NATIONAL AUTOGRASS SPORTS ASSOCIATION AT NEC 2009

NASA will again be strongly represented this year both in the Oval Racing Experience in Hall 10 and the Autosport International Live Action Arena daytime shows and the Oval Racing Spectaculars at 6pm on Saturday 10th and 4.45pm on Sunday 11th January 2009.

NASA Cars on Display in Hall 10

Class 1 Junior: PAC2 Alice Bevans

Junior Special: LM200 Elisha Blomfield

Class 3: SP335 Ian Clarke

Class 5: TA37 Danny Thomas

Class 7: ST307 Tony Goodsir
 
Class 8: R23 Steve Moss

Class 9: R777 Danny Page

Drivers from the following list of Autograss Class 7 cars are scheduled to appear in the Live Action shows

E50 Matt Corbett

N700 Rich Lee

NS1 John Gaffney

PAC53 Michaela Bevans

R139 Paul Waldron

R421 Rich 'Dickster' Merrick

SR2 Tommy Law

SR8 Pete Berry

SP25 Kenny Perry

ST4 Mike Mackenzie

Y28 Ant Nutter

Y306 Richard Northway

The very knowledgeable Dave Walker has compiled profiles of all the drivers taking part in the Live Action and Daniel Moffatt has supplied us with photographs of all the cars in action.


The “Dickster” - R421

Known by some as Richard Merrick, he comes from Worcester where he works as a motor vehicle technician. Dickster has been racing since a 14 year old junior some 20+ years ago and has raced mainly in Classes 5 and 7. Having gone from strength to strength this last few seasons he achieved every grasser’s ultimate aim in 2007 being crowned “Class 7 National Champion”. The car’s basically a home built unit with an “Extreme” rear frame and based on the Seicento bodyshell but now with 2 new GSXR1000 Suzukis mounted “piggyback” in the rear. Coupled together the K7 motors should be giving a strong 350hp at the rear wheels. Expect lots of showing off!


Mike Mackenzie - ST4

Racing with the Lincoln club, young Mike actually lives down in Cambridgeshire. A 17 year old student with 6 years racing experience but only a year in the seniors this young man was racing one of motor sport’s most spectacular machines before he was old enough to own a UK provisional licence! Mike’s a third generation racer and competes every weekend of the season along with his dad, uncle, elder brother and younger sister. The Mackenzie’s are a true grassing family. Mikes car started life as a Lodge built Class 5 Mini but now fitted with the single Suzuki Hyabusa engine it weighs in at about 500kg. It is a very agile car. Plans are afoot though for major upgrades to this car before next season so watch out boys and girls!


“The Gaffer” – NS1

John Gaffney works as a self employed mechanic and until recently was able to practice his trade most race days, all day in fact trying to keep the old 400hp Cossie both running and on the ground! Those happy days are behind him now though as he is the proud owner of the ex Dickie Lindsey twin Blackbird powered WL Racefab Seicento. He hasn’t looked back since and in fact his grassing tools are all rusting up! The “Gaffer” who is from Chester is of undetermined age but took up racing in 1974 when he became too old to play football! He’ll love the arena and you’ll love to watch him.


Ant Nutter – Y28



This 35 year old York racer is now based at RAF Scampton (Lincoln) where he is a flight engineer with the Red Arrows. Ant has about 15 years experience on grass but mainly in single seaters. He has completed just one season in Class 7 with this home built Mini. It sports 2 Honda Blackbirds mounted “piggyback” style in the rear. Andy Hornshaw looks after the engines and despite the car weighing in at about 800kgs it is seriously quick. Ant should have mates from work with him for the show and they will be looking after several of the “Arrows” cameras that will be fitted in the car, footage of which they will use for their own promotional work. There are also plans afoot – subject to approval of the show organisers for Ant to trail a little red, white and blue smoke as well. Now that will be a sight for the F1 “stocker” boys to gloat over!


Richard Northway – Y306

Another York racer now living in Lincoln, Richard is a haulage contractor. He’s raced fairly well continuously for 32 years. Probably more time in the Class 8 single seaters than any other class but most will remember him for his Class 3 exploits. One of the first to race a Starlet some 20 years ago, then a V6 Sierra finishing with that so successful Vauxhall powered Escort. Anyway having completed just one season in Class 7, Richard’s wondering why he didn’t join the club before as he is “loving it”! Richard is racing an ARD built mini with a 1350 race tuned Powertec Hyabusa in the back. Light fast and despite being restricted by the aged drivers slowing reactions Richard is yet again back at the front. (And smiling more than we have seen for a long time!)


Tommy Law – SR2

Proud of the fact that he races on a budget (edited version) Tommy from Shrewsbury, who works as a welder, builds his own cars. This car is now 5 years old but due to the advanced design that Tommy utilised originally it is still very much state of the art. Our old friend and ex grasser Chris Allanson of Z-Cars, commercialised the use of bike engines in grassers and today makes much of his living by putting bike engines in minis. Well he told Tommy he couldn’t fit 2 in a Mini – “can’t be done” - which was just the challenge that the “Shropshire Lad” needed. A British Championship win more or less first time out – and still winning. The car now runs 2, GSXR1000, K4 motors and will have a new drive box in time for the show.


Pete “Mr Smooth” Berry – SR8

This 42 year old grounds man from Shawbury in Shropshire has been racing for some 20 years. Early days saw success in Class 3 saloons but then for a long period of time we only saw Pete in very pretty and very fast single seaters. A former British Champion with his twin engined Class 10, Pete had a couple of years out but came back this season with a new Class 7. The mini/chassis is one of the popular John Gay “Extreme” units but the car was finished off by Pete himself. Engines are twin GSXR1000 K4 units. Very entertaining in the early part of the season with his spectacular “wheelies” he’s about got that under control on the grass but has assured us that he has saved one or two for the show!.


Richard Lee – N700

Having spent 16 long years mastering a Class 3 and then when he finally got there he made the sensible move over to Class 7! To be fair Rich is a very accomplished Class 3 driver and has taken to the Super Saloons easily and showed great promise immediately, going so far as to recently beating the National Champ into second place to take the East Anglian Open title in the class. Richard who owns his own double glazing manufacturing company comes from Pinxton in Notts has tried his hand at National Hotrods like so many grassers have but didn’t stay long. His car is an ex Matt Thompson, “Extreme” built mini now powered by a 1585 Powertec Hyabusa.


Kenny Perry – SP25

Kenny, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire works as a self employed mechanic. He’s been autograss racing for 7 years, the first 4 in Classes 4 and 5 but has had the last 3 years in Class 7 (and when they come to Class 7 they rarely go away!) Unkindly christened by some of his mates “The Snail” Kenny has had a troublesome car this last season or so, being plagued with handling problems. However he now seems to have them sorted and the ARD/ Twin GSXR1000 Seicento is finally coming good. All that said I think it likely we will see a new home built, single engined car from Kenny before 2009 is out.


Paul Waldron – R139

Must be careful here this “retro driver” from Worcester is one of the sport most respected ambassadors. The longest serving (just) of the drivers here at the show Paul has 35 years of experience behind the wheel of a Class 7 – yes you read it right. Now semi retired the Radford Club chairman runs a motorsport prep business along with son Lee and of course builds his own cars from scratch. The current car – Seicento bodyshell and own chassis is powered by two “big bore” tuned Honda Blackbirds via the usual drive box. This is a lightweight car and demonstrates Paul’s skill as a constructor because even with the heavy Blackbirds it still comes in at less than 680kg.


Michaela Bevans – PAC53

The only lady racer in the NASA team this time, Michaela needs no introduction to Autograss fans. A third generation racer whose mother, father, grandfather and grandmother have all been National Champions it was quite obvious when we first saw Michaela as a 12 year old that she would follow in their footsteps. This 20 year old university student nurse from Cosheston, Pembrokeshire is one of the sports most successful and talented lady racers of the current era. In her short career she has been British Junior Champion, Overall Ladies British Champion, Class 1 Ladies National and BAS Champ, Class 6 (unlimited FWD) Ladies National and British Champ, Class 7 BAS champ etc etc (Sorry Michaela I know I’ve missed some out!). She has also raced the Class 7 at the “Monster Jam” at the Millennium Stadium and is a representative for “girlracer.co.uk” at the annual London Motorsports Show. Her car is the beautifully turned out WL Racefab Mini powered by a single 1585 Powertec Hyabusa. Watch out lads!


Matt Corbett – E50

Another member of a well know racing family, Matt comes from Cheltenham. At 25 years old, and of course starting racing as soon as he was old enough – in those days 14 but now 12 – Matt has 11 years of racing experience. Working as a Panel Beater, Matt is well able to look after the car and the black and white Seicento is always nicely turned out. He’s had 2 years in Class 7 now having progressed through from Classes 2 and 4. This particular car started out as John Gay’s own car – John being the joint proprietor of “Extreme Race Cars”. The car will be quick at the show and Matt has already frightened a few of the “stars” this year. For the 2009 season rumour has it we will see Matt in a brand new “Extreme” Twin.