In 1979 Gerald ('Demolition') Dale took to the track at Lidden, and with relative success in his first ever race. As the saying goes "this was the point of no return" and was to lead to a life in motosport.

At the time he was working as a mechanic for St Leonards Motors and spending he weekend racing. But as luck has it the company also wanted to go racing and so in the early 1980's they started.

 

(Photo: And for though who know him this is proof that he did have hair.)

 

St Leonards Motors was a Fiat/Lancia dealer so they chose the Fiat Strada 106TL for the Willhire 24h race at Snetterton in 1982. The team was made up of Graham Pickett, Ian Wakeford (rally drivers), Gerald Dale and Derek Miller. The official program said about Gerald and Derek "Two of the top Mini 7 drivers".

This race pushed both the drivers and mechanics to the limits. But unlike most modern racing Gerald wore the hat of both driver and mechanic. With all the effort put in by the team they came a respectable 3rd place.

(Photo: Gerald in natural position under bonnet.)

In 1988 Gerald decided that he wanted to spend more time working on race cars and so started up his own company. The new company car was very different but there was room in the back for the other!

Now his time was split between racing his own mini and preparing other people race cars for them. This proved to be a very successful mix, as Gerald won more races more people would come to him to set up there cars.

 

(Photo: Its ok lads I've got an idea!)

As Gerald's family grows up they to are infected by the motosport bug. Lee (his oldest son) now runs one side of the business and, of course, races. Among some of the things he races are carts, a Fiat Uno turbo and Minis.

His other son although not working in motorsport of course races and is currently putting a very nice bright red mini together.

To prove just how deep motorsport runs in this family Gerald's fourteen year old daughter is about to start grass tracking.

(Photo: From left to right his daughter's car, Gerald's part time car plus two carts on the wall and winning wreaths)

Thanks to Gerald's father there is about another 10 pages to go!