Who would be your 5 modified drivers to represent England in the Internations Cup?

[Peter S]

So which five english drivers would you select from the modified class to represent England in the Internations Cup at Croft in October??

My 5 would be

Gordon Rogers - Vauxhall Corsa
Dave Bellerby - Vauxhall Nova
Dave Ward - Vauxhall Corsa
Des Wheatley - Metro Gti
Mike Turpin - Vauxhall Nova

[BertMk2]

That does assume that Dave Ward would be up for it, isn't he selling his Corsa and building a new car? Will that be ready by then? Assuming Dave Ward doesn't make it the 5 should be:

Gordon Rogers - Vauxhall Corsa
Chris Evans - Nissan Micra
Dave Bellerby - Vauxhall Nova
Mike Turpin - Vauxhall Nova
Des Wheatley - Metro GTI

[Stevie A]

If i was picking the team now, i would agree with Peter S. But it'll be interesting to see how Mike Dresser's Lotus and Phil Collard's Ford Ka develop throughout the year. Maybe one of those may make it in. It's just a shame Chris Evans isn't British!!!

On the subject of modified, does anybody know what is happening about Rose/Flynn/Binks??? When will their new cars be ready??? And also why haven't we seen Joel Doran since Croft??

[Peter S]

yeap Chris evans is irish!

If no davey ward, then maybe Mike Howlin or Mike Dresser

[BertMk2]

Knackers, I forgot that Irish doesn't count as British. Never mind. Stick Mike Howlin in there instead then, he seemed to be going well last I saw of him.

[Peter S]

Greg Roses car is ready, dont know why he isnt on the list.

As for Flynns and Binks it will probably be Blyton in July.

Engine problems have held up the new Mini of Binks.Joel Dorans disaperence is mysterious, maybe buisness or sponsorship problems.

[BertMk2]

There seems to be something of a shortage of modifieds at the moment, I know there are people building new cars at the moment but even taking that into account the grids are still a bit on the light side.

[Peter S]

Yeap completely agree. Now is probably the best time to implement division 2 and division 1a as seperate classes so we conform to europe.

One of the problems is modified machinery is becoming so exspensive to build that consideration to the European classes is a more than a reasonable alternative. If you look at 1996 when the Gb champs ran to the European regs and ran the modified class in adition, there were 50-60 cars. Stock hatch has been the savour but the modified class need to grow. Maybe the costs have put a lot of people off cos only 1 can win which is maybe why the class is down to around the 15 car mark. If division 1a and 2 was implemented seperatly then another 12/13 cars could be attracted in each of those to classes allowing a better spread of machinery across the board.

Another option to attract more to the modified categroy would be to reintroduce the capacity split has everyone now has to a have a 2 litre engine to be competitive. 1600cc machines which were so popular in GB are now being lost. That could be the main reason. before we had 1600cc max and then a over 1600cc class which would be a better way of doign it (i.e formula b and formula c)

What has happened to other likes Mark Watsons Ford Focus, Lance Foster in his mini (he does the northern rounds), Brotch and Buckmaster. These were all supposed to be doing the full championship

[BertMk2]

Mark Watson was at Lydden for the Easter event, I seem to remember hearing that he will be upgrading the car to supercar standard for next year (he's recently put WRC suspension on and will do the rest of the mods for next year). That might explain why he's not doing the full championship this year.

Buckmaster (Paul??) was also at Lydden (at least I think he was although that may have been the February event).

There were a few minis at the Lydden round as well, Matt Osborne was back for one (can't remember who the others were).

It does look like the cars are out there but they're just not doing the full season.

On the engine capacity thing 1600's can still compete (has to be a vauxhall though), Dave Ward was running a 1600 and isn't Mike Turpins Nova a 1600?

[Peter S]

Yeap Turpin and Ward runs the 1600cc engine in there Car, but those are the only real two running the engine.

wheatley has a 1800cc engine in the car as he says it is difficult to compete with Evans's Micra. The new micra has certainly moved the goalposts in the category.

If that about "Mad Mark" Watson is true, then that is great news for next year. Adrian Horsley comeback in a Ford Focus is still to materialise as well.

As for Buckmaster then yes he was at Lydden but just surprised drivers like this arent doing a full championship. ALthough Iain muir should be a regular now in his new Opel Corsa and Michael Boak will have a new Seat Ibiza by the end of the year.