2 March, 2014
What a difference a tyre makes – mini review of Yokohama Advan Neovas on track
Yesterday, finally, after a break of nearly four years, I returned to the race track. Not for a competitive event, but for a track day. And I learned a little… The scene has changed. Maybe. Track days were mostly full of road cars. Lotus Elises were hugely popular, but you’d see a collection of Porsches, various […]
18 October, 2009
Oulton Park Trackday With GTDC
After two years of going nowhere near a race circuit while I concentrated on building up the business, I finally got the Elise nicely fettled by Phoenix Motorsport in Accrington and got out with the Gold Track Driving Club.
5 May, 2008
Photos From the Aintree Spring Sprint 2008
I’m not going to be challenging for anything much this year, but on April 26th I ambled along to the Aintree Spring Sprint and took some snaps. A selection of them are available here. Use them as you like, but don’t remove the tag. If you’d like to receive a higher quality image, just let […]
30 April, 2008
Aintree Spring Sprint 2008
Each year, Liverpool Motor Club holds three sprints at the classic Aintree circuit. It’s a relaxed, sociable and efficient event. I always thought TVR’s finest moment was the Cerbera – a combination of classic low-rider looks, power, and noise. Still handled badly, but that can largely be sorted out. It was great to see everyone […]
18 February, 2008
20 January, 2008
Stop Whinging and Learn to Drive
Sorry David Coulthard, but when I saw this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7191512.stm I saw red. I mean, apart from some of his astonishingly patronising comments directed towards younger drivers, he did nothing but confirm that his F1 career has been a long period of journeyman mistakes. His ability to spin off during warm up laps was once something […]
25 September, 2007
Hillclimb and Sprint Photography
I don’t often mention other sites, but that’s more because I’m lazy and don’t do my research, rather than any intent to ignore. But I can’t ignore Gary Thomas’s new sprint and hillclimb photo site. He takes some cracking pictures of the sprint scene and shows them off at his photo site yourftd.com where you […]
18 September, 2007
Aintree Sprint Report, 8th September 2007
A bit slow putting this one up, but it needs doing! It was an unusual day for me, in part, because I’d not really expected to be competing! I’d really given up on this season – with a shortage of funds and time while I continue getting my business on its feet (it’s at http://www.interconnectit.com […]
8 July, 2007
Aintree Sprint, 30th June 2007 – Rain again
If you’re in Britain you’ll already be aware that for the past few weeks we’ve been getting rain of near biblical proportions, with floods causing a lot of damage in the Midlands, and just a lot of heavy rain in the rest of the country. Aintree wasn’t much different, though not quite so bad as […]
20 June, 2007
Anglesey Sprint, 9th-10th of June 2007
Yes, this really is my first event of the year! It won’t be my last, but sadly business and finances have to take a priority and it’s unlikely I’ll be doing much sprinting this season. I’ll do the odd track-day, however, to keep my eye in. And it didn’t really go well – at a […]
24 November, 2006
When Your Mic Breaks, Improvise!
Sometimes you record a great hillclimb run (this one up Loton Park) only to find a technical glitch has spoilt the recording. So if that’s the case, you must improvise….
8 November, 2006
Caterham at Oulton
Rather liked this video. Not so much for the driving, which is perfectly fine if not especially edgy, but the telemetry on-screen. I want a system like this! Does anyone know who makes it? PS. I wasn’t paying attention and titled this as Donington. Now corrected to show Oulton but I’ve left the path the […]
4 November, 2006
17 October, 2006
God Save The Queen! (Petrol Sniffer Style)
No, we’re a patriotic bunch here in Blighty. Stiff upper lip and all that, what! But in motorsport we’re not known for our pomp. Just gets in the way of the Castrol, I say! However, in deference to our glorious yet ultimately powerless leader, something had to be done:
15 October, 2006
What Happens at Your First Sprint or Hillclimb
The first event you ever do is a great experience. Don’t make yourself sick with worry, and ignore the people making fun of you and suggesting you’ll go out in a big ball of flames or similar! Accidents, in particular serious ones, are rare in sprints and hillclimbs, and if you take it easy while […]
Sprint and Hillclimb Checklist
I thought that it would be useful to create a checklist of items that are essential for a Sprint or Hillclimb. If I’ve missed anything out, or you think there’s more to add, please let me know. Compulsory Items Race license Club and championship cards (less critical, usually, but technically compulsory) Race numbers Race suit […]
29 September, 2006
When Track Safety Goes Wrong
I’m no fan of gruesome videos, but sometimes they’re necessary because otherwise we forget just what can go wrong and fail to plan for the worst. In the UK at least marshalls are some of the best – this is what happens when the marshalls aren’t well trained.
27 September, 2006
Thoresby Park Sprint, 23rd September 2006
I question the validity of any sport that involves early morning starts. Sadly that seems to include most of them, so at 5am I woke up, startled myself by spotting a grumpy looking animal staring back at me from my mirror, and bumbled out of the door to drag my trailer to somewhere in Nottinghamshire. […]
10 September, 2006
Aintree Sprint, 2nd September 2006 – Boat racing!
Whenever we get rain at Aintree it seems to be of the biblical sort. I’d hoped for a chance at recovering my record and also scoring lots of useful points for my championship challenge. But as I set off I felt doomed – strong rain is never going to be good in the Elise and […]
21 August, 2006
Scammonden Dam Hillclimb – 20th August 2006
They built a reservoir at Scammonden for one very simple reason. Because it rains a lot there. And Sunday wasn’t a disappointment in that respect. Still, it’s one of those venues that needs supporting – Pendle & District always put on a good event with plenty of runs and although it’s a short hill it’s […]
30 July, 2006
Loton Park, 29th July 2006
Woke up this morning, looked outside, saw the sun… and just wanted to go back to sleep! Yep – I was shattered! I’d failed to get to sleep early, and then woke up with a start a few times. I don’t know why, but when I have an event on the next morning I wake […]
27 July, 2006
Loton Park Preparation
Every year I look forward to Loton Park, down in Shropshire. And every year I worry about it! It’s a lovely hillclimb – scenic and great for spectators but there’s no denying that it’s not without dangers. Lots of people end up with damaged cars here. I’ve decided not to trailer the car up as […]
