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Midget News from Short Circuit July 1981
by Jack Brodie
MARIA HOPES FOR WORLD FINAL American
woman driver Maria Alaina Schneider will know this month if
she can drive in the world championships at Recklinghausen,
West Germany, in September. Miss Schneider, who won a big
reputation when touring Australia with Gary Howard last winter,
is keen to show her paces in this meeting. Main snag involves
return fares from California for Miss Schneider and her father-mechanic
Pete, a former star driver. And there's also the question
of providing Miss Schneider with a car.
CHANGES There are likely to be changes
in midget car specifications in the near future, with increase
engine capacity and the lengthening of cars. It's part of
a move to bring British racing more in line with the sport
in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. World Champion Basil
Craske's long mooted Australian tour for this winter took
another forward move when Perth, W.A. promoter Con Migro contacted
him in regard to terms for racing 'down under.' It is dependent
upon what Craske wants, whether or not Migro pursues the proposed
visit.
BIG JULY RACES Two main championship
events up for contention in July are the Southern Championship
at Arena Essex on July 12 and the National Championship at
Northampton on July 26. Basil Craske holds the Southern title
while the National is in the grip of veteran Mick Bonner,
winner of the first European-style world championship in 1977.
Like the British Championship, the National has a pre-war
equivalent: an English National Trophy was first raced in
1937 and won by Syd Plevin.
MIDGET MATTERS, Ann Freebody Short Circuit
July 1981
An interesting and enjoyable meeting on shale
at Kings Lynn on June... in the pits, Gary Pollard was frantically
changing plugs and complaining his engine was 'off-song',
reusit: three races, three wins how does it go when it's running
OK?... Steve Elliott, who has taken his son to four meetings,
at lat got his car on the track only to be 'run-over' by Eric
Fretten, who went airborne onto the centre green and broke
the chassis on landing ... Alan Fretten driving the ex John
Lowe car got a third place, then the car disappeared in flames
in the last race, and a track marshall was unable to operate
the fire extinguisher... Midgets got a lot of attention from
the sidecar races who took away sets of specifications. Maybe
they are going to add a wheel to their machines!... Geoff
Hughes snr. indulged in a spot of nostalgia wishing for another
go on two wheels - he packed it up in 1965 - still young at
heart George Pollard denies he is a secret weapon to thwart
Basil Craske... has Mick Bonner solved the problems of Peterborough
in the wet?? Wet tyres on the inside wheels, slicks on the
outside and drive like the clappers with your eyes shut. At
lease, he SAID he couldn't see, Basil... welcome to new driver
Car] Bradshaw who made his first appearance at Alwalton...
Mick Bonner has reverted to 1300cc awaiting commenst about
his experimental 1500... The Committee have been approached
about the possibility of extending permitted wheelbase from
6 to 7 feet it is to be discussed with all drivers.
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