STOCK car driver Jim Pitcaithly didn’t seem to object much to stopping for a chat – it was either that or crawling under a car on a cold concrete floor to do some repairs. Somehow the chat seemed more appealing, writes our Cowdenbeath Racewall scribe Jim Turner.

Jim Pitcaithly is the proprietor of Pitcaithly Auto Services, in Leslie, but at the weekends he races an ORCi stock rod at the Cowdenbeath Racewall and does so with great success.

“2016 was certainly my best ever season,” he told me, “and I have been racing for around 23 years.

"Maybe that is too long but I still enjoy every minute at the track and I suppose that’s what matters. The 30 minutes or so that you are actually racing on a Saturday night is exhilarating but there is much more time spent working on the car in the garage during the week and then setting it up.”

He went on: “I built a new car for the start of last season and after the first practice session I knew that I had a really good one.

"There was no suspension changes needed and all we had to do was to play around with tyre pressures.

“The main race of the year is the World Final and this meeting attracts drivers from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The meeting was staged at Barford, in the North east of England. I was reasonably happy with how the car had gone on my previous visit and during qualifying I was the quickest.

"I drew seventh on the grid but the race proved to be a disaster. Going into the first bend the field concertinaed and whilst I hit the back end of the car in front I was hit up the rear. That proved to be enough to burst my rotor arm and that was the end of my World Final. Disappointing to say the least!

“The British was at the Racewall and there were over 40 cars there. All the top names in the sport were there and the weather was dry.

"My car was on the pace so I was quietly confident. To qualify we have three heats to get through with our points tally determining where we would start on the grid.

“I started on pole in my first heat and went through to win. In heat two I started from mid order and whilst I ended up third was penalised so had to be content with fourth. I wasn’t too happy with my tyres in that race and that could well have penalised me a bit.

"In my last race I started from the back of the grid and managed to work my way through the field to finish second. Again I received a penalty so was demoted to third. However, when the points were totalled I was on the outside of the front row of the grid sitting alongside Michael Bethune.”

Remembering the final he said: “Luckily the weather on Sunday was the same as it had been the night before so I didn’t need to alter the car's set up. When the race started Mikey went straight into the lead and I dropped to third as Stuart McKinnon briefly got ahead.

"I got back to second within a lap but Mikey had opened up a gap by the time I did so. I slowly managed to close it but then lost ground when we were lapping a back marker.

"I managed to get back in touch with Mikey but he was then baulked by a back marker and I dived through on the inside to take the lead. There wasn’t much of a gap but just managed it! Whether I would have had a chance later is debatable, Mikey doesn’t often leave you a gap!

"After that we ran nose to tail but then there was a race suspension after a shunt. I got away well when the race re-started but there was some sort of fluid on the pit bend and whilst I lost time it seemed to have hindered Mikey more. After that I thought that the win could happen and when I saw the chequered flag I was elated

"It is hard to describe the feeling when I crossed the finish line – it was the best! The presentation was exciting and we received a very warm applause from the fans on the parade lap.”

Jim set his sights on the Euro title: “The European Championship was held at Ballymena in Ireland and again there was a big field of cars. We had qualifying heats on the Friday night and I came from the back in the first one and picked up third. In the other I was nearer the front but after a race suspension I had to retire after breaking the electrical supply to my starter motor after the car in front braked hard. I hit him whilst the car behind gave me a hard hit too.

“On Saturday I started the race from the tenth row. Mikey and Steven McKane were on the front row and there was never a chance of me catching them. Overtaking is quite difficult at Ballymena and in the end I finished seventh.”

Asked about his win in the Scottish Jim recalled: “It was a drawn grid and I pulled number two to start alongside James Matson but Mikey was number three out of the draw.

"James led at the start with me in second and Mikey third for a few laps before I got ahead and into the lead. Mikey and James clashed a few laps later bringing out the yellows. I made a good start but soon had Dougie McLean chasing me. There was another race stoppage towards the end of the race but I got away well. It was great to win the Scottish. I have always wanted to win my home championship and next to the World every it is what every Scottish driver wants to win. It was a dream come true.

“The track points gong went right to the last meeting. I had led but then was suspended after an incident which let Mikey Bethune get in front. I was back ahead after the Scottish but had to be at my best to get my hands on the title.

“Without doubt my best ever season and one I would love to repeat this season but hopefully get the gold roof as well.”

“My car has been stripped down and is getting re-panelled. The engine is away to be refreshed and whilst I thought about building a new car this one is on the pace and would be difficult to replace.

“Midway through the season the drivers asked if we could install radio communications in the cars so that we can be warned about incidents, faster cars passing and to hold our racing line. I think that they have been a boon and hope that they become mandatory. They cost £80 but if you damage a radiator in a shunt that costs £120 so you could be quid’s in.”

Looking ahead Jim concluded: “I intend to contest all the championships this year and that is going to mean quite a bit of travelling.

"The World is in Ireland in August of this year and hopefully I will do better than my last two attempts. In two World Finals I have managed a mere lap. One at Barford and had to be pushed off the grid at the Racewall when my fuel pump packed up.

"The Racewall has the European Championship in May so that is one meeting that I hope to do well. I will have at least two visits to Ireland as I have the Irish Masters to defend and the World to contest. I will be defending my British Championship down at the Ringwood track whilst the ORC Championship is at St. Day. Plenty of travelling involved and a lot of different tracks to get to know.

“I am lucky to have a good group of sponsors which includes Crowftune Race Engines, McNaught and Ritchie – groundworks, McGill Motorsports, John Leslie and Sons, Calvin Motorsports (Scotland), Ringtone Race Painter and James Dewar signs.”

“Whilst I do most of the preparation work on the car myself I get a lot of help from Russell Clacher, John Leslie and Crawford Fairgrieve. I would also like to thank my wife Gillian and daughter Lynsey for all their support and for putting up with some of the ridiculous hours that I spend working on the car. Without them I would struggle to be as competitive as I am!”