An Interview with National Banger livewire 170 Darren Teal
(interview published August 13 2014 in the lead up to National Banger Inter Counties Team Challenge at Mildenhall on August 23)

Age: 32
Home Town: Northampton
Occupation: Warehouse operative
Family: Single
Racing career: Started racing National Bangers aged 18 at Northampton

You have stepped in as the new captain for the Shires team at this year’s National Banger Inter Counties Team Challenge this season, is this a meeting you are looking forward to?
Yes I am. I’ve done the meeting before and it’s always been good and I thought it was a huge shame that there was no Shires team there last year so when I was asked about being captain I thought I would at least try. If the worst comes to the worst I’ll race on my own so at least there will be someone there (laughs). But it shouldn’t come to that, I’ve still got a couple getting back to me but it’s all coming together now and I think we should have a decent team. I’m pretty confident I won’t be on my own, there should be at least three or four or us (laughs)!

Having done this meeting in the past, what is the appeal of it to you?
I like team racing anyway but this one if different because you are not necessarily going to be with people you usually get on with. When I did it before I was with people who typically I didn’t get on with but it really surprised me how everyone put the team first and got on with it and worked together and I really enjoyed it, I think it’s always good when that kind of thing happens but it doesn’t happen very often so any chance to do a meeting like this is good. I think it’s always fun when you race with new people and it’s usually good fun which is what it’s all about.

This year’s format is new for the meeting, do you approve of the changes?
I do to be fair, I think it’s pretty good and I think it could make the meeting better. The way I see it, it’s a bit like the Old Skool (team) meeting and I love that meeting and this is now a little bit like that with all the teams racing together and having the first car home being the ultimate aim. I think it’s better when the whole team races together anyway because that is more how a team meeting should be and it makes it easier to stop a team if you are all out together and with having the winning car being so important I think it will be pretty lively, it’s usually a good meeting anyway, I just think this will make it better.

One of the complaints of the old format was the points system wasn’t the easiest to follow, would you agree with that?
Not especially, as long as everyone knows what it is before and it’s not messed about with I can’t see the problem but then maybe I didn’t pay enough attention to realize what was wrong with it (laughs). But I do think the new format is better.

Tell us about your team and how do you rate your chances?
I think it’s pretty good so far. They were all keen which was the most important thing, at the end of the day the most important thing is to have drivers who are reliable and aren’t going to let you down and do their best for the team on the track and in the pits. Dean Quinsee is always quick and he could be good for trying to get the win while John Brooks and Bradley Cushion are getting better and better and are both good for racing and crashing while Mark Cross will be interesting because I think it’s his first time at Mildenhall but he was really up for it and again that was the most important thing for me. We’ll enjoy it and that the biggest thing but I think we have a chance of getting into the final at least and I’d be really pleased if we did that.

How about your season so far, how has that been for you?
Pretty good really, I’m enjoying it but I keep blowing engines up which is really frustrating. I had the problem with Mondeos but I seem to have that sorted now but now it’s happening with other engines which is annoying so something to work on and get better in the future.

You’ve been a keen supporter of the all Granada meetings in the sport, visiting Stoke and Coventry, are these meetings you enjoy and can we expect to see you at the Mildenhall event in September?
I do like those meetings, I love Granadas but they aren’t much use at unlimited meetings anymore and are really only any use at these Granada meetings so that’s why I’ve been doing them and yes I will be at the Mildenhall one, it’s another meeting I’ve been looking forward to.

How do you feel about the inclusion of Mk3 and Mk4 models at this year’s meeting?
I’m ok with it. As long as you don’t have the Frog Eyes (Scorpios) it should be ok. There aren’t a lot of Mk1 and Mk2 Granadas now so the cars need to come from somewhere and the Mk3s were the never the best car and I don’t think the Mk4s are much better.

You are currently just inside the top 40 in the white and yellow grade series points, are you hoping to qualify for the series final?
I would like to but I’m not going out of my way to qualify. I will just do the meetings I plan on doing and hope that is enough but if I qualify I will certainly make sure I do it as that is normally another good race and meeting.

Is there anyone else you would like to thank or mention?
Just the usual people but especially those who help me at the track when I need to fix or load a wrecked car up, especially Twelly, Martin Wesby and Mark Nottingham who have helped me a lot lately and help from guys like that for someone like me who races on a trailer is a massive help.