THE MIDGET SCENE 1971, by Rod Tanswell
from Wheelspin, March 1972
Looking back over the 1971 season as a whole a few notable
statistics come to light. It seems that we had fewer meetings
than in 1970; thirty three meetings last year compared with
forty-four meetings in 1970. Perhaps Les will remedy this
situation during this season and give up at least the same
number of meetings as in 1970. I think the situation came
about by the introduction of Auto-Spedeway which took some
of the dates available. Still this season with the considerable
number of drivers all wanting to race we should see an improvement
in the situation. To date we have had quite a vast number
of licence applications for midgets, so it should be quite
a year.
Over 1970 as a whole we saw quite an increase in many ways.
For example our average of cars per meeting came up to sixteen,
compared with twelve in 1970, bearing in mind of course the
loss of several drivers who formed their own club. Also the
highest number of cars to any one meeting went up from eighteen
in 1970 to twenty seven in 1971, quite a good increase. I
think that if we could encourage the driver who only races
once-in-a while to race as regularly as possible then the
whole scene would change over night; so come on you drivers,
show some effort. We all know the ones I am talking about
without going into names.
I have included in this 'Wheelspin' a top ten "ATTENDANCE
CHART" for 1971 which shows the lads who top the tree for
attendance. I think they all deserve a slap on the back as
well as many more who just didn't make it in the top ten.
A special thank you to Basil Craske, midget driver 21 who
comes from Norwich and who always made the Ringwood meetings
- a distance of well over 200 miles. Well done Basil, let's
hope it rubs off on some of your fellow Anglian drivers. Ringwood
is a fine track for midgets and has quite a following.
We had a total of forty-three drivers who raced for Spedeworth
in the midget class last year. All these lads must have a
car to race, why not let us see them more often? After all's
said and done you won't get your red top by watching telly
when you should be repairing the car! The people that get
to the top of the tree do so by hard work and dedication to
the sport. Don't forget the saying-"the more you put into
the sport the more you will get out of it"-it's very true
you know!
Let's not forget the mechanics, the men behind the scenes.
They don't get the glory, but very often it's their efforts
and dedication that puts the driver on the start car. So drivers,
spare a thought once in awhile for the old slave, the mechanic.
Last of all don't let's forget the wives and girlfriends who
have to put up with our ramblings and resolve themselves to
a life of misery and being dragged along very often to a meeting
when they have arranged for you to go out for the evening
somewhere (in their eyes) more interesting. Don't forget if
you get her support your halfway there! To conclude I would
wish all drivers a full and successful year's racing. Let's
put midgets on the map this year and not just talk about it.
MIDGET TOP TEN ATTENDANCE 1971 33 meetings possible,
1, 34, 32 meetings, Red grade
2, 17, 30 meetings, Blue grade
3, 73, 27 meetings, Red grade
4, 1, 26 meetings, Red grade
5, 21, 25 meetings, Blue grade
6, 45, 25 meetings, Blue grade
7, 50, 25 meetings, Red grade
8, 69, 23 meetings, Blue grade
9, 2, 22 meetings, Red grade
10, 4, 22 meetings, Red grade
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS IN 1971
London Championship. White City Rod Tanswell No.1
British Championship. White City Mick Bonner No. 24
National Championship. Wimbledon Bob Elson No. 73
