Coventry 2nd May.

Russell had repaired the propshaft in the morning and so all was set for hopefully a good meeting this time. A bit of an adjustment to the steering was required as it was 1 2/2 turns on the steering wheel to the right and only 1/2 a turn to full lock left (that's why I cocked it up turning left to go through the pit gate last Sunday afternoon).

Russ was in heat 1 so Dave & I went to the pit gate with the water and watched banger heat 1 from there while waiting for the F1's to come on. Russ was on pole but only did half a lap before stopping near the pit gate, he climbed out ant told us something was seriously wrong as the car had no drive. We thought it was the propshaft again but back in the pits Russ showed us that the clutch pedal was stuck solid so the floor and seat were taken out and the gearbox removed to find that the shaft from the box to the engine has snapped. After finding another gearbox to borrow we set about putting that one in but another problem occurred and that was the final straw for Russ. He said at the time he was packing it in as nothing goes right with the car nowdays and he's getting very dissolutioned with the sport. He took the borrowed gearbox back to the owner and now he has to try and find another Bedford CF 4 speed ZF box to try and do his 'local' Kings Lynn next. He said if he's there he's there but not going to bust a gut to be able to.

I hope he don't decide to call it a day as when the car has been good he's a good driver but the car is quite old now and much of the running gear and Russ ain't got any spare cash to up grade a few things. TBH I recon when this car eventually packs up completely (witch might not be long the way things are breaking down) he will call it a day.

Russ u got to keep your chin up bud

U got to work out ur problems,take a step back,

miss a few meets,take ur car apart,check stuff out,

overheating? there's a reason for it "check it out,talk to other mechs"

propshafts dont break for no reason"check it out"

check its not going through to much of an angle.

Get a second opinion.

Go through it front to back,and come out with a reliable motor,

Then build on your confidence and happiness.

Hi Whitevanman,

Tell Russ to give Phil Perkins a ring as he is selling some stuff and he may have a box for sale. If Russ has not got Phil's no. send me a message and send it to you. Tell Russ not to pack up.

All the best
Curly (Phil's Mechanic)

Steve - try sending Stav a P.M. he might have one going - worth a shot

Mark Woodhull mentioned to Russ at Cov he might have a gearbox or two also, thanks for the suggestions guys. Really depends on finances how and when he can repair the car plus loosing interest in it with all the problems I think we may be out for a little while but we'll see.

Miner & myself were discussing the fact that we don't live anywhere near Russell to go and help him with the car witch would be good for him to get everything done before he gets to the tracks. He gets some valuable help from Dean Whitwell and a couple of folks down his way but not every time so mostly he does it all himself.

Russell races because he enjoys being able to race a BriSCA F1 Stockcar but lately the enjoyment has gone somewhat.

Thanks for dave, steve and janice for their help on sat night. At the moment i have parked the trailer up in the yard with the car still strapped down. I will try my hardest to sorce parts for repair from what i can see at the moment i require a zf box 1 1/8" thick long shaft corse spline which may be on its way for delivery to skeggy, i also require a clutch release bearing and a fork both were damaged beyond repair on sat night. Then as oval smash 09 said there must be a reason why these drive breakdowns have occured, a half shaft at cov, a prop shaft at kl, and a gearbox shaft at cov. The rad was taken out and pressure cleaned out on saturday morning before cov but didnt race long enough to see if that has fixed the problem. one thing for sure is i do not have the time or ability to go through the whole car and at the moment the heart is fading too. I have to also look at the extra expense of buying brand new hoosiers from now on as the big bozz are being done away with. I previosly bought the big bozz off red tops for a cheap price as they were not used on tarmac unlike the small bozz which are being used down to the canvas. Over the years i have enjoyed racing a car but finances are stretched and it is not possible for me to give the car any more time than i do now. I may feel like getting it fixed in time but for the moment i may watch from the safe side of the fence. cheers russ.

Understandable mate i will probably not do kings Lynn or Cov while your out as it wouldn't be the same plus i can have some time out and perhaps visit a track or two I havn't for a while. Tarmac racing i rarely get to see nowdays.

Hi Russ,

I feel sorry for you. I hope you find the drive again to fix your car, and race around the track. I can imagine that you think f**k off I've had it with that car. Just give it a rest, and when you find the time and fun, start with it again. Hope you won't call a day, cause your a good driver. (hope that is good English, but I think you know what I mean)
Maybe you were the optimistic, when you said to me ''You will see me with the flag" you remember?

See you hopefully around, Richard

End of the Road for Russ?
2009-05-20 01:04





F1 crowd favorite 415 Russell Cooper could be out of action for a while



King's Lynn F1 crowd favorite 415 Russell Cooper could well be out of action for quite a while after sustaining several mechanical problems - with a Doug Nash Gearbox amongst the list of expensive items which needs replacing before Russell can turn a wheel in anger again.

There is little doubt that Russell is one of the many true stars of F1 Stock Car Racing - a driver who goes out to compete and have fun without the best of machinery - and he often coaxes results out of the car which would be the envy of those with bigger budgets.

Russell and his team are also one of the most approachable of the track and the 415 car is one that many children have sat in whilst wondering through the King's Lynn Pits - often they have gone away with quite a few sweets in their hand as well!

Russell is exceptionally disappointed to be missing this wekends action and was unable to give a date when he will be seen back on track - there can be few more deseving causes of sponsorship for any companies out there that may wish to enjoy the exposure that being on the side of an F1 Stock Car brings for a relatively low expense.

If anyone out there would be interested in helping Russell get back on track, then please contact the TSR office and we would be delighted to put you in contact with him.


Taken from Norfolk Arena Website


Yep confirmed so no Kings Lynn for me this Saturday.

Sad news,but ive an idea

Why dont you sell up and purchase a v8 Hotstox,

they dont run 2k gearboxes and £110 tyres,

im sure they would make you very welcome.

oval smash 09. I have been watching the only form of proper stock car racing (brisca f1 ) since i was 3 months old. Dont think i will be bothering with other forms of racing, although i'm sure they have their appeal to the people who race them and watch them.
The comments on the trackstar website are not completly true, I run a ZF gearbox which costs about £100 second hand, the problem is the availability of the gearbox plus release bearing plus fork. I can afford the £150 approx to put them on the car. Yes tyres are going to be expensive for me from now on as the small hard bozz are worn out completely by the reds on tarmac so us whites carnt get any cheap. Political point coming up ! Will this drive the gap between those who can afford to race and those on limited budgets further apart? The other reason why I will not be racing is as stated before. With 4 breakdowns in 4 meetings my will to keep spending time and money fixing the car is dwindlelling. Lets see when i am watching at Kings Lynn Sat night how long it is before I say to myself "must get that car fixed and get back out there"? Thanks Richard NL for your kind words, yes i do remember what i said to you at coventry, what a fool I was?
Thanks to Paul Butler also for trying to help with my problems, it is very much apreciated. Cheers Russ.

Hi russ ive just turned 40 and bin following f1 since birth,

please dont think i was knocking your budget because that was not my intention,just looking for a way to stay on track,
ive raced v8,12 f1 meets.and i know the ups and downs,
why dont you try v8?maybe you can make it proper stock car racing!!.
in any case good luck and best wishes russ,
Brandon.