An Interview with 222 Colin
Riddell
(interview published March 12 2014 in the lead up to the 2014 Unlimited
Banger BBA Supreme Championship)
Age: 42
Home Town: Cornhill
Occupation: Kitchen fitter
Family: Wife Simone, two sons and two stepsons
Racing career: Started racing Ministox in 1984 and Bangers in 1988
This is the third year running in which you have committed to racing in the Supreme Championship, are you looking forward to returning to Mildenhall and what is it about the meeting you enjoy?
I’m really looking forward to it, this has become one of the highlights of my year now and something we really look forward to over the winter, especially because I don’t do very much racing at all during the winter so it gives me plenty of time to get a car ready and look forward to it. There are many things I like about the meeting. I like the fact that it’s an invitational meeting, that you qualify during the year and then get invited, even the last chance race is invitational only so I think it’s pretty special to get an invite in the first place because that doesn’t happen for me very often. But there is a lot more to it than that, it’s a chance to race against the best of the best. For me, the only chance I really get for that is the World Cup at Cowdenbeath and I think there are even more top names in this race so it really is a great opportunity for me to be in the same race and meeting as some of the best drivers in the sport and that is a huge buzz. I also love the fact that it is unlimited, and it’s proper unlimited cars, again something we don’t have very often in Scotland and it’s on shale. I love racing on shale and this is usually the only time of the year I race an unlimited on shale which is great. And finally I like the track, the atmosphere and the welcome, it’s all really great and so when you put it all together it’s well worth the trip down.
Speaking of the trip, how far is it for you?
Well I’m an hour north of Aberdeen so a fair way! It depends how we do it, usually we leave about 7 or 8pm on the Friday and just have a steady run down and depending on which way we go we usually get to the track about lunch time Saturday so it’s around 14 hours or so.
You were present for the race last year in spite of the horrific conditions, how did you handle that?
Well, being from Scotland we’re pretty used to being cold and wet and having a bit of snow but yeah it was a bit tough but I honestly didn’t mind that much because it made my Volvo seem a bit quicker. It wasn’t running very well but even then it was still getting round pretty well, mostly because the weather was slowing everyone else up but it made me feel pretty good, thinking I was doing ok against all these top drivers and I think I got up to about fourth because the car died which was really amazing for me and I so was pleased so I actually enjoyed myself, but I think I was one of the few who did. I had a big smile on my face and I remember looking at the other drivers and thinking they must think I’m mad.
How about the 2012 event, do you have any memories of that?
I only did about a lap so it’s a fairly short memory but I remember the atmosphere more than anything else, it was fantastic and I think the presentation of the event was brilliant as well, so that was my lasting memory and a big reason why I came back last year and I’m coming back again this year.
What is it about the racing in England you enjoy so much?
It’s the drivers mostly, the drivers south of the border are by and large just a higher standard than what we have in Scotland. I’m not knocking our drivers, there are some good ones but the quality of drivers and racing in England is pretty much a higher level and it’s always great to visit (England) and race against the best in the sport and see how you fare. And I like racing on shale and there isn’t any shale tracks in Scotland so it’s always nice to have a meeting on a shale track when I can.
You earned your spot in this year’s race in somewhat unusual circumstances as you were one of a handful of long distance visitors whose efforts to support last year’s race in spite of the awful weather was rewarded instantly when you were awarded places on this year’s grid as a thank you. When you learned of this did you decide immediately that you would return?
Aye, definitely and I’m so grateful that the offer was made, I thought that was a very nice gesture but honestly I would have come back anyway! So when I found out I’d be in the championship again I jumped at the chance because again this has become a meeting I look forward to and want to try and do. Each year me and Andrew Swallow sit down and plan our season and the Supreme Championship has become one of the first meetings we plan for.
Speaking of plans, have you any more plans for the rest of 2014?
I’ve cut down on my racing lately. I used to play rugby when I was younger and it’s starting to come back to haunt me and the aches are getting a bit more but honestly it’s from the rugby rather than the bangers! I want to race for a few more years yet but there are things I still want to do so my plan is to race a little less but try and get to the things I want to do so we’ve already got Shamwreck (at Tullyroan) in the plans because I’ve always wanted to race in Ireland so that’s something I can tick off my list this year.
Since 2012, we’ve seen a great amount of support for this event from Crimond and even more so this year, is a meeting which gets talked about at your home track?
Yes, it does a bit, especially when we go and come back, it’s a big talking point and then that gets others interested and when the invites come around at the start of the year there’s always been a couple of new people who want to come and that should be the case again this year.
Have you decided what car you will be racing this year?
I’ve another Volvo 240 like previous years. I like Volvos for unlimited meetings, they are easy to get and pretty easy to build and at Mildenhall I can leave the original engine in and be fairly on the pace and reasonably competitive. I think the car will be a good choice, it’s going to be a tough race again I think so you need a strong car, rather than a fast car although it would be nice to have both. There is a good chance of a pile-up and so you need to survive that if it happens.
It is hoped there will be a big field of cars like there was in 2012, does that boost your chances do you think?
I don’t hold much hope for my chances, I’m aware of my limitations but I would love to finish the race, that would be really good if I could, especially after nearly finishing last year. A big field I think would help me really. I’m more of a racer than a wrecker but I think I’m pretty good at picking my chances and getting through gaps, those are the races I tend to do better in so I think a bigger grid will be better but I still don’t fancy myself as winning at all.
As you don’t race in England too often, is there any driver or drivers you are looking forward to being on the track against, especially anyone you’ve never raced against?
I don’t think I’ve ever raced against Nemesis (239 Steve Carter) because he doesn’t always come to the World Cup and he’s not done the Supreme when I’ve been there so it’ll be nice to say I’ve raced against him because I don’t think there are many better drivers than him right now. And the Bears have now booked in and I’ve never raced at a meeting with them so that will be pretty cool, even if they do squash me. It doesn’t bother me, getting wrecked, that’s racing, as long as everyone has a laugh, that’s all that matters.
It seems the Scottish banger scene is showing some signs of improvement lately with more interest in the BBA World Cup at Cowdenbeath, a huge amount of interest in the Micro Banger World Cup at Loch Gelly
while the banger scene at Crimond remains most healthy, do you think things are getting better and why?
I think it is definitely improving and one of the reasons I think is more drivers are visiting other tracks. A lot more Crimond guys are going elsewhere now and in turn we get a few different people come and visit us and I think that is a big help. The racing at Crimond is a little different to everywhere else I know but we’ve got a pretty good little thing going and a good group of guys and everyone usually enjoys their racing at Crimond.
Prior to the 2012 Supreme Championship, we’ve rarely seen Crimond represented in the sports major events, is that something which has disappointed you and do you hope it might improve?
It has a bit, especially the year I was (Crimond) points champion and I tried to get championship bookings anywhere I could and no-one was interested which was a shame and again that’s what makes this meeting so special for us, because we get invited. When it first happened in 2012, I jumped at the chance to do it but it would be nice for Crimond to get championship places elsewere.
Anyone you would like to thank or mention?
My wife for putting up with all the hours I spend in the garage on cars and everyone else who helps.