Blackwell Announces F2 Retirement
Photo Barry Weatherhead
Staines Stock Car racer Adrian Blackwell has announced his retirement from the BriSCA F2 driving seat. After a number of years driving a computer keyboard for ‘Stoxworld’, ‘Stock Car’ and ‘Short Circuit’ magazines, the Heathrow IT specialist debuted his own car at Arena Essex Raceway in 1999.
His maiden win came at the Thurrock venue a little over a year later, and in a career spanning the next 12 years Blackwell went on to take another nine victories, all at his favoured venue, Northampton International Raceway.
The high point of the Staines Speedster’s career was undoubtedly the 2005 F2 World Championship weekend at Northampton. Heat and Grand National wins on the Saturday night were followed up with a further heat win on Championship day. The accumulated points haul was enough to take a clean sweep of the grade awards over the weekend, and receipt of the Roy Slocombe Trophy presented annually to the best White or Yellow grade driver at the World Championship meeting.
Blackwell’s Randall Motorsport chassis with Mike Lowman engine has been sold to Manchester based white-top Gregg Smith, a recent newcomer to the BriSCA F2 ranks now looking to compete on the asphalt ovals after his shale debut in late 2011.
“I’ve had a good run at Formula 2, but the time has come to call it a day. I’d followed oval racing since I was five, and figured I ought to take the plunge before I lived to regret it. I was keen to achieve some level of success after commenting on the exploits of others for a number of years. It was relief as much as anything to get that first race win, but once you’ve tasted victory it makes you hungry for more. Many people race for years without getting even one win, so I’m very proud to have made it in to double figures.”
“Whatever your budget or level of experience though, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a team sport, and I couldn’t have done any of this without the backing of my crew and sponsors. My Crew-chief Keith has been there from the beginning and I can’t say enough about the tremendous amount of work he’s put in over the years. Jill has never missed a meeting in over 10 years, and I’m lucky that there’s been so much additional support from Jason, Lizzie, Darron, Martin and Ruth, my Mum and Dad, and others. Randall Motorsport, Mike Lowman Engines, Copperbeech Osteopathic Clinic (Staines), Feltham Tyre Centre, and Demon Tweeks have all contributed in their own ways to my success; my thanks and recommendations go out to all of them.”
Adrian Blackwell
