An Interview with multiple Ministox race winner in the 2014/5 Mildenhall Winter Series 379 Beth Usher
(interview published January 27 2015 in the lead up to round three of the Ministox Mildenhall Championship on March 7)

Age: 14
Home Town: Norfolk
Occupation: Studying for GCSE exams at school
Family: Mum, dad and younger sister
Racing career: First race was in Junior Rods at Swaffham in 2011

You started your Ministox career at Mildenhall just before the 2014/5 Winter Series and finished third in the series points, were you pleased with that result?
Yes, I was really pleased because I never expected to do that well, especially as I had only just started racing Ministox, apart from a couple of races (at the Halloween Havoc meeting), the start of the Winter Series was my first Ministox meetings at Mildenhall and there were so many things which was new to me so I never thought I would ever be able to do as well as that.

You’d raced Junior Rods before at Swaffham, before we talk about the differences with racing Ministox, why did you decide to make the change in formulas?
I’d really enjoyed racing the Junior Rods and got up into the blue and red grades but unfortunately the numbers have dropped off in the formula and the challenge had gone away really, when you are racing against the same handful of cars then every meeting starts to become a bit like the one before and I don’t think you improve much as a driver so we decided to try something different and went for the Ministox. There are so many differences to the Rods, of course there is the contact. I wasn’t sure what to expect with that when I first started but I’ve found I quite like it. The first race I did I got bashed and crashed quite a bit but I soon learned that I can hit back and I’m starting to get the hang of using my bumper to get past cars, that’s actually happened a little quicker than I thought it would. And then I’ve been racing on shale and pretty much all the meetings I’ve done the conditions haven’t been the best but again I’ve been pretty lucky and managed to get the hang of it a lot quicker than I thought. The conditions were good at my first meeting (Halloween Havoc) but unfortunately we had problems with the car that day and so since we’ve got the car going well the meetings have been wet but that’s how it goes, I’m just hoping I can do as well when the conditions are better.

You finished third in one of your heat races on the November 9 meeting, your first podium in the formula at only your second meeting and then you followed it up with a race win on November 23, was you surprised at this success and has it boosted your confidence?
It was a huge boost, especially after we struggled a little bit at the first meeting with the car so knowing that when it was going ok I could do ok was a big boost to my confidence and I think that makes a big difference. I never expected to get a win so soon, that was a huge shock to me but at the same time it was absolutely brilliant and I was really please.

You won again, last time out on January 3 and this time it was from the yellow grade which helped you earn a blue roof for the next meeting on March 7, was it extra pleasing to win from the yellows and how do you feel about now starting from the blue grade?
Again I never expected it. I was really chuffed to get to the yellow grade so quickly. I’d got up the grades in the Junior Rods but I knew this would be a different challenge and a harder one, especially because there are more cars in the Ministox and some really good drivers but it was brilliant to get this success so soon and now I can’t wait for the next meeting. It’s great to get up to the blue grade, again I managed that in the Junior Rods so to do the same in the Ministox after only a few meetings means a lot but I know how hard it’s going to be from there. It was hard from the blues in the Junior Rods so I can imagine it will be even harder in the Ministox but I’m looking forward to giving it my best and seeing how I can get on from there.

You have just registered with RDC for 2015 having been Spedeworth registered in 2014, they have dropped the Ministox class this year in favour of their new Junior Micra Stox, did you give any consideration to racing in that formula instead or as well as Ministox?
We didn’t but that was because we had the Ministox ready to go and I’ve only got one full year in the Ministox left because I’d done the years in the Junior Rods so we didn’t want to have to go out and get another car built, we felt it was best with the time I had left to stick with the car we had and just race that instead and as much as we can.

Have you any plans or goals for 2015?
I’d love to try and get into one of the big championship races somewhere this year, that would be really great just to be in one of those races and we are hoping to travel around a little bit where we can as well as the Mildenhall meetings. Hopefully we’ll get to Arena because that’s not too far away and hopefully some other places if we can and if we can squeeze the meetings in.

You mentioned the things which were new to you now you are racing the Ministox, another is that you have now been racing at the same meetings as your dad (Stephen) when he’s raced his Saloon Stockcar, what’s that been like?
It’s been good and bad really. The first time we did it was in November and it was really great to race at the same meeting as him and both have our cars in the pits together, that was pretty special and it was also good watching him and then jumping in my car and being in the next race, that was a good feeling. But on the other hand, it was tough keeping both cars going and especially so when we have problems like we did with dad’s Saloon in January, we only have a few other people to help us and it is hard keeping two cars running but that’s outweighed by the fun we’ve had and when we are both racing at the same meeting it is a little extra special, and we even try and give each other a bit of advice after our races (laughs).

Have you given any thought to where your racing career might go after Ministox?
Me and dad have actually spoken about this and he’s said that when I’m old enough he’ll let me have a go in his Saloon (Stockcar) and if I do ok then I would love to race them, I think they are a brilliant formula but I also realise how hard the formula is and although I’ve been enjoying the contact element of racing Ministox that isn’t to say I will also enjoy racing Saloons as well. If that doesn’t turn out to be the best for me then I would quite fancy racing BriSCA F2 Stockcars as they look really good as well.

Do you have time for much else besides your racing and how much time do you spend on your car away from the tracks?
I don’t really have any other hobbies other than my racing, my friends think I’m kind of crazy for doing the racing but I’m not sure they really understand it completely because it’s not the easiest thing to explain to someone who hasn’t been and seen it for themselves. I try and help my dad as much as I can, I’m pretty good at cleaning and painting the car and there has been a lot of that lately because all my meetings have been wet and I’ve been changing grades (laughs) but I am trying to learn other stuff, I’m far from an expert but I am picking up little bits from dad which is good.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My parents for everything they do, my grandparents as well, my little sister and Jonathan who is our main mechanic.