News

24th August 2010 - First Win for Retchless

Congratulations to Leon Retchless who took his first GP Midgets win up at Yarmouth on Sunday. Heat two went to Marc de Land having his second win of the season (his first in the wet) whilst Daniel Pooley restored the status quo with victory in the final. June Cochrane Cup

Following a very wet, chaotic and confusing heat 2, the result published on the night was flagged up as being provisional only. The lap charts have been thoroughly scrutinised and the result has now been confirmed. For clarity the results of all three races and positions upon which championship points will be awarded are:-

Heat 1. 99, 31, 20, 15, 59, 77, 23, 8, 41
Heat 2. 15, 59, 77, 23, 8, 31, 32, 41, 7
Final. 32, 31, 23, 59, 15, 77, 41, 8

11th August 2010 - Birmingham Results

Daniel Pooley did well at Birmingham with two race wins - Jonathan Pooley losing oil pressure in practice and therefore being unable to contest the races. There was also a very exciting result in the second heat when Pete Dorrell took the win. Congratulations Pete. Results here Latest points chart here.

3rd August 2010 - Career Statistics

Mark Hodges is edging ever closer to deposing Frank Boyles from 8th position in the all-time career points totals. Mark is some 84 points down on Boyles - the target can perhaps be met next season. A little further down the same table Jonathan Pooley has leaped from 18th to 12th and is only 47 points down on Gary Granger. Neil Clarke remains the top active driver in the career totals (3,497pts) with Andrew Bilby second on 3,029. Congratulations to Clifford Bunn passed the 1,000 career points mark earlier this season.

31st July 2010 - From One Classic to Another

Classic Hot Rod racer Carl Checkley has joined the ranks of the Grand Prix Midgets and made a very successful debut at Northampton. Carl is well known as being one of the all too few Mini drivers in the predominantly Ford based Classic Hot Rod class. He has bought the ex Gary Bonner Fireball Mk4 which in itself is something of a classic, the car having originally been built in 1973 or 1974.

31st July 2010 - Pooley's World

Jonathan Pooley regained the World Championship at Northampton last weekend. He won the race from Steve Young and Mark Hodges. The event once again had a truly international feel with the very welcome appearance of former World Champion Toni Scheepens who came over from the Netherlands to compete.

14th July 2010 - Southern Championship

Aldershot turned out to be a very competitive meeting with three different race winners. Steve Young won the first heat with Marc de Land having his first win of 2010 in the second heat. Jonathan Pooley won the Southern Championship final. Report now on line along with updated points.

4th July 2010 - European Championship

Many thanks for Marc de Land for the report from the European Championship held at Birmingham. Congratulations to Jonathan Pooley who won the title.

28th June 2010 - Cowdenbeath Report

Many thanks for Marc de Land - we now have the report from Cowdenbeath.

12th June 2010 - Pooley's Highland Fling

A good turn out of cars made the long trip to Scotland to race at Knockhill and Cowdenbeath over the weekend. Jonathan Pooley took a hat trick on the club's first visit to the Fife Tri-Oval at Knockhill - thanks to Marc de Land for the report. Marc's report from the meeting at Yarmouth has also been added here. Thanks also to Andrew Bilby for the Cowdenbeath results and the latest points.

31st May 2010 - Three Different Winners at Yarmouth

Steve Dawson, Phil Retchless and Jonathan Pooley took the race wins as the Midgets raced at Yarmouth stadium over the bank holiday weekend. Results here.

14th May 2010 - Rudi Janssen

We were saddened to hear the news that former European Grand Prix Midget racer Rudi Janssen has passed away. Rudi was one of the front runners in Europe and also acheived some great results when travelling to the UK to compete - he took second place in the 1996 European Championship at Peterborough. Our thoughts and condelences go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

7th May 2010 - Jonathan Pooley's British Title

Jonathan Pooley took the British Championship at Birmingham Wheels on Saturday. JP took another two wins to extend his lead in the points championship with his brother Daniel winning the other heat. Gary Grimsley sold his car at this meeting - we wish him well for the future. Amended results and report by Luke Retchless here. You can also see the atest points Points.

27th April 2010 - Bilby's BMC Back

The Bilby family's BMC racer made a return to the tracks after a two year hibernation. The Pooley built BMC machine has seen several owners over the years including the late Steve Piggins and Gary Piper. The car made a re-appearance at Northampton at the weekend following the engine woes suffered by Andrew Bilby's usual VW mount at Grimley. The BMC machine was pressed into service but suffered a chronic misfire throughout the meeting and also succumbed to suspension problems in the final. The last time this car saw service was coincidentally at the Brafield track approximately two years ago in the hands Andrew's brother, John.

27th April 2010 - Pooley maintains points lead

Jonathan Pooley maintains his position at the top of the points chart with Phillip Retchless jumping from 7th to 2nd in one go. Daniel Pooley now goes third whilst Gary Grimsley comes in at 8th in the table on his return to the formula.. The latest points can be view on the Points page.

26th April 2010 - Grimley Meeting Opens the Season

Phllip Retchless has retained the Graham Hill Memorial Trophy after taking a heat and final wins at Northampton this weekend. Jonathan Pooley won the opening heat. Report here thanks to Marc de Land.

12th April 2010 - Points Chart

Thanks to Andrew Bilby for sending through the points chart following the opening meeting at Grimley. The latest points can be view on the Points page.

5th April 2010 - Grimley Meeting Opens the Season

Congratulations to today's race winners, Jonathan Pooley (heat and West Country Challenge) and Mark Hodges. Report here - thanks to Marc de Land.

24th March 2010 - Malcolm Goodman

News reached us late last year that six time National Champion Malcolm Goodman was missing from his home. The BBC Programme Missing Live recently broadcast a feature may help find him. If you have any information about Malcolm's whereabouts then please let us know.

17th March 2010 - Bunn's Build & New Drivers

Work continues apace on Clifford Bunn's new chassis as can be seen from the accompanying pictures. The new car is not expected to break cover for a few meetings - Clifford will use his Fireball in the meantime.

Two of the new drivers registered for 2010 are Derek Hawes (#28, Dastle Suzuki) and Andrew Lewis (#38, Scorpian Vauxhall). We offer both drivers a warm welcome to the grid. More details will follow in due course.

7th March 2010 - Sidewinder Ready for Testing

Thanks to Neil Clarke for sending this picture of the Sidewinder which is now ready for testing.

1st March 2010 - Cars on the Move

The last month has seen at least two cars disappear from the for sale page. Ez Walker's Fireball Mk4 (left) has been acquired by Barry Goldsby who we look forward to welcoming back to the circuits this season. The Geoff Bunn Peugeot has been bought by 2007 British Champion Steve Young who will therefore be making the switch to rear engine.

28th February 2010 - Neil's Car Well on the Way

The revamped Sidewinder is well underway - Neil Clarke sent us these pics a few weeks back. If any other drivers would like their builds / rebuilds publicised then please let us know.

Luke Retchless is using Facebook to keep us upto date with progress on the new VW. Engine pics here, chassis pics here.

6th February 2010 - Website Thanks & Other Media

A big thank you to Nigel Robinson and Clifford Bunn for looking after the website of late - well done guys and thanks. The site is now being looked after by Richard John Neil - please feel free to nag him to change or add information!

The February edition of Short Circuit magazine features a two page article on Marc de Land and tells us about his first year in the formula. The piece is written by Anne Sayell. This week's Motorsport News picked up on the news that the club is having its' debut at Knockhill this coming season. Finally, issue three of Oval Track Classic is out now and includes an article on 70s Midget racer Paul Daly.

8th January 2010 - Fixture List

Neil Clarke has let us have first sight of the new fixtures for the 2010 season. The two dates at Grimley are provisional whilst the calendar sees a first ever visit to Knockhill which is about 20 minutes from Cowdenbeath. Racing at Knockhill will be on the tri-oval (pictured left but view bigger picture on the events page).

7th January 2010 - New Car Build

Luke Retchless is making good progress with his new build - the car, to be powered by a VW motor is starting to look really good.