An Interview with Super Rod Track Championship contender 87 Bobby Miles
(interview published July 23 2014 in the lead up to the Super Rod Southern Championship on August 3)

Age: 25
Home Town: Deal
Occupation: Farmer
Family: Married to Penny with three children
Racing career: Started racing Ministox at Dover aged 11

This season has seen you switch from the Bangerstox to the Super Rods, can you explain why you made the change?
The main reason for me was because in the Bangerstox, even though it is a limited contact formula I was getting a fair bit of damage to my car so it was a little more work in between meetings than I wanted it to be. I enjoy my racing but between work and racing it doesn’t leave enough time to spend with my family and so having to do extra work on my car for each meeting wasn’t ideal so I figured I would give the Super Rods a go, thinking that because they are non contact it wouldn’t be as bad and luckily it’s proved to be the case because although there is work involved it’s nowhere near as much as last year with the Bangerstox so I’m getting the best of everything, I get to do my racing and spend plenty of time with my family which is really important to me.

How do you feel your season has gone so far?
Pretty good and I’m enjoying it which the most important thing. To be second in the points championship is pretty good and I think I still have a good chance of challenging to win it which would be brilliant and I’ve had a couple of race wins including the final at the last meeting (July 6) which was a nice boost before the Southern Championship.

Looking ahead to the Southern Championship on August 3, how do you rate your chances?
I’d like to think they are as good as anyone’s. The format for this meeting with the reverse grids for the heats helps even it out on the day and I think everyone starts on an even footing so if it’s your day then it will be your day.

In the Kent Championship on May 25 you seemed to really struggle in the wet conditions, yet on July 6 you won the final in similar conditions, did you learn something at the May 25 meeting which helped on July 6?
Not really it was just the conditions on July 6 were just right for me. I actually like the track when it’s been raining and then stops which makes it a bit sticky. I can’t explain it but it just suites me where as in the Kent Championship when it rained, that really is no good for me and I just don’t do any good at all when it’s like that. But it’s the same for everyone, everyone has conditions they prefer and don’t, I’ve just got to hope it’s good for me again at the Southern (laughs). I’ve not made the best of starts to the season with regard championships, I wanted to try and win them all but that’s already gone wrong (laughs) and to make it worse uncle Jack won it instead so I’ve got to try and get it this time!

Racing is very much a family thing for you, is there any rivalry between you?
Yes of course but it’s always well natured. That’s been one of the best things about this season, Jack coming back to race and some other friends in the formula and that’s helped make the work away from the track easier because when you are working on your car with friends and having banter about who did better last weekend or whose going to win this weekend it makes it more enjoyable and it’s the same at the track as well, having all these people around makes the whole thing better.

As well as the Southern Championship, do you see this meeting as important for your points championship hoped?
I suppose it is really because there is only three meetings left and if Jack pulls further away from me here it would probably be quite hard to catch up again so yes, I think I do need to try and make up some ground here if I can and the points championship is definitely something I wanted to go for this year.

You mentioned the format for the Southern Championship, do you like the formats for standard meetings, using drivers averages to determine the grid positions and how do you feel about drivers scores in their heats now setting the grid for the final?
I like it. Using the averages works because the good drivers should start at the back and if you have a bad meeting or two you move back towards the front and can try and move back towards the back again so I think it works well and having the points from the heats make the grid for the final is good as well because I think it gives everyone a better chance of doing well in the final.

We’ve seen an increase in cars in the Super Rods, is that something you are pleased about?
Of course (laughs), I hope we get more cars as well because the more cars the better the racing but it has been good to see some new people come in and the numbers pick up and I think the racing has been better for it. I think allowing injection engines has helped, it makes it a lot easier and it also means we have different cars as well which I think is good.

You’ve spent much of your racing career competing at Dover , what is it that appeals to you?
I think the friendly atmosphere is a big reason. You have so many friends there that you have built up over the years and so many people know each other that whenever you go to race you have a good day out, the racing is almost secondary as it’s always good seeing all your mates and having a good day and that’s the most important thing.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
My dad and wife especially for all their help and support and all the team for helping to make the racing so enjoyable.