‘I’m on cloud nine’

Local racer John Christie was crowned the 2013 National Hot Rod World Champion last Sunday after a thrilling 75 lap final at the Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich.
John Christie on Sunday after winning the National Hot Rod World Championship.John Christie on Sunday after winning the National Hot Rod World Championship.
John Christie on Sunday after winning the National Hot Rod World Championship.

Northern Ireland has an incredible record in winning the world title, the envy of every particpating country, one of the main reasons for that being John’s dad Ormond who won the title a record five times, in 1981, 83, 85, 96 and 1997.

In lifting the title on Sunday, the Christie family from Crumlin becomes the first father/son combination ever to have won the premier title.

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John’s route to this year’s World final was far from easy as in the first of the 14 round qualifying series a blown engine put him out of action, and at the bottom of the points scorers.

Then at the British championship, John ended up with a badly broken collarbone as a result of a non racing freak accident.

John showed real grit and determination to fight through the pain barrier and turn up at the next qualifying round barely one week later, with his arm in a sling to race at the back of the grid in an attempt to put a few points on the scoreboard.

Through hard work and determination, John fought his way back to qualify for last weekend’s race.

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The 75 lap final follows qualifying timed laps on Saturday where, defending champion Glenn Bell, from Portadown, secured the coveted pole postion, English driver and title favourite Chris Haird lined up alongside in 2nd place, whilst John took 5th postion on the grid.

On a red hot day the temperatures were always going to play a part in the outcome of the race, and whilst Glenn, Chris and Jason stretched out a gap to John, John had set about a steady pace preserving his tyres and brakes.

After half way John started to show more of his undoubted pace and was now putting pressure on Kew who was strugging with tyre problems.

With several lead changes, John set about repassing Kew for the lead and quickly disposed of him to run down the final five laps and cross the line bringing another world title to a 962 car, on this occasion driven by the son of the former champion in a well deserved and worthy championship drive in front of his legions of loyal supporters. Jason Kew finished second, defending champ Bell third and Danny Fisk from England finished fourth.