..:: #515R Superstock Stan Hickey ::..

Frankie Wainman Junior

In 1995 a young Englishman came to New Zealand on his honeymoon and ended up competing at the World Invitation Stockcar Champs in Palmerston North… He didn't fare too well, in fact he dned up being rolled. But two years later he returned and blitzed the kiwi field to win the World 240's, and since that night in 1997, the name Frankie Wainman Junior has become synonymous with Stockcar racing in New Zealand. He has made a further seven trips since that first title, and has almost made the World 240's 'his' event, winning again in 2000, finishing on the podium another two times, and come within a lap of winning on another two occasions. He has finished second at both the NZ Grand Prix and the North Island Champs, and who can forget the 2005 New Zealand Champs in Palmerston North where he was about to take the most prized trophy of them all, before Jared Wade stepped in to ruin his dream.

Once again this season Frankie will be back in New Zealand, but there will be a difference. There will be no loan car from a kiwi driver…Frankie Wainman Junior will be racing a Frankie Wainman chassis, built in England and shipped half way around the world.
The idea of building a car and bringing it to New Zealand is one which Wainman has long thought about, with the idea turning to reality a few months ago.
After a short campaign here in earlier this year, the Wainman family left our shores with about 250kgs worth of stockcar gear such as wheel centres, Racetech seat, fibreglass body, stub axles and a radiator. Steady work on the car during the current race season has seen it take shape, however there will still be a few details to take care of once it arrives in New Zealand.
Frankie is no stranger to building racecars. He built his first MiniStock at age 10, and a few years later was building F1 Stockcars. Now his FWJ chassis is one of the most popular across the UK and Holland, but the kiwi chassis is a first.

Getting the car to New Zealand from England is no small feat, both in organisation and expense. The $NZ22,000 price tag for shipping is testament alone to the commitment that Wainman is making towards his kiwi campaign. But the car isn't all that's coming. There is also an 11.5 metre Transporter on the way too.
The racecar and transporter arrive in the country in mid-December, with Frankie himself soon after. It is not yet known when the car itself will debut, however Wainman will compete at a number of meetings before the New Year. He will then travel to Dunedin for the New Zealand Championships, attend the meetings planned for Cromwell and Christchurch, before heading back to Rotorua for the World 240's. He departs shortly after.

Building a car and Transporter and bringing them to New Zealand is of course all part of a long term plan, meaning we will continue to see him racing in NZ for a few years yet with longer visits likely, and perhaps even a full season of racing.

But due to the massive initial expenses this season, he will be here for only for five weeks this time around.
The FWJ Racing package will stay in New Zealand until he arrives for the 2008 season.
Frankie will once again be based in Rotorua, the city that is now essentially his families summer home. The car will carry the now familiar number 55r at least for the next wee while until his UK racing number comes available in New Zealand!

Like all speedway racers, Wainman is looking for sponsorship, to help fund some of his mammoth undertaking. Sponsor packages are available, starting from a $200 fuel voucher donation, with all contributors receiving an acknowledgement on the race transporter. If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact Sonja on 021-703 731 or sonjahickey@clear.net.nz

One thing is for certain, you will always get your moneys worth with FWJ at the wheel!

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