"2014 proved not to have been my best ever season in the saloons”:Kyle Irvine, recalled after telling our Cowdenbeath Racewall reporter, Jim Turner, that at the World Final at King’s Lynn he was in a shunt and injured ribs but had qualified for the World Final and had ended up in 12th so was feeling quite pleased.

He said: "I love racing on shale it’s great fun. However, in the final I was spun and my car came to rest sitting across the track, before I could move Simon Welton teeboned me and I ended up with broken ribs – but I still like shale!”

He added: “We decided that the time would be better spent building a new car built and we ordered one from Tully.

"In the interim we repaired the “old” car and set it up for shale racing. Mind you early on I wasn’t able to do much work on the car. The only meeting that I went to watch was the Superbowl meeting at the end of the season.

“When the new car arrived it looked good. It arrived on the Thursday and I raced it on the Saturday. I had changed the engine to a Zetec as it looked like that engine type was as quick as the Pinto and once you get the bottom end then the engines can be bought cheaply.

"Initially we encountered problems - the first time out I think I changed the diff after each race as we tried to get the gearing right. To be honest we have tried so many variations that we haven’t decided which one is best but we have really narrowed it down. We are close but…..!"

The Glenrothes based pilot recalled: “I was on the grid for the Scottish Championship but as I hadn’t done enough meetings had to start from the second back row. To qualify for the Scottish you need to have raced in at least 50% of the meetings.

"I hadn’t done so and that’s why I was at the back. I had a good run but needed a race suspension if I was to get into a challenging position. I certainly used my bumper a lot but the race ran from start to finish with out a stoppage. In the end I ended up in fifth and was quite pleased.

“The saloon Scottish Championship has been quite a good meeting for me over the years and I aim to win it one year. The first 'Scottish' I raced in I drew front row outside and really needed a decent start. However, there was a big pile up early on and the race was stopped.

"Stuart Shevill Jnr was the defending champion and he was lucky enough to move up quite a few places. On the restart Stevie Honeyman led and I was behind but was able to take the lead a few laps later.

"I led the race for what seemed to be an eternity and saw Shevill Jnr spin out Honeyman and then slowly catch me up. With two laps to run he clipped me and sent me spinning on the back straight. The golden rule is to keep the car close to the wall if you are being challenged.

"I didn’t and paid the penalty! Still it was my first year and I put it down to lack of experience in a big situation.”

The following year Shevill Jnr started in front of Kyle although there were a few cars between them. Honeyman, Ian McLaughlin, Stuart and Kyle were running close together and as the race progressed Stuart and Kyle broke away.

He went on: "I was able to keep up with Stuart and had decided that a last bend challenge was my best chance of winning.

"However, going when the time came he braked early. I hit the back of his car and nearly lost it. I was able to regain control quickly, put my foot down and literally pushed him across the finish line. I was pleased with my second place although there is always disappointment when you don’t win!

“In 2016 I hope to do as many of the championship meetings as possible so that I get straight onto the World Final grid.

"I am 21st in the World ranking points and whilst that would get me onto the grid I would be happier further up the line. "The 'World' this year is at Skegness and whilst the Pinto powered car has gone well there the Zetec power unit is an unknown quantity. Still I have the UK Challenge weekend there so hopefully we will mange to get the car set up and competitive.”

Kyle added: “I haven’t had too much luck in the major championships so far. I have had to race in the last chance qualifiers at Taunton and then at Cowdenbeath. I didn’t make the final at Taunton but did at Cowdenbeath.

"I was going well when the final started at Cowdenbeath and was soon picking up places but then got caught up in a shunt and had to retire. Then there was King’s Lynn where I finished in 12th.

"However, in the European and British Championships I haven’t really done all that well although when it was at Cowdenbeath I qualified in seventh. I managed to get into second during the race but then began to drop back. Even in the Superbowl, which is the last major race of the season at Cowdenbeath, haven’t had too much luck. Last year I qualified in the top group but it is a hard race and so far I haven’t figured too well. Hopefully that will change this year!”

Looking back Kyle remembered: “My earliest recollection of stock cars was when I used to sit on my dad’s knees when he drove his car into the garage. I used to think that I was actually driving the car. Stock cars have been in the family longer than I have and I am now 20.

"My dad Brian started out in bangers before moving into saloons and I was always helping when I could. The biggest surprise I got was when I was ten and at Christmas he took me into the garage and right before my eyes was a mini all painted and ready to go!. Best Christmas present ever!”

“I was taken to a local industrial estate and my dad taught me to drive. My first outing in the car was at Knockhill and I crashed in all three of my races! I was really nervous and excited at the same time. I enjoyed my time in the minis and won a lot of races

“My dad Brian was a very nervous spectator when I started racing and hasn’t really got any better as the years pass.

“When I had to retire from the minis the only other formula that I would consider was the saloons and we were lucky enough to get a Tully built car that Chris Lattka raced.

"Chris and Jock Burgoyne set the car up for me and I managed to get one practice meeting before being thrown in at the deep end. I found a massive difference between the saloon and the minis. First of all the saloons are rear wheel drive and at least twice the weight and the only similarity is that you race in the same direction!

“However, I did well in the saloons in my first year, I won two races the first time out, and three on the next two occasions which meant at the first grading period I moved up from white to blue grade. That is when the stock car racing really began and I soon found out what bumpers were really for! I got no favours from any driver and had to stand up for myself. At the next grading period I moved up to the red grade and even from the back of the grid I did alright”.

“I work as a labourer with William Tracy but am also at University where I am studying Illustration. Hopefully that will eventually get me into signwriting. I still have two years to go,”

“I have to thank my mechanics for all the hard work they do on the car and they are my dad Brian, my Uncle Scott and Alan Mackie. The one thing I must say is they leave the racing up to me and never have told me what to do. I get sponsorship from Adamson Doors, Smart Travel Minibus Hire and Trevor Harris Paver Hire and their help is greatly appreciated”.

Kyle concluded: "My dad is going to be racing in the Joan Purdie Cancer Appeal race in February and there are going to be quite a few of the “older” drivers in action.

"There are quite a few drivers from south of the border heading north whilst Winston Weir has intimated that he is coming over from Northern Ireland. Stuart Shevill Snr and Kenny Purdie are amongst the home drivers racing so it will be something to look forward to. By the way dad is going out in the “old car!"