Midland Speed Championship

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Originally Posted by Snapper

At the risk of looking stupid, I've always wondered why the 'Midland' Speed championship is held all over the country.

I wondered that. Apparently it started as the Association of West Midlands Car Clubs Speed Championship which was shortened to Midland Speed.

You're quite right though perhaps it should have been called something to reflect it national status. The name is now however well established so I guess it could be have a negative effect to re name it.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Midland Speed is the best championship that spans both disciplines (Sprints & Hillclimbs). A name change would be inappropriate as it is so well known amongst competitors.

My only concerns are that there are several clashing rounds within the Championship and a lot of rounds that are far from the heartland of speed events in England which usually means a poor entry from the Championship contenders.

BTW Midland Speed did not start off as AWMMC. AWMMC joined in when its own championship never materialised into anything of consequence so rather than continue to run their own poorly supported championship they joined Midland Speed. Roughly half the events are in the Midlands and 2011 is its 25th year.

[MrsSJF]

I've been searching around in vain for more details of the origins of the Midland Speed Championship; it's originators, more details of its first year .. 1986? I guess a lot of the paper archives will pre-date web archives, but I'm interested in which venues it attended that year, who entered, who won, who set what records, who beat what records etc? Anyone have any info?

[JamesK]

Make contact via the website, John Phoenix is the Webmaster and i'm sure either he or a current committee member can provide the datails.

Regards

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Originally Posted by PumaWestie

I notice that there is a single round at Kames on there A nice little track but a long haul for a 1 day event from the Midlands

It now looks like there will be an event at Kames on the Saturday before so more reason to go there - and you get some practice in (although possibly in the other direction!)

[RichHW]

Originally Posted by MrsSJF

I've been searching around in vain for more details of the origins of the Midland Speed Championship; it's originators, more details of its first year .. 1986? I guess a lot of the paper archives will pre-date web archives, but I'm interested in which venues it attended that year, who entered, who won, who set what records, who beat what records etc? Anyone have any info?

The earliest record I have is the AMMC Graffix Sprint Championship 1987(Stuart and Juliette Nix, John Stonard and myself ran it).
I think we may have called it Midland Sprint in 1986, the year before Graffix brought the sponsorship.
I don't know if this was the forerunner to Midland Speed (as Steve says, there was the AWMMC and also a Nottingham championship) but you're welcome to have a look at the info.
We had rounds at Curborough, Donington, Scammonden, Oulton, Baitings and in 1988 added Harewood, Colerne, Gurston, Cadwell.
My memory is not good but I'm sure there was also some championship in the mid 70's that ran at Curborough, Gaydon, Wellesbourne etc.
OMG 40 years in the sport next year, how depressing...

Rich

[Martinp]

Names from the past....Are Stuart and Juliette Nix still involved in sprinting/hillclimbing?

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Originally Posted by MrsSJF

I've been searching around in vain for more details of the origins of the Midland Speed Championship; it's originators, more details of its first year .. 1986? I guess a lot of the paper archives will pre-date web archives, but I'm interested in which venues it attended that year, who entered, who won, who set what records, who beat what records etc? Anyone have any info?

First champion was Alan Inwood in an MG Midget in 1987 followed by James Slack, Barrie Heath, Peter Barden, Sandy Moran, Roger Coombes, Alex Smith, Lawrence Bond, Nick Beere, Dave West, Ian Moon, David Marshall, John Palmer, Dyrr Ardash, Ash Mason, Gary Thomas and Martin Depper some winning more than once.

[RichHW]

Originally Posted by Martinp

Names from the past....Are Stuart and Juliette Nix still involved in sprinting/hillclimbing?

I bumped into Juliette at Doune of all places a few years back and she has been down to Curborough.
I saw John not too long ago, commentating at Curborough.
I haven't seen Stuart in many years.
I don't think the web is the place for personal details so catch me at a meeting for an update.

Rich