St Annes promoter taking stock of Fylde motorsport dream

A rainsoaked start to the season can’t extinguish the passion for St Annes-based stock car racing promoter Steve Rees.

Steve, whose Startrax organisation is presenting over 40 meetings in 2018, is embarking on his 25th year promoting the successful sport.

But there’s still one burning ambition this motorsport enthusiast is yet to achieve – bringing his beloved stock car racing to the Fylde coast.

This year’s Startrax events are taking place at Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium, Stoke’s Chesterton Raceway and the Belle Vue Stadium in Manchester.

The formulas will vary from basic bangers to V8=powered formula one Stockcars.

Steve, a native of Huddersfield based on the Fylde coast for the past four years, told The Gazette: “Yes, the passion still burns . I still love it, which is just as well because the start of the season has been horrendous with the weather.

“Last week at Belle Vue was like a monsoon, but I’ve seen flood, famine, locusts and weather bombs and I’m still going.

“The crowd was excellent at Belle Vue despite the conditions and you have to credit the drivers from all over the country who took part .

“Hopefully this weekend is the start of some dry weather but the sport is still robust.”

The Sunday’s Star Trax oval racing meeting is the Demons of Destruction event in Stoke.

The next Belle Vue event is Caravan Carnage on bank holiday Monday, May 7.

But Steve would love to add a Fylde coast venue to the schedule as he pursues his ‘project 20’ – a dream to bring the stox F1 world final to the north west in 2020 – for the first time since 1987.

And how he would love that to happen on the Fylde coast.

Steve added: “Project 20 is still realistic and only last week I got an approach from someone with connections in Blackpool but I can’t say any more yet.

“A stock car venue in Blackpool was the dream of legendary promoter Mike Parker from Out Rawcliffe, who tried to transform the old rugby league ground into a circuit.

“With the number of people the sport brings in, it would do great in Blackpool if we could find the land for a track.”

Steve remains as busy as ever but would find time to speak to anyone who could help realise his stock car vision for the Fylde.

He can be contacted on 01253 713754.