Whitworth High student’s stockcar racing hobby

Don't be fooled by Savannah Montgomery-Brown’s small stature, as behind the steering wheel of her stock car she bravely takes on all comers.

Whitworth Community High School student Savannah, 13, may still be four years off having her first driving lesson, but she has already been racing Mini Stocks round a track for a year.

She said: “My stepdad Colin Dimelow used to take me to watch races and for my 12th birthday I asked for a chance to race because I thought it was so cool.

“He arranged it and when I got out of the car and I said I enjoyed it he said he would buy me the car and the kit I needed to race.

“I was really happy, but my mother Davida was not. She had put me off it for two years because she didn’t want me to race in a car and she was fed up of me begging to be allowed to have a go.

“She now watches my races, but it still scares her.”

Savannah’s car has now been spray painted sparkly pink and her stepdad, who is also her manager, has provided her with a fireproof suit and crash helmet to wear while competing. He also got her five or six sponsors.

 

 

She has competed in four races, she did well in her first race, won one, but also got mud on her tyres and that causes her to spin out and a car behind her then smashed into the side of hers.

Savannah said: “The ambulance was called, the race was stopped and I was taken off to hospital. I had whiplash which lasted a couple of weeks. The guy who ran into me apologised 10 times.”

Mini Stocks is for 12-15-year-olds and, when she is older, Savannah hopes to progress to drive Formula 1 and 2 cars.

In March, the grading period races start and Savannah hopes to be travelling to circuits all over the UK to compete to take part in as many races as she can.

Savannah added: “When I tell my friends what my hobby is it comes as a surprise, but they also find it pretty cool.”