Past Masters at Minnis
By: Val Dawson
Either side of WWII, Brands Hatch created a huge interest in grass track racing in the south-east of England. After the track was surfaced for road racing, it was left to other clubs to cater for the many thousands of enthusiasts still keen on off-road racing to travel to many venues across the area. The Folkestone Club’s track at Rhodes Minnis was always a bigger draw than most. Undulating, challenging and fast, the big money on offer would also tempt the top riders from speedway. Perhaps twice a year, star-studded fields usually guaranteed track racing at its best.
Alan Artus and Mark Nelson on a high speed demonstration of 1980s sidecar racing
On 1 August, the Astra Club revived those glory days when the track was used to stage the 2010 British Masters National Championships, the event that determines the year’s top riders in the 500cc solo and 1000 sidecar classes.
The meeting was also dedicated to the memory of the Astra club’s former chairman and top racer Alfred ‘Monty’ Banks, who passed away last year. To mark the occasion the club had invited many of those who had been part of the Rhodes legend in years past and they turned up to share reminiscences over past races and rivalries, which was relayed to spectators between races when grass track historian and ‘roving mike’ Dave Stallworthy caught up with them.
During the lunch break some of the riders made demonstration laps, with special acclaim for Trevor Banks, Monty’s son and former British Champion.
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