1981

News from Short Circuit - August 1981, Jack Brodie

TWO NEW RECRUITS Two recruits from other spheres of short oval racing who could be competing in midget cars in 1982 are former England motorcycle speedway international Chris Pusey and PRI Formula 3 stock car driver Bonnie Tanner. Pusey, who has just announced his retirement from speedway as a Workington rider, is among many people in the speedway world who consider midget racing to be on the verge of a major breakthrough in Britain. He sees driving a midget as a possible new racing career. Bonnie Tanner has also been watching the progress of midget cars with considerable interest in recent months. He believes the midgets are gaining more popularity now.

ALF BACK? Alf Boarer is considering a come-back this month in a bid to win a qualification for September's world championship in West Germany. He could make his return to racing at Northampton's televised meeting at the end of the month, when midgets will be among the several formulas featured.

OLD TIME PROMOTER Old-time midget car driver Dave Hughes, who pioneered the British revival when he built the original Bradfield track in 1949, helped by American driver Spike Rhiando, blames the early post-war attitude of speedway promoters for the sport's decline from 1W onwards. He bought his first Skirrow midget car during the 1939-45 war, thinking that the pre-war build up of the sport would continue when hostilities ceased. But the speedway bosses effectively blocked midget car racing's come-back in Britain, including warding off an American attempt in 1948 to establish the cars. In 1948, Hughes met pre-war driver Gene Crowley who hoped to re-establish the sport, but then lost interest in promoting the sport. Hughes then bought a dozen Skirrow midgets, and besides running the company also drove in meetings. Hughes plans to revive his interest on the active side of midget car promotion in 1982.

MIDGET MATTERS - Ann Freebody

Basil Craske does it again - One and a half somersaults and finished up on the rolicage, waving to the crowd. What a way to get publicity, just because Mick Bonner was doing all the winning at Swaffham... incidentally Mick is back to a normal 1300cc engine after overheating problems resulted in a cracked liner in the experimental 1500cc unit... Dan Hornby back on three wheels again at Swaffham, would he go better in the 'runabout' he uses in the pits? He lent that to 'Baz' at Peterborough, and he broke it 'Bad preparation' he said... Anthony Brewer has got the Osselli engined Mk18 Dastle going well now - welcome to the blue grade, Anthony... Gary Pollard leads the points chart, well done, with Geoff Hughes pressing him hard in his unusual machinery... we await with anticipation the appearance of Derek Brundle's brand new design (Derek is a former Spedeworth Hot Rod man) which he says will be ultra-competitive - we are told Arena-Essex on July 12 would be debut day... Alan Fretten now DEFINITELY concentrating on Formula Ford, yes we have heard that before... Dave Wesbroom says his new car is almost ready, but is DAVE ready, and did jogging around Swaffham help?... Alf Boarer will be married on July 25 - congrats from all Midget people. Seems to be a year for this sort of thing. Ex Midget racer, magazine editor Tony Bostock marries Sally on August 1 too, our best wishes to them too.

Points and gradings from July 12th...

No	Driver	Points	Grade	Meetings
23	Gary Pollard	110	Silver	7
10	Geoff Hughes snr	103	Red	6
17	Geoff Hughes jnr	78	Red	6
28	Malcolm Goodman	74	Red	8
24	Mick Bonner	74	Red	4
21	Basil Craske	70	Gold	4
32	Mick Clements	41	Red	6
16	Dan Hornby	35	Red	5
7	Dave Scott	31	Red	6
9	Brian Forrest	28	Red	5
2	Eric Fretten	27	Blue	7
22	Alan Fretten	27	Blue	3
1	Harry Sayell	25	Blue	4
8	Ray Rapson	23	Blue	5
91	Don Bray	20	Blue	3
18	Roland Parker	18	Blue	2
44	Anthony Brewer	12	Blue	2
27	Greg Puglsey	11	Blue	4