British Historic Kart Club RetroRacer Championship prepares for biggest season ever

As one of the fastest growing kart clubs in the UK, the BHKC has gone from strength to strength since its formation in 2005 and now boasts some 300 members with more and more joining each month. The new season promises to be more competitive than ever across the championships’ four classes (Veteran, Vintage, Historic and Classic) with all the 2010 champions returning and plenty of ‘new’ and exciting machinery set to hit the track in anger for the first time in many a long year after extensive restorations by their owners.

Magnifying the increasing popularity of the historic karting scene is the fact that more than 50 drivers have entered the season opening round at Ellough despite its relatively remote location for many competitors with an equal number of drivers opting to demonstrate their karts during the breaks between races instead of participating in the races themselves.
Each class caters for karts from different eras with two sub-divisions (Class I for direct drive 100cc motors and Class IV for gearbox machines) in each class. The Veteran class is for karts built between 1959 and 1963 while the Vintage class (1964-1971) will be spearheaded by defending class IV champion Bob Reynolds (Blow/Bultaco). The Historic class (1972-1977) will see the addition of several Villiers powered karts that formerly raced in the Classic class (1978-1982) meaning that defending Historic Class I and Class IV champions Peter Freeman (Blow/DAP) and Eric Atkinson (Blow/Montessa) will have even more competition to deal with as they bid to win again.
Always spectacular, with karts that are still capable of lapping faster than some modern machinery, the Classic Class is well supported once again with reigning Class IV winner Dan Rawden (Zip/Rotax 125) expected to be at the fore once again. Among the exciting new entries for 2011 include James Rawlinson’s freshly restored 1981 TKM and Erica Coates’ 1962 Aerokart while the overall variety of machinery competing remains unrivalled anywhere in the UK.

The RetroRacer Championship will also visit Teesside, Llandow, Larkhall, Whilton Mill and Clay Pigeon during 2011 and there will be further displays and demonstrations during the year at Kimbolton, Shenington, Rissington, Donington Park (Donington Historic) and Silverstone (Silverstone Classic).
To learn more about the British Historic Kart Club and the RetroRacer Championship please visit www.britishhistorickartclub.co.uk or www.retroracer.org