UK V6 Classic Modifieds

06/10/2026

Final meeting report for season 2026 - The Final Countdown.
Seven Classic Modifieds, or old gits "n" old cars, attended Swaffham Raceway last Sunday for the last meeting of the season. It was all to play for for last years points champion Steve, the Brat, Brattan (Anglia 75) and Al "the Car Park Attendant" Fanning (Capri 71). Going into this meeting, only two points separated these two with Brattan having the points advantage. However, Fanning would start in front of Brattan as Steve won the previous meetings final.
Sunshine welcomed the drivers into Al's pre-selected parking spots in the pits. Joining Al and Steve was John "Tango" Thorogood (JPS Capri 37), Jordan "the Rain Master" Meakins (Stag 33), Kevin "Butch" Butcher (Moggy 74), Andrew "Kerber" Bailey (Cortina 204) and Les "Swampy" Clarke (Vitesse 218). Also in attendance but not racing due to lack of a finished Viva was Mick "Wurzel" Thorogood (Viva 17) who looked a lot better following a recent illness.
The pressure was mounting as the old gits lined up for the first heat which was led away by Tango Thorogood. He was followed by Jordan, Al, Steve, Les, Kevin and Andrew. Despite the track being bone dry, Meakins was on the move quickly passing Thorogood for the lead. Fanning and Brattan were nose to tail as they have been for much of the season in third and fourth. Bailey, Butcher and Clarke were having their own battle for the minor places. Al and Steve had a coming together on the pits turn which resulted in Steve spinning Al out and receiving a black cross with the Capri ending up on the centre green. Following a red flag, at the restart Jordan led the remaining cars away with Steve in second, John in third, Andrew fourth, Kevin fifth and Les sixth. This is how they crossed the line at the chequered. Steve was docked two places for the earlier black cross therefore finishing fourth.
Heat two - Unfortunately Al Fanning loaded his Capri up as he thought there was a mechanical issue with it there by sadly ending his title bid.
This heat had Thorogood off the front. He was being chased down by Brattan. Meakins passed Bailey after his first heat win for third with Clarke and Butcher battling at the back. Tango was making the black Capri extremely wide and it felt that sometimes he had a caravan on the back! The Brat tried the outside line a number of times, switching to the inside but couldn't make a pass stick. Thorogood won from Brattan, Meakins, Bailey, Clarke and Butcher.
To the final. The Brat was on a mission leading the cars away for a flag to flag victory. However, the best race of the afternoon had the Rain Master and the Kerber having an epic battle for second and third. Nobody was watching Brattan roar away, they were all watching the white Cortina and blue Stag race side by side for the majority of the race inches apart and very cleanly. Brattan had the win with Bailey just claiming second, Meakins third and another mini battle between Clarke and Butcher for fourth and fifth with Butch finishing just ahead of Swampy. What about Tango you say?, well, he was peddling around close to the battle for second and third when he thought that Jordan was getting close to him and in taking avoiding action, put the Capri up the high kerbs holing the sump! More engine work! But at least we're getting used to taking the engine out and refitting it fairly quickly!!
All in all a good days racing with the Brat retaining the National Points Championship. Al took second place with Jordan third. A full points chart was displayed on here yesterday.
On speaking to Craig the Promoter, we are more than welcome back for season 2027 and dates will follow shortly.
I will "do" an end of season report as before for each driver shortly.
Well that's it. Some questions for 2027:
Will Jordan get wet meetings?
Will Andrew buy a tyre pressure gauge?
Will Kevin get a round in at the Carpenters?
Will John still be last minute.com?
Will Les paint his car pink and yellow like Mr Blobby?
Will Mick get the Viva done?
Will Al ever be last to arrive at the track?
As for me, how much longer will I go on??
Come and have a look at the "old gits n old cars" in 2027.
The Castrol Stag is still for sale or how about building a new one. I think an 100E would make a great CM.
Hope to see you all next year.
The Brat.

Minute is the first licensed wireless carrier built specifically for developers.

05/10/2026

04/10/2026

Now on !!

01/10/2026

Final meeting preview for this season 04/10/26 at Swaffham Raceway.
This meeting could be entitled "The heat is on?" or "Under pressure" but I have settled for using last years final meeting title again "The final countdown". Yes I know that I used this title last year when much missed Mark Harvey (Miss Daisy 65) and Steve Brattan (The Brat 75) were fighting for the points championship right up until the last meeting, but this year the championship is even closer and could go down to the very last race of the year.
Currently, last years points champion Steve Brattan is only two points ahead of Al Fanning (Car Park Attendant 71) with three races remaining of the 2026 season. Who's nerve will hold? Which one can stand the pressure?
Will it rain to be another factor of the championship race?
I bet Jordan (The Rain Master 33) Meakins hopes so. He is currently in a solid third place but will surely wants to end the season on a high. Returning this meeting after a surprise holiday will be Andrew Bailey (The Kerber 205) who has certainly got the Cortina going well. John "Tango" Thorogood (JPS Capri 37) will also look to continue his run of at least winning a heat since his engine rebuild. He should have brakes for this meeting after a master cylinder repair! Les "Swampy" Clarke (Vitesse 218) will be out for his second meeting in the V6 powered cars. It will take this former Mondeo Rod champion a bit of time to get used to these more powerful rear wheel drive cars I think. Rome wasn't built in a day Les. Also getting used to these cars is the Moggy pilot Kevin Butcher (74). Butch has been improving in the Moggy as he has been adjusting the car to his style of driving. I expect both of these drivers to be challenging for top placings next year and we will need a stop watch for their lap times and not a sun dial?!
Joking aside (?), these cars are a handful and take some getting used to. The other Castrol Stag is still for sale if you fancy having a race with the "Old gits n old cars". Just for clarification, Jordan is not quite an old git yet.
So that's it. From the title of Europe's 80's anthem it IS the final countdown.
Will there be a new champion in Al or will Steve retain the title?
Come and have a look on the 4th start time 12 midday ish at Swaffham Raceway.

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.

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 😃😂.