JohnWorstencroft
51 John Worstencroft
51 John Worstencroft takes part is our March interview. The 37 year
old, Warehouse worker from Holmes Chapel first got into racing in 1981
through going to watch at Buxton and Crewe when a bunch of 12-13 lads
all got together and decided to have a go. John was in a Mk1 Escort and
told us basically he had a reallly crap day! The racing took over
however and John, of course better known as Wusty, has now seen action
at Barford, Cowdenbeath, Barrow, Hednesford, Birmingham, Northampton,
Belle Vue old and new, Eastbourne, Birmingham, Mildenhall, Rochdale,
Crewe, Wimbledon, Aycliffe(respect!), Westworld, Bristol and Arena
numbering a pretty impressive 19 tracks so far. Of the tracks raced
John rates Buxton as the best mostly for it being nice and local while
he added that he also loved going round Bristol. On asking his least favourite tracks,
Wimbledon came the quick reply, reasons being never having much luck
and that it is post and wire. John likes an armco track better to them
nice attractive posts and rates tarmac as the better surface. To add to his list of tracks John
commented he'd like to race at Tipperary and is making plans to be
there in April while Warenton is also high on the agenda.
Before the big one, his
Mk1 coupe in the pits at the 2002 Wimbo World and an immaculately
presented Mk2 Minster from last years King of the Peak
Car wise, he has been seen in pretty much all forms of Granadas and
Cortinas including Mk1 saloons and coupes, Mk2 limo plus Mk2 and
Mk3 Cortinas. The list also includes A60s, Fiats, Alfa Romeo, Sierras
and Celica plus many more. He added that he rates the Mk3 Cortina and
A60 as the best cars to race while the Mk1 coupe has been the worst so
far, remember Wimbledon!!?
At the moment in the Worstencroft stock pile motors include 13-14
Granadas including two coupes and a Mk1 saloon, 3-4 Cortinas plus a
couple of A60s but is adament none are for sale! His dream would be to
race an A60 Van or a Westy and let me know that if anyone has either of
these to please get in touch, he will pay good money!
Yet another superb paint job on last years
Wimbo World motor and the wrecked motor from the 2003 Chig meeting
after driving through 199 Ian Davies' hearse
Looking back over the years Wusty rates the best hit he's given
out as a hit at a Buxton session but didn't want to go too much further
into it as it caused a lot of grief afterwards. On the other side of
the coin however and the biggest he's taken was the Granny coupe at
Wimbledon, 282 Lee 'Uglee' Treasurer dishing out the hit. The best
meeting he rates as the best he's ever had is a Hednesford Teams
session when he took 2 wins and a 4th, helping Buxton to a fourth place
overall. John rates either the Wimbo World or the Westworld Blockbuster
as the biggest meeting he's taken part and loves being apart of the
World the most.
As we know John likes his racing and has put his name to nearly
all the titles at Buxton at one time or another and was also the first
driver to win the Chig Memorial at Barrow. Of the title he'd most like
have his name on, the Wimbo World is top of the list but says he can't
see it ever happening, you never know mate!
John regulary appears in Buxton colours at many team meetings up
and down the land and has also been seen the Old Shark colours. His
views on team racing were that he'd much rather stay on his own, with
not being apart of a team you can race when and where you want and dont
have to answer to anyone.
John lowest point of his career was when he broke his pelvis
while winning the Chig memorial rates as his high moment, especially
when Chigs Mam filled up when presenting the trophy.
His beautiful 16/60 from last years Pre 68
bash at Hednesford and his immaculate Mk2 from the first Chig Memorial
Speaking of other drivers he rates, John rated 33 Gary Madgwick and
401 Steve 'Psycho' Hemmings as being his top two, the latter for his
never say die attitude. Of the teams he rates, Condoms, Team V and TSB
were his top three.
John told us that he was happy on the whole with racing at the
moment but is another in favour of welding ruled out completely and all
race engines should be banned. Looking at the future John thinks the
big meetings will continue to thrive but the domestic scene is going
to die out as cars become harder to get hold of, he also comments that
the whole of the domestic scene around the country should be 2 Litre
across the board. Looking at his own future he thinks he'll most likely
carry on till to big 4-0 comes and then retire and watch Coronation
Street!
His Mk4 Cortina estate from the 2003
Buxton Team session and a Mk2 from the Cowdenbeath 2002 World Cup.
We rounded off the interview by adding anyone he'd like to thank
and the list includes the Missus and all the family for putting up with
it all, Dave and family, Morgans Garage, Ian from down south plus Steve
Thacker & Pete Corbett and anyone else from Buxton, Pete especially
because he has big ears!
I'd like to Thank John very much for taking part in the
interview, always a keen driver and usually has a very busy season, we
wish John all the best for the coming season and hopefully many more to
come.
