Superstox

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Single seat formula racing

title: "Superstox" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["formula-racing", "stock-car-racing-in-the-united-kingdom"] description: "Single seat formula racing" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstox" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Single seat formula racing ::

::callout[type=note] the British short oval car racing category ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Superstox.jpg" caption="A typical Spedeworth Superstox, built by Carcraft"] ::

Superstox is a type of single seat formula racing, similar to Sprint car racing developed in the 1960s in the United Kingdom. Racing is 'contact' whereby drivers can use the front bumper to help dislodge any car in front. Like most other forms of short oval racing, the higher rated drivers normally start at the back of the grid for each race.

Its original roots come from the mid-1950s, it derived as a cheaper alternative to BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing, where a smaller junior formula was raced nationally before the Southern 'Spedeworth' short oval tracks broke away from the main promoting body in 1961 to run their own version of Juniors which they called Formula Two. The cars were originally standard or 'stock' but became more modified over the years until 1968 when a new 'stock' car formula was introduced and the original much modified class became known as Super Stock Cars. This was later shortened to Superstox. Today the class bears no resemblance to a road going car. Chassis are generally built by specialist companies and all the components are special racing ones. The cars are all of front engine design although rear engine was allowed up until the mid-1970s.

Previous famous drivers include 1973 World Champion Derek Warwick and British Champion, Paul Warwick.

World Championship

First raced at Ipswich in 1961 before moving to its longtime home at Wimbledon Stadium. The 1962 World Championship was actually the first car meeting held at Wimbledon. The race originally was a World title in name only although it was an English domiciled Czech, Jan Scott, who won the first running. Later in the sixties the event attracted Spedeworth's Scottish drivers and then the European competitors (the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium) from the NACO organisation. The first European cars to race in the UK were different specifications to the UK counterparts - the 1966 Dutch team having V8 powered saloon cars. A stronger affiliation in the early 1970s saw the European drivers racing rear engine cars although this type of machine proved less robust than a "Super Stock Car" and they become Midgets (non contact short oval racing cars) leaving the newer front engine cars that were appearing on the continent as Superstox. The Superstox formula remained essentially a European one until the appearance of some South African drivers in the late 1960s when Spedeworth gained an affiliation there. The South Africans only contested the championship until the mid-1970s as there was no longer an equivalent class there. One American driver, Al Contreras, represented the US in the early 70s but he, like the inaugural champion, Scott was serving as an airman in this country at the time. The Scottish Superstox died out in the 1980s when Gordon McDougall started his own promotion, breaking away from Spedeworth and affiliating to BriSCA. The Scottish were represented in the title again in 2011 when the class started up again north of the border.

::data[format=table]

YearCircuitWinnerRunner-upThird place
2025Tullyroan933 Steven Haugh907 Jamie McCann713 Ian Beaumont
2024Hednesford944 Jordan Robinson154 Michael Green5 Eric Walker
2023Lochgelly925 Craig McConnell154 Michael Green886 Chris Bradbury
2022Aghadowey955 Kyle Beattie925 Craig McConnell922 Curtis Greer
2021Ipswich77 Nick Roots776 Dan Roots886 Chris Bradbury
2020Not Held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019Lochgelly154 Michael Green309 Brian Forrest265 Barry Stephen
2018Tullyroan914 Lee Davison776 Dan Roots416 Mark Smith
2017Ipswich265 Barry Stephen60 Ben Marjoram77 Nick Roots
2016Lochgelly482 Jason CooperBryan Forrest886 Chris Bradbury
2015Aghadowey886 Chris Bradbury177 Stuart Gilchrist53 David Frames
2014Wimbledon376 Steven Jackson
2013Lochgelly376 Steven Jackson177 Stuart Gilchrist482 Jason Cooper
2012Ipswich177 Stuart Gilchrist
2011WimbledonENG 151 Nick Smith
2010IpswichENG 51 Colin Aylward
2009WimbledonENG 60 Ben Marjoram
2008IpswichENG 482 Jason CooperENG 69 Shaun BrookerENG 51 Colin Aylward
2007WimbledonENG69 Shaun BrookerENG 376 Steven JacksonENG 482 Jason Cooper
2005WimbledonENG 482 Jason Cooper
2004SwaffhamENG 174 Paul Poulter
2003Wimbledon22 Mark Kelman
2002SwaffhamENG 612 Garry Sparkes
2001IpswichENG 18 Mark EatonENG 22 Mark KelmanENG 69 Shaun Brooker
2000WimbledonENG 323 Dave Turner
1999IpswichENG 612 Garry Sparkes
1998WimbledonENG 612 Garry Sparkes
1997IpswichENG 77 Tony RootsNED John DamenENG 118 David Mason
1996Arena EssexENG 7 Glenn SalmonENG 118 David Mason
1995WimbledonENG 7 Glenn SalmonENG 174 Paul PoulterNED 222 John Damen
1994WarnetonNED 212 Luud Lauriejssen
1993WimbledonENG 612 Garry SparkesENG 69 Shaun BrookerENG Dave Turner
1992BallymenaNIR 32 Ian McKnight
1991VenrayENG 88 Darren Innocent
1990WisbechENG 4 John Mickel
1989WisbechENG 612 Garry SparkesENG 170 Howard WhiteENG 4 John Mickel
1988ArlingtonENG 54 Martyn BrandENG 397 Paul PearsonENG 170 Howard White
1987KaldenkirchenENG 54 Martyn BrandNED 16 Ad van BesouwENG 482 Neil Bee
1986WisbechENG 482 Neil BeeENG 206 Robin RandallENG 170 Howard White
1985CowdenbeathSCO 94 Vic RussellSCO 84 Robin BrownSCO Dave Moir
1984TilburgNED 4 Antony van den OetelaarNED 41 Jo van RengsENG 206 Robin Randall
1983CleethorpesNED 4 Antony van den OetelaarNED 41 Jo van RengsSCO 39 Les Clark
1982CleethorpesENG 482 Neil BeeENG 546 John GrayENG 17 Roy Eaton
1981KaldenkirchenENG 482 Neil BeeENG 320 Dave PierceENG 397 Paul Pearson
1980CowdenbeathENG 320 Dave Pierce41 Gordon McDougallENG 206 Robin Randall
1979YarmouthENG 298 Jim WelchENG 320 Dave PierceENG 211 Howard Cole
1978KaldenkirchenSCO 41 Gordon McDougallENG 211 Howard ColeENG 482 Neil Bee
1977WimbledonENG 298 Jim WelchENG 380 Alan CayzerSCO 55 Bob Morton
1976CowdenbeathSCO 41 Gordon McDougallSCO 81 Bill PullarENG 482 Neil Bee
1975KaldenkirchenENG 482 Neil BeeENG 546 John GrayENG 217 Bob Perry
1974WimbledonENG 443 Steve MonkENG 320 Dave PierceENG 221 Derek Warwick
1973WimbledonENG 221 Derek WarwickENG 320 Dave PierceENG 364 Tony May
1972WimbledonENG 294 Geoff GoddardENG 264 Pete WellandENG 381 John Cayzer
1971WimbledonENG 294 Geoff GoddardENG 320 Dave PierceENG 417 Roger Warnes
1970WimbledonENG 530 Biffo SweeneyENG 213 Doug McMahonENG 264 Pete Welland
1969WimbledonENG 500 Alan WardropperENG 213 Doug McMahonENG 217 Bob Perry
1968WimbledonENG 320 Dave PierceENG 319 Denny PearsonENG 304 Derek Fiske
1967WimbledonENG 531 Todd SweeneyENG 320 Dave PierceENG 463 Dell Sticking
1966WimbledonENG 2 Stan IngleENG 68 Trevor FrostENG 320 Dave Pierce
1965WimbledonENG 210 Eddie JamesENG 399 Chris StuddENG 307 Norman Crowe
1964WimbledonENG 210 Eddie JamesENG 70 Aubrey DanceENG 17 Tony Maidment
1963WimbledonENG 17 Tony MaidmentENG Chris CuttingENG Dave Crittall
1962WimbledonENG 2 Stan IngleCzechoslovakia 95 Jan ScottENG Ken Wade
1961IpswichCzechoslovakia 95 Jan ScottENG 17 Tony MaidmentENG Pete Godsmark
::

European Championship

Second to the World Championship in status of the races held for this formula, the European was, in the early seasons, the highest status race to be staged outside of the Spedeworth promotion's home circuits. The European Championship has a remarkable history with its first runnings at Baarlo in the Netherlands.

::data[format=table]

YearCircuitWinner
2023Ipswich446 Dean Johnston
2017Tullyroan Oval515 Jordan Aylward
2011IpswichENG Shaun Brooker
2010WimbledonENG Ben Marjoram
2009IpswichENG Matt Carberry
2008WimbledonENG Jason Cooper
2007IpswichENG Garry Sparkes
2006SwaffhamENG Jason Cooper
2005IpswichENG Ben Marjoram
2004WarnetonENG Mark Kelman
2003WarnetonENG Mark Kelman
2001WimbledonENG Mark Eaton
2000IpswichENG Dave Turner
1999WarnetonNED Ad Mellisant
1998WarnetonENG Geoff Bridges
1997WarnetonENG Tony Roots
1996WimbledonENG Garry Sparkes
1995Arena Essex RacewayENG Garry Sparkes
1994WimbledonENG Paul Poulter
1993NetherlandsENG Shaun Brooker
1992VenrayENG John Mickel
1991WisbechENG Darren Innocent
1990ArmadaleENG John Mickel
1989TilburgENG Garry Sparkes
1988TilburgENG Martyn Brand
1987ArlingtonENG Roy Eaton
1986TilburgNED Jo van Rengs
1985TilburgENG Robin Randall
1984CowdenbeathSCO Les Clark
1983ENG Dave Pierce
1982CowdenbeathENG Dave Pierce
1981BallymenaENG Dave Pierce
1980Warneton/BENG Dave Pierce
1979KaldenkirchenENG Dave Pierce
1978CowdenbeathSCO Bill Pullar
1977not run
1976PosterholtENG Steve Monk
1975ENG John Cayzer
1973TilburgENG Tony May
1971IpswichENG Bob Perry
1970CowdenbeathSCO Malcolm Paterson
1969not run?
1968AmsterdamENG Tony May
1967HengeloENG Tony May
1966BaarloNED Theo Jansen
1965BaarloNED Adrian Kleyngeld
::

1966 National Team League

Spedeworth set up a National Team League comprising six teams based at seven stadia. The first match took place at Aldershot on 21 May 1966 when the Knights beat the visiting Ipswich team.

Aldershot Knights

Managed by Frank Howlett

Eastbourne Eagles

Managed by Charlie Dugard.

Ipswich Witches

Managed by Pop Perry

London Sparrows

The team's home fixtures were shared between Wimbledon and New Cross Stadia

Yarmouth Bloaters

Managed by Ted Payne

Chichester

The team that never was. The team is referred to in texts from the period with top driver Don Mason mentioned as a driver. The team would most likely have used either Aldershot or Eastbourne as its base but no fixtures were contested by the team.

1971 & 1972 Auto Spedeway Team League

The Auto Spedeway team league was set up by Stock Car promoter Spedeworth International for the 1971 season. The competition only lasted just under two years. The racing featured the promotion's regular Superstox cars with identical bodies although underneath the chassis often varied. The body style was based on those sported by the touring South African Team in the 1970 season.

The prototype car was displayed on Spedeworth's stand at the 1971 Racing Car Show. The season was structured so that all the teams had two matches against each other, one home and one away. Outside the League competition there were also a couple of multi-team tournament meetings.

The 1972 fixture schedule was not completed due to some driving standards problems and also the closure of Cross in Hand raceway in August that year. Each team was managed by a key person from the within the Spedeworth organisation and the team line ups included most of the top drivers from the era. Despite the closure of Cross in Hand, Spedeworth later staged two friendly matches (in 1972 and 1973) at Aldershot between the Aldershot Knights and the Cross in Hand Tigers.

Aldershot Knights

Team Manager: Ted Weaver

Drivers: Denny Pearson (captain), Derry Warwick, Roy Wood, Stan Warwick, Ken Etwell, John Field

The Knights were based at Aldershot Stadium in Tongham.

Cross in Hand Tigers

Team Manager: Les Eaton

Drivers: Dave Pierce (captain), Dave Hindle, Alan Cox, Biffo Sweeney, Art Fowler, Gordon Street.

The Tigers were based at Cross-in-Hand raceway in Sussex

Eastbourne Lions

Team Manager: Ken Denham

Drivers: Chris Denham, Barry Kelleher, Rod Waller, Jim Stuart, Nigel Fox, Graham Minchin

The Lions joined the league in 1972 and were based at Arlington Stadium, near Eastbourne - the team effectively the old White City / Walthamstow outfit relocating.

Ipswich Foxes

Team Manager: Harry Barnes

Drivers: Skid Parish (captain), Tony Grant, Norman Crowe, Mike Read, John Biddle, Alan Cayzer. Reserve: Paul Rookyard

Ringwood Badgers

Team Manager: Alan Butler

Drivers: John Edwards (Captain), Tom Edwards, Cliff Maidment, Gordon Maidment, Derek Warwick, Roy Eaton

The Badgers joined the league in 1972 and were based at Matchams Park although they only ever hosted one home match (due to the demise of the league mid season) which was against the Wimbledon Dons.

Walthamstow (formerly White City) Lions

Team Manager: Roger Fennings

Drivers: 1971: Chris Denham (captain), Barry Kelleher, Jack Percy, Rod Waller, Jim Stuart, Les Holland. Occasional - Leon Smith The team was originally going to be called the 'White City Slickers'. Neither White City nor Walthamstow were allocated a team for the 1972 season, the driver line up transferred to Eastbourne (Arlington Stadium) for the 1972 campaign.

Wimbledon Canaries / Dons

Team Manager: Reg Etherington

Drivers: 1971: Eric Taylor, Bryan Kensett (Captain), Tony Mellish, Frank Boyles, John Field, Keith Fransella

1972: Jim Davey (Captain), Frank Boyles, Barry Plummer, Pete Welland, Bryan Kensett, Steve Monk, Keith Fransella, Reserve: Eric Taylor

Based at the Wimbledon Stadium in Plough Lane, the team were originally known as the Canaries but changed their name to the Dons for the 1972 season.

Wisbech Fen Tigers

Team Manager: Jack Gray

Drivers: Roger Warnes (captain), John Gray, Rick Drewery, Tony May (1972), Stu Blyth, Jack Savage. Reserves: Trevor Blyth, Malcolm Burrell

The Fen Tigers were the inaugural champions in 1971.

Yarmouth Greyhounds

Team Manager: Ted Payne

Drivers: 1971: Joe Cracknell, Horry Barnes, Colin Byrne, Trevor Blyth, Alan Taylor, Doug McMahon

1972: Doug McMahon (captain), Alan Taylor, Bob Perry, Brian Randall, Pete Marshall, Doug Wardropper

Corgi Toys

Toy manufacturer Corgi produced and sold die-cast models of two major championship winning cars in their 'Corgi Rockets' range. The cars were those of four times British Champion Derek Fiske and 1967 World Champion Adrian 'Todd' Sweeney. These were a good choice to represent the formula as Sweeney's car still had a cut down stock body (from a Renault 4CV) whilst Fiske's was one of the newer home made cabs not derived from a road car.

The cars were sold individually and in varying sets which also included tow cars, trailer and a Jaguar Pace Car. The cars were launched in the 1970 season. The Todd Sweeney shell was later re-used by Corgi as a generic silver liveried "Superstock" car.

References

References

  1. Superstox and Stock Cars, the Golden Years - {{ISBN. 978-0752436098
  2. Backtrack, the Golden Years of Oval Racing - {{ISBN. 978-0752440804
  3. Spedeworth book, "Living with Spede"

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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