Ten Years On - 28th March 2008

March 21st 1998 – Radical’s first one-make series starts.

Mick wins, Phil second
Mick wins, Phil second
Ten years ago last weekend saw Radicals first tentative steps into race organisation.  The previous year saw the first two Clubsport cars built and developed by Radical co-founders Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott, but the Peterborough Motor Club’s 48th Silverstone meeting, run by the 750 Motor Club in March 1998, was Radicals first attempt at organising a race series.

Winter testing at the sheep-sh*t infested Curborough Sprint Circuit had resulted in a clutch of pioneering Radical purchasers, as well as some smelly car cleaning work for the mechanics.

Sam Allpass
Sam Allpass
Early purchasers included Michael Ashley-Brown who ran the finances at Canary Wharf, business man Sam Allpass, solicitor Brian Casey and future Radical co-owner, Tim Greaves.

The Silverstone National meeting saw a grid of 23 cars running in the 750 Motor Club’s, Clubsport 2000 series for Radical Clubsports and Sport 2000 cars.

And thanks to one man band VFS Video Productions the race, or at least the view from Copse Corner, has been recorded for posterity. (Clip available soon.)

An extremely surprised Mick Hyde put his Clubsport onto pole with partner Phil Abbott in eighth, four rows behind.  When the lights went out Mick led away, but Phil was up to 4th by Copse and next time around he was second with jeweller, Doug Newman and Tim Greaves charging through the pack.

The Radical finishing order of the ten lap race was:
  1. Mick Hyde
  2. Phil Abbott
  3. Doug Newman
  4. Tim Greaves
  5. Neil Crilly
  6. Sam Alpass
Michael Ashley-Brown
Michael Ashley-Brown
Steve Clark, Michael Ashley-Brown and Brian Casey battled for the remaining postions.

The Radical philosophy of producing exciting race-cars and organising well-run race series was born.

Following the early success of the Radical Clubsport, the Sports 2000 drivers were ‘not happy’ and so the Clubsport 2000 Series soon evolved into the Radical Enduro Championshipand moved from 750 MC to be run by the BRSCC.  Twenty seven Clubsports started the first race at Donington Park in 1999 for the series of half hour double-headers.

Future Radical co-owner, Tim Greaves
Future Radical co-owner, Tim Greaves
With the launch of the 1300 Prosport in 2000 came two hour, two-driver endurance races, the Enduro name was transferred to the new championship and the series of shorter races for the Clubsport cars was renamed the Radical Biduro Championship.

The Radical SR4 1200 was launched in 2003 and made eligible for the Biduro Championship alongside the Clubsport 1100.

This year the Series returns to its roots and the championship title is further changed to the Radical Clubman’s Cup, run for all bike powered Radicals including of course, the original 1100cc Clubsport.

The season opener this year looks to be as well attended as the early series with up to 30 cars expected on the grid.

So after ten years of Radical Racing what can we expect next?……..watch this space!

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