Junior Jnr’s Ministox career

Just thought I would write a few words as it’s come to the time for Frankie to upgrade from Minis to F1. It only seems like yesterday when we were at Buxton for his first practice, and then his first meeting at Scunthorpe, but 6 amazing years have flown past. With 2 National Championships and one National Points Championship, plus the hundreds of other championships and race wins in between, it has been a pleasure to be part of the legacy.

I have enjoyed the ups and downs of the Ministox as it proved to be a new challenge, and as parents we can only hope we have helped both Phoebe and now Frankie prepare for adult formulae.

Junior Jnr, as he is now known, matured fast in minis, as proved with his faultless first National Championship win at Barford aged only 12 years old. Leading every lap and getting every restart perfect was the key to his first gold roof, I personally talked him through how the race might pan out beforehand, but as everyone knows this is stock car racing were contact is the key and anything can happen, so the gold roof was fully earned by him!

The first car being prepared for the debut meeting

He followed with his Points Championship win the same season against drivers who would try anything to win. He has carried this maturity right through his career so far, and has even been grown up enough not to retaliate when he’s been taken out from a lap down, which must have taken some doing cos I’m not sure I would have done the same… Ha ha!

This was clear to watch in his second National Championship win at Northampton last season. The race was voted the race of the year, and again he showed his patience and experience as he battled through the race, only to be put out with a few laps to go. He was down in about fifth place and then calmly worked his way back through to take the win on the last corner. Absolutely stunning to watch and be a part of.

So here’s to the next step – it’s only about another 600 bhp! But I’m sure it will be just as exciting to be a part of.

Thank you Frankie for being an awesome son, and writing your name in the record books, and for conducting yourself with such dignity at all times.

All the best for the future, and keep your eye on the mirror cos you’re in my territory now! Ha ha!

Yours in sport,
Dad