SS: Nice new car Sparkie, have you tried anything new with this one?
GS: No, i haven't, in fact I've gone a bit back to old school, I've lost my way before with Supers trying to keep up with what everybody else is doing, its better to stick to what you know.
SS: Do you have any idea how many Superstox you have had?
GS: I think its about 10 or 11, and I've probably built about 6 for other people?
SS: Seems more than 10 or 11 to me?
GS: No don't think so, i bought the first one from Dick Gamblin, then copied that! I did have the car which became a few different cars at one point, i had different panels for it, green, pink and yellow........I think i brought that out in 1996 and it was the same car i won the 2002 world in. Had a bit of a go in one of them HCD boxed cars at one point but wasn't for me, although i think that means theres something wrong with me because everyone else seems to do OK in them!
SS: Do you have any idea how many wins you have had?
GS: No, when i ran out of fingers and toes i lost count, you would have to ask Daniel Ruston that one! theres nothing that boy doesn't know! Its his mum Jean I've put the RIP Jean for on my car, she always came over to see me even when i was in the Minis.
SS: Do you still enjoy racing?
GS: Most days yes, in fact 99% of the time, even if i feel like i cant be bothered, still when i get to the meeting i enjoy it, if i didn't i wouldn't race.
SS: Do you still have the urge to win?
GS: God yes! same again, if i didn't , i wouldn't race, although i would say that last time at Yarmouth i was over the moon to get third! That's just how racing goes, we all have our good times, Chopper's having his at the minute, Jacko, Ben, Cooper have all had spells lately too, but it doesnt last forever. People said Neil Bees record 4 worlds wouldn't be beaten, then i got 5, but that doesn't mean that cant be beaten too, although id like to think I'm in with a shout of making it 6. Then again people said i shouldn't have won my first world, as Martyn Brand was leading when he retired, but it was my day, Mark Smith should have won it last year, but it wasn't to be, Tony Roots should have won in 98, I should have won in 97 but Nick Smith stuffed me away. Truth be known if its not your day, it not your day!
SS: Which drivers get your respect out there now?
GS: None of them (laughs), not really, Mark Smith is a good driver, if hes 14th on the last bend and thinks he could win it, he will go in like a train, never gives up, he needs to get the World one day though (and i think he will), and stop messing about with this bloody English!. Chopper deserves his good times too, hes not bad for an old stick. Shaun (Brooker) deserved his World, i raced with him for 300 years now and was about time he won it. Jacko can be a dirty driver at times, always wants to run you up the wall, but that's no different to what Bee and Brand used to do, and me for that matter! The lower grades get my main respect though for keep turning up and enjoying their racing, that's what its supposed to be about. I think the drivers are much fairer nowadays, hard drivers but fair, maybe the expense is seeing to that.
SS: Would you like your boys to race Superstox one day?
GS: Id rather them race a National Hot Rod as i has always been an ambition of mine, i probably could afford it now but its probably too late to. No seriously i dont mind what they want to do, if they wanted a Super i would get them one, whatever sport they want to do i will back them all the way or whatever they put their heart to. That's what my dad did for me, i wanted a Super so he backed me with it, i did of course do the Super rod mainly because i wanted to do what my dad did, and although i won the world, it never felt like it did in a super.
SS: Can you remember your first Superstox race?
GS: Yes it was at Yarmouth, i was 15 and i couldnt stop hitting the post coming out of the bend!
SS: Can you remember a race you have enjoyed the most?
GS: If i don't remember a race it must mean i didn't enjoy it! or I'm getting too old, i suppose you could say my first Superstox win at Cleethorpes in the World Championship meeting, or my first World Championship in 89, but I've enjoyed probably better races finishing fifth or sixth, theres nothing worse than an easy win, like I've had quite a few times, OK its good for the pocket and the points but its certainly not enjoyable. Ive had some really good races though, with the likes of Mickel, Lambert, Innocent and co. and these mean a lot more to me than an easy first place.
SS: So how long do you think you will carry on for?
GS: Whilst i still enjoy it i will carry on, even if i need an automatic!, realistically though it will be when my boys are old enough to decide if they want to do something, then it will be time to back them. But you know i said 10 years when i started and that was 30 years ago.
Well there was plenty more i could have put in from Sparkie (never one to refuse a good stockcar racing chat) but i was too busy listening and laughing to remember it all. I will however say, love him or hate him Garry Sparkes is a huge part of Superstox racing and will always be, so next time you're at Yarmouth or Ipswich (hopefully other places too) and see that 612 battling for position in a car probably not quite as sophisticated as the others, just remember you are watching a Legend, but you will probably work that out for yourself!
