1980s
1979-1981 – Radical Reliant
In order to
stay ahead of the competition, the team next develops a car based on the
lightweight, fibreglass construction of a Reliant Kitten Estate which has the
same dimensions as the Mini Estate but a more raked windscreen.
1982 – Kitten wins first time out; claims
fourth Championship win
1982 – the
team wins on its first time out with the striking surf blue Reliant Kitten in
the BARC Wendy Wools Special Saloon Championship. Six further wins follow with
three second places and just one DNF. These results were sufficient for the
team to win the 1000cc class in the Championship that year.
1983 – Fifth Championship Win
1983 follows a
similar pattern in the BARC Wendy Wools Championship, with eight wins, four
seconds, one third and two DNFs. Enough to win the Championship outright this
time. His trophy being presented at the same time as Ayrton Senna receives the
British F3 Cup and Dr Jonathan Palmer the European Formula 2 Championship.
 |
| Kitten c.1984 |
1984 – Small Screen Distraction
1984, the team
stars as 'extras' in a BBC series called 'Driving Ambition'. This was the story
of a young woman's introduction to motor
racing, competing in a saloon car race driving a Mini. However the team are
beaten into second place in the Championship by Pat Mannion.
1985-89 – The Glory Years
1985-89 - the
team continues its winning ways in BARC Wendy Wools Special Saloon Championship
taking the title in four of the next five years. Ginger is awarded the BARC
President's Cup in 1985 as the most successful
club driver that year.
Their
Championship wins at the end of 1989 mount to nine.
1987/88 – Competition hots up; continue to
win Championship
1987 Ben
Bowlby appears on the scene racing a Suzuki Kawasaki in opposition to the M&F
Team. Ginger again wins the 1987 BARC Special Saloon Championship however.
In 1987,
Ginger managed 10 class wins, two second places and only one DNF. At the 1987
prize giving, Ginger accepted his award just after Johnny Herbert was given the
British Formula Three trophy.
Throughout
1988, Ben and Ginger compete in the BARC Championship with Ginger notching up
13 wins and two thirds while Ben's best is to beat M&F once and to achieve
three seconds, two thirds, a fourth, three fifths and three DNFs.
Ginger wins
the 1988 Championship and is awarded the BARC President’s Cup for a second
time.
 |
| Kitten alongside Ben Bowlby c. 1988 |
1989/90 – Record-setting pace and a
Championship
1989 continues
in the same vein with Ben providing the main opposition. Ginger eventually
comes out on top with 6 wins and 4 second places to Ben's 4 wins and 6 second
places.
Both Ben and
Ginger set a new class lap record at Mallory Park with identical times showing
an average speed of 100.20 mph!
Ginger takes
the 1989 BARC Special Saloon championship.