Aire Valley Buggy Club

[J77MYF]

I never went. Why did it fold?

[Aire valley]

Those were the days...a proper club.... I think that photo was the winning team one year of the regular "Inter club" championships we used to run with Batley, Harrogate, York and Halifax clubs.. Aire Valley always won of course.!
The club started as Horsforth Buggy Club with about 10 members. Ran at Lee lane School...We moved to Yarnbury Rugby Club and initially ran on the field before building a permanent grass track there. Moved to Apperley Bridge late 80's with the intention of building a permanent dirt track but, for a couple of years ran on grass behind the sports building. Eventually the dirt track was built by digging out and sculpturing the soil. Concrete corners were built ( by Graham Gill) and the edges lined with white pvc...the soil was oiled initially to bind the soil but I don't think it was done again...too messy.!
We had some great meetings, regionals, Nationals, and of course the two Reedy meetings '92 and '94... We were only supposed to have the first one as compensation for not getting the '93 Worlds, but Mike Reedy enjoyed it so much he asked to come back in '94.....
Sadly, the hard working committee faded and left and the club died.. be warned.!
Some of us are still about, Chimmy was at Batley on Sunday and Colin Gill is a regular.
I have some photos of the Reedy races, usually with me at Batley..

[bretts]

Hi Alan,

I never knew that about the Worlds!! All I remember it was being at Romsey.

Yes it was the Inter club.

The funny thing is that when I came back to racing 10 years later it was still being fought over. Here is another pic with the York team, I think some may recognise a few. With good 'ol Derek as team captain.

They must have felt sorry for me to allow me to join that team!!!!

[Aire valley]

Brett.... I must have retired by then.! don't remember that, apart from Derek of course, and I didn't know you defected to York..
I thought the Inter club series died after Halifax closed and York gave up the Sutton under Forest track..
You still haven't been to Batley on a Sunday....good astro track now...

[bretts]

Not sure where it is now, Alan and that pic is from over ten years ago....

I'm looking to getting my son into RC now he's seven so watch out! we might be crashing round Batley soon. But I will keep an eye on the dates and try and come down one sunday.

P.s. Here's the Reedy Race from 1992 if you've not seen it before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2e2vmEbt7A

[Aire valley]

Thanks Brett... I'm sure I have a copy of that video in my loft along with programmes. RRC report etc..! The Romsey club held the Worlds in 1987 I think because they had the first dirt track, I think, in the UK.. The chap who ran it, Bill Jones..?, advised us when we built our dirt track.
The 1993 Worlds, which we applied for, went to Basildon who were well supported by Parma and Tamiya ..Big George Land was instrumental in that.. They put on a good event, but when I spoke to Cliff Lett there he said he preferred Aire Valley.! Kudos indeed from one of the top stars of the era..

[Madcowie]

I nearly came down to Batley last sunday but didn't get back in time from lovely Blackpool. So expect me to come and say hello at Batley sometime soon. I follow all sorts of Motorsport and Rugby League so when I cant find anywhere to go I will come and say hello. I live out Huddersfield way now so I went to watch 1/8th road racing a couple of weeks ago at Halifax and was bored to death. Was like watching flies buzzing around. I think 1/5th would be more my speed these days! Oh still have my Pro Cat and RC10 in the loft!

[Madcowie]

Just had a thought. I made Aire Valley Buggy track for a game called Rfactor about 8 years ago. Err my skills have increased since but I hope you get the idea! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMTTcm6GGdM

[trevron73]

I would love a 1:10 scale /1:8 rally cross track )1:5 would maybe work at 3 to 4m track width using tarmac grass astro gravel and dirt .I know of a track but is there a call for it ? I often wonder why the UK's biggest mail order rc shop for 25 years ,does not have the country's best track near by ??

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by trevron73

I would love a 1:10 scale /1:8 rally cross track )1:5 would maybe work at 3 to 4m track width using tarmac grass astro gravel and dirt .I know of a track but is there a call for it ? I often wonder why the UK's biggest mail order rc shop for 25 years ,does not have the country's best track near by ??

WHAT?

[Aire valley]

Originally Posted by Madcowie

Just had a thought. I made Aire Valley Buggy track for a game called Rfactor about 8 years ago. Err my skills have increased since but I hope you get the idea! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMTTcm6GGdM

That's a great simulation of the start straight and first couple of bends and last corner..!.....missed an awful lot of the centre out though..
Like to see an updated version..!

[Aire valley]

Some photos of the 1992 Reedy at Aire Valley.
Mike Reedy was a real gent.... The stars were Cliff Lett (great guy) and Brian Kinwald.

[Aire valley]

Mike Reedy and Cliff Lett.

[Aire valley]

A race...! Cliff Letts Yokomo is in there.

[Aire valley]

Note the track improvement....the "steps" were removed on Cliff Letts recommendation..!

[Aire valley]

Mark Pavidis was the top driver that year..

[Aire valley]

Mike Reedy with the winning cars..

[Aire valley]

Rostrum.... Mark Pavidis, Craig Drescher, Robert Gammon, Richard Isherwood and others..

[jim sykes]

also on the pic a very young rob gammon