This Austin 7 special is the perfect Bolster Cup beginner
Before taking his first steps into racing, Christian Pedersen toured a few paddocks to ask what avenue of motorsport would suit a beginner. There was one suggestion that kept being repeated: Austin Seven specials. “Everyone said that it’s affordable, easy going and with a friendly crowd,” he says. Eight years later, those qualities still hold true and he’s still racing the same car he bought to join in back then.
He bought it in bits and, not being mechanically minded himself, enlisted help to turn it from a bare chassis and cardboard boxes full of parts into a historic racing car. Back then, it had only 32bhp. Today, its 80bhp state of tune helped it keep pace on Goodwood’s longer straights. Thank supercharging and methanol fuel for the biggest power gains.
Christian has raced the car all over the UK, and with many different clubs. Last year, he entered no fewer than 32 races. “I’ll race with anyone who will have me – VSCC, AMOC, Bentley Drivers’ Club, 750 Motor Club,” he says.
The Seven is eligible for many races, but taking part in the Bolster Cup at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting was particularly special. “I’m so pleased I could come and race at Goodwood, I never thought I would. To race at the Members’ Meeting is wonderful.” The torquey, well-balanced car is best suited to places like Cadwell and Oulton.
Christian continues: “I think the Bolster Cup race is excellent. It’s an interesting collection of cars and I never knew about John Bolster until I read about him in the programme. It’s great to put on races that highlight such characters.”
When we spoke to him, he had just come in from qualifying, where he was placed 22nd on the grid. “I could have gone faster but it was very slippery out there so I’m hoping for better things in the race. If I finish in the top 15 I’ll be happy. There are some very fast cars out there and people who have experience of the track.”
He must have been delighted to have made up 11 places to comfortably secure that top 15 placing. Not that we had a chance to catch up post-race… he was no doubt already busily planning the next outing for this regularly-campaigned racing car.
Photography by Pete Summers