Peter McCallum's quite a regular 'poster' to the FTOOZ Forum. I wonder if he remember's this interview that I did with him one cold Cowdenbeath night on the 3rd October 1992?.......



THE 107 PETER MCCALLUM PROFILE

FULL NAME: Peter George McCallum
AGE: 19
HOME TOWN: Brampton, Carlisle
OCCUPATION: Mechanic

STOCKCAR CAREER:

PMc: I’d have been 9 or 10 when I first saw stockcars. They used to go past our house on the way to the old Newtongrange Stadium when we used to live in Edinburgh. So we went along and when I saw stockcars I immediately decided that I wanted to race. I pestered ma Dad and he eventually bought me a Mini-stox. It all stated from there. I was soon racing at Newtongrange every Saturday night.

RH: You obviously saw Formula Two as a natural progression for you?

PMc: Oh yes! That what I wanted to race! I turned 16 in 1988 so I decided on buying a car. I fancied a Jimmy Wallace car. I always admired the style of his cars, so I spoke to Jimmy about it. In fact Jimmy agreed to sell his current machine to me even before he won the World Final with it!

RH: It looks like you certainly decided on purchasing some class machinery. Where did you make your F2 debut Pete?

PMc: At Aycliffe towards the end of 1988. I wasn’t doing too bad. The car was handling really well and I was just trying to get on terms with it when all of a sudden I was buried by Paul Broach!

RH: You’ve been racing for the best part of four seasons now. How do you rate your progress in F2?

PMc: Not too bad. I still have a lot to learn. But my latest Wallace machine is certainly a good package. I just seem to have had a lot of bad luck with it though this season.

RH: Can you tell us some details about the car?

PMc: Jimmy Wallace built it for us for the start of last season (1991). It’s powered by a 1300cc Ford which has been race prepared for us by Philspeed. We’ve had that for two years.

RH: It’s interesting to note that your one of the few still using 1300cc power round the big Cowdenbeath Oval.

PMc: Well, we’re still using it this year, but we’re going two litre next season. I think that 1300’s still have the edge. They’re a lot faster, but you’ve got to take the cost and the reliability into account I suppose…..so I’m willing to give the Pinto a try. They do seem to be as good round the big tracks like here at Racewall and at Northampton.

RH: And how do you think you’ve been doing at Racewall this year?

PMc: I’ve had a lot of bad luck here, hitting the wall on a number of occasions. But it’s getting there when I get the car right. It’s been a season of ups and downs really. Like back in April when I won my first ever race in the Consolation, then rolled it in the Final! I’ve been a bit stuck on engine reliability too. I blew the engine at the Crewe Qualifier so we put new pistons in the block in time for the Semi-Final only to discover that the block itself was knackered! I’ve only just had time to get thing all sorted to start racing again tonight (3/10/92). As I say, hopefully, we’ll be fully organised to have a better crack at racing equipped with a two litre engine next season.

FAVOURITE TRACK:

PMc: No it’s not Cowdenbeath actually! I prefer the smaller tarmac tracks. I like Bolton very much. At opener there in March I found my car to be well suited and I was chasing down Graham Bunter in both heats. Unfortunately, I had to retire with electrical problems. I think the smaller tracks lend themselves to better stockcar racing. Round Racewall you’re flat out – and that’s it! You need more skill at Bolton.

RH: You’re used to Cowdenbeath. What would you say to Englishmen who seem genuinely fearful of the place?

PMc: I think that they should come up and give it a go! Even if they don’t like it, well, at least they’ve been. At least they could say that. But some of them make no attempt to travel. I don’t think that’s right.

WORST TRACK

PMc: Crewe. It’s not so much because I prefer tarmac to shale but because of my bad accident that happened there at the British Championship in May this year.(1992) (see worst incident.)

RH: What do you think of Barrow?

PMc: Barrow’s good fun. You just don’t take it too seriously when you race there! (laughter)

RH: And it’s local as well. I mean, you’ve got to travel from Carlisle – no matter where you race.

PMc: Hartlepool’s my local at 76 miles. Bolton’s 114 miles from home and Cowdie’s 124 miles!

BIGGEST INFLUENCE

PMc: That’s easily been Jimmy Wallace. He helped me by building my cars, setting them up and giving me advice.

MOST RESPECTED RIVAL

PMc: No one in particular. I just go out in each race and give it my best shot. Ideally I want to beat everyone, but I’m happy if I race well and avoid damage if I can.

BEST MEETING / EVENT

PMc: Well I would say my first race victory at Racewall this season, but as I said, I didn’t do too well in the Final! (laughter)

WORST INCIDENT

PMc: I’d spun out in one of the British Championship Heats at Crewe and I was stranded across the Pits Turn by the gate on just three wheels when I was hit full in the side of the cab by 45 Dave Buckley. I was completely unconscious, but it was another four laps before they stopped the race, took the roll cage off and took me to hospital for X-rays. A bad do that!

BIGGEST AMBITION

PMc: I’d like to win the Scottish Championship more than anything else. Of course I’m aiming for Red Roof and to get on the World Final grid, but it’s the Scottish Title that I’d really like to win. That really means something up here.

RH: Ok Peter, thanks. Best wishes for season ’93.




ROB HUGHES

(PS: thanks to Frank Love for the picture of Peter below - there more of Peter racing 107 in the photos section of FTOOZ)