We are a family friendly motor club and the only Autograss club in the Manchester area. If you are interested in joining us as a racer or a social member come along to our monthly meeting(very informal) at the White Lion in Heywood (OL10 4NS). These are normally held on the first Monday of the month. 

There has been plenty of good work done at the track over the last 2 weekends, but there’s still some jobs to get finished before we can race this season.  There will be a work party this Saturday at the track, 21st - 10am start. Please attend if you are able to do so!! 👍🏻🏁👊

Please check back here regularly for latest updates - or on the club's Facebook page (link on the right)

On Monday 19 February Leewood went to Hopwood Hall College in Middleton to promote Autograss and more importantly Leewood the only autograss track in Greater Manchester. The students first year motor vehicle technology were educated into the art of autograss by Steve Le Carpentier, Roger Haynes and Steve Hayward,Roger complete with his new racer straight from the NEC autosport show.

Around 30 students and their technician/teachers were in attendance and they were given our promotional literature and watched a DVD of autograss. The star attraction, no surprises was the race car, many a jaw dropped as they had never seen anything like it before, lots of photos were taken and questions asked and answered.

Thanks to Hopwood Hall for allowing us to attend and it is possible we may be asked to talk to the more advanced fabrication and motor vehicle students at a future date.

Also a huge thanks to Steve and Roger for their valued support.

Just a reminder that the monthly meetings are back at the White Lion pub in Heywood. The more the merrier everyone welcome. Meeting starts at 8pm. 

 Ian Gilbertson.

Ian first raced in the formula 1 stock cars at tracks like Cadwell Park, Long Eaton, Hednesdford and Belle Vue in a Jaguar powered racer in the 1960's. An old picture on LMC's facebook recently showed one of Ian's grasser specials. His racer tended to be Volvo powered as he ran White Hart Motors a Volvo garage in Middleton.

Mentioning Belle Vue earlier reminded me of autograssers at the Vue in the mid 80's, where 30 plus cars raced on the original big Belle Vue oval where Ian had raced 20 years previously. On this occasion it was all 30 plus cars on track at the same time. Amongst the chaos and still remembered to this day was a SPECTULAR roll over on the home straight that made a real mess of the racer concerned, piloted by yes you guessed it Ian, which necessitated an overnight stay in hospital.

Moving on a long way Ian raced in a formula 1 stock car veterans race at Coventry and it was one of the last veterans races. He drove a 7 litre V8 and couldn't believe how much more power it had compared to the cars of the mid 1960's.

Nowadays it's a more sedate drive for Ian in one of Leewood's recovery trucks a job he really enjoys make it continue for a good while yet.

Ian has been supported along the way by wife Eileen, he  introduced son Adam to our juniors and specials and more recently daughter Sara and her daughter Katie to the Leewood family.

With the start of the 2018 race season just around the corner a timely reminder for racers old and new success starts with the five P's. Whether it's Formula1 or Autograss the same applies. Starting with your trailer/transporter make sure it's up to the job(brakes/lights/straps/tyres etc) Make sure your tools are in good nick and buy the best you can afford. Onto your car now which is tagged nowadays, hopefully your race seat secured properly and comfortable for all drivers. Make sure your harness is in good condition and fitted properly to the car. Don't have a make do and mend attitude cos it's not how fast you go it's how fast you stop!! Buy the best quality race suit/gloves/helmet you can afford. Finally practice getting out of your racer as quickly as possible just in case.

When you visit a track even if you have been before walk the track as the surface may be vastly different from before.

To some of us this will be run of the mill but to new members it will start your racing career with us off in the right direction.

Remember race safe and have some fun when your out on the raceway.     

Please see the link below to the latest NASA members newsletter:

NASA - Newsletter Issue 06

NASA will be working during 2017 to develop a new set of improved technical rule books for each of the classes.  In the meantime, the rule books published in 2015 remain in force, along with any updates released since they were published.  Please see the attached document for details of the additional rules applicable for each class. 

Please see the link below to the latest NASA members newsletter - it contains important information for all drivers; including rule changes for the 2017 season.

NASA - Newsletter Issue 05