1991

Since the previous issue of Short Circuit the Grand Prix Midget Club has announced two major sponsorship deals with an upsurge in driver interest and support from several different quarters.  One wonders if this underestimated Formula is finally going to get the recognition it deserves?

The 1991 Drivers Championship will be sponsored by Kent Cams and George Polley Motorsport jointly with several hundred pounds being paid out in prize money at the end of the season as well as an increased number of placings in the trophy stakes.

After three meetings Harry Sayell is perhaps predicatably leading the new Championship.  Whilst the Peterborough meeting was a minor disaster for him with a stray plug lead in the second race and a spin after hitting a stray exhaust in the third, costing him points, he made amends at the next Northampton meeting on May 5 winning two of the three races including the Bill Boarer Memorial Shield.

But far from the cushion he had hoped for Harry is being pressured, and what's more by a newcomer in the form of John Calladine, from Cam Dursley in Gloucestershire.  John has had two wins, two seconds and two thirds in the last six races - enviable results by anyone's standards and he's just ten points behind Harry.  One or two red grade drivers not to mention a certain silver top one, may well be relieved to see John upgraded to red after just three meetings, though frankly that shouldn't prove much of a handicap to this exceptional driver!

Since our last update Duncan Long has had his first VW win and his first VW crash!  The victory in heat two at Peterborough and the 30 points earned at that meeting brought him to within one point of Harry Sayell for the third outing but disaster struck in the first heat when he was unable to avoid a spun Ron Elliott.  The resulting damage meant he missed the second heat too.  A third place in the Final whilst struggling with a still damaged steering rack was only some small consolation.

Peter Shreeve is perhaps the fox that can catch out Harry and Duncan described as the 'Hare and the Tortoise' in the May issue.  Peter often pops up in the results as he did in last year's Cliff Davis Trophy and World events and it was he who won the Ace Communications Shield in the Final at Peterborough.  Peter is currently fifth in the Kent Cams/Polley Championship, one point behind Harry Lowe.

Kevin Stanford, another wily creature, should not be overlooked and he has installed a new engine built by Mick Mueller of Hot Rod fame and is currently sixth.

In addition to the new Championship deal the Club also announced the reinstatement of the Angel Hotel Series - to be run at the Northampton meetings during 1 991 with generous support from the new Manager at the Hotel, Mr Keith Salmon and his Head Office associates.  The series will award trophies to the top five drivers and prize money over ten places at the end of the series which reaches its conclusion at the British Championship meeting on August 26.

More fresh paint is in evidence, the latest change being that by the father and son Haynes team with a smart grey and red livery and matching new Short Circuit sticker!  The EIS Racing Dastle driven by Ron Elliott now sporting some very posh EIS green panels, thankfully not damaged in the crash.  Ron is currently leading the race for the top front engined Midget but Roger Pooley who collected some good results at Northampton is closing the gap rapidly, both need to make hay whilst they can with two new front engined cars expected out very soon.

Gordon Pooley's new car made its debut at the Bank Holiday meeting, based loosely on an Arrow.  It's much narrower than usual, using wishbone suspension at the front unlike old Arrows and specially designed hubs which are already receiving a lot of attention from driver builders in the Formula including Basil Craske!

The month of June will see the Midgets first meeting at Ringwood this season (15th) and the European Championship on the 23rd at Peterborough.  The Club is hoping its recent good fortune in the sponsorship stakes will continue whilst they search for a sponsor for this big event.

Finally, it's also anticipated that an announcement will be made about an additional meeting for the Formula on a track not raced on in recent years...