2020
The 2020 season was meant to see the Arena Slotstox Club continue with two regular venues: the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Waltham Abbey Community Centre ('WACC') and second, fourth and fifth Wednesday of each month at the new Hobbs Cross venue... the course of history would dictate otherwise...
Parmastox
4 March - Arena points chart round 1 at 'WACC' racing my blue Parmastox which was struggling for grip having not been used for a while but improved as the meeting progressed (along with the driver) - heat 1 - 3rd of seven drivers (28 - 4th scored 26); heat 2 - 5th of seven drivers (20 - 6th scored 19) and heat 3 - 4th of seven drivers (23 - 3rd scored 25 whilst 5th scored 22). All remaining six drivers qualified for the final - 2nd (31) - 10 (best heat 3 + final 7) points chart points.
The escalation of the Covid-19 Pandemic across the UK, subsequent Lockdown and on-going restrictions meant that this was the only official Arena meeting of the 2020 season.
Sadly Covid-19 had a devastating impact on Arena Slotstox Club with it taking the life of Arena Chair Jack Branch on 24 April 2020. The knock-on impact of Covid-19 also resulted in the track at Hobbs Cross being broken up with only a few bits able to be salvaged. This meant that Arena would meetings would take place only at WACC for now.
The Club regulars were determined to continue in memory of Jack with virtual calls taking place over the summer as Arena began to plan for the future. There was agreement that racing would not return on a full basis until all members were able to return.
On the re-opening of WACC, discussions were held on all sides and it was eventually agreed that Arena would return for four dates in 2020. As agreed between regulars, racing would be on an informal / test / fun basis for these fixtures.
The planned return meeting on 2 September was cancelled at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances before the return took place on 16 September. The meeting started with a 1 minute 33 seconds period of silence (the 33 seconds in recognition of Jack's 33 race number).
To help with social distancing requirements, racing took place on the four lane track so the first meeting was a way of finding our way in the new normal plus getting the four lane track back up and running (including several running repairs along the way). Racing was a series of 1 v 1 match races followed by some four driver races for which I used my blue Parmastox (I was going to use my red Parmastox but on opening my box after several months found that the chassis wasn't there - I then remembered I had given it to Jack to be repaired so would need to track it down). Good to be back but Arena will never be the same without Jack (R.I.P #33).
7 October at WACC - I spent most of the evening sorting out / tidying the storage box with a few finds that will come in useful! I did undertake a few practice laps on the four lane track with my blue Parmastox.
21 October at WACC - Whilst I spent much of the evening sorting out paperwork in the Club folder, I did get some laps in on the four lane track. Firstly some practice laps with both the Slot-Classic Hot Rod I borrowed from Jack (which seems to now be mine) plus my Mum's George Polley replica Slot-Hot Rod. Secondly, at the end of the evening, a couple of fun heats of Slot-Classic Hot Rods with the drivers changing lanes but borrowing each others car which remained in lane - of the eight races I failed to finish any... a bit rusty!
4 November at WACC - I was planning to miss this meeting and use the time to prepare some promotional material at home but a shortage of numbers meant I made the trip and on the four lane track mainly practiced my Slot-Classic Hot Rod and red Parmastox.
2021
On 1 September, the 2021 season began after a delay due to COVID 19 pandemic with a practice evening at Arena Slotstox Club. Practicing each of my blue Parmastox and red Parmastox they were both struggling for grip having not been used for several months and needing work on their tyres. Using my blue Parmastox, which was gradually improving, I raced in a five Parmastox, two races per lane, heat. No points were kept but I didn't manage a race win. I didn't race in a second practice heat as I was having a discussion with a fellow Club member.
On 15 September, a meeting was held to discuss various aspects of the Arena Slotstox Club after which it was agreed that the 2021 race meetings would count towards a Rainbow roof qualifying series with the top 6 drivers at the end racing in a final decider.
6 October - Arena Rainbow roof series round 2 after it was unanimously agreed by those in attendance that the series would capture the 1 meeting held in 2020 so that Jack Branch's final meeting would be officially scored somewhere. Having done some maintenance on both my blue and red Parmastox, I raced my blue Parmastox which, with lots of lighter fluid on the tyres and some tweaking of the braids, improved as the meeting went on. Heat 1 - 2nd of six drivers (22 - 3rd scored 21) and heat 2 - 5th of six drivers (22 again - 4th scored 23). All six raced in the final - 3rd (22 yet again - 4th scored 21) - 10 (best heat 4 + final 6) points chart points. The meeting ended with a one race per lane Grand National with the final winner starting a lap down - 2nd of six drivers (17).
20 October - Arena Rainbow roof series round 3 and the end of an era... due to falling numbers, having been a topic of discussion by those present during recent weeks and taking various factors into consideration it was agreed during this meeting that this would be the final meeting of the Arena Slotstox Club.
Due to drivers delayed by heavy traffic on route, racing was on the four lane ‘Brentwood Show’ track. Heat 1 – 3rd of four drivers (13) and heat 2 – 1st of four drivers (20). All four drivers raced in the final – three races per lane – 1st (41 – looking back at the scores, going into the final race it was level between me and the eventual 2nd and I was the only finisher in that final race!) – ending on a high with a 13 maximum (best heat 5 + final 8) points chart points. The meeting and Club ended with a one race per lane Grand National and I, as final winner, started a lap down - 2nd of four drivers (8).
During the 3 rounds of the Rainbow series held, I was top points scorer with 33 points and the 3rd highest average of 11 points. As I had won the final Parmastox Arena Gold Top Championship in 2019, I would be the final Arena Gold Top (as well as the final Silver Top). The maximum 13 points at round 3 - the only one on the 'Brentwood Show' track meant I won that track championship. I finished 2nd in the 'WACC' track Championship with 20 points and an average of 10 points. I finished 2nd in the Arena Rainbow Series Grand National points chart with 10 points.
PARMASTOX ARENA 2020/2021 RAINBOW SERIES POINTS CHAMPION: 33 POINTS
PARMASTOX ARENA 2020/2021 RAINBOW SERIES 'WACC TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP: 2ND - 20 POINTS
PARMASTOX ARENA 2020/2021 RAINBOW SERIES 'BRENTWOOD SHOW' TRACK CHAMPION: 13 POINTS
PARMASTOX ARENA 2020/2021 RAINBOW SERIES GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 2ND - 10 POINTS
28 November 2021
2022
5 February 2022
On 23rd April, I raced at the Wisbech Metal Slotstox Club in the inaugural Jack Branch Memorial meeting with appropriately given it was Jack’s race number) 33 drivers in attendance. The date was a day before the second anniversary of Jack’s passing and thanks to generous sponsorship, all race fees, catering and raffles monies would also be donated to CRY. The format followed that of the British Slotstox Association series rounds, as all drivers competed in three heats of two races per lane (five lanes) over 8 laps with points scored based on their finishing positions in each - 1st 6, 2nd 5, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 3 and 6th onwards 1 - the highest points scoring eleven drivers would automatically qualify to the semi-finals whilst the next six would compete in a consolation heat with the winner to also qualify. I had already decided to race my Red Parmastox as this was the last Parmastox that Jack had built for me. Having stayed overnight at near Huntingdon and taken part in the March Parkrun with Harry and Seb on the way, we arrived for the end of practice and not unexpectedly, given it had not been raced since at least October 2021, my Red Parmastox lacked drip. Rob Porter generously lent me some rear wheels/tyres and after I persuaded the organisers to give me more practice, my Red Parmastox was ready to go. It already had the tarmac wing on and so I left it on. Having won the final Arena Gold Top Championship in 2019, I raced from the Gold start line. Heat 1 5th (2 points) of seven drivers (25 – finishing all 10 races but not in high enough positions and no wins – 3rd scored 26, 4th also scored 25 but had 4 wins, whilst 6th scored 24); heat 2 – 4th (3) of six drivers (17 including my only race win of the day, dedicated of course to Jack); and heat 3 4th (3) of six drivers (18). With a heat point score of 8, I didn’t qualify for the semi-finals or consolation. Due to my lack of racing, I travelled with no expectations and so it transpired but the day was about paying tribute to Jack and the occasion certainly did that.
Following a move back to Suffolk and having enjoyed a non-racing visit on 23 May, I decided to race at the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club (ARC) at points meeting 8 on 6 June. The format was similar to that of the British Slotstox Association series rounds, as all drivers competed in two heats of two races per lane (six lanes) over 8 laps with points scored based on their finishing positions in each - 1st 6, 2nd 5, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 2 and 6th onwards 1. With 19 drivers racing, the highest points scoring four drivers would automatically qualify to the semi-finals whilst the rest would compete in two consolation heats with the winner of each to also qualify. Having won the final Arena Gold Top Championship in 2019 and not raced a full season since, as at Wisbech on 23 April, I continued to race from the Gold start line. After some work on the tyres, including by a fellow driver, I raced my Red Parmastox with tarmac wing in heat 1 – 2nd (5 points) of five drivers (30). For heat 2 I raced my Blue Parmastox and this was on it from the off despite having not been raced since the previous October! – 5th (2) of seven drivers (17 – having got caught up in too many crashes and my Blue Parmastox being more for racing than contact!). My 7 points were not enough to qualify directly to the final so I raced in a consolation. Initially I was going to race my Blue Parmastox but having seen the other drivers, I switched to my more robust Red Parmastox with Tarmac wing and then Shale wing (for no other reason than wanting to change) for the last 2 lanes after my virtual lane. This proved a good decision as I won the consolation – 1st of seven drivers (40) and qualified for the final. I continued with my Red Parmastox for the final – 3rd of six drivers (26 – 2nd scored 27 and 1st 29). 3rd in the final scored a further 6 points chart points for a total of 13. Overall a promising racing return but more importantly a fun evening!
At the next ARC points chart and grading for June/July update, I was 22nd in the points and red grade but would continue the season racing from Gold.
20 June – points meeting 9 and Gold Top Qualifying round 4 at ARC. The format was all drivers competed in three heats of two races per lane (six lanes) over 8 laps with points scored based on their finishing positions in each - 1st 6, 2nd 5, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 3 and 6th onwards 1. The highest points scoring six drivers would then qualify to the final. I raced my Red Parmastox with tarmac wing in heats 1 and 2 – heat 1 - 1st (6 points) of five drivers (31 – 2nd scored 30) and heat 2 – 3rd (4) of five drivers (31). For heat 3, I continued with my Red Parmastox but switched to Shale wing – 1st (6) of five drivers (43). My 16 points were enough to qualify to the final as joint highest points scorer and I continued with my Red Parmastox with Shale wing – 3rd (22 – 2nd scored 24 and 4th scored 20). I chose not to race in the meeting ending Grand Nationals. 3rd in the final scored a further 6 points chart and Gold Top Qualifying points for a total of 22. Having not raced at ARC during the first three rounds, I was 17th in the Gold Top Qualifying points.
4 July – points meeting 10 at ARC. The format was all drivers competed in two heats of two races per lane (six lanes) over 8 laps with points scored based on their finishing positions in each - 1st 6, 2nd 5, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 3 and 6th onwards 1. With 19 drivers racing, the highest points scoring four drivers would automatically qualify to the semi-finals whilst the rest would compete in two consolation heats with the winner of each to also qualify. I raced my Red Parmastox with shale wing - heat 1 - 2nd (5 points) of seven drivers (39) and heat 2 – 1st (6) of six drivers (32). My 11 points were enough to qualify directly to the final – 4th (21). 4th in the final scored a further 4 points chart points for a total of 15.
18 July – points meeting 11 at ARC. Usual ARC points meeting format applied and with 14 drivers racing, the highest points scoring four drivers would automatically qualify to the semi-finals whilst the rest would compete in two consolation heats with the winner of each to also qualify. I raced my Red Parmastox with shale wing - heat 1 - 3rd (4 points) of five drivers (29) and heat 2 – 1st (6) of seven drivers (34). My 10 points were enough to qualify directly to the final – 5th (10 - a bit of disaster with rear cog issues). 5th in the final scored a further 2 points chart points for a total of 12.
I missed ARC points meeting 12 due to holiday.
After 12 ARC points chart rounds, with 62 points, I was joint 15th with one other driver. In the grading for September, I was up to Superstar but would continue the season racing from Gold. I didn’t race at the ARC 3 a side team meeting on 14 August but did attend part way through after a running club session. I missed the ARC hosted Best in Britain Open Championship on 28 August as I’d arranged for Harry and Seb to be mascots at Ipswich Town Football Club. I missed ARC points meeting 13 and Gold Top Qualifying round 5 on 12 September as chose to attend a running session instead – I remained 17th in the Gold Top Qualifying points. I didn’t race at the ARC hosted Suffolk Open Championship on 23 September but did attend for a short while with Harry and Seb. I didn’t race at ARC points meeting 14 on 26 September but did attend part way through after a running club session.
After 14 rounds, still with 62 points, I was 17th in the points and remained Superstar grade but would continue the season racing from Gold.
I didn’t’ attend either ARC points meeting 15 on 10 October or ARC points meeting 16 and 6th and final Gold Top Qualifying meeting on 24 October as I chose to attend running sessions instead. After 16 rounds, still with 62 points, I remained 17th in the points and remained Superstar grade on the Sleeping Chart but would continue the season racing from Gold. I finished joint 18th with two other drivers in the Gold Top Qualifying points.
I didn’t’ attend ARC points meeting 17 on 7 November as Ipswich Town were on TV in the FA Cup!
21 November – points meeting 18 at ARC. Usual ARC points meeting format applied and the highest points scoring four drivers would automatically qualify to the semi-finals whilst the rest would compete in two consolation heats with the winner of each to also qualify. I raced my Red Parmastox with shale wing - heat 1 - 3rd (4 points) of six drivers (24) and heat 2 – 2nd (5) of six drivers (30). My 9 points were not enough to qualify directly to the final as I finished 5th behind two drivers with 12 points and two drivers with 10
points. In my consolation – 5th (8 - a bit of disaster including both engine screws falling out during one race – clearly my other interests have contributed to a lack of preparation!) First time since returning that I hadn’t reached a final, so I scored 9 points chart points.
In the final ARC Points Chart, I finished 17th with 71 points.
5 December – finals night at ARC of which I hadn’t qualified for any! After these all drivers raced in a 2 races per lane heat. I raced my Red Parmastox without any wing which seemed to be much quicker after the front weight had fallen out at the previous meeting so I continued without – 1st of six drivers (32). All drivers then raced in one of three ‘finals’ with the winner of each choosing head or tails on the toss of a coin and if they chose correct, they would receive a free ARC membership for the 2023 season! If they chose incorrect, the 2nd placed driver would call and so on – 1st of six drivers (16 – 2nd scored 15 and 3rd 14) but I chose heads and it was tails! The 2nd placed driver then chose correctly.
PARMASTOX ARC POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 17TH - 71 POINTS
2023
With the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club (ARC) trialling Friday evenings, on 3 February I raced at the season opening Winternationals Championship. Due to various reasons there were only six drivers racing. All drivers raced in 3 heats and then raced in the final. Now racing from Superstar grade and using a mix of my Blue and Red Parmastox with no wing throughout the evening to practice / run in both having not been raced for a while – heat 1 3rd (20), heat 2 2nd (25) and heat 3 4th (11 – 3rd scored 12). Based on heat finishing positions, 1st 6 points, 2nd 5 etc., I scored 12 points and was 3rd highest qualifier. With trophies for the first 3 and only 6 racing, I didn’t really put much effort into winning the final and tried more to stop others 6th (2). Despite the lack of numbers, an enjoyable evening and start to the 2023 season.
10 February – I raced at ARC points championship round 1 with again only six drivers racing. All drivers raced in 3 heats and then raced in the final. Racing my Red Parmastox with no wing – heat 1 4th (26), heat 2 4th (28) and heat 3 3rd (30). Based on heat finishing positions, 1st 6 points, 2nd 5 etc., I scored 10 points chart points. Final 2nd (33) to add 8 points chart points and a total of 18 points chart points.
3 March – I raced at ARC points championship round 2 with eight drivers racing. All drivers raced in 3 heats and then raced in the final. Suffering from a mild chest infection, I raced my Red Parmastox with no wing – heat 1 5th (2) of 5 drivers (18 - hampered by what turned out to be my engine coming loose during the heat with 3rd and 4th each scoring 20), heat 2 2nd (5) of 4 drivers (34) and heat 3 1st (6) of 4 drivers (50 - 10 wins and 2 non-finishes). With the top 4 qualifying direct to the final, I was 5th with my 13 heat finishing position points. I therefore raced in the consolation with 1st and 2nd to qualify for the final - 1st of 4 drivers (37). Final - 4th of six drivers (24 - 3rd scored 25 and 5th 22) to add 4 points chart points and a total of 17 points chart points.
10 March – I visited the ARC points championship round 3 with Harry and Seb. I intended for them to have a few practice laps with one of my Parmastox but I forgot to take them. Seb was able to do a few practice laps with a Club Parmastox whilst Harry didn't want to have a go. Seb was offered the chance to race in the White and Yellows heat but didn't want to.
17 March – I raced at ARC points championship round 4 with nine drivers all racing in 3 heats. A fun nights racing, I raced my Red Parmastox with no wing – heat 1 3rd (3) of 5 drivers (25 - 5 wns/7 crashes mostly with one other racer!), heat 2 3rd (3) of 5 drivers (17) and heat 3 3rd (3) of 6 drivers (32). I scored 12 points from
the heats and with two drivers leaving, the remaining seven raced in the Final - 2nd (28 - 1st scored 29) to add 8 points chart points and a total of 20 points chart points.
After the first 4 points chart rounds and despite missing 1, I was 3rd in Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 55 points but my average meant I was down to red grade for April.
3 April - I raced at ARC points championship round 5 and Gold Top Qualifying round 1 with fifteen drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my Red Parmastox with no wing – heat 1 4th (3) of 6 drivers, heat 2 5th (2) of 5 drivers and heat 3 5th (2) of 5 drivers (19). I scored 7 points from the heats and wasn’t one of the four drivers
qualifying direct to the final so raced in one of two, one race per lane, consolations with the winner of each to qualify. Consolation - 1st of six drivers (18) to qualify for the Final - 5th (17 - 4th scored 19) to add 2 points and a total of 9 points chart and Gold Top Qualifying points.
17 April - I raced at ARC points championship round 6 with ten drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my Red Parmastox with no wing – heat 1 3rd (4) of 6 drivers (23 - 4th scored 21 and 5th 20), heat 2 4th (3) of 5 drivers (23 - 5th scored 22 and 3rd 26) and heat 3 3rd (4) of 5 drivers (24 - 2nd scored 26). I scored 11 points from the heats and wasn’t one of the three drivers qualifying direct to the final so raced in the consolation scoring 0 points to finish 7th of seven drivers.
On 22 April, I raced at the second Jack Branch memorial meeting hosted by the Anglian Racewall Slotstox Club (ARC) with 18 drivers in attendance. The date was two days before the third anniversary of Jack’s passing and thanks to Whitton Football Club giving the hall hire for free plus generous sponsorship, all race fees and raffles monies would be donated to Jack's families chosen charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). The format followed that of the British Slotstox Association series rounds, as all drivers competed in three heats of two races per lane (six lanes) over 8 laps with points scored based on their finishing positions in each - 1st 6, 2nd 5, 3rd 4, 4th 3, 5th 3 and 6th onwards 1 - the highest points scoring three drivers would automatically qualify to the final whilst the remaining fifteen would compete in one of three consolation heats with the winner of each to also qualify. Whilst I had decided to race my Red Parmastox with no wing, as this was the last Parmastox that Jack had built for me, as in 2022 this wasn’t running right. This was at the start of heat 1 due to a loose engine/wire issues. I switched to my Blue Parmastox but due to no recent use, the tyres gave limited grip. Mark West generously lent me one of his spare Parmastox so I used that from then on and I raced from my ARC grade of Red. Heat 1 2nd (5 points) of six drivers (15 – despite all the issues, thankfully this was a low scoring heat for all but the heat winner - 3rd also scored 15 but I had one race win to their none, whilst 4th scored 14); heat 2 – 1st (6) of six drivers (28); and heat 3 4th (3) of six drivers (20 - 3rd scored 22). With a heat point score of 14, I didn’t qualify direct to the final so raced in a Consolation - 1st of four drivers (as one driver had left) - 46 (with 2nd scoring 43 and this was close between us throughout with some non-finishes for them proving costly). I thus qualified to the final - 5th of six drivers (18 - 4th scored 19). All in all a good day, I hope I did Jack proud but most importantly £162 raised for CRY.
After 6 points chart rounds, I was down to 4th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 75 points but my average meant I remained red grade for May. I was 11th in the ARC Gold Top qualifying points with 9 points.
15 May - I raced at ARC hosted East Anglian championship and points round 7 with 12 drivers all racing in 3 heats. After a fellow driver replaced a short wire, for heats 1 and 2 I raced my Red Parmastox with no wing but this wasn't running right despite several attempts to change set up – heat 1 5th (2) of 5 drivers (7) and heat 2 6th (1) of 6 drivers (1). For heat 3, I sandpapered the tyres on my blue Parmastox and got this running well but with little luck as I scored 11 points in the first three races but then nothing in the remaining nine - 6th (1) of 6 drivers (11). Unsurprisingly with 4 points from the heats, I wasn’t one of the five drivers qualifying direct to the final. With one driver leaving, that left six rather the seven drivers in the consolation with the winner to also qualify - 2nd (26 - 3rd scored 24). Although I missed out on the final, my blue Parmastox was starting to go well again.
22 May - I raced at ARC points championship round 8 and Gold Top Qualifying round 2 with eleven drivers all racing in 3 heats. Having got it running well at the last meeting, I continued to race my Blue Parmastox – heat 1 1st (6) of 4 drivers (45), heat 2 1st (6) of 5 drivers (31) and heat 3 3rd (4) of 5 drivers (27). My 16 points from the heats was sufficient to qualify direct to the final – 3rd of six drivers (28 – so close to a first ARC final win as 1st and 2nd each scored 29) to add 6 points and a total of 22 points chart and Gold Top Qualifying points.
After 8 points chart rounds, I was down to 5th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 101 points but my average meant I remained red grade for June. I was up to 2nd in the ARC Gold Top qualifying points with 31 points.
5 June - I raced at ARC points championship round 9 with thirteen drivers all racing in 3 heats. I continued to race my Blue Parmastox although during heat 3 one of the side irons broke off – heat 1 3rd (4) of 5 drivers (36 - 2nd also scored 36 but they had five race wins whereas I had four), heat 2 3rd (4) of 7 drivers (24 - 5th
scored 23 with 3rd also scoring 24 and whilst we both had 3 race wins, I had one 2nd place to their none) and heat 3 5th (2) of 7 drivers (19 - 4th scored 20). My 10 points from the heats wasn't sufficient to qualify direct to the final so I raced in one of two consolations with the winner of each also qualifying - 3rd of 4 drivers (25 - 2nd scored 27). Missing out on the final, I scored 10 points chart points.
Having missed ARC points chart round 10 and Gold Top Qualifying round 3 on 19 June due to a work
conference, after 10 points chart rounds I was down to 6th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 111 points but my average meant I remained red grade for July; and down to 9th in the ARC Gold Top qualifying points with 31 points.
3 July - having attended the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club 6pm Track session, I travelled across Ipswich to Whitton to race at ARC in the 3-aside Team Meeting. With 9 drivers, it was three teams of 3 and my average meant I was in the second group of racers and was drawn in Team A with Mark West and Emil. Each team would race against each other twice and the two with the most raw points would race in the Final. I borrowed a spare Parmastox of Mark West as mine was with a fellow racer to fix the side irons. In our first heat with Team B, we scored 70 to their 52 and I scored 25. In our second heat with Team C, we scored 76 to their 66 and I again scored 25. In our third heat with Team B, we scored 71 to their 36 and I yet again scored 25! At this point, scores were added up and as we only needed 3 points from out fourth heat wirh Team C to make the final, Team B conceded and this fourth heat became the final. We won the Final 100 to 56 and I scored 28. This was my eighth Slotstox/Parmastox Team meeting win following 2 Slotstox Opens, 4 Foxhall Slotstox and 1 Arena Parmastox.
17 July - having attended the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club 6pm Track session, I travelled across Ipswich to Whitton to race at ARC points championship round 11 with nine drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my repaired Blue Parmastox – heat 1 4th (3) of 5 drivers (26), heat 2 2nd (5) of 5 drivers (37 - a high scoring heat as 1st scored 40 whilst 3rd and 4th each scored 34) and heat 3 5th (2) of 7 drivers (20). My 10 points from the heats wasn't sufficient to qualify direct to the final so I raced in the consolation of 5 drivers with the top 2 also qualifying - 1st (46 - helped by winning the last 6 races in lanes 2, 1 and 3). Final - 4th of 6 drivers (25) to add 3 points chart points and a total of 13 points chart points.
31 July - having attended the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club 6pm Track session, I travelled across Ipswich to Whitton to race at ARC points championship round 12 with twelve drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my Blue Parmastox – heat 1 2nd (5) of 4 drivers (36), heat 2 2nd (5) of 6 drivers (32 – 3rd scored 30) and heat 3 3rd (4) of 6 drivers (25 – 2nd scored 27 whilst 4th scored 24). My 14 points from the heats were sufficient as five drivers qualified direct to the final – 2nd of 6 drivers (34) to add 9 points chart points and a total of 23 points chart points.
After 12 points chart rounds, I was up to 4th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 147 points but my average meant I remained red grade for August.
I missed ARC points round 13 on 7 August (as well as their hosted Suffolk Championship on Friday 11 August due to being on holiday). A break then followed as ARC left the bar at Whitton United Football Club due a change of opening times before starting again on 25 September at Rosary Conservative Club in Ipswich. I only watched part of this meeting - points chart round 14 and Gold Top Qualifying round 4 due to competing in the JAFFA Ipswich Running Club 1 mile Track Time Trial races.
Having missed ARC points chart round 13 and 14 and Gold Top Qualifying round 4, after 14 points
chart rounds I was down to 5th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart with 147 points, remaining red grade for October; and down to 12th in the ARC Gold Top qualifying points with 31 points.
9 October, I only watched part of ARC points round 15 due to attending the JAFFA Ipswich Running
Club Run and Talk evening.
On 22nd October. I raced at the Wisbech Metal Slotstox Club for the Norfolk Open Championship which doubled up as the third round (of four) in the 2023 Parmastox British Championship with 18 drivers in attendance. I hadn't attended the previous two rounds and hadn't intended to race at this one either! I was due to be running in the Autumn Blickling Half Marathon race and had booked an overnight stop at the Norwich Airport Premier Inn. The race was then postponed the day before due to flooding on the course from Storm Babet, but rather than lose out completely, I travelled up to Norwich on the Saturday evening and across to Emneth on the Sunday morning although having not raced since 31 July, I had little expectation. I raced my Blue Parmastox and thankfully I practiced it as this identified a loose wire. All heats that I competed in were two races per lane over 8 laps. The finishing positions in the qualifying heats decided the best five drivers that would qualify directly to the final. The next six would race in a consolation with the winner also
qualifying for the final. Heat 1 3rd (4) of six drivers (18 - 4th scored 17 although 2 races early on, I failed to finish when leading after 7 laps and in another, I finished 1st only to do an extra lap in error on which I crashed... else I would have won the heat!) Heat 2 3rd (4) of six drivers (24 – 4th scored 22); and heat 3 consistently 3rd again (4) of six drivers (36 - 2nd scored 38). With 12 heat points, I finished 7th so raced in the consolation - 1st of six drivers (42) to qualify for the final! The final, with all drivers starting from the black and white chequers line didn't start well, so I thought I'd have a bit of fun with bumper work - 6th of 6 drivers (20 - same as 5th but they had 1 race win to my none). All in all, I was happy and whilst not the running medal I was aiming for, I came away with a trophy instead!
23 October - wasn't sure I was going to make this one as I hadn't felt great for much of the day but having attended the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club 6pm Track session, I travelled over to ARC points championship round 16 and Gold Top Qualifying round 5 with twelve drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my Blue Parmastox – heat 1 5th (2) of 8 drivers (26), heat 2 5th (2) of 6 drivers (16) and heat 3 3rd (4) of 6 drivers (32). My 8 points from the heats was not sufficient to qualify as one of five drivers direct to the final, so I raced in the, one race per lane, consolation with the winner to join them - 1st of 7 drivers (20 - I won the first 4 races to be on a maximum before crashing out on the inside lanes 2 and 1!) This was my 2nd consolation win in 2 days, but whereas the day before I only converted it to a 6th in the final, this time I converted it to
finally win my first final at ARC – 1st of 6 drivers (41) to add 10 points chart points and a total of 18 points chart and Gold Top Qualifying points. Clearly racing 2 days in a row was a good thing and not sure when I'd last done that!
Having won the final at ARC points round 16 and Gold Top Qualifying round 5, by missing ARC points chart round 15, I was down to 7th in the Anglian Racewall Metal Slotstox Club points chart after 16 points chart rounds with 165 points, remaining red grade for November; but up to 10th in the ARC Gold Top qualifying points with 49 points and 13 points adrift of a top 6 qualifying place with 1 round remaining.
6 November, I only watched part of ARC points round 17 due to a combination of circumstances! Having
won a month free membership at a local fitness club, I signed up to an early evening online class with the aim to then do the later JAFFA Ipswich Running Club Track session before heading over to ARC to watch. The online session then seemed to not happen, but I found out too late to do the early JAFFA Track session which meant I could then race. As it was, I probably had too much work on to make the early JAFFA Track session anyway!
20 November - having attended the Ipswich JAFFA Running Club 6pm Track session, I travelled over to the 16th and final ARC points championship round and 6th and final Gold Top Qualifying with nine drivers all racing in 3 heats. I raced my Blue Parmastox – heat 1 2nd (5) of 6 drivers (25 - 3rd also scored 25 but I had 1 win to their none, whilst 4th scored 24 and 5th 22), heat 2 3rd (4) of 4 drivers (34 - 2nd scored 35) and heat 3 4th (3) of 5 drivers (13 including missing three races for car repairs). My 12 points from the heats was not sufficient to qualify as one of four drivers direct to the final, so I raced in a consolation with 1st and 2nd to join them - 1st of 5 drivers (40). Final – 3rd of 6 drivers (28) to add 6 points chart points and a total of 18 points chart and Gold Top Qualifying points. Having missed two of the six Gold Top Qualifying round - one due to a work conference and the other due to a running event - I went into this final round with only a very outside chance of making the top 6 qualifying places. I did though climb up to 7th by half a point to be the first reserve for the ARC Gold Top Final on 11 December.
In the final ARC Points Chart, I finished 9th with 183 points.
11 December – finals night at ARC and having got in the position of first reserve for the Gold Top Final, it was me who ended up missing it due to catching Covid! It mattered little though as all six qualifiers attended and so I wouldn't have raced in it anyway.
PARMASTOX ARC TEAM CHAMPION
PARMASTOX JACK BRANCH MEMORIAL: 5TH
PARMASTOX NORFOLK 'OPEN' CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH
PARMASTOX ARC POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP: 9TH - 183 POINT
PARMASTOX ARC WINTERNATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP: 6TH