Ahead of the 1600 World Final, we caught up with one of the favourites for the title, Spedeworth 1600 Points Champion 512 Kieron Rowe to discuss his racing exploits to date, and how he fares his chances come Saturday night.
Kieron will be one of many drivers in the main race that are a second-generation star, having followed in his father’s footsteps into the sport as he informs us. ‘My Dad got me into racing after he packed up in 2009. I went to Arena Essex and watched the Ninja Karts, and after that I was really set on wanting a go in one.’ That trip to Arena spurred on a boyhood dream which didn’t take too long of a wait before coming a reality. ‘The following Christmas I got a Ninja Kart and raced them at Arena Essex until I was 12.’
Kieron is at the top of his game these days, a regular to victory lane and rides on the back of the pace car are second nature to him now, but that wasn’t always the case. ‘I didn’t really have the best of starts in the Ninja Karts. I had that same kart I got for Christmas for my first 2 years until I put into the wall and wrecked it,’ he laughs. ‘It wasn’t until I got my new kart that I started to pick up trophies. I finished as a blue roof in them, but I never had any luck in the major championships.’
The next chapter of Kieron’s racing saw him remain at Arena Essex, moving up in the Ministox there. ‘I got a Ministox after the Ninja Karts which I raced at Arena and Mildenhall, but I really wasn’t keen on them!’ Kieron admits. ‘I just could never really get into them, so I then gave Junior Bangers a go in a meeting at Stansted. I really enjoyed that, so with that the Ministox were sold and I carried on with the Junior Bangers until I was 16.’ Kieron openly talks to us about his dismay of the Ministox – ‘they were a great formula, don’t get me wrong, but the hits put me off! You could feel them as opposed to the Bangers where the car takes the impact and not you. My heart really wasn’t set on them, it was the bangers that had my attention and which I wanted to focus on. Looking back I do wish that I’d have gone straight into the Junior Bangers from the Ninja Karts instead, but the Ministox did teach the basics I needed to learn.’
That’s where the Banger passion grew, with Kieron going back to his roots of Arena Essex in the PRI Bangers upon graduating from Stansted. ‘My heart was always set on Bangers, so at 16 I started racing the 1600 PRI Bangers, and kept racing there until they unfortunately closed the track. I wanted to carry on doing the 1600s, so the only option to go to was Spedeworth.’ That change to Spedeworth saw a different approach come to Kieron’s racing, developing his style showing more maturity in his driving technique. ‘I found that it was definitely harder to go from PRI to Spedeworth. At Spedeworth, you’re against the best of the best, and obviously you had various other tracks to race at and get used to also. The racing at Spedeworth has continued to get harder over the years. When I done the crossover from PRI, it took me a good year just getting used to every track and sussing out the set-ups. It wasn’t until my second year at Spedeworth that I began to compete.’
Kieron has gone on to really cement his name at the top of the class, not only at Spedeworth, but on travels to Skegness and Lochgelly to name a couple. He has had numerous race wins up and down the country, but what moments stand out the most for Kieron? ‘I’d say my biggest highlights in the 1600s would be the start of this year. I really did have a great start to the season with winning, especially at the Northampton Cash or Card meeting where I got a heat and final double, and I thought I’d choose the card and then slow down a bit on the racing for rest of the year, but that wasn’t the case in the end!’ He giggles. Ultimately, Kieron came out with the biggest highlight of them all, securing the points championship where he didn’t really looked rivalled at the top of the proceedings once he established himself at the top of the rankings. ‘Honestly this year, my aim was just to qualify for the World Final. That was all I wanted, but I had to wait until the Northampton Cash or Card meeting. I then chose the card, and as I say, I was going to have a break from racing to give me time to build the World Final car. That was the plan until Spedeworth put the points up and I was top – I would of been silly to not carry on! I’m pretty sure I stayed at the top of the points after that meeting, so I just had to carry on topping up the points as much as I could.’
As mentioned in the intro, Kieron will be one of the leading names tipped to emerge victorious at the end of the main race on Saturday night. Most drivers out on that grid would be lying if they said their aim wasn’t to win it, but Kieron can probably remain quietly confident that he boasts a strong chance heading into proceedings. ‘I mean everyone is in that race for the same thing and you’re up against the best of the best. One thing you really need on your side is luck and a good grid position which has never gone my way so far,’ he laughs. ‘I haven’t really got a plan it just is really anyone’s race. All I can hope for is a good grid position.’
Kieron has had a busy season this year, and it’s set to get even busier next year as he reveals. (Sorry Holly!) ‘Next year I really do want to give the Unlimiteds a go. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m still looking at carrying on with the 1600s, and looking at doing a few more Kings Lynn meetings in them also.’ Kieron certainly has the on-track ability, and we have seen many drivers come out of the Junior Bangers to balance both the 1600s and Unlimiteds in a very successful manner, and there is no reason why Kieron couldn’t be another of those.
That brings us on nicely to the topic we ask everyone we get the privilege of chatting to. Who would you have alongside you in your dream 6-a-side team? ‘That’s a hard one,’ admits Kieron. ‘415 Scott Cornish (he’s a very good all rounder) 400 Lee Kingsnorth, 354 Josh Vowden, 85 Nathan Thurlow and 305 Alfie Cornish.’
This is being posted less than 24 hours before the main race kicks off. Kieron has a stunning Mk4 Vauxhall Astra for the occasion showing off his newly attained silver roof, and before we conclude, he would like to just show thanks to those that have helped along the way. ‘There’s lots of people that have helped me get where I am today, but I can’t thank my mates enough that help in the yard building the cars all the time. My dad especially for all the miles he puts in taking me racing. This year I’ve got to give him credit – Micheal Seex, he has helped me out massively with the astras this year, so thanks to all of them and of course to all of my sponsors. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
We wish Kieron all the best for the World Final, and hopefully luck plays it’s role in securing him that good position on the grid he is hopeful for.
