH ('Alan Cullen Fan Club' team with Alex Dickings and Sandra Hudson)

SLOTSTOX SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH - 770 points

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND PRIX SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH - 315 points

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 4th (qualifying 1st - 54.5 points)

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL STATISTICS: 23 semi-finals, 13 finals, 85 bonus points, 1 final win, 0 heat maximums

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 8TH - 298 points

SLOT-SALOON & CARAVAN FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL STATISTICS: 9 semi-finals, 3 finals, 35 bonus points, 1 final win, 0 heat maximums

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 9TH - 30 points

SLOT-RUBBISH RALLY FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

2004

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.

At the end of the season I resigned as Club chairman of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. I was elected as Club secretary with my intention being to have the option to race less often at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club and enjoy when I did race rather than having to attend every meeting.

Slotstox

At the Slotstox British 'Open' Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club on 7th March, I scored 47 points in the heats: 12 points in my first heat (2nd in lanes 1 and 3 and 4th in lanes 2 and 4), 17 points in my second heat (2nd in lanes 1 and 6 and 3rd in lanes 3, 4 and 5), 15 points in my third heat (2nd in lane 4, 3rd in lanes 2, 3 and 5 and 4th in lane 6) and 3 points in my fourth heat (3rd in lane 1). I did not qualify for the semi-finals and was eliminated from the main championship. I finished as runner-up in the non-qualifiers final; something I felt very guilty about given that I was travelling further to the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club than I did to the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and I also helped to form and was a founder member of the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club! I did win a new R.T.D. built Slotstox in a raffle...much needed as my Slotstox was a bit worn and quite appropriate given who was launching the odd racing attack on my Slotstox at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club following comments in one of my Chairman's Slotbites columns in the Foxhall Foxes newsletter!

I was 3rd and maintaining Superstar grade status on the first Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 110 points.

I had qualified for 3 semi-finals but not converted these into a final appearance.

I was joint 2nd with 12 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was down to 6th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 3 with 111 points.

I was down to 5th still with Superstar grade status on the second Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 204 points.

I had qualified for 6 semi-finals and converted these into 1 final appearance; earning 12 bonus points.

4th place in the Slotstox Grand National on each of 26th March and 2nd April, was not enough to prevent me from dropping down to 5th with 16 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was also 8th with 9.5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Novice Championship qualifying points (for non semi-final qualifiers!)

I was still 6th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 4 on 2nd April with 151 points.

At the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club ‘Open’ Team Championship on 1st May, I teamed up again with Alex Dickings. The third team member this season was Mark West rather than my sister Sandra and as the 'A12 Brigade' team we won the Championship.

My position as Club chairman of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club was beginning to affect my enthusiasm for racing. I was enjoying my trips to the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club and Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club more than the meetings at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. I took a break from racing Slotstox at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.

I was down to 10th and Red grade status on the third Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 220 points.

I had still qualified for 6 semi-finals and converted these into 1 final appearance, earning 12 bonus points.

I was down to 7th still with 16 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I finished 8th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship after the 5th and final (double points) round on 21st May.

I was down to 11th on the fourth Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season.

I was back up to 10th with a Red grade status on the fifth Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 299 points.

I had qualified for 8 semi-finals and converted these into still the 1 final appearance, earning 16 bonus points.

I was still 7th with 25.5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship qualifying points.

I was up to 5th with 16.5 points in the Slotstox Foxhall Novice Championship qualifying points!

I did not race at round 1 of the 2004/2005 Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship on 9th July.

I was 13th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 2 with 13 points!

I was still 13th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship points after round 3 on 19th November.

The highlight of my season came at the Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship on 28th November. This was again run to Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club construction rules and borrowing a Slotstox from Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club chairman Gary Reynolds I qualified for the semi-finals by winning my first heat with 14 points. I was runner-up in my semi-final with 38 points and qualified for the Slotstox English 'Open' Championship final for the second time following 1999 (although on that occasion I was racing a National Slotstox Association Construction Rules Slotstox). Having finished 5th in 1999, this season I finished 4th with 23 points.

At the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 12th December, I qualified for the quarter-finals as 6th highest points scorer in the heats with 48 points - 16 points in each of my 3 heats (my first heat: 1st in lanes 1 and 5 and 3rd in lanes 2 and 3; my second heat: 1st in lane 3, 2nd in lanes 1 and 2 and 3rd in lane 4; and my third heat 1st in lane 5, 2nd in lanes 1 and 2 and 3rd in lane 3). I finished 5th in my quarter-final with 8 points and was eliminated (I started my quarter-final with a 3rd in lane 1, I finished 3rd in lane 3 and 5th in each of lanes 4 and 5).

Due to ongoing distractions from being the Club chairman of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, at the end of this meeting, I announced that I was resigning as Club chairman.

The Slotstox that I won at the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox British 'Open' Championship on 7th March did race in the Slotstox World Championship final having been loaned to Arena-Essex Slotstox Club member Dan I'Anson for the meeting. Dan, racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club for the first time, finished 5th.

Parmastox

I once again raced at the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship on 19th February. Borrowing a Parmastox from the hosts, I finished 6th with 5 points and 3rd with 29 points in my heats and was eliminated from the main event. I did have the consolation of winning the C-final with 30 points.

On 4th November, I represented the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club along with Mark West as we borrowed Parmastox from our hosts and teamed up once again with Arena-Essex Slotstox Club member Liam Friel at the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club Open Team Championship. With eight teams racing we were seeded seventh and in our first heat, I scored 21 points as we beat the fourth seeded 'The Good The Bad & The Ugly' team representing the host club 37-17. In our second heat, I scored 13 as we lost against the eventual champions: second seeded 'Dandy & the Jockstraps' team representing the host club 37-40. In our third heat, I scored 9 points as we lost against the fifth seeded 'Butt Brigade' team representing the host club 29-38. Our total of 103 points was enough for us to finish as runners-up in our group and qualify for the semi-finals. I scored 5 points as we lost our semi-final against the first seeded 'The Upsetters' team representing the host club 24-53 and were eliminated.

The Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club hosted Slotstox English 'Open' Championship meeting on 28th November also featured the Parmastox Southern Championship and again I borrowed a Parmastox from Aldershot Knights Slotstox Club chairman Gary Reynolds. I scored 21 points in the heats: 10 in my first heat, 11 points in my second heat and 0 points in my third heat. I qualified for the semi-finals but with 15 points I finished 5th in my semi-final and was eliminated.

Slot-Saloons

I was 14th on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 1.

I was up to 9th with a Blue grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 2 with 56 points.

I was up to 7th on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 3 on 19th March.

I won the final at Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship round 4 on 9th April which doubled up as the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club 'Easter Extravaganza' meeting.

I was up to 4th and Red grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart with 156 points.

I had qualified for 3 semi-finals, converted all of these into a final appearance and including 1 final win earned 21 bonus points

I was having my best Slot-Saloons season of the 2000's and I was 1st with Silver grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 5 on 28th May with 192 points.

I was still 1st and Silver grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 8 on 13th August.

I was still 1st and Silver grade status on the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 9 with 341 points.

I finished 1st and Silver grade status after the 10th and final round on 22nd October to win the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship for the second time following 1997.

At the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Championship on 5th November, I qualified for the final for the fourth time and following finishing as runner-up in 1997, 1998 and 2001, this season I finished 3rd.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club end of season gala night on 10th December, I won the Slot-Saloons and Caravan Foxhall Championship for the second time following 1999.

Slot-Bangers

I was 12th with a White grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 1.

I qualified for the final at round 2.

I was up to 6th and Blue grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 2 with 27 points.

I was down to 8th on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 3 on 19th March.

I was back up to 6th with a Blue grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 4 on 9th April with 56 points.

I had qualified for 2 finals and earned 4 bonus points.

I was down to 7th still with a Blue grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 5 on 28th May still with 56 points.

I was up to 5th on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 7 on 23rd July.

I was up to 3rd with a Red grade status on the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship chart after round 8 on 13th August with 102 points.

I finished 3rd in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship after the 9th and final round on 22nd October.

I also qualified for the final of the Bangers Foxhall Championship for the first time; finishing 5th.

Parma-Bangers

On 18th January, I attended the Brentwood 'Oval racing' Show. The Arena-Essex Slotstox Club were running a (metal) Parma-Bangers competition based on number of laps in an alloted time. This was aimed at attracting new members but Arena-Essex Slotstox Club members were also having several attempts. Aware of this, I decided to have a few attempts and using a stretch limo Parma-Banger in the second lane (a combination that from watching others and my own previous attempts I felt was the best) I ended up winning the Arena Slotstox Brentwood Show Driver of the Day!

SLOTSTOX WISBECH FEN TIGERS 'OPEN' TEAM CHAMPION ('A12 Brigade' team with Alex Dickings and Mark West)

SLOTSTOX ENGLISH 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND PRIX SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP: 8TH - 151 points

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPION

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOT-SALOON & CARAVAN FOXHALL CHAMPION

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

PARMA-BANGERS ARENA SLOTSTOX BRENTWOOD SHOW DRIVER OF THE DAY: 18/1/04

2005

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.

Slotstox

I was 3rd and Superstar grade status on the first Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship chart of the season with 116 points.

Starting the season so well was the main reason I attended the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club for much of the season and I finished as runner-up in the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship.

At the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club ‘Open’ Team Championship on 1st May, I teamed up again with Mark West as the 'A12 Brigade' team to defend the championship. My dad Peter Banham replaced Alex Dickings as our third team member. In our first heat match, I scored 30 points and finished as runner-up to Mark West in the heat as we beat 'Arena-Essex' representing the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club 14-7. In our second heat match, I scored 32 points and won the heat as we beat the 'OMB Racing' team representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club 14-7. In our third heat match, I scored 21 points and finished as runner-up in the heat as lost against host club team 'Fen Stars' 9.5-11.5. We qualified for the quarter-finals as second highest points scorers with 37.5 points behind the 'Fen Stars' team (38.5 points). In our quarter-final, Mark West and I were joint highest points scorers in the heat with 27 points as we beat host club team 'Norfolk N Chance' 12-9 and qualified for the semi-finals. In our semi-final, we again raced against the 'Fen Stars' team. I won the heat with 28 points as we avenged our defeat in the third heat match 13-8 and qualified for the final. In the final we faced 'Team Viagra' representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club. I finished joint 3rd in the heat having 'raced for the team' in distracting members of 'Team Viagra'! With my dad winning the heat and Mark West finishing as runner-up we defended the championship winning 14.5-6.5.

I qualified for my fourth Slotstox Suffolk Championship final hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 4th June. Having finished 3rd in 1998 and 4th in 2003; this season I finished 3rd for the second time.

I qualified for my sixth Slotstox Foxhall Championship final. Having finished as runner-up in 1992 and 3rd in each of 1997, 1998, 2000 and 4th in 2002; this season I finished 5th.

At the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 11th December, I qualified for the quarter-finals as 7th highest points scorer in the heats with 45 points. I scored 17 points in my first heat (1st in lanes 2 and 5, 2nd in lane 1 and 3rd in lane 3), 12 points in my second heat (1st in lane 1, 2nd in lane 2 and 3rd in lane 5), 16 points in my third heat (1st in lanes 1 and 2 and 3rd in lanes 4 and 5). I finished joint 2nd in my quarter-final with 15 points (I started in lane 3 and finished 4th in that lane, 3rd in lane 4, 5th in lane 5, 2nd in lane 1 and 1st in lane 2) and qualified for the semi-finals. Although I finished as joint 3rd in my semi-final, I scored 7 points (I started in lane 2 and finished 2nd in that lane, 5th in lane 4 and 4th in lane 5) which was not enough for highest third place and I was eliminated from the main championship. I finished as runner-up (7th overall) in the B-final with 22 points (I started the B-final in lane 2 and finished 3rd in my second race in that lane, 2nd in my second race in lane 3 before winning my first race in lane 5 and each of my races in lane 1).

Parmastox

I once again raced at the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship on 17th February. Borrowing a Parmastox from the hosts in my three heats, I finished 4th, 2nd and 3rd respectively, qualified for the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship final and finished 6th.

Slot-Saloons

In defence of my Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship, I finished as runner-up in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship for the third time following 1996 and 1999.

SLOTSTOX WISBECH FEN TIGERS 'OPEN' TEAM CHAMPION ('A12 Brigade' team with Peter Banham and Mark West)

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: B-FINAL RUNNER-UP (7th overall)

SLOTSTOX SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: RUNNER-UP

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

ARENA-ESSEX PARMASTOX 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: RUNNER-UP

2006

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club but having started to work in London three days a week towards the end of 2005, taking up StockKarts and a change in personal circumstances during the season; my racing became much less regular. I had also resigned as Club secretary of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. In March, I took on the role of website administrator and created the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club website: http://www.foxhallfoxes.co.uk

Slotstox

I continued racing in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand Prix Series Championship rounds and finished 3rd for the second time following 2002 with 356 points.

I qualified for and finished 6th in my first Slotstox East Anglian Championship final. This was hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club.

At the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club ‘Open’ Team Championship on 27th May, it was all change as I attempted to win three-in-a-row. This season, I teamed up with Great Blakenham Slotstox Club father and daughter members Gary and Rachael Parsons (I had been a winning team member with Rachael as part of the 2002 Slotstox Foxhall Team Championship winning 'Westy's Flyers' team) to form the 'In with a shout' team. In our first heat match, I scored 33 points and won the heat as we beat the 'Gumbies' team representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club 11-10. In our second heat match, I scored 28 points and won the heat as we beat the 'Beach Babes' team representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club with a maximum 15-6 score. In our third heat match, I scored 5 points and finished 6th in the heat as we lost against the 'Jacs' team representing the host club 7-14. In our fourth heat match, I scored 12 points and finished 5th in the heat as we lost against the 'Underlay Underlay' team representing the host club 9-12. With 42 points, we qualified for the quarter-finals as 8th and last qualifiers. In our semi-final, I finished 5th in the heat with 11 points as we lost to a maximum 6-15 score against the eventual runners-up: the 'Fen Stars' team representing the host club and were eliminated.

I qualified for my seventh Slotstox Foxhall Championship final. Having finished as runner-up in 1992 and 3rd in each of 1997, 1998 and 2000, 4th in 2002 and 5th in 2005; this season I finished 4th for the second time.

The highlight of my season was at the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club on 10th December. I qualified from the heats with 63 points: 19 points in my first heat (1st in lanes 1 and 5, 2nd in lane 4 and 5th in lane 2), 20 points in my second heat (1st in lane 1, 2nd in lane 2, 3rd in lane 4, 4th in lane 5 and 5th in lane 6) and 24 points in my third heat (1st in lanes 2 and 3, 2nd in lanes 1 and 6 and 5th in lane 5). My quarter-final did not start well with a non-finish from lane 2. This was followed by a win in lane 3 before another non-finish in lane 4. A 2nd in lane 5 and a 4th in lane 1 kept me in touch and with the assistance of a quick glance at my score keepers notes, I knew what I needed to do in my final race in lane 1! I bumpered out lane 2 as this driver was 3rd in the points before finishing 2nd in the race. This promoted me up to 3rd in my quarter-final with 19 points and I had qualified for the semi-finals. There was then controversy as due to a delayed start to the meeting; the driver who had won my quarter-final had to leave and was unable to take part in the rest of the meeting. Following lenghty discussions it was decided to reinstate fourth place in my quarter-final i.e. the driver I had bumpered out in the final race! Despite having that driver directly on my outside in my semi-final this went much better with 2nd in lane 4, 3rd in lane 5, 6th in lane 6, 2nd in lane 1, 3rd in lane 2 and a win in lane 3. I finished as runner-up in my semi-final with 27 points to qualify for my first Slotstox World Championship final since winning in 2001 and fourth in all having also finished 4th in 1996 and 2000. This was also my first 'away' Slotstox World Championship final as the previous three had been at my 'home' Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club - although all four of my Slotstox World Championship finals had come at different venues - 1996: Foxhall Stadium, 2000 Rushmere Village Hall, 2001 Bucklesham and Foxhall Village Hall and now 2006 Emneth Village Hall! Although I picked up points consistently thoughout the final, my finishing positions were not high enough. I started with 5th and 2nd from each of my two races in lane 4 followed by a 4th and 5th from each of my two races in lane 5, 6th and 5th from each of my two races in lane 6, my only non-finish of the final and 2nd from each of my two races in lane 1, 4th and 6th from each of my two races in lane 2 and 5th and 6th from each of my two races in lane 3. Overall I finished 5th with 27 points which meant that this was the second time my Slotstox had finished 5th in the Slotstox World Championship following 2004 at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club (although on that occasion, I had loaned my Slotstox to Arena-Essex Slotstox Club member Dan I'Anson for the meeting!)I finished 10th in the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship with 239 points.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club's end of season gala night, I finished 5th in the Slotstox Foxhall Grand National Championship final.

Slot-Saloons

I finished 6th in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship with 201 points.

I qualified for my fifth Slot-Saloons Foxhall Championship final. Having finished as runner-up in 1997, 1998 and 2001 together with 3rd in 2004; this season I finished 3rd for the second time.

Slot-Bangers

I finished 7th in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship with 119 points.

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

SLOTSTOX EAST ANGLIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND PRIX SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD - 356 points

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 10TH - 239 points

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH - 201 points

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 7TH - 119 points

2007

I continued racing at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club but appearances were becoming few and far between. I also raced on the odd occasion at the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club.

Slotstox

At the Slotstox Suffolk Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 4th May, I was joint 3rd highest points scorer in the heats. I then won my semi-final to qualify for my fourth Slotstox Suffolk Championship final. Following 3rd in 1998 and 2005 plus 4th in 2003; this season I finished 4th for the second time.

Due to my rare Slotstox racing appearances I was Yellow grade status at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club.

At the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club 'Open' Team Championship on 2nd June, I teamed up, as in 2006, with Gary Parsons and this season Gary's fellow Great Blakenham Slotstox Club member Ed Bell to form the 'Gumbys' team. Making the most of my Yellow grade status, I won our three heats. In our first heat match, I scored 25 points as we beat the host club 'Underlay Underlay' team 13-8. In our second heat match, I scored 24 points as we beat the host club 'Fen Stars' team 12-9. In our third heat match, I scored 27 points as we edged out host club and defending champions: the 'Young Guns' team 11-10. We qualified for the quarter-finals as third highest points scorers with 36 points and had beaten the teams that would eventually finish 2nd, 3rd and 4th! We were one of only two teams to win all our heat matches (the other being the highest points scoring team in the heats and eventual champions representing the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club 'Team Viagra'). However, as the saying goes, 'it is not how you start but how you finish': although I won our quarter-final heat with 32 points against the 'Underlay Underlay' team we had beaten in our first heat, I was desparately disappointed as we were edged out in the match 10-11.

I bounced back and used my Yellow grade status to my advantage at two Great Blakenham Slotstox Club hosted championships that are run wholly from grades.

At the Slotstox Champion of Champions Championship on 25th July I was racing on the new Great Blakenham Slotstox Club for the first time and qualified for the semi-finals. I then won my semi-final with a heat maximum 30 points: winning my races in each of the six lanes to qualify for my first Slotstox Champion of Champions Championship final. I started the final with a win in lane 1, 2nd in lane 2 followed by another win in lane 3. 3rd in each of lanes 4 and 5 meant that, on subsequent review of the results, I had won the championship with a race to spare. I finished 4th in the final race.

This was followed by the Slotstox East Anglian Championship on 22 August. I was 2nd highest points scorer in the first set of heats, joint 3rd highest points scorer in the second set of heats and after the three sets of heats, I finished as joint 3rd highest points scorer. From my semi-final I qualified for my second Slotstox East Anglian Championship final. I was neck and neck with the eventual winner going into the final few races before a crash meant that I had to settle for runner-up but this was still an improvement on my 6th place finish the previous season.

I did not race at the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club on 2nd December as this clashed with the StockKart World Cup meeting at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich.

At the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club, I made one appearance in the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship and finished 21st with 20 points.

I qualified for my eighth Slotstox Foxhall Championship final. Having finished as runner-up in 1992 and 3rd in each of 1997, 1998 and 2000, 4th in 2002 and 2006 plus 5th in 2005; this season I finished 4th for the third time and for the second-season-in-a-row.

Parmastox

On 1st March, I raced in the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship. I finished third in each of my two heats and despite being third highest points scorer overall from the two heats, I had to settle for a B-final place finishing third (9th overall).

Slot-Saloons

I finished 14th in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship with 63 points.

At the time of the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Championship on 23rd November, I was Blue grade status. I was 3rd highest points scorer in the first set of heats and 2nd highest points scorer in each of the second and third set of heats to finish as 2nd highest points scorer overall in the heats. I then won my semi-final with four wins and one 2nd from my five races to qualify for my sixth Slot-Saloons Foxhall Championship final having finished as runner-up in 1997, 1998 and 2001 together with 3rd in 2004 and 2006. At the half-way stage of the final, I was 5th but with an improvement over the second half of the final I finished 3rd for the third time and for the second-season-in-a-row.

Slot-Bangers

I replicated my finishing positions in the Slot-Saloons - 14th in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship with 52 points and 3rd in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Championship on 12th October. At the half-way stage of the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Championship final I was 4th. With one race remaining I was 3rd with an outside chance of 2nd but a 3rd in my final race behind the two drivers who were 1st and 2nd in the points going into the final race meant that I finished 3rd. My 3rd place finish in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Championship was an improved result on my only previous final appearance of 5th in 2004.

SLOTSTOX CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS CHAMPION

SLOTSTOX EAST ANGLIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: RUNNER-UP

SLOTSTOX SUFFOLK CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 4TH

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 21ST - 20 points

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 14TH - 63 points

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 14TH - 52 points

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD

2008

Slotstox

On 2nd March, I raced at the Slotstox British 'Open' Championship, hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club and with this being run from grades for the duration, I was determined to make the most of my Yellow grade status. Joint highest points scorer in the first set of heats and third highest points scorer in the third set of heats were enough for me to be overall highest points scorer in the heats. I finished as runner-up in my quarter-final to qualify for the semi-finals. My semi-final was a real close tussle with four drivers in with a chance of winning going into the final race. I finished as joint runner-up to qualify for my first Slotstox British 'Open' Championship final. At the half-way stage, I was leading the final and also with four races remaining although only five points separated the first 5. I was then able to make the most of my Yellow grade status on the inside to take three wins in a row and win the Slotstox British 'Open' Championship with one race to spare.

I won the Championship racing the Slotstox that I had won in the raffle at the Slotstox British Championship again hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club in 2004!

my 2008 Slotstox British Championship story

I then moved to Stevenage and away from the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club / Great Blakenham Slotstox Club area after which racing became restricted to the odd appearance.

I made a return trip as defending champion to race at the Slotstox Champion of Champions Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club. Having represented the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club at all my previous 'Open' Championship appearances: for this championship I was representing the Arena-Essex Slotstox Club. I was racing from the Superstar grade as the Slotstox British 'Open' Champion and finished joint 3rd in the final.

I raced at the final round of the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship on 14th November. Despite this being a seasons first Slotstox racing appearance at the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club (I had attended the end of the Slotstox Suffolk Championship on 13th June) I finished 5th in the final and 12th in the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship with 49 points.

I missed the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club on 14th December as I bought tickets for the 'Race of Champions' at Wembley not realising the clash of dates!

Parmastox

On 6th March, I raced at the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship - debuting my new Parmastox on a new Arena-Essex Slotstox Club track. A 2nd place finish in my first heat and a joint 2nd place finish in my second heat proved enough for me to qualify for the Arena-Essex Parmastox 'Open' Championship final for the second time following 2005 when I finished 6th. After a close and competitive final, this season I finished 5th.

SLOTSTOX BRITISH 'OPEN' CHAMPION

SLOTSTOX CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: 3RD=

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 12TH - 49 points

ARENA-ESSEX PARMASTOX 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: 5TH

2009

Slotstox

Following the merger of the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club with the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club, I raced at the first meeting of the seasons Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship on 23rd January.

Following the merger, the number of members and drivers racing in the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club's three formulae increased dramatically compared with the previous few seasons.

I finished 40th in the Slotstox Foxhall Points Championship with 41 points.

On 13th March, I defended the Slotstox British Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club. I was second highest points scorer in the third set of heats and finished as joint 4th highest points scorer in the heats overall to qualify for the semi-finals. I finished 5th in my semi-final and was eliminated.

I raced at the Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club on 13th December. Having not raced my Slotstox since March it was off the pace in practice but after the lending of a new rear wheel by Paul Glading plus a few laps it was a little bit faster for the heats although it was occasionally struggling with a slipping rear cog throughout the meeting. I qualified from the heats as joint 12th highest points scorer with 53 points: 19 points in my first heat (1st in lanes 2 and 3, 3rd in lane 5 and 4th in lane 1), 19 points in my second heat (1st in lane 3, 2nd in lane 4 and 3rd in lanes 1 and 2) and 15 points in my third heat (1st in lane 4, 2nd in lane 2 and 3rd in lane 5). My quarter-final did not start well with a non-finish in lane 5. This was followed by 3rd in each of lanes 6 and 1 before a run of 3rd in each of lanes 2, 3 and 4. I finished as runner-up with 23 points and qualified for the semi-finals. In my semi-final, my Slotstox began to be on the pace a little bit having been run in during the heats and quarter-final. I finished 3rd in my first race in lane 1 before a non-finish in my second race in lane 1. I finished 3rd in my first race in lane 2 and was 2nd for much of the second race in lane 2 before being delayed by a crashed Slotstox on the final bend and finishing 5th. All drivers failed to finish my first race in lane 3 and I finished 2nd in my second race in lane 3. I managed to have a quick look at the scores and knew that I was in with a chance of finishing 3rd in the semi-final and qualifying for my fifth Slotstox World Championship final following 1996 (4th), 2000 (4th), 2001 (World Champion) and 2006 (5th). I finished 3rd in my first race in lane 4 and 4th in my second race in lane 4. I finished 5th in my first race in lane 5 and 3rd in my second race in lane 5. I failed to finish my first race in lane 6 due to another Slotstox crashing across my lane and I finished 5th in my second race in lane 6. I scored 30 points but 3rd place had scored 31 points and so I was eliminated from the main championship by 1 point! Ironically, the crashed Slotstox on the final bend of my second race in lane 2 and my first race in lane 6 was the same driver...the girlfriend of the driver that beat me by 1 point...this was just coincidence and that's racing!

This would have been back to back Slotstox World Championship final appearances since the last time the Slotstox World Championship was hosted by the Wisbech Fen Tigers Slotstox Club in 2006! I missed the 2007 Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Great Blakenham Slotstox Club as this clashed with the StockKart World Cup meeting at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich and I missed the 2008 Slotstox World Championship hosted by the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club as I bought tickets for the 'Race of Champions' at Wembley not realising the clash of dates!
I started the B-final with no points from my two races in lane 6 before finishing 3rd in each of my races in lane 1. I failed to finish my first race in lane 2 before finishing 2nd in my second race in lane 2 and my first race in lane 3. I won my second race in lane 3 before crashing in each of my races in lane 4 and my first race in lane 5 trying to take out the leader of the semi-final! I finished 2nd in my second race in lane 5. With 29 points, I finished 5th in the B-final and 11th overall.

Slot-Saloons

I raced at round 5 of the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship on 15th May. I won my first three races of the night and was probably well inside the ten highest points scorers to qualify for the semi-finals but I had to leave due to time.

I finished 31st (and White grade status - although retaining Yellow grade status) in the Slot-Saloons Foxhall Points Championship with 46 points.

As the Foxhall Foxes Supporters Club began it's 'official' racing life on Friday 11th May 1984 and this meeting fell in the same week, it could have been considered as the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club's official 25th Birthday meeting.

Slot-Bangers

I raced at the eighth and final round of the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship on 30th October. I qualified for the semi-finals as 9th highest points scorer. I finished as joint runner-up in my semi-final with 13 points and qualified for the final. I finished 5th in the final.

I finished joint 21st (and White grade status - although retaining Yellow grade status) in the Slot-Bangers Foxhall Points Championship with 26 points.

I raced at four Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club meetings during the season with one of these being my defence of the Slotstox British Championship. At the other three, completely unintentionally, I raced in one round of the Foxhall Points Championship for each of the Club's formulae! This was quite appropriate in the Foxhall Foxes Slotstox Club's 25th anniversary season as I was one of twelve drivers that raced at the Club's first official meeting on 11th May 1984.

SLOTSTOX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: B-FINAL 5TH (11th overall)

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 40TH - 41 points

SLOTSTOX FOXHALL STATISTICS: 1 semi-final, 0 finals, 0 final wins, 0 heat maximums

SLOT-SALOONS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 31ST - 46 points

SLOT-BANGERS FOXHALL POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 21ST= - 26 points

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