Grasstrack is Back - AATR Interview with Calvert Churchill

On the 14th of August this year, Grasstrack cycling will return to Norwich for the first time in several decades. The event which will include the Men’s National 800m Championship race, has been organised by Grasstrack and Crit racer - Calvert Churchill. I caught up with Calvert for a photoshoot and a chat about the sport’s history and his families long association with cycle racing.

It’s a warm Thursday morning when I arrive in the car park close to the local prison. I’ve arranged to meet Calvert somewhere close by, to take some promo photos of him and his Grasstrack bike. This is probably the third occasion I’ve taken photos of or for him. We met just before the Covid lockdown, when I was asked to take some team photos of Strada 2020 cycle team. A local road racing team that Calvert was riding for. Fast forward a couple of years and various interactions, and we are walking onto a local recreation ground which is now used as a cricket pitch - now that the football season is over. Calvert is a cool chap - dressed in shorts, a long sleeved shirt, old school Nikes and a truckers cap. The field is pretty quiet aside from a few dog walkers.

“That’s what it’s been like since the 1880’s. It’s very traditional!”

I instantly pick up on the fact that we’re heading onto ‘a rec’ to ride a bike. The kind of open field you’d see kids playing football on or families having a picnic. “I use this because it’s nice for doing laps and circles around. But it is essentially what a grasstrack would look like,” he states. “It’s always a raced around cricket or football pitches, or just open green areas”. I’m building a mental photograph in my head and ask if the track itself is like other cycle tracks? He responds, “It’s laid out like other track races, with a looped 400m or 250m track - depending on what the race is.” He adds, “And that’s what it’s been like since the 1880’s. It’s very traditional!”

I already get a sense of the passion Calvert has for Grasstrack racing, by his historical knowledge. He tells me about the research he has been doing, looking in the archives of the EDP (Eastern Daily Press) regional newspaper. “There’s notes talking about a cycling event being held at local cricket ground, dating back to 1880’s and 90’s and 1900’s.” Calvert continues, “They used to be held like athletics meets. So there would be running races and then cycling races. It was great!” There’s a smile on his face and in his eyes as he admits he’s become a bit addicted in doing his research.

Getting my camera settings in place, I want to talk about the bike. Calvert is proudly standing over a silver-blue Roberts track bike. Despite some small areas of peeling paint and wear in the saddle and bar tape - it’s a beautiful steel-framed fixed gear. I ask if the bike is custom build? “It was, for my dad. It’s an original Charlie Roberts frame which was build for him as a track bike but it had enough clearance to ride as a grasstrack bike too.” “He raced on this in the National Track Championships in Leicester, in like 1984 when he was on a bit of roll” Calvert reflects. Looking down at the bike, Calvert seems proud that he can ride the very bike his dad used to ride.

Calvert’s dad Brian, was a successful junior racer. He joined Norwich ABC (Amateur Bicycle Club) at 14 and after local success, he went on to race as a top amateur in the junior race series. Racing against the likes of Sean Yates and other riders who later went on to become pros. “Although my dad raced across disciplines, he was very good at Crit racing,” Calvert tells me.

Calvert’s Grandad, Peter Churchill was also involved in cycling. He was secretary of Norwich ABC - one of the oldest clubs in the country. He helped organise several racing events, including the Tour of Norfolk and a number of grasstrack meetings. “Dad stepped away from cycling as he reached the Under 23 ranks - but returned to senior 3rd category racing.”

After taking some action shots of Calvert ripping loops around a section of the field - we sit down for a chat. Its a warm day a he has exerted himself to ensure that I can catch a variety of speed and motion pictures. I want to find out about his transition into grasstrack.

Calvert began racing at a relatively late age. “My dad stepped away from cycling when he was 18, which was about the age that I started to get into it,” he recalls. “I did road racing and went to race over in Belgium for a while.” “I did my best over there and tried a few things, but eventually came back to the UK.”

Calvert has spent the last few years riding with local team Strada 2020. Ironically I first met him in 2020, just a couple of months before the national Covid lockdown. But it was only in the last year or so, that he decided to give grasstrack a go. “We used to go to this thing called, Mildenhall Cycle Rally in Suffolk, which was a premiere rally in the East. It was like a family day out.” “Although the rally side of things had faded away, it’s still a good grasstrack meet.” Since returning to the UK race scene, Calvert has been racing in fixed-gear Crits. When his dad Brian, said that he still had his grasstrack bike - he decided to give it a go. “It was great really, I could spend the whole day racing at an event that costs less that doing a single road race,” he states. “My dad, my girlfriend and her family could all come and watch, which makes me feel good too! It’s like a village fete kind of atmosphere.” Calvert comes across as having strong family values, which is nice to hear.

I love the saying ‘the simplicity is the beauty of it’! I think that is what makes grasstrack such an appealing option. Whether you are just getting into cycling or you are a seasoned racer. Whether you ride road or track or other disciplines. In an industry that is heavily weighted in favour of carbon fibre, lightweight and aerodynamics - Grasstrack goes back to basics. “It’s a simple bike, steel frame….if you wanted to you could build a race-ready bike for a hundred and fifty quid (£150), and be as competitive as the National Champion.” Calvert affirms.

Grasstrack is a British Cycling registered event. If you become National Champion, you receive the same striped jersey as the road racers. It’s all officiated and there are two national leagues - a short distance (400m-800m) and a long distance (5,000-8,000m). Racers can accumulate points and rankings the same as in other disciplines.

On Sunday 14th of August - Calvert is hosting a first Grasstrack event in Norwich for more than 3 decades. It will be feature competitive races for all ages and abilities, with food and refreshments available on the day. The day will also host the men’s 800m National Championship race - which is pretty awesome. For details, check out the links below.

https://www.instagram.com/norwichgrasstrack/

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/259961/Norwich-Grasstrack