“I WAS asked if I wanted to go to the stock cars at Cowdenbeath around 1969 and didn’t have a clue what stock car racing was all about “ race manager Dave Borthwick recalled when our Racewall reporter Jim Turner asked him how he was introduced to stock car racing: “When I got there I thought that was different but really liked what I saw”.

“There were plenty of superstox and saloons but there were only 2 hot rods- Les Kay and Malcolm Watt at that time. I thought it was different. I lived in East Calder at the time, backed onto Raw Holdings.

"Saloon driver Ian Wightman had a garage there and he said that I could help out, In that garage were the cars of Dick Lamont and Davy Philp and it was Dick who needed most help. He had won the Cochrane Cup and after he defended it the following season decided to retire. After that it was Davy that I helped!

“I had the odd outing in a banger – it was a big Rover P5. It lasted four meetings but there was no weight restrictions so I could be racing against quite small cars and if you did hit one at speed you wrecked it!

“We used to go to Daltons with the old car and when someone came in with a car you would swap it before he took it in and then go racing! I used to race against Skiff Mitchell, Dougie Farrer and Hamish Buchanan. Quite a few of the saloon drivers would race bangers in the early days. You raced without a roll cage, seat belts and things like that – health and safety would go ballistic – all you needed was a helmet!

"I started to mechanic for Gillian Philp when she raced the saloons at the Racewall and when she swapped to the stock rods. It was then that Gordon McDougall asked me if I would scrutineer the stock rods. I moved from that to Clerk of the Course and when Gordon retired I took over as Race Manager with Keith Ramsay. I was lucky I got the warm seat in the control box!"

I met up with race Manager Dave Borthwick and over a cup of coffee we chatted about the 2015 stock car season at the Racewall.

He told me” The season was a reasonable one and got better as the season progressed, the race for the formula II National Points Championship between George MacMillan Jnr and Chris Burgoyne certainly grabbed peoples attention and helped to boost the crowds. I think the introduction of the Zetec engine has been a big boost and whilst it is not so well used in the formula IIs in the saloons it has been a godsend.

“Drivers who used to spend between £3 to £4000 on a Pinto are now spending £150 on a Zetec and are reaping the benefits.

“At the start of the season we rejoined the ORCi stock rods after being away from it for a season. Other promoters were saying that the split was harming the sport so we listened and rejoined. I think it was a good decision. The stock rod World Final weekend saw some really exciting racing over the 2 days. The racing was always close and we instilled into the drivers that they had to discipline themselves and I am happy to say that they did so. There was hardly any penalties handed out as a result, the drivers were well warned about what was acceptable and they abided by that. If you can get the drivers to respect each other and accept that they were wrong then it is a win win situation.”

"Money dictates a lot now in the sport and trying to keep stock car racing affordable is imperative. The introduction of the Zetec looks as if it is going to make that difference, Liam Rennie is doing reasonably well with his in the formula IIs and recently we have had Daniel Scrimgeour, Simon Cranson and Holly Glen change over. The extra weight of the saloons makes it easier to drive.

Dave added: “With Gordon Moodie suspended at the start to the season it was Chris Burgoyne who topped the points at the Racewall and not only did he win them but he also won the Scottish Championship, the Champion of Champions, the Dash for the Cash and the James Clarke Cochrane Memorial Trophy. "

"The ministox drivers were in good form and it’s a real vibrant formula although Euan Millar tended to dominate the proceedings. Euan raced as often as he could attending most meetings and his points total was well ahead of anyone else. Steven Burgoyne gave him a run for his money but didn’t race as often so it will be interesting to watch them next year.

Said Dave: "We have the McCallum brothers racing next year with one or two more about to appear whilst James Mooney made his return down at Barford last week.

"Lisa Freebairn won the track points championship down at Barford whilst Teri Linden and Taylor Borthwick gave a good account of themselves.

"The most junior of the formula is the microf2s whish is open to children between the ages of 7 to 11 years. We have a reasonable group of drivers just now but when the drivers from the Midlands and the south west join the Scottish drivers, as the last meeting, then the kids produce some really good racing.

"The formula is going to be tightly controlled and is going to be restricted to only a few constructors. There have been quite a few enquiries about the microf2 chassis at present and hopefully the fields will be a lot bigger when the new season starts".

"We still see stock cars as a family sport and hope to keep it that way. A stock car team helps to keep the youngsters off the streets and gives them an insight into motor mechanics and away from the many temptations that are out there. Long may it continue!"