RICK CUTTING MINI MIGLIA MEMORIAL RACE - Castle Combe
Thanks to the generosity of former drivers, Ricks friends and supporters, the Rick Cutting Memorial Race prize fund has now reached £1,000.
The fund will be awarded based on the results of the Miglia race at Castle Combe on Sunday 13 September, as follows:
1st Place: £260
2nd Place: £240
3rd Place: £200
Spirit of Riccardo Award: £300
In addition, trophies will be presented to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers and the driver receiving the Spirit of Riccardo award
To be eligible for prize money, drivers must display a Rick Cutting Memorial Race sticker on their car. Drivers who do not display a sticker may still receive a finishing-position trophy but will not qualify for the associated cash prize.
The Spirit of Riccardo Award celebrates the determination, enthusiasm, and entertaining racing style that Rick was known for. Both the trophy and the £300 prize will only be awarded to a driver displaying a sticker, even if their race does not go entirely to plan.
The full £1,000 prize fund will be distributed on the day.
Rick’s minis were always very well prepared and the Riccardo Memorial Sticker is inspired by the two most striking liveries he raced in – Lex Mead and Manor. The white and orange-striped Lex Mead livery was first seen in 1978. Several different versions appeared, the last towards the end of 1980 which is the design shown on the Memorial Sticker. The yellow background is a nod to the yellow Manor livery seen on his Miglia from 1981.
Rick’s mini proudly displayed his Nom de Guerre – ‘Riccardo’. Even when he wrote-off his own car at Cadwell Park in May 1980 and borrowed another from old mate Geoff Robson, for just a few races, he cheekily made sure ‘Riccardo’ was painted prominently on the boot. That ‘Riccardo’ mini won at Castle Combe in July 1980.
Four of the trophies Rick won have been donated for the Memorial Race including his 2 Castle Combe wins, his Donington win, and Miglia Championship 4th overall in 1981.
Castle Combe was one of his favourite circuits along with Mallory Park and Silverstone. Although he’d won the Miglia class in the Leyland Invitation Race at Silverstone GP circuit in May 1977, Rick’s win at Castle Combe on 29th August 1977 was his first Miglia Championship win and his first on the road. It was a hard-fought victory dicing with Miglia Champions Phil Spurling and Paul Gaymer with less than a second between these three at the line.
Rick’s next win at Castle Combe in July 1980 was a classic with just under 4 seconds covering the first 11 drivers at the finish. Disputing the lead with Roland Nix (1980 Miglia Champion) an out-braking manoeuvre at Camp on the last lap saw Rick win by 0.2 seconds.
Rick w on at Donington on 27th August 1979 in what was meant to be a ‘demonstration race’ for the Mini Extravaganza celebrating 20 Mini years. Lining up on the grid several cars including Rick’s sported damage sustained in the previous day’s eventful Snetterton Miglia Championship race. Unsurprisingly, at the Start the ‘demonstration’ was forgotten and the ‘race’ ensued with numerous changes of leader throughout and a determined Rick happy to be ahead at the chequered flag.
1981 was Rick’s most successful year in Miglias - the first 7 races saw him achieve 2 wins, two 2nds, one 3rd, a 6th, a DNF and a Pole position. He led the Miglia Championship for the first half of the season but saw mixed fortunes in the second half, coming off worst during some particularly close racing. Race wins went to 6 different drivers and the Miglia Championship was decided between these 6 at the last race - Snetterton. Rick ended the season in 4th, although equal 3rd on points. This was the last year he competed in a full season of Mini racing.
1982 was severely curtailed by a crash at Snetterton in March although Fastest Lap was some consolation. Qualifying on the front row Rick spun on the 2nd lap, rejoined in 11th and gained 1 second a lap on the leaders. It was a recovery which ‘proved to be the outstanding feature of the race’ - but sadly it ended at Riches. Early in 1983 Rick won a Metro in the Car and Car Conversions Magazine competition which led to him competing in the Metro Challenge until 1991.
