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Derek Kisby Tribute, from the club's newsletter
Derek Kisby passed
away early in 1976 from throat cancer leaving his widow Jean,
daughter Sharon and two sons, Kevin and Paul. Jean has since
remarried but the family remain in touch with the Club and
present the Derek Kisby Memorial Trophy every year.
Derek lived in Beccles,
Suffolk and was a mechanic by trade working for Simpsons VAG
in Lowestoft. Derek came into Midget racing in 1973 after
competing successfully in Stock Car racing on dirt tracks
in Norfolk and Suffolk. He bought a brand new Fireball Mk4
from Frank Boyles which was on display at the annual party
at Aldershot Stadium in the Winter of 1972. The engine was
a 1275 'S' on a helical box running Twin 1 3/4 " SU carbs.
The cost of this car ready to race in l972 was £1500.
Derek raced with Spedeworth
rather than the MARC and competed in most meetings including
the mid-week outings. He also travelled to Holland in his
first season to represent England in the European Championship
meeting, competing in the consolation event. Derek and Frank
Boyles were two of the first drivers to race on 13 inch slicks
as opposed to the 10 inch Dunlop and Firestone tyres which
were the norm in those days. He quickly built up a reputation
as a good all round driver having battled regularly with the
stars of the day; Mick Bonner, Boyles, Roland Parker, Malcolm
Goodman and Bill Boarer.
Always very well presented,
the car sported a red livery and raced under the number 99.
Derek made the red grade with ease and stayed there until
the end of his career. In 1974 he continued to do well, regularly
finishing in the top 6 and often taking race wins thereby
qualifying for another European outing in Holland and Germany.
1975 was the Club's first season as an independent organisation
and proved to be Derek's most successful. He won the Bob Elson
Trophy and finished 5th overall in the Points Championship,
no mean feat when you consider there were regular 20-25 car
grids with 13 red tops, 18 blues and 16 whites on the grading
list over the 20 meetings.
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