Happy days – Let’s take a step back to the seventies with these great images of stock car racing at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium.
1976: The survival of the home of Bradford Northern was dependent on attracting other sports to share the stadium with rugby league.
Converting the grounds had to be done at top speed. There was barely 24 hours between saying goodbye to the oval-ball-loving public and welcoming the motor enthusiasts.
Co-promoter Barry Gomersall announced that stock car racing in Bradford may die unless crowds improved during the next few meetings.
In the future, Formula Two stock cars, which were very popular in the South, were to be introduced at Odsal.
JUNE 1976 an added attraction included an open-air wrestling show featuring Jackie Pallo and stock car driver, Barry Gomersall of Bradford, himself a former grappler.
MAY 1976: In an action-packed Formula One stock car final at Odsal, David Nuttall fights to hold on to his lead in the first heat while negotiating a difficult bend.
MAY 1976: The evening's racing started at a slow pace due to a very wet track. Organisers had worked throughout the day pumping water from the corners.
Overall, the marriage of the two sports had been quite a smooth one - hot dogs and pork pies included!
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