An Interview with 2014 Reliant Robin British Champion 385 Roy Gedge
(interview published October 7 2014 in the lead up to the third 2015 World qualifier on October 26)

Age: 29
Home Town: Wisbech
Occupation: Roofer
Family: Girlfriend Chloe and son
Racing career: Started racing Rookie Bangers at Skegness aged 16

The last Reliant Robin meeting at Mildenhall saw you crowned British Champion, your first major title in the Reliants at RDC, how pleased were you at that win?
Very. It has been a really good run for me the last few weeks as I also won the World of Shale Championship at King’s Lynn a few weeks before. That was my first big win in the Robins and then to win the British so soon afterwards is just fantastic and it’s given me a massive boost. The truth is I had been getting a bit down about the racing lately and I was starting to think maybe it was time to stop because I was having no luck at all and wasn’t enjoying myself and I think when it gets like that it’s time to stop. But then I won the World of Shale and the British as well so it’s given me a massive boost and I’m back looking forward to the next meeting and getting excited about it again so it seems all I needed was some luck (laughs).

Out of the two championships you’ve won recently are you particularly proud of one over the other?
No, any big race is always great to win and to win two so close together is even better so I’m really proud to have done the double. Sometimes when you win a race like that it can be just down to luck and having a good day but I think when you do it twice it shows it’s a little more than luck and that you deserved it. The World of Shale is particularly special because it was my first big win in Robins while the British was really cool as well because there was a few more cars in the race (than the World of Shale) and I started near the back so I think I had to work harder to win that one.

Is there any secret behind this recent run of success?
(laughs) At the start of the year I was talking to Alan Cooper about the racing and I was saying to him that I felt it was time I tried a little harder to do better in the Reliants. Typically in the Robins all I’ve ever wanted to do is try and crash into the first car I see and see how many cars I can roll over or roll over myself and I think at some point I got a little bored of that and decided I wanted to get racing and try that. It’s only taken since the beginning of the year but I’ve finally got somewhere now (laughs).

So is it a matter of simply just trying harder?
Yes it is really. I’ve changed the tyres I’ve been using but aside from that my cars are exactly the same, I’m just driving more to try and get some results and maybe trying a little harder with that and it’s made all the difference.

You had a good few significant wins in your time in the National Bangers, how do these successes in the Reliant Robins compare?
For me, anytime you win a big race it’s special, regardless of the formula or the race. I had some good wins in the bangers, I won the 1500cc National Championship twice and the UK Open at Skegness and I would say winning these titles in the Robins is just as good, the British was particularly good though because it was the first time I’d had a big win at Mildenhall.

Over the years you’ve raced National Bangers and 1300cc Stockcar on and off, why have you stuck at Reliant Robins instead of other formulas?
One of the main reasons is there is less meetings for Robins so even by doing most of the meetings at Mildenhall and King’s Lynn, just doing Robins has been a way of cutting down on my racing and it’s a good amount of racing for me right now. Also the Robins are a lot of fun, the National Bangers just became too much hard work in the end for me and I’ve never really got into the 1300cc Stockcars, I don’t want to say they were boring but they just weren’t for me and didn’t give me the same excitement as bangers or Robins which is why I stopped doing them.

Mentioning the fun element of the Reliant Robins, the British Championship meeting was overshadowed by some unfortunate scenes after the first race, did this affect you at all and take away anything from your evening?
No, not at all. Stuff like that happens, it shouldn’t but it does and as long as it gets sorted that’s the important thing. I actually get on with most of the people involved but I don’t get involved with anything like that and just carried on with my own racing and I still enjoyed my night, although winning the championship helped with that (laughs).

Was the British Championship a tough race?
It was pretty hectic but I prefer races that are like that. It’s a reason I enjoy racing at Mildenhall at the moment. Right now it gets more cars than King’s Lynn and being a smaller track the field gets bunched up and that makes it hectic and gives you opportunities. When I raced bangers I would always prefer a 40 car race over a 20 car race and I think that is a big reason why I did so well in the British because there was a lot going on. Porkey (576 Colin Aldred) had a good lead on me but he crashed into the pile-up and that was how I took the lead. If there had been less cars or it was at a bigger track there probably would not have been the pile-up so it all played out for me. I was having a good race with Ian Robins but I was able to nudge him out the way to get the lead and won it from there.

Track conditions were a bit tricky for the title race, does that suit you?
Yes I like racing in the wet. I had a heat and final double at the last world qualifier (on May 24) so seemingly I do well in the wet. Don’t get me wrong, I’m like most people, I don’t like racing in the wet, I just seem to do well when it’s wet!

Looking ahead now, what are your plans for the future and in particular the 2015 World Championship series?
I want to have a good go at the World Final this year. I’ve not had much luck in the race but I think I got my first top 10 this year. That was only the third time I’ve been in the race and I only got in last year as a reserve. Having won the British and the World of Shale it would be brilliant to win the World as well next year as they are probably the three biggest titles in the formula but we will have to see, the World is always a very hard race. Having won the British I’ve made a good start to the qualifying series and I’m now aiming to do the rounds at Mildenhall and have a good go at qualifying. But I’ll only do the Mildenhall rounds so I’ll have to see how far up the grid I can get (without going to Dover). To be honest I don’t like starting races from the front so I think I would be better a couple of rows back but I think you do need to be up there to have a decent chance.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My girlfriend for all her support and my dad for all his help as well.