Tethered car and hydro photo album

After several false starts and rumours surrounding possible UK tracks it came as something of a surprise to see the BMFA presentation at Alexandra Palace detailing the establishment of the centre at Buckminster, which included a tethered car track. This would be just the second available in the UK with Peter Hill's private track in Lincolnshire already well established.

The original plan for a shared flying and car circle was changed when Manny Williamson found a space behind the hangar that would just accommodate a full sized car track. The project started in 2019, thankfully with most of the construction work completed before Covid wrecked things.


Outline of track	Shuttering and running surface


Preparing for concreting the apron	Track completed

With the track laid the volunteers put up a safety fence and driver's refuge, turfed the infield and landscaped the outside and surrounding area, a remarkable transformation from the earlier photos. Oliver Monk manufactured a pylon and with Neil Tricker ran a car on the track for the first time on a volunteer day. In June 2020 the track was ready for use as soon as the lifting of restrictions allowed. August 2020 saw the first public event with 'social distancing' restricting the numbers and the abandonment of the planned 'official opening'.


The first runs, no kickboards as yet.	First official event

Problems with the original contractor meant the track infrastructure cost more than planned so further development had to wait for funds and volunteer time.


Early driver's refuge and 'stopping brush'	Another cable bites the dust

An unfortunate effect of the change of contractor ended up with a track that was far from smooth, which restricted the safe running of many cars. Oliver and Aaron surveyed the track identifying all the irregularities and establishing how much needed to be ground off to create a smooth surface. Thanks to Paul who loaned the grinder, all the work Oliver and Aaron put in to build the frame and then spending untold hours working their way round, the track ended up as flat as could be realistically achieved. Sterling work by Oliver and the volunteers finally had the kickboards installed allowing all classes of cars to be run safely.


Horser Hugh awaiting action	Martin Coe in full flight

In short order the 2.5cc twinshaft cars were running in the mid 80mph region and the aircars at around 100mph. Ex FEMA 3b cars were in evidence again well over the magic 100mph. New cars were arriving on a regular basis including the first forays into electric power where both wheel driven and electric aircars showed 100+mph on the timing system. Thanks to John, Jan and Ian there is an electronic timing system that displays the lap speed and average for the timed run. This can be connected to a laptop and printer so each competitor can have a print out of their run, well it could when we can have electricity in the timing hut? There is also an official three minute electric timer awaiting a power supply.

Unfortunately, the extremes of weather that have affected Buckminster and the rest of the country caused some movement of the track that has required several sessions of remedial action with levelling compound, filler and hand grinding.


Jan Huning, Dave Smith and Taff Bolen	Nigel and Hugh on repair duty

We have been delighted over the years to welcome visitors from Switzerland, Italy, Australia and regular visits from Charlie an Mi Jee from the US.


Charlie with his 'retro fleet'	Italian contingent

One of our regular visitors and supporters is David Giles, who was European champion and record holder in 1979, along with June who was the British WMCR Class 3 record holder. In 2024 we were thrilled to have David running his Championship winning 5cc car, a most emotional day for many of us.


David with June and the 1979 Winning Denneler MOPS	New refuge, stopper, kickboards

Now with a clearly established set of regulations three distinct classes of cars are running. Old timers, the traditional cars designed prior to the 1960s with age related engines. Modern British is for new builds of any type with the same capacity limits but no tuned pipes or performance enhancing exhaust systems. Finally there are the modern FEMA cars governed by those regs. SAM events also cater for aircars.


Electric powered prototype, Eureka Cobra in background	2.1cc 'junior' car


Redfin powered Oliver BRM	3.5cc FEMA Class III car