Maybe some spectators are looking at the track and cars and are wondering what it is like to race a stock car. Well read on!

 I have more than 20 years of experience racing stock cars,(yes too long).The first thing you should realize, unlike your road car there are no crumple zones, these stockers are built to survive big impacts week on week and whilst we may lose suspension bits, wheels and the occasional aerofoil the chassis and driver’s cab has to last a few seasons, and most do, therefore any impact or hit is absorbed by the only soft component in the car …… YOU THE DRIVER! (remember this whilst shouting "stuff him in the fence" from the side lines!
Right, you have aquired your stock car and spent all winter checking it out, tweaking, tuning, painting and sticking your numbers on the aerofoil and all seems okay.(the wife isn't to chuffed as she can't remember what you look like with all the late nights). The engine seems to run as sweet as a nut and as you sit strapped in the cab in the garage you imagine how it will feel taking the chequered flag at your very first meeting. “How much longer are you going to be in that bloody garage”? echo's the voice of the missus as she gives the dog your tea for the third time this week, but don't worry too much as she'll change her tune and see you in a totaly different light when you show her the big shiny trophy (yes your names on it already.)

 Sunday morning arrives, the tow car is all loaded up.Good job the car has bump stops as it's sat on its arse with all the spares and helpers squashed in. Fingers crossed it will get you there. It does and once there you unload your car it's time to face scrutineering, after a few tuts and some head shaking she passes.... then it is time for practice.

 All strapped in you drive onto the track and select second gear, the urge to boot it is just too strong and before you know it you are facing the wrong fecin way, thank God you missed the wall, did I mention the wall? Its half inch steel boiler plate, backed up with two feet of reinforced concrete and when you hit it, (when and not if) you will feel the effects of Newton’s third law of motion, it isn’t pretty!

Back in the pits your mechanic is telling you what you did wrong and what you should have done, spotty little sod,what does he know? You tell him it was the tyre pressures and as it was his fault he should re-do them! You best get used it, everyone at the track thinks they know best and that you will  of course benefit from their opinion and advice …. Yeah right!

It’s coming up to 1pm now and the mini stockers have just finished their first heat, the little lad ( he’s only ten ) in the blue mini has just won again, you look across thinking if “Team Light Bulb” can do it then so can I.

 Time to get strapped in now and as your mechanic is helping you to buckle up, you start to ask yourself the question, who's idea was this?

 Too late it’s time to hit the track. Common sense prevails and you decide to start at the back (yes they allow this for one meeting only.) The pit gate is closed and you are lined up, you can hardly hear the engine over your own heart beat and as you look across at the starter he begins waving the yellow flags and you realize that there is no turning back. Fumbling between yer legs ...... for the gear stick ..... you manage to find a gear, before you know it the green flags are out and the red tops disappear in a plume of dust, crap and smoke in front of you. Bits of asphalt sting your face from their tyres spinning and before you know it the yellow and blue tops start to appear in your mirror, and more often than not it's going to be Tim Warwick ..... The next thing that happens is difficult to put into words but I’ll try … the "shock" you will experience the first time another stock car slams your back bumper, "indescribable", with the breath knocked out of you, goggles half off your face, you are propelled fence wards, the acceleration catches you off guard, and you’re thinking “Will my stocker stop before I hit the wall”?. the answer usually comes quicker than the end of the sentence….NO! “Bang” and it’s a big bang, for a few seconds you are not sure what’s going on, winded and disorientated you fight to get your breath back, then you notice a red faced guy in a bright orange suit and you remember the drill. Thumbs up for ok and thumbs down for not, you can also hear Ant & Dec echoing in your head ...“Get me out of here".
As you’re still strapped in your stocker like a crash test dummy, you find your self deal making with the almighty, although the last time you were at church was at Britney's christening and he didn't answer your prayers then!.

As you look down the track ,the race is coming to an end and the flag marshal is waving the chequered flag, one of the red tops drives over the finishing line tyres smokin and punching the air, you think to yourself, It should have been me!… not the way you thought it would be is it?
The tractor ride back to the pits isn’t any better as there’s heckling from some numpty in the crowd, probably the same guy who was shouting to the guy who put you in the fence, is it really worth answering? No not really, I just wave and smile and pretend he’s a fan. Back at the transporter you see the missus and the mechanics and the gloaters all waiting for your excuses and to ask how you are going to straighten the chassis, just keep your cool and then of course do not forget to say to the wife... "Didn't hurt darling I’m okay” especially as you know she’s thinking that Britney's going without her “RUSKS” next week whilst you buy a new shockers and wish bones!
The car is too badly damaged to fix there and then, as it needs too much work so it’s time to load up and watch the rest of the meeting from the wrong side of the fence, thinking of the next time when it will be your turn to take the chequered flag….. Do you still want to race?

          Well there's more, I didn’t mention when you wake up on Monday morning you’ll feel like you’ve just gone 8 rounds with Mike Tyson and don’t worry the bright yellow marks from the seatbelts they should be gone by a week next wednesday, then there’s the back pain, shoulder pain, tooth ache and whip lash……… Don’t get me started on the ear ache, not from the racing but from the missus...Ha! ...only joking!
So there you have it, can you race a stocker, course you can…. Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough or quit the heckling and watch us show you how it's done!