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Rod Tanswell
Obituary from Oval Track blog by Richard John Neil
It was very sad to learn of the death of former Superstox and
Midget driver Rod Tanswell. Rod was without doubt the first
real superstar in the Midgets. Indeed he was one of the innovators
of the class and won most of the major trophies in the early
years. He was the first Points Champion (1968) and won the following
two seasons as well. He was twice National Champion (1969 &
1972), British Champion (1972) and the inaugural European Champion
in 1973. Up until the end of the 1972 season Rod raced a Dastle
Mk3 but went on to race in the first (an only) front engine
Fireball designed by Frank Boyles - the Mk3. Rod won with the
Fireball on its' debut in the National Championship at Wimbledon
in 1972.
His achievements should not be underestimated as all his titles
were won when the formula boasted its biggest driver base through
both Spedeworth and the MARC. Rod also did most of the early
public relations work for the class in the Spedeweek race programme
and Wheelspin magazine under the pen name "The Informer", never
giving himself much in the way of self promotion but instead
concentrating on others. He also wrote the 'Evolution of Midgets'
chapter of the Spedeworth book 'Living With Spede' which provides
a superb account of the formative years of the current formula.
Following his retirement from Midget racing at the end of the
1973 season (3rd November at Wimbledon)Rod still supported the
Midgets with the occasional presentation of the Rod Tanswell
Challenge Trophy which was contested when the cars raced on
Spedeworth circuits. He continued to work for Spedeworth and
I remember him doing a lot to promote Arlington meetings and
also editing Wheelspin.
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1969
1971
