StockcarGOLD news and views

Thanks to the team at Edinburgh Capitals I was able to watch a web cast of tonight’s game.



After the disappointment of last week’s game at home to Belfast (Coventry Blaze 2 Belfast Giants 3) cumulating in the suspension of Scott Kelman it was good to pick up 2 points on the road. Even the commentators from Edinburgh recognised that the Blaze performance was a lesson in ice hockey and one worthy of watching.



So what happens on the discussion forum after the match: One expert reckons there’s nothing achieved by such a one sided result, the league is a waste of space and such a result will only demoralise the fans. This after berating the Blaze for a lack lustre performance last week.



Get beat by a team looking at this early stage as potential league champions and the Blaze are rubbish and players should be sacked. Turn in a magical performance and you’re killing the league. Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don’t.



It’s little wonder I’m too scared to contribute opinions to the forum. It seems that if you enjoy what you’re watching and not wanting to pick faults you aren’t a supporter of your team.



Sad thing is it’s not just hockey where this demoralising / negative mentality shines through.

The news today lead with the story of the sad loss to the world of Hollywood Legend Paul Newman. Famous for roles in more than 60 films, including “The Long Hot Summer,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Hustler,” “Cool Hand Luke,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” “Slap Shot,” “Nobody’s Fool” and “Cars” he was also passionate about motorsport and was co team owner of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Team.



His racing career started in 1972 in a Lotus Elan and he honed his skills as a sports car driver as well as competing in a modified stock car at Daytona. He finished fifth in the 1977 24 Hours of Daytona, and in 1979 was part of the Porsche team that came second place in the Le Mans 24 Hours.



Success has continued through to the present day and he will be sorely missed from the celluloid and asphalt surfaces where he was so committed to being a winner.

You’d hardly credit it but if Manchester and Coventry Blaze were to win their games in hand there’d be a 4 way tie at the top of the table. Before this weekend I’d not have thought that possible after the lack lustre results at Sheffield and home to Cardiff on 13 & 14 September. This weekends encounters were away to Hull Stingrays and home to table toppers unbeaten Nottingham.







Although normally a win against Hull should be a given, nothing could be taken for granted and a 2-0 win is gratefully accepted along with the 2 league points.



The issue with Sunday’s game is Coventry’s ability to pack their bags and go home after the 1st period. Against both Sheffield in the Charity Shield and Cardiff in the Challenge Cup the first 10-15 minutes of the matches have been displays of some of the most skilful and entertaining ice hockey I’ve seen. Against Sheffield we were 2-0 up after the 1st period, against Cardiff it was 3-0 and against Nottingham it was 4-0. Twenty three seconds into the 2nd period and Nottingham pulled one back. For once the rot didn’t completely set in as we held them to 4-2 at the end of the second.



Nottingham then took a full 128 seconds in the third to get to 4-4. The Panthers then had a goal disallowed just to keep the pressure on. Finally some order was restored with the score progressing to 6-4 to the Blaze before Nottingham pulled one back to make for a tense last 12 minutes.



Edge of the seat stuff but not the way I’d like to see the rest of the season go. Can you imagine the team talk in the away dressing room at the end of the first. We’re only 5 behind we’ll get those back in the second and take control in the third just to finish things off.

Congratulations to Andy Smith 391 on taking the gold and his 3rd World Championship last night at Ipswich.







Unfortunately it was probably one of the least exciting World Championship deciders there has been. Not that F1 world finals have a history of being spectacular races but there are plenty that are memorable. This one will be consigned to the “didn’t live up to the name” bin.



The thing is I don’t think there’s any blame attached to anyone for the let down.



You can’t blame Andy Smith that’s for certain. It’s not his fault he lead from start to finish without serious problems. That’s what racers aim for and he achieved that. Nor can fellow racers brother Stuart Smith and Paul Harrison be faulted for being unable to get on terms with the 391 car. Frankie Wainman, the major rival to the Smith dynasty just seemed to go backwards through the field – not one of his better performances but not the reason for a dull race.



My favourite John Lund 53 started 8th on the grid and was running a steady 7th getting ready for a characteristic late charge ( I wish) when he got caught out by some water on the track, ending up facing the wrong way and losing a lap.



The track at Ipswich is a super smooth extremely fast tarmac surface and again has seen some tense racing in the past and even in other races last night.



Despite what some supporters may have to say the failure to excite isn’t the fault of the promoters either. In a not entirely unique break with tradition the World Final was run as the first race of the evening. There is a consensus that the world final should be under lights in the dark. At 6:45 it was still light but the same race under floodlights would still have been a yawn. Yes the promoters are responsible for the build up to the race and the presentation but the 7-8 minutes of the race is out of their hands.



The simple fact is that BriSCA F1 thrives on the fact that most races the top guys start at the back and have to work their way through the field. During the course of the season there are a few races where better performances are rewarded with a start at the front of the grid. These races can be a let down. Occasionally there will be classics (1972 Belle Vue Manchester Stuart Smith v Doug Cronshaw springs to mind) and they stand out all the more because of their rarity. Perhaps we need the dull races to make good ones great and stand out as World Championship deserve to.