Post by administrator on Mar 27, 2009 19:30:41 GMT 1
AFTER the decline of both the Skirrow and 500cc midget groups at the end of the 1950s, midget car racing looked destined to fade into obscurity. Speedway entered into one of its many revival periods at the start of the 1960s, while stock car racing and its associate formulas was also enjoying massive popularity.
The only time the midgets appeared for most of the decade was in ‘Festival of Speed’ when they appeared at meetings also including speedway and sidecar racing. Most of these meetings were promoted by Mike Parker at various tracks including Newport.
Graham Beattie, a former Belle Vue speedway rider was a reguar driver, as was Jack Winstanley, who combined the cars with his speedway career. He summed up driving a midget as easy. “It’s basically the same technique as needed for controlling a speedway bike,” he said.
A move towards what could be termed ‘proper midget car racing’ took place in 1967 when promoting group Spedeworth International made an attempt to introduce the formula. Sadly, while appearance-wise the cars looked interesting, they were nothing like the race cars being used in the USA, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa or even the pre-war Skirrows and Eltos.
For a few years, the formula looked like making a major impact, and there was some driver interest from Holland and Germany which gave credibiity when international meetings were introduced, especially for the World Championship.
British midgets have adapted a character of their own, but since the mid-1970s have been one of Britain’s lesser formulas following Spedeworth’s decision not to promote them. This led to the formation of the Grand Prix Midget Club which defines clearly the concept of this type of racing. But there can be no disputing their enthusiasm to keep some concept of midget car racing alive in Britain.
The GP Midget Car Club makes guest appearances at many British tracks during the season, and is again frequently booked as a touring car class by their old bosses Spedeworth International.
However, there is virtually no contact with the recognised international midget car fraternity simply because there is no compatabile way for British cars to race against overseas classes. The fact that GP Midgets also allow for rear-engine cars has also contributed to their international isolation, apart from an early 2000s tour to South Africa. While the British drivers more than proved themselves against the South Africans, the rather ‘home-made’ look of their cars failed to win many favourable comments from either the home drivers or supporters.
The only time the midgets appeared for most of the decade was in ‘Festival of Speed’ when they appeared at meetings also including speedway and sidecar racing. Most of these meetings were promoted by Mike Parker at various tracks including Newport.
Graham Beattie, a former Belle Vue speedway rider was a reguar driver, as was Jack Winstanley, who combined the cars with his speedway career. He summed up driving a midget as easy. “It’s basically the same technique as needed for controlling a speedway bike,” he said.
A move towards what could be termed ‘proper midget car racing’ took place in 1967 when promoting group Spedeworth International made an attempt to introduce the formula. Sadly, while appearance-wise the cars looked interesting, they were nothing like the race cars being used in the USA, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa or even the pre-war Skirrows and Eltos.
For a few years, the formula looked like making a major impact, and there was some driver interest from Holland and Germany which gave credibiity when international meetings were introduced, especially for the World Championship.
British midgets have adapted a character of their own, but since the mid-1970s have been one of Britain’s lesser formulas following Spedeworth’s decision not to promote them. This led to the formation of the Grand Prix Midget Club which defines clearly the concept of this type of racing. But there can be no disputing their enthusiasm to keep some concept of midget car racing alive in Britain.
The GP Midget Car Club makes guest appearances at many British tracks during the season, and is again frequently booked as a touring car class by their old bosses Spedeworth International.
However, there is virtually no contact with the recognised international midget car fraternity simply because there is no compatabile way for British cars to race against overseas classes. The fact that GP Midgets also allow for rear-engine cars has also contributed to their international isolation, apart from an early 2000s tour to South Africa. While the British drivers more than proved themselves against the South Africans, the rather ‘home-made’ look of their cars failed to win many favourable comments from either the home drivers or supporters.
(c) John Hyam 2009