CWR is the car manufacturing division of Classic World Racing, a team of highly experienced competition car specialists who prepare classic racing cars for events across the world.
The team has over 45 years of experience in single seater, sports and GT racing car preparation, providing structured testing programmes as well as supplying and installing world class racing components.
A key member of the team is ex TVR competition manager Chris Schirle. Schirle worked for the late Peter Wheeler between 1982 and 1987. During that period he was responsible for the successful 450 SEAC Wedge car which ultimately led to the company becoming a major participant in UK motorsport.
The CWR Team
CWR Managing Director Mike Luck was exposed to motorsport at an early age thanks to his father Charles who was a successful motorcycle rider in the early 60’s specialising in hill climb and sprint events. Mike started racing in 1978 in a self built, steel shell 1 litre Hillman Imp. This car quickly gave way to a space frame version designed and built by Mike which he raced in the Wendy Wools Special Saloon series. After 2 years developing the car, it ultimately proved to be competitive against the pace setting cars built by John Maguire.
1981 saw the Imp traded in for a Mallock Mk 21 Clubmans sports car which provided Mike with valuable experience in this popular controlled engine series. Although the Clubmans rule book closely controls engine and drive line, there is plenty of opportunity to develop the chassis and excel as a result of careful preparation. Mike quickly became proficient in the formula and scored his first victory at the end of the 83 season. 1984 started well with a win followed by a second and 2 more wins which resulted with Mike wrapping up the Oceanair sponsored championship before the last race.
The Kit Car racing scene was in full swing by 1985 and Mike took part in a Rover engined Cobra replica. Development of the car was disjointed so the season was poor year by Mike’s standard and ultimately was cut short. 1986 was a much better season thanks to a Westfield 11 built by Sports Car specialist Chamberlain Engineering. The nimble 1860cc ford engine car proved to be the class of the field and went on to score 7 class wins (5 overall) and 7 class lap records. During this successful season, there was many a hard fought race with Lee Noble and his first generation road going sports car where Mike invariably took honours. Interestingly, Mike took part in an all comers race at Oulton Park which featured Steve Cole in the rapid 450 SEAC run by Chris Schirle and TVR.
After 1986, Mike took time out to concentrate on his career as a Sales Manager and ultimately went on to form his own chemical distribution business in 1989. The Motorsport bug bit again in 1995 so Mike returned to Clubmans Sports cars with a Phantom P89. 1996 saw a promising start although it was short lived due to a huge accident at the fast, pre-chine Castle Combe. This accident caused a forced layoff for the remainder of the year and ultimately led Mike to consider going back to the drawing board and creating a new car from scratch. After several months designing, work on the Dart S16 Clubmans Sports Car started. The radical car first raced at the end of 2000 which saw the start of the steady process of development. The Dart played a key part in stimulating a series that was in danger of stagnating and finally won its first race in 2003.
2005 saw Mike sign up for the high speed banking of Rockingham and the all American NASCAR style Stock Car series. The challenge of the high speed oval was one that Mike thoroughly enjoyed and he stayed with the series for its duration, finishing 2nd in it’s final year of 2007.
Since the formation of Classic World Racing, Mike’s racing activities has been limited to occasional outings in cars that the business has prepared including a 2.5ltr Darrian, a 1500 turbo charged Zeus and a fabulous E Type Jaguar.