Following on from the successful 2009 season, the ministox driving school continues in 2010.

The fully race prepared ministox and all safety equipment are provided along with tuition, from starting off, to changing gears race craft and race condition simulation.

Tuition takes place at Onchan Raceway on selected evenings throughout the summer and at weekends during the winter.

The idea behind the school is to give children between the ages 10 to 16 years old, a chance to learn to drive in a safe and controlled environment. Then if they wish and their driving skills and race craft are such they can then arrange to hire the ministox and enter one of the race meetings.
The one hour lessons cost £ 30 and are pre booked.

Cost of hiring the ministox to compete is £ 50 with a £ 50 deposit against any damage to the car. Meetings are pre booked also. For more information please call John Whitehead on 07624 432232 or 01624 629446.

MEET THE MINISTOX SCHOOL DRIVERS

Ministox School was established in 2006 and in 2009 season every Ministox driver had come through Ministox School. Ryan Henderson racing number # 95 and Emily Grimshaw #400 were the first two students into Ministox School Ryan was 13 years old and Emily was 12 years old. 4 years on their experience has really been seen out on the track.

It was Ryan’s last season in 2009 as he had reached the age of 16, and he certainly finished his year in style winning overall Ministox champion. Emily Grimshaw #400 is now in her final year and is giving it her all to claim that overall championship driver for 2010 and get her name on that most important trophy. Emily last year finished 4^th overall. We wish her all the luck and hope she can retire from Ministox in style.

In 2007 we saw another two of our popular drivers that can be seen out on the track on a regular basis. Luke Dawson #777 and Alex Callister formally #118 but now is racing under #46. Both lads started in the same year Luke being 11 and Alex 12. The pair of them have matured into talented drivers with Luke only just piping Alex to the post in the very last race of 2009 to claim 2^nd place overall with Alex coming 3^rd just 2 points short . Between the four of these though they all raced in Whites and Yellows when they first started and between them have had nearly as many podium finishes than their combined ages!

In 2008 saw our immaculately turned out driver and car of all seasons Cliona Collins #101. Cliona was one of the youngest to start learning at the age of 10 and the way she races round that track each week you wouldn’t believe she is only 12 now! Cliona came 3^rd overall in the Whites and Yellows Championship and is pushing even harder for 2010.

Last year 2009 saw Ministox school at its absolute busiest. 6 drivers getting taught how to handle the mini’s out on the track with all the experienced ones. Rory Mc Cann #184, Will Oldland #666, Jamie Burket #11, Owen Black-kay #174, Lewis Dawson #25, and Max Astley #7. Owen, Lewis and Max although were taught in 2009 made their debut out on the track on our opening meeting on the 25^th April 2010 and are looking to be strong contenders in this year’s Whites and Yellows class. Rory had the best first year of all with being overall winner of White and Yellows Championship plus Sword of State Champion of 2009. Rory has since moved onto the Karting and is no longer racing Ministox.

Will Oldland also had a good opening year with coming 2^nd Overall in Whites and Yellows but at the age of 15 he is already well over 6ft has had to pack the Ministox in due the size of the car. He hopes that when he turns 16 next year he can continue racing in one of the other classes. I’m pleased to say though we still have Jamie Burket still very much out and on track for a great successful year racing his #11 mini.

In 2010 we have already seen Adam Quayle #536, Jordan Corkish #88 and Jack Sayle currently hiring #51 until his new car is ready. There has been several other drivers that have been taught in Ministox School but are not racing full time. I.e. Luke Tunney originally started learning in 2006 with Emily and Ryan and was seen out in the #51 hire car last year as well as his brother Ross Tunney. Jo Griffin and Christian Cunningham also hired #51 car to get a feel what it is really like out on that racing track!

We would like to wish all our Ministox drivers the very best of luck for 2010
and thank Gary Thompson of First Choice Windows for sponsoring the Ministox Championship