None of these would be more influential than Gerry Buck from Stoke on Trent who won the over 6cc class and would lead the pursuit of speed for the next 6 years. Another entry who would go on to great success, although not in this competition, was Ian Moore from Derby. He built and described a series of increasingly fast cars, as well as holding several positions within club and national organisations.

Following the success of the Aeromodeller competition, a rally was organised in 1943 on the roof of the blind making factory where Jim Cruickshank, another of the early exponents, worked. This would be the first proper tethered car meeting in the UK. Gerry Buck travelled down from Stoke with his #2 car, and he was joined, amongst others, by Cruickshank, Jack Gascoigne, Bob Curwen and Jack Morgan who would, along with Guy Rickard, go on to form one of the earliest clubs, The Pioneer Club, based at the Horticultural Halls in London.

Left-right Jim Cruickshank, Bob Curwen, Gerry Buck and Jack Morgan	Left-right Cruickshank's MG, Kestrel engined. Curwen Special, home built motor. Buck's #2 pre-accident, Gwin Aero motor. Morgan's #7 10cc Brown Junior. Russell's Bunch Demon 6cc Baby Cyclone engine

Clockwork roller that opened the first tethered car 'rally'	Curwen and Cruickshank study their cars	Jack Morgan working  on his car	Gerry Buck with unknown helper

Replica Russell SS100	Replica Cruickshank MG	Replica Galeota

Amongst the more prominent of these were M&E Models of Exmouth, G.I. Hastings’ 1066 Products of Worcester, E&M Models of Coventry and Replica Models in Sloane street, London, set up by Guy Rickard, who, as well as being a member of the Pioneer and Surrey Clubs, had his own track in Beech, Hampshire. Catering for the more competitive and serious racer were Paul Zere’s ZN Motors in Hendon, and Rowell Motors up in Dundee.

1947 M&E Special	1066 MRC from 1947	E&M Maserati also from 1947

By the end of the 1940s over 50 companies were supplying equipment for the sport and there were similar numbers of permanent or temporary tracks. D.A. Russell had set up the Eaton Bray Model Sportsdrome that would host many National events during its existence, most sponsored by high profile companies such as Austin, Jaguar and MG. Two specialist magazines, Model Cars and Model Car News, were being published on a regular basis, while the Model Car Association had been formed in 1947 to organise and regulate racing on a national level.

At its peak, tethered car racing in the UK was a truly national sport, with meetings organised at tracks all over the country. Just getting to such diverse location was a major undertaking, especially as car ownership was much more limited then. There are several instances of competitors undertaking return journeys of over 100 miles by pedal cycle, and the train and motor cycles were also used regularly to get to meetings. One member of the Sunderland Club made a 600mile return journey by motorcycle in order to pick up his new Dooling car and motor from the agent, Bill Bennett.

1948 North Wilts' Model Car Club, Swindon	1951 Bassingfield, Nottingham	2006 Sunderland track, Barley Mow Park

As the sport developed so it also evolved, which would ultimately lead to its demise. Cars became more sophisticated and speeds quickly rose from the initial 30mph to 70, with Gerry Buck exceeding 100mph for the first time in 1947.

By 1952 when Joe Riding set his record, the Model Car Association recognised records in the 1.5cc, 2.5cc, 5cc and 10cc classes. Just to confuse matters, each class was subdivided into British and Open categories, which could then compete over 5 distances from the standard ¼ mile, right up to 10 miles.

The bulk of the commercial products that had been available were not intended for serious competition or such high speeds, and very quickly, many of the companies involved ceased trading. With these much higher speeds also came problems of cost, noise, track safety and divisions within the sport. Apart from the vexed question of using British, as opposed to imported cars and engines, there was also a marked disagreement between those who wanted to maintain a scale aspect to cars run at a more leisurely speed, and those whose aim was solely competition.

Pictured below, three competition cars representing the final development of the tethered car in the UK

2.5cc Oliver engined 'Shadow'	10cc Rowell based model	10cc Dooling engined Ian Moore car

As quickly as the sport had arrived so it declined, with many well known names ‘calling it a day’ or moving on to rail car racing and other modelling activities. Despite hosting the European Championships at Woodside in 1954, the sport in general was in decline, and by 1955, tethered car racing and the industry that supported it had all but vanished. A few specialist manufacturers such as ZN did continue for a while, but apart from Oliver, none were to survive for any appreciable time.

There were still enthusiasts who continued to race and compete at the few remaining tracks, while at international level, British competitors were still preparing very quick cars. Jack Cook, Jim Dean, Stan Drayson and Ken Procter won 6 European Championships between 1953 and 1957. The last official competition in the UK seems to have been in 1959 at Blackpool, which coincided with the Model Car Association being wound up. Of the tracks that continued on an informal basis, Mote Park in Maidstone survived the longest, not finally closing until the 1970s.

Through the Retro Racing Club and Peter Hill's private track, there is still the opportunity to run vintage and pioneer style cars in Britain, but for anything faster, a trip to a FEMA standard track abroad will be required. For up to date information and details relating to all aspects of running current World and European class tethered cars go to our Tethered Car Racing page.