UK V6 Classic Modifieds

02/06/2026

CORRECTION
Our next meeting is NOT on June 14th but is two weeks later on the 28th.

Originally scheduled for the 14th but changed at a later date.
The Brat

02/06/2026

Meeting report - 31/05/26 Fanning on the double!
Round three of this years championship took place at Swaffham Raceway last Sunday. Six cars were "booked in" to race but I thought that perhaps Mark Harvey (65) might have been making a surprise return because the traffic on the A47 from Kings Lynn to Swaffham was so slow that it may have been caused by Miss Daisy on his way to the track!? Clearly it was not. It was a transformer being moved from the docks at Lynn en route to near Norwich.
The sad news was that we would be down to five cars as Jordan Meakins (Stag 33) better half Kirsty was taken into hospital for an overnight stay and we wish her well for the future.
Kevin Butcher (Moggy 74) was also going to be a non-attender as he still hadn't sorted out the front suspension and brakes on the Morris Minor. Compounded to that, Butch had fallen off a box on top of a caravan step hurting his back, using inappropriate access equipment whilst attempting to affix a "day room" (flipping awning!) to the side of his motor home (caravanette).
The first heat lined up with John Thorogood (JPS Capri 37) off the front. His dad Mick "Wurzel" Thorogood (Vitesse 17) behind him, Al the "Store man" Fanning (Capri 71) next followed by Steve the "Brat" Brattan (Anglia 75) and lastly Andrew "Spinner" Bailey (Cortina 20) electing to start off the back to see if he had sorted his handling issues. Following the two warm up laps Tango was away in the black Capri. Sadly for him, his time at the front was short lived as the engine started to miss fire and as the other cars passed him he decided to pull the car off onto the centre green. Wurzel took up the lead but his car appeared to be too hard on the outside front pushing on allowing Fanning and Brattan up the inside. These two then had a good close race for the lead up to the end. Spinner Bailey was having a good race closely following the Brats Anglia until on lap eleven, yes you've guessed it, he span again bursting a tyre causing the car to hit the curb ripping the back axle from its mountings. Brattan was trying to go around the outside of Fanning who was on his inside line and as the two of them went over the finish line on the last lap, the Brat was only half a bonnet short. Al took a deserved win from Steve and then Mick was the only other finisher.
After the race, Wurzel knock a couple of clicks off his outside front suspension on the Vitesse and then discovered he hadn't checked his tyre pressures!
Heat two with only three cars left had Mick on pole followed by Steve with Al at the back having won the previous heat. Wurzel appeared to still be having handling issues as the Brat passed him on lap four and cleared off. Wurzel and the Store man were then engaged in their own private battle for the rest of the race with Brattan wining from Thorogood and Fanning.
So to the final. Despite there only being three cars in it, this was probably the closest race of the afternoon. Wurzel had adjusted his suspension again and decided to start off the back despite having the option to start on pole. Fanning and Brattan then had a titanic battle for the lead for all of the race with Al hugging the inside line and Steve trying hard around the outside. Mick was very close behind as the cars rotated as one. At one point Brattan had got by Fanning down the star/finish straight but not by enough to take it up. Very close, tight and clean racing which resulted in a blanket finish with Al taking the win, Steve second an Mick third.
After all this hard work this afternoon, the points chart is "status quo" with Brattan still leading Fanning by two points. Mick Thorogood moves up to third place with the unfortunate Jordan Meakins being unable to attend dropping to fourth. Andrew Bailey is in fifth place after two meetings with John Thorogood in sixth.
Wurzel had informed us that this would be his last meeting as he was hanging his helmet up for health reasons. I have raced against this "old git" for a lot of years going back to Alwalton and FWD hot rod days at Swaffham, respected him as a driver and friend. He says he wants to sell his two CM's the Vitesse and the Viva, both race winning cars, but if he doesn't he may have the occasional ride out.
The next meeting will be on Sunday 14th of June which begs a number of questions,
Will the Moggy actually be there?
Will Tango have an engine built and fitted by then?
Will he do more than three laps?
Will Wurzel sell his cars or reappear?
Will the Store man move off the inside line???
Will Spinner get his car repaired and steering column sorted?
Who's the oldest CM driver now?
The answers will all be revealed at Swaffham on the above date.
The Brat.

01/06/2026

26/05/2026

The third round of the 2026 UK V6 Classic Modified points championship takes place at Swaffham Raceway this Sunday 31/05/26 start time 12 midday.
Last years champion Steve Brattan (75 Anglia) has a slender lead at the top of the points chart, closely followed by Al Fanning (71 Capri) and Jordan Meakins (33 Stag). There's only four points between first and third, so too close to call at the moment! Michael Thorogood (Vitesse 17) is a little way back in fourth but there's still plenty to race for. Newcomer to the CM's Andrew Bailey (20 Mk 2 Cortina) is in fifth place and if he can keep the car in a straight line, could be a contender once he's used to the slick tyres etc. Mr Unlucky, John Thorogood (37 Capri) is currently in sixth place which must surely improve if he could only finish a meeting! Tango has put a lot of work into sorting the engine (again) of the JPS car, so fingers crossed for Sunday. Still to appear is the Moggy now owned by Kevin Butcher (74). Butch has been revamping the front suspension and brakes on the car but has since hurt his back! Don't know if we'll see him this weekend?
The top three, the Brat, the Store-man and the Rain Master will be head to head again for points. Wurzel would like to "win the first one". The Spinner would like to finish a race without spinning! Tango would just like to finish a race!
Come and see the "old gits in old cars" in action this Sunday. Come and sun yourselves on the grass banks and watch a bit of racing. There is a bar.
The Brat.

28/04/2026

I entitled my meeting report for the last April meeting as "And it didn't rain" because Jordan Meakins won the final on a dry track. Those of you who have read my posts before will know that my nickname for Jordan is the Rain-master as he goes particularly well in the wet.
Talking of Jordan, he has Pirelli slicks for sale at a very reasonable price.
The Brat.

28/04/2026

Meeting report 26/04/26 - And it didn't rain!!
The last Sunday of April saw round two of the UK V6 Classic Modifieds 2026 points championship take place at Swaffham Raceway. Six cars attended the meeting with the 74 Moggy of Kevin Butcher not making it again due to issues with the front end. Maybe next time, for the May meeting? In 2026 I mean! Oh well, we did get to greet a "new" driver to the formula namely Andrew Bailey (20), who has purchased the former Miss Daisy Mk.2 Cortina. Heat one was led off by Mick Thorogood (17) in his Vitesse followed by his son John (37) in the JPS Capri. As there was a three way tie in the points table, with last years points champion, Steve Brattan (75) winning the final last time out, he starts at the back of the grid with Al Fanning (71) slotting in behind Tango (37) and Jordan Meakins (33) next. Our new driver Andrew starts at the very back for his first race as per our rules. You may recall in my last post that I needed to get a nickname for Andrew, well, It's Spinney. He's got this nickname because obviously he was not used to the Cortina and he span out on the warm up laps!? He then span out twice more during the actual race. Anyway, Wurzel was away off the front followed by Tango. The Store man (Al) , the Rain Master and the Brat were participating in their own battle for the minor places. On lap 5, Tango was slowing in his Capri (blown head gasket?) with Al boxed in behind him in the other Capri. Jordan and Steve both capitalised on this by sweeping around the outside of the Capri's down the back straight. Brattan appeared to be on a mission passing the Meakins Stag setting off after the remaining Thorogood. The Vitesse and Anglia were locked in a close battle when on exiting the Road End bend, Wurzel stepped the back end of his car out causing the Brat to brake up to avoid taking him out. Mick recovered to take the win from Steve, Al, Jordan and Andrew.
The 71 Capri was on pole for the second heat, followed by the Meakins Stag, Brattans Anglia, Thorogoods Vitesse and Baileys Cortina. Al was away from lap one as Steve passed Jordan. The Brat then chased down the Store-mans Capri latching onto his rear bumper. Jordan was having handling problems with his car again as Wurzel passed him on lap 5. Spinney was doing better this time having opted to start from the back again, not spinning out and actually passing the Stag for fourth place. The front two were having a close race with Al taking the chequered from Steve, Wurzel, Spinney and the Rain Master. A bit of head scratching in the pits to try and sort out the handling on the 33 Stag for the final for which Jordan was on pole. He was followed by the Brat, Wurzel, Store-man and Spinney. Jordan went straight for the inside or Fanning line as we know it followed by Steve, Mick, the aforementioned Al and Andrew. These five cars were virtually nose to tale for the whole race with the exception of Spinney who span out twice again on laps 6 and 7. Jordan took the flag from Steve, Mick, Al and Andrew.
A good days racing with close fast action on the track. This meetings results leaves last years points champion Steve Brattan leading the 2026 championship from Al Fanning and Jordan Meakins. Mick Thorogood in fourth, Andrew Bailey fifth, John Thorogood sixth and Kev Butcher yet to score.
One or two issues to sort out before our next meeting at the end of May. Butch has got to get there! Tango needs to replace a head gasket and complete more than one race!
Come and see the "old gits in old cars" 31st of May at Swaffham International Raceway start time 12.00.

21/04/2026

With the weekend fast approaching, the Classic Modifieds will have their second meeting of the season. There is currently a three way tie at the top of the points chart with last years points champion Steve Brattan, Jordan Meakins and Al Fanning each having 37 points. This meeting will see the "debuts" of two new drivers to the formula, Kevin Butcher in the 74 Moggy and Andrew Bailey 20 (need to think of a nickname for him!) in Miss Daisy's Cortina. Butch has raced various formula's over the years and Andrew recently peddled a stock saloon around Swaffham, so look out for these two! Then of course we have the father and son team of the Thorogoods to be wary of. Mick 17 has had to undertake a complete refurb of his transporter solo which has taken time and John 37 is all ready to race at least one week early! It will be good to get seven cars out there and could cause a bit of mayhem for the old gits in old cars. Start time 12.00 midday at Swaffham Raceway, come and say hello and look at these classics! The cars not the drivers??!! Thanks to Miss Daisy for changing the header pic.

29/03/2026

Good afternoon All, not such a joyous post this time as I have to report that Mark "Miss Daisy" Harvey (65, his number not age!) has had to retire from racing. The Cortina was collected today by its new owner and Mark sent me pictures of the car on the trailer as proof! In my short time of racing a CM but a long time racing in general, Mark is one of the nice guys, up for a laugh, a beer after the racing and the banter. He was always approachable and level headed certainly in his year as "Mr Chairman". I am sure that Mark wouldn't mind me sharing with you that his wife Lorraine has health issues which are obviously more serious than racing an old car around Swaffham! The travelling was getting to him as well being the furthest traveller although I did suggest that he should move. I for one will miss his miserable face on arrival to the track which quickly changed to a smiley one when as the first race approached. Always a clean, fair driver but sometimes a bit slow into the turns! Good luck Daisy, not goodbye BUT, we'll see you later!
The Brat.

29/01/2026

Fixture update.
Please note, our meeting in June will now take place on the 28th. This is part of a Speed weekend BUT we will only be racing on the Sunday.
Sorry Wurzel, you'll have to cancel your cruise!