Parish Cake Autumn 2017

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feature No Rivalry in this Team A life long passion for minis makes this couple a team to be reckoned with writes Trisha Fermor JOKES ABOUT women drivers would probably go down like a lead balloon in one Weald household. Pete Berry, 41, and his fiancée Zoe Atkins, 35, are two of the country’s top hot-rod racers, travelling the length and breadth of the UK to compete in their iconic Minis. Pete, who works at his father John’s garage, Cranbrook Cars, Sissinghurst, is suitably proud of Zoe who has left the ladies-only classes to join the men. She is currently lying in third place against 40 rivals. Her fiancé is the leading points champion of the 6,000-member Invicta Kent club – the largest of its kind in the UK – based at Ivychurch, Romney Marsh. Their beloved Minis are Pete’s much-rebuilt green pick-up with a Cooper S 1071cc engine and Zoe’s white model with a 1000cc engine. Surprisingly, using only first and second gear, Pete can achieve 89mph in second while Zoe can reach 70 plus in hers. The races are usually run clock-wise on an oval grass track and their cars’ tracking is altered, making them look lopsided when stationery. Mr Berry snr was one of the first people in the 1970s to race on the stock-rod grass track in Frittenden and Pete said: “When I was in a pram I used to be taken to the track. I was two years old when I helped my Dad change the wheel nuts on a racer. “When I was 12 and tall for my age I was allowed to take part racing cars although the minimum age was 13. They said if “THEY SAID IF I COULD REACH THE PEDALS AND SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS OK.” I could reach the pedals and see over the steering wheel I was OK.” Pete is not alone in getting help from a parent. Zoe’s Mum, Glenys Atkins, who lives at Knoxbridge, raced Minis at Brands Hatch. Zoe said: “I did karting for six years before racing Minis. Pete was always going on at me to join him racing and one Christmas he bought me a Mini. I went on to be a ladies’ champion which is why I joined the men.” Although hot-rod racing is supposed to be a non-contact sport both their minis have suffered damage in collisions and both have rolled their cars – Pete reckoning to have somersaulted up to 20 times in one incident. Fortunately they have avoided serious injuries. While Zoe’s car is trailered to events, Pete built his own lorry, complete with living quarters, to carry his Mini. He said: “We are like a travelling circus. We take our two dogs, a Staffie and a Staffie x Lab, with us wherever we go.” Speaking just before the National Championships in Herefordshire at the beginning of August, Pete said: “Zoe and I have a real partnership, we do everything together and are a great team.” 24 Parish Cake • Autumn 2017
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