An Interview with Ministox double heat winner on April 18 and Anniversary Trophy winner 304 Tony Elbourn
(interview published April 30 2014 in the lead up to rounds eight of the Ministox Mildenhall Track Championship on May 10)

Age: 13
Home Town: Bury St Edmunds
Occupation: School
Family: Mum, dad and brother Danny (Ministox #344)
Racing career: Started Ministox at Mildenhall in September 2012

You’ve had a great start to the regular season after a disappointing spell during the Winter Series which included winning the Anniversary Trophy on March 8 and then having a pair of heat wins on Good Friday. What has been the highlight of the last few weeks for you?
I think it was the heat wins (on Good Friday). The reason they were so special for me was because I won them both from the yellow grade. I think a big reason I did so well at the Anniversary meeting was because I’d been downgraded to the white grade after all the bad meetings I had and that gave me a really good advantage and I made the most of it and that was the only meeting I was in the whites. So getting back into the yellow grade was a real step in the right direction for me and then to get the two wins from the yellow was a really big deal because for me it proved I was back to where I want to be, now I’ve got to try and do it again from the blue grade (laughs).

You mention the blue grade, because the two wins on April 18 see you move back to the blue grade, the grade you were in prior to the Winter Series, are you pleased to get back there?
Yes, definitely. Having those bad meetings in a run was pretty disappointing so to get back to where I was is really great for me. My target is to try and stay in the blue grade now but my long term goal is to get into the red grade. I know that’s going to be tough, especially at the moment because there are so many good drivers in the formula, but it’s my goal to try and get up to the top grade.

Going back to the Winter Series, why do you think you had the difficult time that you had at those meetings?
I think it was a variety of things. I had a bit of bad luck, there was a couple of meetings where I was really ill so I was far from my best and then I got hurt at one meeting so it was one of those things and it just set me back a bit. I was pretty confident it would all turn around in the end and the Anniversary meeting went a big way towards that and gave me a huge confidence boost and helped me get my form back and I’m pleased that it’s carried on since.

Were you impressed with the anniversary trophy?
Yeah, it was pretty great, it’s now in our conservatory so the family was pretty impressed with it too, it was a great trophy and I was really chuffed to win it.

It’s not just at Mildenhall where you have had success, you won the final at Arena Essex the day after the Anniversary meeting at Mildenhall, you must have been pleased with that and do you enjoy your tarmac racing?
I was because it was the best meeting I’d had on tarmac so that was great. I prefer racing on shale, that’s the best but I’m really starting to enjoy racing on tarmac too now because I’m getting more and more competitive which is great.

You’ve been travelling around a bit more lately, where have you enjoyed going and what travelling plans have you got?
I love Ipswich. It’s the complete opposite of Mildenhall but it’s so fast and a lot of fun, I love the bends there because they are so fast so it’s a fantastic buzz racing there. We are going to Scotland in May and doing Loch Gelly and Cowdenbeath. I’ve never been there before and I’m really looking forward to, it should be really good.

You’ve also been a regular at Dover since your first visit last year, do you enjoy the track and the racing there?
Yes, it’s a lot of fun there and I really enjoy my racing there, it’s always a great time and a lot of fun which is what it’s all about but I do prefer it when it’s dry. The last meeting was pretty wet and horrible and not too great so I hope the other meetings are a little better with the weather.

Your brother Danny made his debut on January 1, what has it been like racing with him?
It’s interesting. I was actually a little more nervous for him than I thought I would be. It was weird at first but when the racing starts I could only worry about myself and I almost forgot he was out there. When he had his crash (Danny rolled at the March 29) meeting that was a bit of a worry when I came round and saw him upside down but it was cool when he got out fine. It is nice having him out there and it’s definitely had a bit of an effect on our family I think and the racing is now a huge part of all our lives so it’s great that he is now out there as well and I don’t think it will be too long before he is getting good results as well.

Do you spend a lot of time on your car and is there time for any other hobbies or interests?
No, it’s all racing for me but that’s fine because it’s all I want to do right now, I absolutely love it. We spend most nights on the car but again I really love it and it’s great working on the car as well as racing it and I enjoy that side a lot and have learned a few new things which is great.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My mum and dad mainly, they do most of the work and without them I couldn’t race so I owe them a lot and everyone else who helps out.