Inside Stock Car World Magazine | Page 13

Frankie Jnr. Jnr. tock Car Racing successfully raced for more than 30 years, it was no surprise that Jnr. would follow in his footsteps. Like many of the current drivers, Frankie Junior started racing the National Ministox, even winning the Points Championship. Mini Stox Champion Photos by Alan Panther Frankie Jnr. Jnr. took the Ministox National Championship at Barford last September. Frankie had claimed pole position after working really hard in the qualifying rounds, so we wondered how a 12 year-old lad could win the biggest race of his life, on one of the roughest toughest tracks in the country. First off, it would be a bonus if you had one of the most prolific winners in F1 setting up your car and dad The old saying “Like father like son” continues through the generations as FWJs Son has just taken the Gold in the ministox class and as you can see in the photo, it brings a tear to your eye! Hug of the year award goes to FWJ. Although success in the F1s came quickly, it was some four years later before major success came his way. In 1992, Frankie took the British Championship and just two years later, in 1994, we all saw him take the first of many National Points titles and pretty much made the ‘Silver Roof’ part of his cars colour scheme. As I’ve said earlier, Frankie now spends his winters racing in New Zealand and in 1998 he managed the impossible and beat the home drivers taking the NZ World 240 Championship. In 2009 he secured his name in the Ozzy Stock Car history books by becoming the first driver to win the same Championship three times. He’s back again this Winter - so look out for details of the British Lions in OZ (page 30.) Without doubt FWJ is a very well liked driver, everyone takes notice when the big blue transporter enters the pits and on the few occasions when he’s been late or God-forbid not made the start, the fans are truly disappointed. Twenty five years at the top of his game and with a front row start on the 2012 World Final grid proves he’s still got what it takes. There are plenty young guns trying to make their mark in this sport but they have a long way to go to catch one of the best racers BriSCA F1 has ever seen as Frankie has just secured the 2012 “World of Shale” Championship. Well Done Frankie! Frankie is just the man for the job. The previous week saw ‘Team Wainman’ set the car up to win from the front, but make no mistake, young Frankie was in the car all by himself and had to rely on his own racing judgment to win the “Big One” It was obvious that the other drivers were not going to make it easy and he would be in for a rough ride. Dad Frankie explains “When the time came for him to go out onto the track, I couldn’t believe how nervous I was. Frankie Jnr. Jnr. on the other hand - seemed fine, which I found quite strange. So off he went for the parade lap. I helped him get strapped in and gave him a hug. The rest was down to him.” A text-book start saw Young Frank lead from flag to flag, even with numerous re-starts he managed to pull enough of a gap each time to avoid any sillyness into the first bend. With Team Wainman holding their breath for what must have seemed an age, young frank took the flag and the coveted “GOLD” roof. There to greet him at the finishing line was one very proud dad. WELL DONE young Frankie Wainman Jnr. Jnr. www.insidestockcarworld.co.uk 13