Odsal Stadium, Bradford; once referred to as the "Wembley of the north", was introduced to the new sport of stock car racing by the Northern Stock Car Company in the 1954 season with four meetings staged. A further two followed in 1955, and then the locals had a 20 year wait before they could enjoy the sights and sounds of F1 stock car racing again.
Former wrestler, and local stock car driver, Barry Gomersall (443), was the man who brought racing back to Bradford in 1975 with Thursday night racing, and some Wednesday nights in 1976. The shale surface was a challenge for the drivers, so when former World Champion Stu Bamforth (3) got his hands on the promoting rights, the stadium's stock car future was to take a sharp upward trajectory.
Bamforth replaced the rough, undulating shale surface, with a super smooth tarmac raceway, and installed a steel plate fence with staggered on and off gates. Season 1977 saw the tracks popularity rise, and a move to its more recognised Friday night 7.30pm slot in 1978 saw Odsal become a must-see event. Big car numbers attracted big crowds, and Bamforth's ingenuity towards promoting his meetings was paying off. The track was regularly voted 'Track of the year' by supporters' club associations, and this was even displayed on the steel fence around the track.
The stadium held it's first WF in 1981, although this was a Stock Car Consortium staged event, Bamforth himself staged his first at the newly acquired Belle Vue, Manchester in 1982. The next WF meeting here, wasn't far away, but the stadium took on some huge changes before it was held.
The 1985 World Speedway Final was to be staged at Odsal, the first time it had been held outside Wembley Stadium in the UK. Bradford City Council spent millions upgrading the stadium, installing a new grandstand, terracing and of course, a brand new shale surface. The 1984 season was curtailed after four meetings so that the upgrades and changes to the stadium could take place.
When fans returned for the 1985 season, the whole layout of the stadium was altered. The home straight was now on the opposite side of the track, with huge swathes of terracing reaching around turns one/two and down the back straight. The WF was back at Odsal and is best remembered for Stu Smith (391/1) sweeping all before him including the £1000 Dash for the Cash race. Problems with the new shale surface meant much of the racing took place under a dust storm.
The Valley Parade football disaster meant that there was no racing in season 1986, with Bradford City FC playing their home matches at Odsal, the stock car dates were transferred to Cleethorpes, and subsequently Skegness.
The stock cars were back in 1987 on their regular Friday night slot, but from 1988 onwards also on Bank Holiday Mondays in place of Belle Vue that had closed at the end of 1987. Into the 1990s, Bamforth Promotions took on several changes, with Stuart's son Darren taking over the main role of promoter. It was a regular WF venue; 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997 all being staged here.
Darren Bamforth promoted up until the end of the 1995 season, until another former racer-turned-promoter, Steve Rees took up the reins.
He opened up on Easter Tuesday 1996, and would run mixed formula meetings with earlier start times. The so-called National Superdome project which was to be built at Odsal, meant that the 1996 season may be the last, but it did run in 1997, before the Superdome white elephant meant that stock cars and speedway were kicked out.
Odsal remained home to the Bradford Bulls until 2019 when they moved out, and rumours of a return to stock car racing persist, with Steve Rees in contact with the stadium owners as we speak. If it were to return, it would be a major boost for the sport. Everything is crossed that this can indeed happen.
After 24 years away, the miracle happened on Monday 31st May 2021. BriSCA F1 stock cars were back at Bradford.
9 meetings planned throughout 2021, with Promoter Steve Rees also announcing that the season's World Championship Final would also be staged at Odsal in September.
The sight and sound of F1 stock cars racing around the vast Bradford Bowl really is something to behold, with the superfast shaleway serving up some spectacular and scintillating racing, particularly under the lights.
It's return is a real boost for racing in the North, and stock car racing in general. Thanks go to everyone at Startrax for making the dream a reality.
Andre Zang
