Evening all, Sunday September the 10th 2023 will always be remembered as a good day for Bognor Model Car Club.
This was our second running of the Pete House memorial meeting. This meeting happens once a year in memory of our very much missed chairman Pete House. Pete was the chairman, and “face” of BMCC for over 20 years. It’s fair to say that without him, BMCC as we know it today would most likely not exist.
This meeting is not only to remember Pete, but also to try and raise money for the air ambulance service as this was Pete’s chosen charity. During this event we run a “normal” race meeting, but the emphasis is on having fun, and meeting up with ex racers, and racers from other clubs, rather than race results and lap times.
We run the event in this manner as this was all part of what made Pete so special. He always saw the “bigger picture” of the club, and how important it was to have fun, and help other members out during meetings, this is probably why the club is still going strong more than 30 years after it was started.
We also run a concourse event at the start of the meeting. Pete was a paint sprayer by trade, and always enjoyed preparing a smart new shell for a big event.
We hold a raffle during the event, with all proceeds going to charity. All of the racers entry fee also goes to the air ambulance as well.
This is made possible because the Aldingbourne Centre provides the hall free of charge for this event, so many thanks to them.
This is also a good time to again thank everyone who came and raced, donated to the raffle and, bought raffle tickets. We should also mention that one of our regular racers made a very kind gesture of donating 100 pounds to the air ambulance service via the club. Ian lane you are a star! We also had donations from the catering team, racers family members, and many more, massive thanks to you all!
The actual event itself started on the Saturday evening for the BMCC team, and some local club members. This time was spent setting up the track, pit areas, and making final plans for the day.
The big day arrived, and the sun was out, and the racers arrived on mass. When all the drivers were booked in and set up, a drivers briefing was done explaining the running of the day. The concourse event was then held with all cars on track for photos, and judging. Allan Goodland’s daughter Holly was kind enough to judge the concourse event again, (she did such a good job last year) that it was never a question as to who would be doing it at the 2023 event. Same again in 2024 Holly? 👍
The concourse winners were,
1300 stoxcars, Ian Lane
2litres saloons, Keith Furminger
Mini stoxs, Jack Cooper
Hot rods, John Lemm
All the winners were given chocolates as their prizes. 😋
A timed practice for all drivers was then held before the 3 rounds of mixed heat qualifying started. At BMCC we use the bbk system, so all the racers have a “race slip” giving them there heat races and car numbers etc. Lee Young has gone one better than this, and has a small white board with his, and daughter Ella’s races on them. It also has space for race results, and extra room for a smiley face when daughter beats dad! 😉👍
The 3 rounds of qualifying for all then started. Racers were seen tuning there cars to the tricky BMCC oval, some were seen preparing to race by enjoying a full English breakfast from the kitchen staff! We are told it was rather good as well. 😋
After the qualifying heats were completed it was time to do the raffle. This did take some time as the raffle was mega! There was everything from a brand new TWR chassis kit, to beers, to a rc drone, to a very nice Michael Schumacher picture. It’s also worth pointing out that even with the huge amount of tickets that were sold there did seem to be a small group of people who were just lucky to win multiple times, but in the true sprit of the day they repeatedly said “pick another” giving others the chance to win a prize 👍
As everyone was in the main Hall it was then time to present the Pete House memorial shield. This is a prize that each year is given to someone on the day that BMCC believe has acted In a way that Pete would of approved of. It can not be won by being the fastest, or the best. Its awarded to some one who went out of there way to “see the bigger picture” just as Pete did so many times. Allan Goodland was the winner last year, so it was down to him to announce this year’s award winner, and pass on the shield to its new keeper for the next 12 months. This year the award was given to Keith Smith (very much to his surprise). Keith has raced at the club for over 30 years and was good friends with Pete. It was said that this was the only moment during the day Keith was lost for words!
It was then time for the finals. With a lot of cars, and races to get through it was straight finals for all classes. We will start with the 1300’s. The winners in each class, plus the top juniors would get vaiours prizes.
The D final would have Phill Reed on pole, with Ziggy Tate on grid 2, and young James Henderson on grid 3. Ziggy would go on to take the win in this one, from Phill, and young James.
The C final would have Andy Henderson on pole, Rob Driver on grid 2, Ella Young on grid 3, David Harrison on grid 4, luke Henderson on grid 5, and Keith Furminger on grid 6. This was a very close final with the top 3 all on 70 laps. Rob would take the win from Andy in 2nd. Ella would take 3rd, with Keith, luke, and David filling the other places.
The B final would have Marek Szrok on pole. On grid 2 would be lan Lane, grid 3 was Allan Goodland. Grid 4 was Darren Wood, grid 5 wad Nigel Furminger, grid 6 was Oliver Parham. This was another epic finish with the top 3 also all on the same lap. Marek would take the win, from lan, and Allan. Darren, Nigel, and Oliver would fill the other places.
The A final had Keith Smith on pole, with Harry Cooper on grid 2. Chris Booker was on grid 3, Matt Caney was grid 4, Paul Cooper was grid 5, and a very respectable grid 6 went to Dan Summerfield on his first visit to the tricky BMCC oval. This was yet another close finish. Keith would take the win from Chris and Harry. Matt Paul and Dan would fill the other places.
The minis went all in for their final. There were 9 cars, but the drivers seemed happy for some “mini madness” Alex Suckling would take the win, from Paul Cooper in 2nd. Ian lane would take 3rd, with lee young in 4th. 5th was Nigel Furminger, with Jack Cooper 6th, 7th was Allan Goodland, 8th was Harry Weymouth, with Austin Suckling 9th.
The saloons would also go all in with 6 cars. Lee Young would take the win from Alex Suckling in 2nd. 3rd would be Ian Lane, 4th was Dan Summerfield, with Austin Suckling 5th. Unfortunately Keith Furminger was a dns.
Brushed rods next, the B final would be won by Matt Caney, with Ian Lane in 2nd. Allan Goodland would take 3rd, from Darren Wood in 4th. Jon Lemm was 5th. Marek Szrok was 6th.
The A final was won by Chris Booker in a impressive drive. Keith Smith was 2nd with Harry Weymouth in 3rd. Jack Cooper was 4th, with brother Harry Cooper in 5th. Max Flynn was 5th.
The Brushless (BRCA) rods went all in with 5 cars. Lee Young would take the win from Alex Suckling in 2nd. Ella Young would take 3rd with Austin Suckling 4th, and Richard Harris in 5th.
Full race results can be found in the Results section of the club website.
Thanks again to all that helped make the day a success, to Juilet and Rob on race control, and to everyone that helped pack up at the end.
The total raised for the Air Ambulance this year is £772.42. Roll on 2024!