Saturday 11th October 1975 - Wimbledon - International
Championship
Report by Man on the Terrace from Spedeweek magazine
After a year's absence, it was back to Wimbledon for the
Grand Prix Midgets on October 11th for the International Championship.
Now these cars are by no means everybody's favourites. One
Superstox driver told me at the end of the meeting that the
ladies banger racing had made the meeting for him, as he could
not take the Midgets. Others devoted to Spedeworth's cause
have said the same thing on many occasions. I do not agree
with them and never have, but the racing is different to the
other formulae and perhaps the new arrangements are the best,
with the drivers running their own club, promoting on Spedeworth
circuits some of their own meetings, and also getting bookings
on other tracks when they can. Spedeworth of course also book
them in from time to time, in much the same way as the SCOTA
Formula 1 Stock Cars. At Wimbledon the crowd seemed to enjoy
the Midgets and the whole meeting went with a swing.
Six German drivers came over for the championship - Willi
Loff (37), Peter Loff (42), Ludwig Lenhsen (48), Willy Weyers
(64), Willi Thissen (88) and Heino Studt (89). All drove well,
without much success, apart from Peter Loff who collected
8th and 6th places in the heats and then delighted everyone
with an excellent 4th spot in the Final.
The first heat of the evening was a running win for the veteran
Paul Emery from Frank Boyles, white top Brian Harding, who
won a final recently at a non-Spedeworth track near London,
Keith Fransella, Derek Kisby and Barry Martin. Boyles made
no mistake in heat 2, after Jonathan Barrett had gone into
the fence and Mike Clements had spun when in the lead. Frank
won from Malcolm Goodman, Keith Fransella, Derek Johnson and
Dave Wesbroom.
Brian Harding led heat three until disaster struck on the
17th lap. Derek Kisby tried to go inside him down the back
straight, the two cars touched and finished on the grass with
Derek's on top and the front end of Brian's looking a sorry
mess. Neither driver was hurt and to everybody's surprise,
Kisby was able to turn out again in the final. Mick Bonner
won the heat from Dave Cox, Malcolm Goodman, Keith Fransella
and Derek Johnson and Dave Wesbroom.
The final was superb with John Wilson taking an early lead.
Mick Bonner retired, Keith Fransella got in front but was
passed by Terry Teden who was in turn passed by Goodman and
Boyles. Terry Teden went into the fence and Goodman hit the
inner edge, spun and recovered only for Boyles to open up
a big gap, eventually lapping all but two of the cars. Behind
Frank came Goodman, who was having problems with his car,
Barry Martin, who always seems to do well in the big events
at Wimbledon, Peter Loff, doing a great job for Germany, Keith
Fransella and Derek Johnson who I gather has been racing on
the Continent this year.
