It's a family affair for farewell race (From Craven Herald)

It's a family affair for farewell race

2:43pm Thursday 15th November 2007

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A stock racing family from Silsden will feature a father and his two sons racing together for the first and only time.

Sixty-year-old Frankie Wainman will call time a 37-year career by racing in a testimonial this Sunday at Owlerton speedway in Sheffield.

While Frankie Sr will be retiring after a stock racing career that saw him the world championships in 1979 and the national points championships in 1984, 1985 and 1986, his youngest son Danny, 16, will be making his debut in the seniors on Sunday, racing against his dad and highly successful brother Frankie Jr.

Frankie Jr has won two world championships, in 1998 and 2005, and at least a dozen national points championships.

Frankie Sr said: "This is the only time that all three of us will be racing together."

He said that the testimonial, which had to be switched from Belle Vue in Manchester to the Sheffield track, would be the ideal time to end his stock car racing career.

Frankie added: "With Danny starting I can put all of my efforts into his racing."

Although the timing of his retirement might be right, Frankie Sr lamented: "I wish I hadn't done it but you have to draw the line somewhere."

Frankie Sr said he won 120 meeting finals in his career, which he said is fourth or fifth on the all-time list for England racers.

In other news for the Wainmans, Frankie Jr wrapped up another national points championship on Sunday at King's Lynn.

He won the title despite being in a serious car crash earlier this year. With national points at stake, Frankie Jr returned to racing the following week.

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