Interview with 176 Ralph Emmerson
What lead you to have one last go?
I’ve always wanted to race but due to work commitments and the nature of my job travelling all over the world I thought enough is enough and was gutted but the bug never goes away.
You were a regular on the pace car for your racing attributes will going for the win be your main aim on the night?
It’s always good to get on the back of the control car. But i can’t tell you my tactic’s now can i lol. But you never know whats going to happen on the night you could be wrecked on the first lap or you may win a few race’s we will see on the night.
The East v South rivalry was seen largely throughout the 90s, was this an aspect that you enjoyed?
Wow what can i say about these, loved everyone of these meeting’s and so did most of the east anglian’s it was just carnage. a lot of big motors and big names use to travel to Yarmouth. it was also good to see all the east anglian’s stick together and get stuck in ,and credit to the southerner’s who use to travel down to Yarmouth with some nice motor’s. The hype in the pits was fantastic and who was going to line up behind who and who was going to blitz who ive never been so hyped up, butterflys was a under statement for me lol but as soon as the pace car had left the track it was down to business .even when your car was damaged everyone use to help in what way they could to get you back out there it was good.
Are there any drivers that you raced with that you admired for their on-track abilities?
The driver’s I admired in that era are:
Ronnie Emmerson 175
John Allard 349
Malcom Girling 168
Alan Read 88
Simon Reed 33
Willie Skoyles 41
Mark Smith 416
Dougie George 303
Geoff Roberts 323
Dave day 190
Roger Wilkinson 20
What meetings did you feel stood out for yourself?
All meetings were fantastic i loved everyone of them from buying the car to striping it to scraping it but the the one which sticks out is at Yarmouth when the southerners came down and I had a head on full length of the straight because my throttle stuck on and Geoff Roberts was coming the opposite way i can still feel it now lol and then went round the next corner and had a big crash with dougie George who was in his westy. I also enjoyed the figure of 8
Is there anybody you would like to thank?
First of all is my wife jennie for all her support she gave me,and then my mum who was always at the pit gate cheering me and Ronnie on. Ronnie was my inspiration to racing he was always there for me every hour of everyday he would drop everything to help me and anybody else . And then the sponsors i had through my racing career(Graham Reed Through the doors mag what a gentleman he is)and then Barrett Car Spares and Vanwell homes also keith love, mechinc for me and Ronnie,david Hutchison ,curly and Tony pettingill.
What lead you to have one last go?
I’ve always wanted to race but due to work commitments and the nature of my job travelling all over the world I thought enough is enough and was gutted but the bug never goes away.
You were a regular on the pace car for your racing attributes will going for the win be your main aim on the night?
It’s always good to get on the back of the control car. But i can’t tell you my tactic’s now can i lol. But you never know whats going to happen on the night you could be wrecked on the first lap or you may win a few race’s we will see on the night.
The East v South rivalry was seen largely throughout the 90s, was this an aspect that you enjoyed?
Wow what can i say about these, loved everyone of these meeting’s and so did most of the east anglian’s it was just carnage. a lot of big motors and big names use to travel to Yarmouth. it was also good to see all the east anglian’s stick together and get stuck in ,and credit to the southerner’s who use to travel down to Yarmouth with some nice motor’s. The hype in the pits was fantastic and who was going to line up behind who and who was going to blitz who ive never been so hyped up, butterflys was a under statement for me lol but as soon as the pace car had left the track it was down to business .even when your car was damaged everyone use to help in what way they could to get you back out there it was good.
Are there any drivers that you raced with that you admired for their on-track abilities?
The driver’s I admired in that era are:
Ronnie Emmerson 175
John Allard 349
Malcom Girling 168
Alan Read 88
Simon Reed 33
Willie Skoyles 41
Mark Smith 416
Dougie George 303
Geoff Roberts 323
Dave day 190
Roger Wilkinson 20
What meetings did you feel stood out for yourself?
All meetings were fantastic i loved everyone of them from buying the car to striping it to scraping it but the the one which sticks out is at Yarmouth when the southerners came down and I had a head on full length of the straight because my throttle stuck on and Geoff Roberts was coming the opposite way i can still feel it now lol and then went round the next corner and had a big crash with dougie George who was in his westy. I also enjoyed the figure of 8
Is there anybody you would like to thank?
First of all is my wife jennie for all her support she gave me,and then my mum who was always at the pit gate cheering me and Ronnie on. Ronnie was my inspiration to racing he was always there for me every hour of everyday he would drop everything to help me and anybody else . And then the sponsors i had through my racing career(Graham Reed Through the doors mag what a gentleman he is)and then Barrett Car Spares and Vanwell homes also keith love, mechinc for me and Ronnie,david Hutchison ,curly and Tony pettingill.