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12th September 1982, World Championship
VETERAN MICK WINS MIDGET WORLD by Jack Brodie from October
Short Circuit
BRITISH midget car champion Basil Craske is
still dogged by the 'Swaffham jinx' which nearly ended his
career when he badly injured his back in the 1978 season.
The jinx was to force him out of a possible second place in
this season's WI rid 40-lap Championship at the Norfolk track.
While holding second place on the penultimate lap, Craske
tangled with 1981 National Champion Malcolm Goodman and was
forced out of the Championship.
Their departure meant that England's hopes
of a 'grand slam' in the championship were thwarted. But 1977
world winner, veteran Mick Bonner proved a convincing winner.
He finished a lap in front of the defending champion, Hank
Hansen (Holland), who deadheated with Geoff Hughes senior
for second place. Another Dutchman, Jan Litjens was placed
fourth, followed by two English drivers, Gary Pollard and
Dave Cox, in the main placings.
The race featured 21 drivers in a gruelling,
absorbing championship. Besides the departure of Craske and
Goodman through crashes, another who saw his chance 'evaporate
was first season driver Alan Riley, who crashed out at the
midway stage. Bonner looked like making a clean sweep of proceedings
at Swaffham when he won the first support race from Pollard,
Litjens and Hughes senior. But in the second race, Bonner
became part of the 'Craske jinx' when both riders tangled,
starting a five car shunt, which left only seven cars able
to battle for the check flag. Jan Schraetz (Holland) was winner
from Hansen and West Germany's Gunter Beckers.
Schraetz repeated his form to win the final
race. But Bonner pressed him all the way, with Hansen third,
followed by Hughes and Goodman.
SWAFFHAM SUPPORT RACES, by Dave Cox
The Dereham Glass trophy race saw Harry Sayell
the early leader ahead of Dave Wesbroom and Gerry Pinny. Cox
took the lead on lap seven wit~ Pollard and Bonner chasing.
Bonner passed Pollard and harrassed Cox who obligingly spun
to hand Bonner the win ahead of Pollard, Litjens, Hansen,
Hughes and Wesbroom.
Race three was for the Norfolk Cellulose
and Equipment trophy with Sayell and Wesbroom once again the
early leaders until Jan Schraetz took the lead on lap seven
with Craske, Cox, Bonner and Hansen chasing. Bonner and Hansen
passed Cox and with four laps to run Bonner and Craske collided.
Hansen took avoiding action and Cox nipped through to second
ahead of Hansen and Hughes with Schraetz still leading. Cox
and Hansen were dicing hard for second when they came across
a restarted Craske who was trying to run at racing speeds
with a rear wheel pointing in all directions. Craske spun
wildly catching the rear of Cox's car and sending him into
the wall. Hansen somehow avoided the debris and Hughes just
avoided a head on with the stricken Cox. Schraetz took the
win ahead of Hansen, Beckers, Anthony Brewer and Dermott McGivern.
Race four saw a somewhat depleted field for
the Helter Skelter (honest) race sponsored by Gilbert Rice.
Sayell led off Wesbroom with Schraetz coming through to take
the lead on lap three and disappeared into the distance. Wesbroom
and Goodman were dicing for second until Bonner and Hansen
relegated them. Bonner and Hansen were scrapping furiously
while Hughes passed Wesbroom and Goodman. Schraetz took his
second win ahead of Bonner, Hansen, Hughes, Goodman, and Wesbroom.
New men
Some new drivers made their first appearance
at the meeting. Paul Holloway son of former Spedeworth driver
John Holloway who was sharing his car with Duncan Reid, and
Pete Ager who had spent three years building a midget to share
with ex motorcyclist Paul Roberts. Roberts was practicing
the car when it inexplicably went out of control, rolled three
times and caught fire. Roberts escaped with minor injuries.
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