IT WAS fun in the sun for thousands of spectators who witnessed the long-awaited return of stock car racing to Bradford and Odsal Stadium yesterday.

The scene was set at the famous bowl, the cars revved their engines and the green flag dropped at 6pm for The Stan Woods National Banger Celebration on Saturday evening.

It has been almost half a year in the making; a dream of just over 23 years since the much-loved sport last appeared in the city and at Odsal.

The vision was planned and pulled together by Startrax, a promotion company which runs stock car racing events at other venues and is headed by Steve Rees, the man in charge when stock cars last took to the track at Odsal in 1997.

There has been much hard work to transform the arena, including installing a brand new shale track around the field and sprucing up a tired and worn looking stadium.

But it seems it has all been worth it, with those lucky enough to grab one of the 2,000 limited tickets on offer - due to Covid-19 restrictions - expressing their gratitude for a wonderful event.

Tom Lawton, a Clinical Care Doctor from Bradford, shared a photo on Twitter that showed stock car racing and the transformed venue in all its glory.

Socially-distanced crowds watched on in the shining light of the sun as five cars made their way round one of the sharp bends on the track, shale and dust spraying into the air.

Mr Lawton said: "Brilliant family evening out in the sun watching the National Banger Racing at Odsal Stadium.

"Think I've nearly worked out what's going on, though turns out I'm not great at choosing cars which make it to the end of the race."

The nature of the sport is that there are lots of bumps and mishaps along the way.

Mr Lawton said: "It was a great even, though slightly heart-stopping when the second driver took just a little too long to get out after the double rollover.

"Hope to get to another."

Startrax posted on its Facebook page today to thank all those involved with running the show last night.

The post said: "Firstly, I want to thank my staff for their support last night.

"Baz, Carol, who went beyond the call of duty, Ian Higgins, worked tirelessly despite two cracked ribs.

"Special thanks to Matthew Goring who has been exemplary, professional and polite and with a smile at all times.

"Matt and Baz worked very hard.

"Mrs Goring and Lorraine were so organised it was untrue on the pit gate - helped by the fact that drivers co-operated 100 per cent in arrival times and with over 100 cars in a new, strange environment, went smoothly.

"I must also thank my wife, Lorraine, and Sharon in terms of getting people in.

"We only learned the final arrangements on Thursday morning from the local authority, giving us a fraught 36 hours to put the plan in place - and again, Matthew, despite a demanding full-time job, worked hard with us social media wise to get the message out.

"Also worth a mention behind-the-scenes is the help we got from Bulls people, from top down.

"Nigel Wood, Adam Foggarty, Tracey (how she finds time to sleep is beyond me) and Ground Safety Officer, Mark Leadbetter, who gave up his Wednesday evening for a two hour plus Zoom call as part of our staff training.

"Without all these, last night would not be possible.

"Special thanks goes to Andy Meredith, our trackman, and Myles Simpson - without them, we would have had no track raceable last night.

"The preceding two days had seen three inches of rain with Frank Senior and Danny having the Godless task of cutting and laying the belting for the first time - difficult enough, in torrential rain so bad that they had to abandon ship Thursday evening.

"A consequence of the weather and having equipment on the track and rain through into yesterday morning was a 'quagmire' like the Somme.

"Andy worked miracles, helped by one of Myles's tractor drivers for several hours to present a raceable surface, even if not perfect - but it was quick.

"The drivers co-operated and to them also our thanks and, as always, the Woods family.

"Was this an 'ideal' meeting to open with, well we have to start somewhere, drivers had come from far and wide and Ireland - some fantastic machinery on display.

"But did it go well, that's for others to judge, our team did our best.

"Turnaround was a little slow for a myriad of reasons - All Banger meetings are uniquely difficult as finding drivers for the next race to line up - impossible as they are there to enjoy this type of evening and inevitably watching the previous race.

"We had to learn new procedures and we had a brand new team of tractor drivers who had to 'learn' Banger Racing, and the intracacies of 'lifting them' where chains and straps are more of help - ex F1 driver Richie Thornton - and they have learnt also the difference between stock cars and Bangers.

"Stuart Milnes as steward did a great job, GG and his team in the pits, and the many others of our team I haven't named - all worked hard.

"Are we happy with the night and, did it meet expectations?

"It met the expectation of considerable stress and Ian and Baz would not allow me a radio.

"We all learnt a lot - we always knew we would.

"It's a major event stadium so many dynamics to also 'learn' - we finished 25 minutes later than I wanted to, but to a man and woman, nobody could have done this better than the 'team'.

"It was a huge first nighter wide Covid restrictions added, 'just to make life interesting'.

"Did we make mistakes, of course we did, were they forseeable, many were but without going through it, impossible to answer pre-event.

"To those who supported the event in less than 'ideal' circumstances and restrictions, thank you.

"I must thank Shaun and Kenny, our DJs.

"System was a big test for them as the place was still a construction site until Thursday.

"Mitten Group, who are Bulls' sponsors, and James in particular, have put a lot in - I would like to thank Neil, their MD, and Mitten Group team for the hard work and help in infrastructure over the last several weeks.

"But star man of the day on the night, cometh the man, Andy in producing a raceable track.

"I was fearing we could end up cancelling 'last minute' and Andy was resolute in the way he approached it.

"We now need to distill what we have learnt from experience and feedback.

"Thank you everyone for your patience and support."

The next event at Odsal takes place on Monday, when cars will take to the track for The BriSCA F1 Stock Cars.

Startrax announced back in April that the famous bowl would host the World Championship Final of The BriSCA F1 Stock Cars on September 11 this year.

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