|
|
|
7th September 1980, Northampton, World
Championship
From Short Circuit, October 1980
The first running of the Grand Prix Midget
World Championships on this side of the North Sea, at Northampton
on Sept 7, saw a slightly disappointing crowd, but a lot of
first time visitors who were favourably impressed by a good
turnout of cars and a terrific race, and said so.
All the top Dutch and German drivers were
on hand, with their 1600cc cars against the English 1300's.
Henk Hanssen had set some fast lap times in practice on Saturday
before crashing, but hard work saw him in the line-up for
the race.
The Grid:
|
Inside
|
|
Outside
|
|
Henk Hanssen (Hol)
|
|
Jan Litjeans (Hol)
|
|
Greg Pugsley (Eng)
|
|
Jan Van Rengs (Hol)
|
|
Willi Thissen (Germ)
|
|
Chris Butler (Eng)
|
|
Henk Van Rengs (Hol)
|
|
Harry Sayell (Eng)
|
|
Brian Forrest (Eng)
|
|
Basil Craske (Eng)
|
|
Anthony Brewer (Eng)
|
|
Eric Fretten (Eng)
|
|
Klaus Kilianski (Germ)
|
|
Dave Scott (Eng)
|
|
Derek Johnson (Germ)
|
|
Alf Boarer (Eng)
|
|
Ray Rapson (Eng)
|
|
Karl Peters
|
|
Jan Schraets (Germ)
|
|
John Lowe (Eng)
|
|
Alan Fretten (Eng)
|
|
Gary Pollard (Eng)
|
|
Rick Hammond (Eng)
|
|
Mick Bonner (Eng)
|
|
Geoff Hughes Jnr (Eng)
|
|
Roland Parker (Eng)
|
The race was run over 30 laps instead of the
expected 35, and from the start Hanssen went into the lead,
his car fully recovered from the previous days incident, until
lap seven, when Basil Craske powered through. Jan Van Rengs
followed Basil through, but Henk retook his fellow Dutchman
three laps on. Willi Thissen was working hard to pull through
the pack and up to 4th place, shadowed by Alfie Boarer from
less than half way, these two passing Schraets who held on
gamely before dropping right down the field. Mick Bonner made
a supreme effort from his rear-grid start, and pulled up to
7th place, but whether his recent shunt at Swaffham had affected
the car or his own form, he did not seem to have his usual
edge. Alan Fretten, driving the Clifton Curry Houses sponsored
car was going extremely well, picking off rivals one by one
until being held up by Johnson - but then Fretten's throttle
stuck open, and it would have been impossible for him to carry
on. As it was, Anthony Brewer had the only crash of the very
fast race, and he spun onto the infield rather than visiting
the fence posts. Jan Van Rengs, having been worried in practice
by soft tyres, had to remain behind Hanssen, and so Basil
Craske, driving brilliantly as all his British colleagues
later agreed, beat the challenge of the bigger engined machines
with what looked like ease. Well done, that man!
Result: 1st Basil Craske,
2nd Henk Hanssen, 3rd Jan Van Rengs, 4th Willi Thissen, 5th
Alf Boarer, 6th Mick Bonner, 7th Derek Johnson, 8th Gary Pollard,
9th Roland Parker, 10th Brian Forrest, 11th Jan Lit jeans,
12th John Lowe, 13th Geoff Hughes, 14th Eric Fretten, 15th
Dave Scott.
In the supporting events, the Vice Presidents
Cup race, run minus the first three World finishers, Chris
Butler took the honours after a good start by Eric Fretten,
while Alan Fretten took second after passing Gary Pollard
on the last lap. Basil Craske really rubbed in his win in
the last two races being given a rear grid handicap in the
final, and again soundly beating the visiting continentals.
Yes, Baz should get the World Champs job done very well during
the coming year!
|
