The Midget and Sprite Club is delighted to announce the winner of its inaugural “Most Improved Apprentice” award as James Keer of RW Racing Services. The award – which includes a trophy, £300 cash, and a one-year membership of the Midget and Sprite Club – was presented to James by Karl Carter, director of skills at the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) and chair of the Federation Skills Trust, and Mark Hall, chair of the Midget and Sprite Club, at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on 8 November 2024.
The award is part of the club’s ongoing commitment to the preservation of classic vehicles and has been developed in conjunction with the FBHVC’s charitable arm, the Federation Skills Trust, and the Heritage Skills Academy (HSA). The “Most Improved Apprentice” award aims to celebrate dedication and progress, regardless of an apprentice’s starting point. Some apprentices may have prior experience, perhaps from working on family collections or within a family-owned business, while others may be starting from scratch. This award is designed to acknowledge hard work and determination, rewarding those who make the most significant strides during their apprenticeship.
This years’ winner is James Keer of RW Racing Services in Northamptonshire, an apprentice on the HSA’s Heritage Engineering Technician Level 3 course. He was chosen for the award because of the significant development in his confidence, practical skills, and enthusiasm for the cars he works on, including his own historic race car – which is coincidentally an Austin Healey Sprite.
Rob Lewis, development coach at the Heritage Skills Academy said:
“James Keer is turning out to be a star apprentice. He has developed in leaps and bounds since I first met him, both in confidence and practical skills. Every time I visit James at RW Racing he is keen and enthusiastic about all the cars he has worked on and goes into detail describing the cars’ history and the work that has been done, using good professional terminology.
“James is also a keen historic motorsport fan and regularly marshals at Silverstone and other events with family members. He showed his keen desire in motorsport to me when he asked to join me at a charity event at Prescott Hill Climb and was a passenger up the hill in my 1928 Austin 12 special which he was so thrilled about. He has built his own historic race car, an Austin Healy Sprite, which he hopes to compete in next season and is looking to pass his ARDS test soon. I am proud to see James shine so well.”
