An Interview with National Banger driver Stevo 210 Steve Hayward
(interview published June 18 in the lead up to round four of the 2014 National Banger BBA British Championship on June 28)

Age: 36
Home Town: Attleborough
Occupation: Lorry driver
Family: Girlfriend Kira
Racing career: First meeting was in Rookie Bangers at Swaffham, aged 18

First and foremost are you ok after Saturday (June 7, Steve collapsed after exiting his car in the Accumulator qualifier)?
Yes, I’m absolutely fine now, just a bit sore still but that goes with the territory doesn’t it (laughs). Other than that I’m completely fine..

Can you tell us what actually happened?
Well I’m not completely sure. I got taken out and took a couple of hard hits. They were hard but nothing out of the ordinary and nothing unlike what I’ve taken before but because I was stuck across the track I then had more cars collect me or had more cars buried into me and after the first couple I think that was where it started. I remember thinking ‘here comes another one’, again it’s just part and parcel of racing but at some point I think the wind got knocked out of me and I started seeing stars. Eventually I got hit so much it knocked the car towards the Armco and I thought I would be able to get out so I did and at first I felt ok, just a little winded and then I started to feel worse. I said to (marshal) Mark (Lathan) that I was just going to sit down and the next thing I remember was looking up and all these people being round me asking if I was ok (laughs). I’m not sure what it was but I’m fine now and it was really nice that so many people have asked how I am.

It’s just been confirmed that there is a space for you in the British Championship as one of the RDC reserves, you must be pleased?
Yes I am, it’s really great that I have qualified, especially as I have never managed to get into the race before and it’s still one of the biggest races of the year at RDC and Mildenhall so it will nice to be a part of it for the first time and I’m really looking forward to it.

Was trying to qualify an aim this season and were you disappointed to not make the top 12 after the final round?
It wasn’t originally, to be honest these days I enjoy the crashing so much now that trying to qualify for the British really wasn’t on my radar but I picked up some decent points early on and then had a good meeting at the second round at Mildenhall so I figured I had to give it a go because it would be a little silly to not at least try. I wasn’t disappointed at only being a reserve. Not at all, I’ve learned that you can’t look at the sport like that because if you do you will just set yourself up for disappointment, you just have to take it all as it comes and enjoy yourself, that’s the most important thing.

Now you are a confirmed starter in the British Championship, have you any goals for the race?
Well again, the main thing is to just enjoy it and I’m sure I will, it will be a big buzz just to be a part of the race and I’m really looking forward to doing it for the first time. I would like to finish it, I think that would be a bit of an achievement for myself but I know that won’t be easy with so many top drivers and being such a long race as well. I’ve no illusions of being a contender to win it, I don’t think that is quite within my reach or my budget. Every driver races on a budget but it’s their budget and what they are able to afford to spend on racing and mine isn’t as large as others and the bigger your budget the better chance you give yourself I think but that is the same with a lot of sports and hobbies so for me to finish would be really good and another more would be a massive bonus but if the chance of a good crash presents itself I’ll probably go for that instead (laughs).

You mention your crashing side and we’ve seen a great deal more of that in the last 18 months, is there anything which has brought this out of you?
Yeah I think I have really. I’m not sure why exactly but I think racing with Ratty (326 Shane Lynn) is a big part of it. He’s in the same yard as me now and we kind of bounce of each other a great deal and always watch out for each other and I think that’s been a part of it. But also with the way the sport have gone forward in terms of people spending more and more it has in turn become harder to stay competitive and so I think someone like me can get disheartened if they keep trying to win races but getting nowhere, whereas if you have a good crash or two and maybe pick up a place here and there you’ll be pleased, or at least I will be (laughs). Crashing more has definitely helped maintain my enthusiasm for racing and having Ratty in the yard is a massive help too because it makes the whole building process a lot more enjoyable when you have someone with you.

Could you give us an insight as to your typical week with work, preparing cars and social time?
I can start work anytime between 4.30am and 7am, depending on where I’m driving to that day and a working day for me can be anything between 10 and 15 hours, again depending on what I’m doing. I’m then usually down the yard most evenings and it’s rare I’m ever home before 10.30 and 11pm on nights when I work on the cars which is more than it’s not. It’s become a little easier lately because I try not to put too much pressure on myself anymore to do every meeting. If a car isn’t done in time, it’s not done and it’s not the end of the world, we obviously prioritise the important ones but the other meetings, if we miss them then so be it. I’m lucky because Kira is extremely supportive and really enjoys the racing and that makes a massive difference.

You are again booked in for the Siamese meeting with brother Ben, are you looking forward to that?
We are, it’s just great fun and it’s great to race with my brother because he doesn’t do too much now but he loves that one. It was also great to be the winners of the first Siamese meeting and last year we had some big crashes and rolled over as well so I suppose we’ve done it all now and so there is no pressure to do anything this year, we can just enjoy it and take it as it comes.

Have you any other plans for the rest of the season?
I want to do the last chance races at the 2litre World Final at King’s Lynn, the unlimited Suffolk Open and the World Final again at Ipswich but besides that we’ll just see what comes up and what time allows me to do.

We’ve seen more of you in unlimited bangers in recent times and you’ve had some cool cars as well including a Rover P5 already this year, do you enjoy the unlimited meetings?
I do because the cars bend a bit more and bend more like a banger should. I do like the Mondeos but they just bend like a banger should do they! I got into the sport properly through helping Speedy (88 Alan Read) and that’s probably where the love of Rover P5s has come from. The one this year, did well, I managed to get three meetings from it and it ended up a big mess at King’s Lynn. That was cool, it wasn’t very fast but I saw the wrecking train so went in and then one of the Bears came in and you know that’s got to be a big hit but the driver’s area stayed straight like it’s meant to and the car folded up like a banger should!

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
The misses obviously for all her support, Ratty and Ben for everything they do, Mark for driving the lorry and helping and anyone who’s ever picked up a spanner, changed a wheel or done anything to help, all the little bits make a difference.