“I COME from a racing family", Paul Honeyman related to me when we met up for a chat, writes our Cowdenbeath Racewall reporter Jim Turner.

“My father Jim used to race a saloon and so too did my elder brothers Craig (“Gizzy”) and Stevie so it was only a matter of time before I tried it.”

Paul is a self employed motor mechanic and hails from Stenhousemuir.

“My first experience of racing a stock car came when I was 15 when Craig and Stevie bought me the Robbie Burgoyne ministox. I managed a year then had to retire and then in 2006 I managed a few runs in an ex Harry Burgoyne Talbot at Knockhill. I then had a Shane Brown saloon which, my parents bought for me and I raced that for a few seasons.”

Added Paul: “In 2014 Stevie and I built our own car and I am still using it to day. Stevie is the brains behind the set ups and when he watches me racing he notices things that the car isn’t doing and changes things accordingly. I had bought a Lyndale Pinto engine but struggled over the year with mechanical and electrical problems although I did manage a fourth in the Scottish.

"Over the close season we made a few small changes to the car and whilst the basic car and engine were the same I probably had me best ever season. I started well and picked up a lot of points and got myself into the lead in the track points. I stayed in front for sometime but when Danny Colliver and Luke Grief got going I dropped to third. However, I got back into second place but just couldn’t close the gap to Colliver. Still I was happy with second place – my best ever finish in the points.

“The European Championship was at the Racewall and I had qualified well. I managed to get into the lead but then Eddie Darby got ahead of me. Just after a race suspension the drizzle came on and the track got pretty greasy. I couldn’t keep up with Eddie and towards the end Deane Mayes got ahead and I had to settle for third.

“I had gone to Skegness but had a poor run in the qualifying heats and had no luck at all.

“I finished in third place in the Scottish although with only a lap or so to go was in second place. I had Ross Watters running just behind me but when my cousin Greg Honeyman spun in front of me I and Ross got caught up with his car. Ross got away quicker than I did and I had to be content with third place. I seem to have a thing about third places."

Paul also observed: "My brother-in-law Luke Grief had won and my daughter Jeorgie gave me a lot of hassle about Luke and his kids being on the top rung!

“The last major race at Cowdenbeath is the Superbowl weekend and for a change I didn’t finish in third place! Jeorgie had given me a lot of grief during the week leading up to the Superbowl and I was more determined than ever to win the race.

“My car was going well in the qualifying heats and I ended up on the outside of the front row with Kyle Hegg alongside. I was determined to win and as soon as the green flag dropped I quickly got ahead of Hegg to grab the lead.

"I had built up a lead but there was a race suspension which allowed Michael Allard to close right up. Allard sent me wide when the race re-started and then soon afterwards Anthony McIvor and Deane did the same but I was able to return the compliment on the next bend and retook the lead. There were another three race suspensions and towards the end of the race Anthony was beginning to close the gap. My car was pushing on a bit which didn’t help but when the chequer appeared I was still clear.

"It was a great feeling to have won but it was a nerve wracking to have been in the lead for so long. Jeorgie was over the moon at being on the top of the podium and she kept polishing the trophy on the parade lap. She just doesn’t realise just how hard it is when there are another 25 cars on the grid – all with the same idea.”

Paul went on: “For this season I made a few changes to the car and replaced my engine from a Pinto to a Zetec. It had been hard work using the Pinto at the end of the previous season with the Zetec engine now the power unit to use.

"I bought the kit needed to change the engine from front wheel to rear wheel drive and bought a second hand engine. I was a bit late in starting the season and encountered a lot of problems initially with the car.

“At Skegness I found that I had a lot of power on the bends but nothing on the straights. I decided to buy another engine, you can get them for around £100, so it wasn’t a major outlay. From then on I was on the pace.

“I ended up as the Scottish saloon Champion but it wasn’t my best ever season's racing. I seem to have a thing about third places having come home third in quite a few championship races of late. Yes I was third in the Scottish! However, it turned out different when after post race scrutineering I was declared the winner!

“My defence of the Superbowl didn’t go too well. I was now starting from the back of the grid and amongst the top drivers. I found it difficult to do so and my best result was probably an eighth. I started the Superbowl from well down the order. The race itself was a good one and I managed to get myself up to around sixth place. Then the rain came on and we were all on dry tyres with a dry set up. It began to get difficult and I was using the wall to get around the track. I got spun towards the end of the race and that was that.”

Looking ahead Paul commented: “At present I have started work on the car and I have cut out and replaced any damage to the passenger side. I will have the rear finished soon and then it will be away to Gizzy to get it painted. I intend to have the car ready to race when the season starts for once!

“I hope to improve my standing in the World Ranking points which will mean I have to do a bit of travelling at the start of the year and hope to do well. It will be my chance to show off the Saltire on my roof and it might be the only chance I get to do so the further up the ranking points you can get means a better start to the World Final, which just happens to be at the Racewall this year.”

“I get sponsorship from North Street garage, which is Stevie’s, Alisa driving school, JTR fitting – kitchens and bathrooms, Samsonspics and all the painting gets done by “Gizzy”. At the track I get a lot of help from “Gizzy”, Stevie, Ryan, Johnny and a big thanks to my Mum and Dad who started me off."