An Interview with former National Banger Masters Champion Mullet 492 Dean Harper
(interview published April 23 2014 in the lead up to the big van banger meeting at Dover on May 5)

Age: 23
Home Town: Rainham
Occupation: Pipework inspector
Family: Fiance Hannah and daughter Daisy
Racing career: First raced a Rookie Banger at Dover six years ago

You’ve become something of a regular at the big van meeting at Dover in recent years, are you looking forward to this year’s meeting?
Yeah, I always look forward to this one. I think it goes back to the short time when I was bangers regularly and I was usually chasing points and trying to get the best results I could from my meetings but the van meeting was always different and it was just about having fun and enjoying myself and now that I only race a few times a year I just do the meetings which I think I will enjoy and get the most enjoyment from and this is definitely one of them. It helps that I started to try and find some unusual vans to race and that’s been great fun.

You have certainly created some special memories at the Dover van meetings, has there been any that were particularly special?
I think the first bus I had that just fell apart was pretty brilliant, doing that for the first time was just an amazing buzz and you really can feel how much the people watching are enjoying it. It’s hard to explain but you honestly can sense it and it’s just a great buzz to do that and I loved it which is why I’ve always tried to fins something similar ever since and I’m pretty gutted that I couldn’t find something particularly special for this years meeting. The soup kitchen last year was really good as well and the best thing about that one was that when it fell apart it actually went really well and I thoroughly enjoyed racing it.

Despite not having another special van for this year’s meeting, it is still set to be a special afternoon as your younger sister and Bangerstox racer Amy is making her National Banger debut, are you looking forward to that?
I am, it’s been a long time coming now. She’s been on at dad (former Masters Champion Roy) for quite some time now about doing a banger and he’s been a bit hesitant but we all felt a van would make the most sense for her. So last year we found her a van but we managed to keep it all a secret. The van actually came from (Dean’s fiancé) Hannah’s dad so everyone was in on it except Amy and we managed to keep it a secret from her until Christmas where dad gave her a card with a photo of it in and she was over the moon so it was a pretty cool surprise and she’s really excited now. It helped that she had her first (Bangerstox) win (on April 6) which I think has given her a little extra confidence. It’s going to be very different to her racing her Ka in the Bangerstox but I think she’ll do fine.

Are you worried she might show you up?
Absolutely, she’d never let me forget and I think I might have to disappear if that happens (laughs). In my defence I’ve not raced for too long so I’m a bit rusty so if that happens that will be my excuse.

On that subject you raced at the Supreme Championship at Mildenhall recently, did you enjoy that meeting?
Yes I loved it. I love racing unlimited bangers at Mildenhall, there is a great buzz when you do and that was definitely a special night. The last chance race was brilliant for and while I was gutted to just miss out on qualifying (Dean finished fourth and only the top three qualified) I was still pleased because it was my first meeting in a while and I started almost at the back so I still thought it was a good result and then I wrecked (the car) in the next one so it was a good night all round.

As you mentioned you don’t race too often these days, what is about the van meeting at Dover that usually attracts you out?
It’s just a good fun meeting and that is what banger racing is supposed to be isn’t it, having fun and enjoying yourself. I really don’t like racing Mondeos so that’s about half the season at Dover that I’m not likely to do and so the van meeting is ideal, because it’s rear wheel drive, it’s fun and it’s my local track. I’m a great believer in supporting your local track, I’ve never understood drivers who drive past their local and go hundreds of miles to race somewhere else, that has never made sense to me but I love Dover, I grew up at the place and always enjoy it and the van meeting is always a good one so I always try and do it. I also like the fact that the vans are I think built like bangers. Over building has become a problem at some van meetings which I think is a shame because it takes away some of the fun but it’s never been a problem at Dover which keeps it really enjoyable.

Have you any plans for the rest of the year?
We’ll have to see what happens and how things work out. I would like to do the unlimited meeting at Dover if I can. Last year’s meeting was absolutely brilliant. I know it was a one-off and very special but it would be nice to do it again because I do like racing a rear wheel drive car at Dover, when I was a kid watching my dad there that’s how it was so the unlimited meeting does remind me a bit of how Dover used to be and it’s usually a good meeting even if there isn’t a huge field of cars. I might also try and do the non Mondeo meeting at Dover as well, especially if I can find a Bluebird as I still love racing them but again it all depends on time and life, the truth is I love spending as much time as I can with my little girl. I’ve spent my whole life listening to people saying they regret not spending more time with their kids when they were younger and I really don’t want to be a dad who misses too much, that’s really important to me.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My dad mostly because he’s done so much and still does a great amount for me, more recently Mick, Murray and Becky have been a big help but I think over the years pretty much everyone involved in racing in Kent has helped me at one stage and I’m grateful to all of them.