Well the time has come when Stan has decided to hang up his helmet. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly or in the heat of the moment, but something that he has been thinking about and alluding to for the last couple of years.

Stan is almost paranoid about letting fans, sponsors and the crew down. Of course he doesn't, and is still racing well given that he is getting a bit long in the tooth. He has accepted that there isn't going to be the 1NZ trophy in the cabinet but then there are plenty of others for him to polish whilst sitting in his rocking chair, and a feast of wonderful memories. He's in good company with others that were probably further up the game board that should have been there, and done that, Tony Mac and Rodney Wood are classic examples.

To all our fellow competitors over the years, thanks for all the good times of which there were plenty, I think this is the one thing that we will miss the most, don't worry I am sure we will still be there for the parties afterwards.

To Erin, Hank and Wayne at the NZ Welding School, thanks for all your support over the last five years without which, it would have been hard to stay in the game. You have been absolutely incredible and we will always be indebted to your generosity.

To Bruce and Pauline Nickel, thanks for all your support and I am sure there will still be some questionable behaviour with Bruce and Stan in the years to come.

A Big thanks to Murray Gordge for five fantastic cars, it's going to hard to say goodbye to our beloved Dolly but I am sure she will give just as much pleasure to a new younger driver and may just go on to win the big one. She certainly has plenty of potential.

To Tony Marsh and Mel, thanks for our Quality Fords, Dolly and Tyson, and the odd Holden (until we could afford a real engine) that you built for us.

Lastly to Lyall and Andrew, well what can you say, these two have simply been the best crew you could ask for, and without their years and years of dedication and help it wouldn't have been near as much fun. At least I may be able to keep a set of straight bottomed pots in the bus now. To Frankie, who was the reason that Stan jumped back in a car, thanks and well I guess you can have your number back now, and thanks for lending it to us (I can't actually recall giving you a choice though).

This has been a torrid decision, however it is buoyed by the fact that by the end of this year we will have three grandchildren in Ministocks so will still be involved and enjoying watching and helping them race. With another seven to follow we should be busy for some time yet. To the rest of our family, thanks for tolerating the obsession.

Whilst this is not an easy time, when Stan went back racing at the tender age of 46 we thought we might have four or five years racing, well an additional 10 on that has been a pretty good extension.

To all our fans thanks for your support, Stan will continue until the end of the season or until Dolly finds a new home so hopefully we'll get a couple more meetings out of him yet.