An Interview with National Banger driver Humps 587 Alex Humphrey
(interview published May 6 2014 in the lead up to the pre 70 banger Tony Osborne Memorial at Mildenhall on May 24)

Age: 29
Home Town: Braintree
Occupation: Mechanic
Family: Mum, dad and sister
Racing career: First banger meeting was at Henham in 2003.

You are something of a classic car banger meeting specialist now, what is it about these kind of meetings you enjoy so much?
The cars, the cars, the cars (laughs). I just love everything about them, from finding them, building them and eventually racing them and I get a big buzz from trying to recreate how racing used to be by racing the old cars because for that night it’s just like it was 20 years ago and it’s an amazing feeling. I don’t enjoy the modern cars anywhere near as much now so it’s better for me to just stick to what I enjoy, do a few less meetings each year but do the ones I really enjoy and it also allows me to travel around a little more and do some different tracks as well but honestly the Mildenhall (pre 70) is my favourite. It’s my home track which always makes it special but I honestly think it is one of the best classic car meetings of the year so it’s one I especially look forward to.

The pre 70 night at Mildenhall has been extra special for you in recent years since hosting the memorial trophy for your former friend and team mate Dan Hollingsorth, is that one of the reasons this meeting is so important?
It is but the meeting was always special for me before that and it’s just another reason to look forward to the meeting for me.

You’ve had quite some success since the introduction of the memorial trophy including winning a race at the Odd Job memorial meeting, does that rate as a career highlight for you?
Definitely, winning a race that night was incredibly special for me and I think up until last year I’d won every year the Odd Job trophy was there but I haven’t won the memorial trophy which would be a great thing to do. Unfortunately (the bubble A55) hearse wasn’t so quick last year so that ended that run but I had a great night in the car, it really was brilliant and I can’t see this year’s car being too quick either so I’m not expecting much in the way of results but I am looking forward to racing it.

We might as well move onto that now, what car have you got lined up for this year’s meeting?
I’ve got something pretty cool actually, it’s a 1953 Vauxhall Wyvern and it’s a bubble shaped one which is quite rare and unusual, I don’t think one has been raced like it for a while. It does need a lot of work though so I have a back-up plan if it doesn’t go to plan but hopefully it will, we’ve still got plenty of time and it should be ok. I was really lucky with the car because it came from just down the road. My truck was having some repairs done and dad went to collect the truck and they had just picked up the car and he made them an offer of £50 on top of what they had paid if they put it straight on our truck which they agreed and it was ours. It’s sat in a garage for 35 years so it’s not in the best of shape but it looks cool.

Again you are a regular at the classic car meetings around the country, which ones do you enjoy?
I like them all really. I love the (A60) Amble at Eastbourne, that is always a fantastic night and I always enjoyed the Hednesford meeting and was really disappointed when it was cancelled last year, I thought that was a real shame. Stoke the other week was really good even though it was the first time in my career I’d been knocked out (laughs). I’m going to Scunthorpe in September and I’m looking forward to that because it will be my first time there, it’s always nice trying different places out when the chance comes up.

Despite your affection for classic car meetings you raced recently at the 1400cc Suffolk Open team meeting, did you enjoy that and might we see some other meetings from you in the future?
I loved Good Friday, it was a brilliant meeting and I had a great time and winning the Accumulator when no-one finished was superb, that was a fantastic race and it was awesome to have a few WI (Engineering) cars still running at the end, that was a real buzz. Hopefully I will be doing some more this year, it’s the source of despair for my mum as I have a Cavalier, Primera and Omega at home to race at some point and now I’ve qualified for the Accumulator championship I will probably do that, even though I really don’t enjoy racing Mondeos too much. The Primera and Cavalier will probably be for a non Mondeo meeting as I think they are quite good and I reckon I’ll use the Omega at a rear wheel drive meeting as well.

This year’s pre 70 meeting sees a few changes, first attacking on opposite is outlawed until the last race and this year sees the Mk3 Cortina and Lada Riva allowed for the first time, what are your thoughts on that?
I think not having the turning round is the right move. These cars are so hard to build and take a lot of time and money and while anytime you race you take the risk it could be over in a lap it is nice especially with these cars to get some laps or a race from them first and I think not having the turning round until the end will give people a better chance of having that so I think that is a great move and I believe most drivers will feel the same. As for the cars, you always have to move on with meetings like this because it is becoming harder and harder to find cars and neither (the Mk3 Cortina or Lada Riva) is going to be a big threat I think. They are hardly common anymore and the ones you can find are going to be pretty rotten. Admittedly a Cortina might be quick but no quicker than say a Triumph 2000 and I doubt it’ll be a match for one strength wise and Rivas are far from quick. (188 John Reeves) had one at Stoke the other week and I passed him in my A60, I even waved as I went past (laughs).

A big talking point about this year’s meeting is the visit of the Boogiemen, is that something you are looking forward to?
Very much, they are a great bunch. Jack Turner talks to them on Facebook a bit and they’ve suggested it would be great to have a Boogiemen and WI Engineering wrecking train and then all go in the bar afterwards (laughs). That is what out racing is all about and I’m sure those guys are going to be a brilliant addition to the meeting.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My dad especially and Derek Caton for everything they do to help me and also Jack for all his years of joeying.