|
|
|
Septmber(?) Short Circuit
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TIME Jack Brodie
BRITAIN sends six starters - three
holding major titles - as her representation in this season's
world midget car championships at Recklinghausen, West Germany,
on September 12 and 13. World champion Basil Craske leads
the way, along with British champion Geoff Hughes junior and
National champion Malcolm Goodman. Strong backing comes from
Mick Bonner, winner of the first world championships in 1977
veteran ex-speedway rider Geoff Hughes snr and the determined
Gary Pollard. Some of Europe's top stars will be waiting to
face them: from Holland there's Jan Van Rengs, Jan Litjeans
and Jan Scraats, while West German aces in action will be
Willi Thissen and Kari Killianski. And set to make her debut
in the championships is the experienced American woman driver
Maria Alaina Schneider, who shot to prominence with some impressive
form in Australia and New Zealand last winter. This is the
fifth season of the world championships: past winners are
- 1977 Mick Bonner (England), 1978 Hank Hansen (Holland),
1979 Jan Van Rengs (Holland), 1980 Basil Craske (England).
In West Germany, the British drivers will as usual be under
a slight handicap, using 1350cc engines opposed to the 1600cc
engines favoured on the continent.
SHORTS Indications are that an American
promoting group plans to stage a series of meetings on British
speedways in 1982, with Wimbledon, Hackney, Belle Vue and
Halifax favoured, along with the car oval at Bradford. Talks
are likely soon between the interested parties. Former midget
car and speedway racer Cyril Crane stepped in at short notice
to stage the National Championships at Boston, after Northampton
found they could not put on the meeting. Crane also drove
in a non-championship heat at Boston. He showed so much of
the pace which made him a big favourite in 500cc midget racing
in the 1960s, Crane says there is every chance he will compete
on a regular basis in 1982.
MIDGET MATTERS
An excellent meeting on the shale track at
Boston last month but why did Eric Fretten take his car out
just on the Grand Parade? Did he think the Lincolnshire air
would do it good?... Pete Smith, in a rare appearance, went
one better, completing one race and then disappearing... Mike
Clements took some unusual lines on the straights, and Mick
Bonner lost the complete offside rear corner after doing a
naughty in race three - however, he and Jack Cochrane rebuilt
it in time for race four, Mick reverting to his usual excellent
driving to win... superb buffet put on at this meeting by
promoter Cyril Crane, who also laid on tea in the pits - what
a gentleman!... Swaffham in the rain - we've hardly seen the
wet tyres off the cars this year... Geoff Hughes jnr seen
loading the car after breaking an output shaft with a big
smile on his face; probably pleased he hadn't stuffed it in
the fence, which he's been doing quite a lot of this season…
why did Mick Bonner change tyres every race though - to show
he has a choice??... Hughes snr was looking glum; team mate
in the Auto Rent supported cars Nail Belsey hit bossman Geoff's
car and a welded joint on the steering broke - result: no
racing for Geoff… Malcolm Goodrnan has a personal valet who
washes his down after wet meetings, makes the rest of the
drivers quite envious ... Mick Doyle made a re-appearance,
pretty smart up the straights, but obviously lacking race
practice. Nice to see you about, Mick ... Basil Craske was
sighted in the pits without his hat - or his car , which he
says was virtually written off after his somersault at the
previous Swaffham meet - but he hoped to be out in the World
Championship; we certainly hope so… congratulations to Dave
Scott on getting married on August 7, to Margaret, Ray Rapson's
sister nice to keep it in the Club (if you see what we mean),
look forward to seeing Dave back racing when ad the excitement
is over... looks like Jerry Pinney is going straight from
white to Red grade if he keeps up his present performance
well done.
|
