An Interview with Sparra Boy
682 Paul Sparrow
(interview published March 4 2014 in the lead up to the 2014 Unlimited
Banger BBA Supreme Championship)
Age: 31
Home Town: Mildenhall
Occupation: Engineer and welder
Family: Girlfriend Sarah and daughter Chloe-Anne
Racing career: Been racing National Bangers for six years
Congratulations on qualifying for this year’s championship, are you looking forward to it?
If I’m honest, not especially because the unlimited doesn’t favour me too much at all. It’s a lot better than being unlimited on tarmac because at least on shale I guess I have some chance, on tarmac if you don’t have the equipment then you are pretty much wasting your time which I’ve found out the last times I’ve been to (the World Final at Ipswich) where I’ve been so far off the pace it’s been amazing. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy racing unlimiteds on shale, it’s a lot of fun but of the unlimited meetings of the year at Mildenhall this is probably the one I look forward to the least, especially being in the race because I know how tough it’s going to be at the that my chances are limited. The other unlimited, and rear wheel drive, meetings have been a lot kinder to me in the past.
With that in mind do you think it would a good move for the event to be switched to an unlimited format in 2012?
I think it was very good for the event, just not for me personally. I much prefer racing Mondeos and smaller cars so from a personal view I would have preferred the meeting to have stayed at that format and I think I would have had a better chance of doing well. But being unlimited is definitely better for the event itself, more fans like this type of racing and will come and watch it over a Mondeo meeting and there a lot of drivers know who prefer this kind of racing, I’m not sure you would get so many now if it was still ran to the (National Banger) format. The difference between (2011 and 2012) was very noticeable and the atmosphere the first time it was unlimited was fantastic.
You were in the first unlimited championship at Mildenhall back in 2012, what memories do you have?
It was a complete disaster. There is a nut on the clutch pedal of a Supra which you have to make sure is as tight as possible and I forgot to do it and it came off almost as soon as the race started. I went to change from first to second at the start and it wouldn’t go and I knew straight away what I’d done, the vibration from the engine had shaken the bolt out. It was stupid and so frustrating and I was pretty annoyed with myself to do something so daft. Thankfully I managed to come back and have a pretty decent night and won the Accumulator qualifier (which went to the last car running without completing the full distance, he also registered a top 10 finish in the meeting final) so it wasn’t all bad but I was very disappointed and frustrated with how the big race turned out.
Have you made a decision on what car you’ll be racing in this year’s championship?
It’ll be a Toyota Supra again, it’s the car from Ipswich (World Final). I had no luck that night and you wouldn’t even know the car had been raced so I put it aside because I knew this would be my next unlimited meeting.
You seem to have a liking for Supras, do you think it will be a good car for the race?
Actually I don’t think they are the best (laughs) but I bought four of them in one go and I’m still using them up. They weren’t as good as I thought but I bought them and made all the kit for them so I thought it was silly to not race them so I’m persevering. They are a real handful because they are quite powerful so they are a hard car to drive but I think it could be a good car for the race, especially if it is wet, I think if that’s the case it might give me a little bit of an edge.
Who on the grid do you think could be contenders for the title?
I think someone like Pikey (190 Steve Bailey) or Nemesis (239 Steve Carter). They’ve been getting better and better at Mildenhall and are now as good as anyone else there and they also have a knack of doing well in the big races like this.
With the interest being shown by the qualifiers, a big field of cars is hoped for and many predict this could lead to a hectic race, would that be a benefit to you?
Yes and no, you just don’t know how it’s going to work out. If there is a big field then a pile-up is very likely and that can work greatly in your favour or greatly against you, depending on what happens. Of course if there is a big pile-up and all the favourites get smashed to bits and I survive then it’s a good thing but if I’m one of the ones getting wrecked then it won’t be. I think luck is going to play a massive part in this year’s race, there are a lot of drivers in it very capable of winning but whoever wins will need a little luck on their side for that to happen.
Have you a goal for the race, what would make you happy?
I’d obviously love to win, but anywhere in the top five would be absolutely fantastic, even though being unlimited isn’t the best for me, I know the track better than most so that will help so if I get a good draw and the breaks I might be able to do it, but again it’s all down to luck on the night.
Moving onto other subjects and what does 2014 hold for you, have you and plans an goals?
I’m planning on doing a little less this season but we will see how it all plays out, I’d like to try and qualify for the British Championship again. I’ve not managed it the last couple of seasons which hasn’t been the end of the world or anything because I’ve done it before but I just fancy trying to get in it again this year. But I know that won’t be easy, the qualifying rounds usually get a good field of cars and there are plenty of good drivers chasing the places in the race and I have a few enemies who usually come out for (the National Banger) meetings so it won’t be easy, but like the Supreme Championship, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so I’ll give it a go.
You failed to retain the Winter Series title this year having won it three years in a row, was that a disappointment?
It wasn’t because I’d not planned to try and defend it and in all honesty I got very lucky to win it a third time last year but winning it three years running and being the only person to do it, is really cool and something I’m pretty proud off, especially as that and the Accumulator Championship and DD Points are only things I’ve ever won. I do enjoy the Winter Series meetings though, the Micro meeting is always great fun and a meeting I look forward to and this year and I enjoyed the (1600cc, no Mondeo) meeting in January, even though the weather wasn’t the best. I only did it because I needed to get rid of a Primera I had so decided to race it again rather than just scrap it and I really enjoyed myself. I usually enjoy the winter meetings though, you always get different drivers at these meetings and that always makes it pretty enjoyable and everyone seems to have an enjoyable time at these meetings even if the weather isn’t great.
Team Green has enjoyed much success at RDC but having come very close in 2012 you are still yet to win the 1400cc Suffolk Open Team Championship, the team is back again this year, how special would it be to win this event?
Yeah, it’s the team meeting I think we would like to win more than any other, both because we’ve come close before and being smaller cars which a lot of us enjoy but it’s an incredibly hard meeting to do well in, if for nothing else just because of the volume of cars and drivers out there so again luck plays a huge part in doing well at the meeting. We’ve a good team again, we’ve (Spedeworth ‘Rookie’ Banger World Champion) Michael Lane racing with us for the first time which should be good. He was meant to race with us last year but got banned so it never happened and he’s really looking forward to it and full of enthusiasm so I’m looking forward to him racing with us for the first time but I think our chances are pretty slim because there are plenty of teams out there who will be looking to stop us again.
Another meeting you appeared to enjoy in 2013 was the Siamese meeting, you and Alec Savage winning the DD after being involved in the final big moment of the evening with your massive head-on with Darren Fendley and Luke Childerhouse?
I absolutely loved it and that meeting was the best thing about last year for me and I can’t wait for this year’s meeting, it was brilliant fun and me and Alec are still talking about it now and it was so cool to be involved in the final crash and helping to end the night with a bang, it was a great buzz. And it was a lot better than I expected as driving round in the yard beforehand was a bit of a nightmare, it always seemed like we would fall over but racing was totally different, I guess you don’t worry about it as much when you are racing.
Much has been said about the 2014 ORCi technical rules since they were announced, have you any thoughts?
Personally, I’m quite happy with the tyre rule. I’ve never used low profile tyres and even on tarmac I’ve managed to compete, unless it’s unlimited. That was how I qualified for the Supreme, finishing third in the 2Litre World Final at Hednesford and I honestly think I was as quick as Boxer (331 Jason Jackson) and Pikey that day so I like that rule as I think it might help me out actually. My only concern is that distributor guards aren’t allowed on front wheel drive cars as I used them at 1400cc meetings. I’ve actually been out and bought a load of distributors because I expect I’ll be breaking plenty now. (The ORCi) is often said to be wanting to reduce costs for drivers and I can’t see how this particular rule helps because straight away I’ve had to spend money.
Anyone you would like to thank or mention?
My brother for everything he does, driving me everywhere and helping me out and my mum and dad for letting me use their shed.