IPA Race Day is an iconic event which has been one of the highlights on the IPA calendar for many a year. Members of Leicestershire Branch work on behalf of No 5 Region to organise and ensure that the event is available for members across the UK to attend and enjoy. What a wonderful day it was too! The sun shone brightly and over 100 IPA members, family and friends were able to enjoy the thrills on the track and the opportunity to get up ‘close and personal’ in the pits with cars and drivers. Members are also able to overlook the starting grid from the viewing windows of the Hailwood Suite, a perfect place to watch the race from.
The BRSCC Alfa Romeo Championship has been running since the early 80s and still remains one of the best supported club racing series in the UK. It offers the opportunity to race in a very friendly, yet highly competitive environment with a wide variety of budget options.
The team sponsored by the IPA for 2017 was the BRSCC Alfa Romeo Championship whose members were competing for the Twin Sparks Cup in rounds 13 and 14 of the championship. The drivers battled with each other in two thrilling races and with the championship leader, Andrew Bourke (Car No: 69), having an ill-fated crash, it was left to the remaining drivers to benefit from his bad luck.
The eventual winner of both exciting rounds was Dave Messenger – a worthy recipient of the Peter Goodwin Memorial Trophy. This year, the IPA trophy was being presented by Peter Elliott, who was named Peter in memory of his grandad. Also taking part in the presentation was Louise Shaw, the daughter of Peter Goodwin. Louise also presented all the Alfa Romeo awards to individual drivers who were successful in their individual categories.
The IPA has had an interest in motor sport since the sixties, when John Gott, the Chief Constable, Northamptonshire was racing his Austin Healey 3000, and has provided trophies at such prestigious circuits as Silverstone, Donington Park and now here at Mallory Park. The Peter Goodwin Trophy was instituted by the IPA Nottinghamshire Branch in memory of a local Officer, Peter Goodwin, who died in service. Peter was very interested in motor sport, so it is a fitting tribute to him.
Sincere thanks are due to IPA Leicestershire organisers, the management and staff of Mallory Park (Motorsport) Ltd and of course, all those IPA colleagues who turned out in force to make Sunday 24th September 2017 a day to remember. It was particularly pleasing to receive the following message from Steve Bretherton (IPA Branch Cambridgeshire):
“Just a quick note to say a big thank you (IPA Leicestershire) and all the other organisers for a great day at Mallory Park on Sunday. My group had a fantastic time, including meeting Chris Rea and seeing his 999 panda car, which was a bonus. We’ve already updated our Facebook page to show our members what a great day they missed.
I’m sure that I can attract more people to the event next year and I’d like to book a minibus to make it as easy as possible for members to attend from Cambridgeshire”.
Chris Rea is an English singersongwriter and guitarist, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. One of his most famous hits is ‘Driving Home for Christmas’. He was the driver of a well preserved Morris Minor ‘Police Car’ and took part in the Historic Racing Driver’s Club (HRDC) ‘Coys’ Trophy Race. It was lovely to watch these classic cars turn out in force and hurtle around the track.
Article prepared by Fred Rankin (Publicity Officer)
