UK V6 Classic Modifieds

08/09/2026

Meeting Report 06/09/26 - The heat was on!
Jordan Meakins (33 Stag) must have thought his rain dances had worked as rain welcomed most of the teams as they awoke on Sunday morning. However, on arrival at Swaffham Raceway the pits and the track was perfectly dry staying that way throughout the meeting.
Six cars had booked in for the penultimate round of the National Points Championship, but Kevin Butcher (74 Moggy) was taken ill on Friday and advised to rest by his GP. Andrew Bailey (204 Cortina) had already advised that he was away on holiday.
First car in the pits was the current points leader Al Fanning (71 Capri) who now has a new nickname of the Car Park Attendant organising where we all park. He was joined by John "Tango" Thorogood (37 JPS Capri), Steve "The Brat" Brattan (75 Anglia), the aforementioned Jordan "Rain Master" Meakins and a newcomer in Les "Swampy" Clarke (218) with the Vitesse which he had recently purchased from Wurzel Thorogood (217 Viva). Les is by no means a "newcomer" having raced various formulas in his long racing career but probably best known for his exploits and many wins in the Mondeo Rods. Joining the Rain Master, it was good to see his partner Kirsty in attendance following her recent visit to hospital.
The heat was on Al and Steve as they were only separated by two points in the championship with Al starting behind Steve which could have been critical.
Heat one was led off by Tango followed by the Rain Master then the Brat, the Car Park Attendant and Swampy off the back for his first race in a Classic Modified. We all expected John to clear off in the JPS Capri but Jordan and Steve went around the outside of the Capri on the first bend. Al wasn't close enough to follow them through and the battle of the two Capri's commenced. This lasted for seven laps with Fanning completing the pass on Thorogood around the OUTSIDE (I know, not on the Fanning line!) after three laps of trying. Meakins and Brattan had gone, circulating rapidly nose to tale about half a lap in front of the Capri's. Jordan was struggling again with handling issues but still quick enough in a straight line. Thorogood was dropping back into the clutches of Clarke who tried an outside line around Thorogood but couldn't make a pass stick. Jordan took the win from Steve on his back bumper, Al took third, John maintained fourth place with Les in fifth.
John's brakes were nearly non-existent for this race which would explain his lack of speed because these car a handful at the best of times let alone without brakes.
Heat two had Tango lead the field away from the Brat, the Store man (one of Al's nicknames), the Rain Master and Swampy. John had clearly found some brakes from somewhere as he was certainly quicker in this race. Al found a way by Jordan on lap four latching onto Steve's back bumper. Les was not having such a good run this time following slight tweeks to his car that did not work. Tango had certainly got his caravan on as Brattan was having difficulty in finding a way by inside or outside. John took the win from Steve, Al, Jordan and Les.
To the final. With the previous heat winners moving back and Swampy still electing to start at the back, the Brat was off the front. He led the cars away and disappeared into the distance. Al and Jordan were having their own battle and Les passed John. The Anglia was on a mission lapping the Vitesse and the JPS Capri before the end. Steve won from Al, Jordan, Les and John.
These results mean that the Brat has regained the points lead from Al by two points,
but critically he must start behind Al at the last meeting.
So the heat was on but this report could easily been called Flag to Flag.
You couldn't have written this as the points race could go down to the last race of the season. How exciting is that??
You need to be there on October 4th to see the outcome. Will Brattan retain the title or will Fanning be crowned the new champion?
Start time 12 midday ish.
The Brat.

07/09/2026

03/09/2026

The focus falls on Jordan "The Rain Master" Meakins today with his Stag no. 33. Nicknamed the Rain Master because Jordan goes extremely well in the wet normally winning easily. He is a former National Points Champion pedalling and I am sure he wont mind me saying this, his ageing Stag. He has a brand new car which is virtually ready to go but one of Jordan's challenges is time. He's out on the road as a trucker five days a week which obviously limits his time with his young family and time spent on his race car. Jordan also likes to make the occasional foray into banger racing. Currently a solid third in the championship race with two meetings to go. Car racing is a very large part of life with the Meakins family with his partner Kirsty looking after the website. He'll be doing a rain dance on Sunday morning. Just look at that car behind him!

01/09/2026

Kevin "Butch" Butcher (74 Moggy) is the next "old git" to get a mention. Butch purchased the Moggy Minor, well it seems like years ago🤔 but really it was earlier this year after the season had commenced. It's took him some time to get it sorted and to meet the current CM rules. It still needs tweeking but he is getting quicker and quicker by the meeting. Kev has been a long suffering good friend of mine for years helping with building and prepping too many cars that we care to remember. I expect he will be strongly challenging us all in 2027.

01/09/2026

Meeting preview - 06/09/26. The heat is on!
As I write this preview we have officially entered meteorological autumn, BUT, for the current National Points Championship leader Al Fanning (71 Capri) and the second place contender last years champion Steve Brattan (75 Anglia) the heat is certainly still on. With two meetings to go there is only one point between Al and Steve. Can they take the pressure? The driver currently in third place Jordan Meakins (33 Stag) will be in attendance (hoping for rain?) without his better half Kirsty who has been in hospital for an operation. We wish her a speedy recovery. The driver of many nicknames (not all good) John Thorogood (37 JPS Capri) will hopefully continue his new habit of winning the first heat. His dad Mick Thorogood (217 Viva) used to have the honour of this but he will not be there as he has sold the Vitesse and his other car the Viva is not ready. Talking of the Vitesse, the latest owner is Les "Swampy" Clarke (218) formerly of Mondeo Rod fame. He'll fit in very well maintaining the old git tradition. Kev Butcher (74 Moggy) or last minute.com will be pedalling the Minor round and he is improving with every meeting. Butch has been out of racing for a number of years, the last car he raced was front wheel drive and these big cars take some getting used to!
So that's the preview for this meeting where the heat will definitely be on.
Come and have a look at the "old gits n old cars" at Swaffham Raceway this Sunday 6th start time 12 noon ish.
The Brat.

We are building something.

29/08/2026

What about this for an excellent "retro" set up. This rig is the Classic Modified 71 Capri of Al Fanning. The car is prepared to a high standard and likewise his tow vehicle. Regular readers will have noted that I have nicknamed Al "The Store man" and/or "The Engine Man". Well, that's because not only was Al a real store man years ago, but that grey van has everything that a CM needs spares wise. When a drivers race car needs a part, you can bet that Al will be there volunteering to let him have that part. Also, "Engine Man" because he has built not only his own engine for his Capri, but also engines for Jordan Meakins and John Thorogood who have both had wins with Al's engines. A talented and "proper" engineer! A true gent and a trustworthy rival. I sometimes wonder that the current National Points leader may need to fit a sat nav to his race car to find his way off the Fanning Line 😃😂.

28/08/2026

https://www.tiktok.com/.v6.classic.modifieds/video/7679194503386860822

TikTok | Make Your Day

26/08/2026

An unusual shot of Tango working on the JPS Capri. No, its not unusual because he's actually working on it, but this pic was taken three weeks before a race meeting! No more last minute.com anymore John 😂😂

25/08/2026

Question - who's car is this?
Well the regular followers of the Classic Modifieds would answer that it is Mick "Wurzel" Thorogoods Vitesse.
Last week you would have been right, but Mick has sold it to another "old git" Les "Swampy" Clarke at the weekend.
Mick is taking time out from racing as he has not been well recently and instead of parking it up, he decided to sell it. Swampy (clearly no need to give him a nickname! well not yet!!) who was looking to change formula following years of racing Mondeo Rods collected the Vitesse last Saturday. The number will change to 218 for the next meeting as Les intends to give it a run out on Sept 6th.
Wurzel will not be lost to the CM formula as he has still got the Viva, his favourite car. He's going to get this car ready for the new 2027 season.
Welcome to the "old gits n old cars" Les, you should fit in well.

17/08/2026

Meeting report - 16/08/26 The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!
A good turn out of seven UK V6 Classic Modifieds attended Swaffham Raceway for the latest of the season long chase for the National Points Championship.
Heat one had John "Tango" Thorogood (37 JPS Capri) starting on pole. Behind him was his dad Mick "Wurzel" Thorogood (17 Vitesse), then Andrew "Kerber" Bailey (204 Mk 2 Cortina), Steve "The Brat" Brattan (75 Anglia), the current points leader Al "Store man" Fanning (71 Capri), winner of the last final Jordan "Rain master" Meakins (Stag 33) and lastly Kevin "Butch" Butcher (Moggy 74) electing to start from the back. The weather was dry and fine and the track was in very good condition as the cars circulated for their two warm up laps. John was away closely followed by his dad. Brattan was pressurising Bailey and slipped through on the inside on lap four to take up third place. The Brat then set off after Thorogood senior. Fanning was trying to follow Brattan through the traffic. He passed the Bailey Cortina on lap eight closely followed by Meakins. Jordan was having minor handling problems with his Stag but was still on the move. Lap ten saw contact between Bailey and Meakins resulting in Jordan being spun out. The clerk of the course did not take kindly to this giving Andrew a black cross and docking him two places for contact. Meanwhile, at the front Tango was on his merry way now followed closely by the Brat who had passed Wurzel. Steve was in a Thorogood sandwich!?! With a close run to the line, John took the win from Steve. Mick was 3rd, Al 4th, Kev 5th the docked Andrew 6th and a recovering Jordan 7th.
Heat one was a lively affair and surely heat two would be calmer?
Butch didn't take the Moggy out for this race as an oil pipe was leaking and he didn't feel too well. The other six cars took to the track with Mick Thorogood off the front with Andrew Bailey next, then Steve Brattan, Al fanning, Jordan Meakins and the previous heat winner John Thorogood at the back. Wurzel was away at the green setting a cracking pace, certainly got those old tyres working. Kerber was chasing as was the Brat. Both leading drivers appeared to have learn't from heat one as they both stuck to the "Fanning Line" protecting their inside. Brattan looked up the outside a couple of times but chose discretion rather than valour at this point. He and Fanning are locked in a championship battle where all points count. Tango was not having a great race suffering from a sticking caliper which obviously was slowing him down. He tailed off at the back and Jordan was still peddling his ill handling car the best he could resulting in a spin (by himself this time!!). The first four cars were nose to tail with Mick taking the win, from Andrew, Steve and Al. A recovering Jordan fifth and a slowing John sixth.
With Wurzel winning heat two, he had to join his soon at the rear of the field. Kerber was now at the front, second on the grid was the Brat, then the Store man (Engine man?), the Rain master and the two Thorogoods. Mick passed his son on lap one with the JPS Capri suffering from brake issues still. Bailey, Brattan and Fanning were rapidly circulating nose to tale at the front. Meakins was trying hard but dropping off the leading pace. Andrew was not hitting the kerbs this time and was driving a tidy line. He hung on to win from Steve, Al and Jordan with Mick, the old man, winning the battle of the Thorogoods. I say old man for Mick as he has recently had a birthday making him the second oldest CM driver. No guesses as to who is the oldest!?
You will recall, if you're still awake that I entitled this report the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The Good - a good number of cars in attendance. Wurzel back from being ill. Kerber brought the cakes!
The Bad - a bit of contact creeping in which will not be tolerated! Butch being taken ill possibly due to the fact that he had to buy some more trailer straps??
The Ugly - well take your pick from any of the old gits in old cars. I think Wurzel.

With two meetings left to go, the pressure is mounting at the top of the points chart. Al still leads the charge from Steve but only by one point now. Jordan retains third place with Andrew creeping up in fourth. Michael is five points ahead of his son who is in sixth with Kevin in seventh place.

The next meeting for the Classic Modifieds is at Swaffham on Sunday 6th of September start time 12 midday. Come and have a look at the old gits n old cars.
The Brat.