RACING EXPOSURE :: Club level motorsport e-magazine

Peter Lloyd rallying has been broken into over weekend taking thousands of pounds worth of gear.

Including
40+ race suits
Peltor helmets
Seats
Escort diffs

Peter is asking if anyone is offered any rallying kit for sale, please could you contact him on 01656 724777

There is REWARD OFFERED!!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Motors TV have confirmed they will be covering all 10 races from the 2010 AAA (Ajec AWD Academy) Saloon Cup. It’s a new race series open to all AWD cars and consists of 5 double-header events at Castle Combe (2), Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Oulton Park with the grid divided into two classes – one for unrestricted cars and the other for cars limited to 400 bhp.

Coverage will consist of a 25 minute programme per race to be shown at peak times on the satellite channel and will include in-car footage, driver interviews and all the action that these exciting cars will provide.

The extensive coverage is being sponsored by Launch Motorsport, owned by Bristol businessman Richard Jones, who is himself racing in the series behind the wheel of his 600 bhp Mitsubishi Evo. The series will be filmed by motorsport specialist Shift Rally Media.

Motors TV will also be adding a special AAA Saloon Cup page on their website with news, driver info and programme times.

Anticipating the TV coverage, Simon Norris, owner of the world’s most famous Evo – the 900 bhp 2-door Evo IX SWB Bogie – has already confirmed his intention to contest all the races in the series and that combination will be a hard act to beat to the chequered flags.

The Norris Designs Evo will line up on the grid alongside a swarm of other Evos, several Subarus, a pair of hi-powered Escort Cosworths, two Audis, and a lone Mitsubishi GT3000. There is a limited number of spaces still available on the grid for those who would like to join the action.

The countdown to the first race on April 5th at Castle Combe begins now….

Further information, including the full race calendar and regulations can be seen at:

www.AAAsaloons.com
www.launchmotorsport.com
www.motorstv.com

Former 3-Times Monoposto 2000 champion Mark Harrison is set to make is championship return in a one off entry at Brands Hatch on March 28th.

Mark Harrison in BRSCC F3, 2009

Harrison, currently a strong competitor in the BRSCC F3 championship with a Dallara F301 Toyota, spent many years in Monoposto, clinching a hat-trick of titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007 at the wheel of a Dallara F398 Vauxhall.  His brother, Neil, kept up the family name by winning the same championship in 2009 also in a Vauxhall powered F398.

Mark is going to be driving the same F398 that took Neil to the title in 2009, which is also the car that took the title in 2005.

MSA Asphalt Rally Challenge incorporating the BTRDA Asphalt Rally Challenge

Championship Website: Asphalt Rally Challenge

Event: Tour of Epynt

Date: 14th March

Location: Epynt Ranges

Website: Tour of Epynt

Event: Manx Trophy

Date: 7 – 8th May

Location: Isle of Man

Event: Jim Clark National Rally

Date: 28 – 29th May

Location: Scottish Borders

Website: Jim Clark

Event: Rally of the Midlands

Date: 18 19th June

Location: Hinckley & Nuneaton

Website: Rally of the Midlands

Event: ALMC (Dublin) Stages Rally

Date: 18th July

Location: Dublin

Website: ALMC Stages

Event: Tyneside Stages

Date: 1st August

Location: Otterburn

Website: Tyneside Stages

Event: Mewla National Rally

Date: 29th August

Location: Epynt Ranges

Website: Mewla National

Event: Patriot Stages

Date: 26th September

Location: Caerwent

Website: Patriot Stages

Event: Cheviot / Keith Knox National

Date: 24th October

Location: Otterburn

Website: Cheviot Stages

BTRDA Gravel championship Calendar

Championship Website: www.btrdarally.co.uk

Event: GMF Motor Factors Wyedean Rally

Date: 13th February

Location: Chepstow

Website: Wyedean Rally

Event: Malcolm Wilson Stages

Date: 6th March

Location: Cockermouth

Website: Malcolm Wilson Rally

Event: Betta Somerset Stages

Date: 24th April

Location: Minehead

Website: Somerset Stages

Event: Lico Wheels Plains Rally

Date: 15th May

Location: Welshpool

Website: Plains Rally

Event: Rainworth Skoda Dukeries Rally

Date: 12th june

Location: Southwell Racecourse

Website: Dukeries Rally

Event: Quinton Stages rally

Date: 10th July

Location: Llandovery

Website: Quinton Stages

Event: Woodpecker Rally

Date: 4th September

Location: Ludlow

Website: Woodpecker Rally

Event: G.O.N Cambrian Rally

Date: 16th October

Location: Llandudno

Website: Cambrian rally

British rally Championship & BRC Challnge Calendars

BRC Website: www.rallybrc.co.uk

Event: Bulldog International Rally of North Wales

Date: 27th March

Location: Welshpool

Website: Bulldog Rally

Event: Pirelli International

Date: 23rd – 24th April

Location: Carlisle

Website: Pirelli International

Event: Jim Clark International

Date: 28 – 29th May

Location: Scottish Borders

Website: Jim Clark rally

Event: Isle of Man International

Date: 9 – 10th July

Location: Douglas

Website: Rally Isle of Man

Event: International Rally Northern Ireland

Date: 20th – 21st August

Location: Antrim

Website: Ulster rally

Event: International Rally Yorkshire

Date: 24 – 25th September

Location: Pickering

Website: Rally Yorkshire

MSA Gravel championship 2010 Calendar

Championship Website: MSA Gravel Championship

Event: Sunseeker Rally

Date: 26 – 27th February

Location: Bournemouth

Website: Rallye Sunseeker

Event: Pirelli Tour of Cumbria

Date: 23rd – 24th April

Location: Carlisle

Website: Pirelli International

Event: Severn Valley National

Date: 5th June

Location: Builth Wells

Website : Severn Valley National

Event: Pro-Art Design Swansea Bay

Date: 17th July

Location: Swansea

Website: Swansea Bay

Event: 60 & Worcester National

Date: 4th September

Location: Ludlow

Website: 60 & Worcester National

Event: Trackrod National

Date: 25th September

Location: Pickering

Website: Trackrod National

Over the winter Brands has been undergoing maintenance on the track surface. The cold weather we had increased the wear on the track in places where the surface was already poor.

The new sections on the Indy layout are from the entrance to Surtees, through Clearways and Clark Curve. A small section on the entrance to Paddock Hill has also been resurfaced.

Initial impressions are good. You don’t really notice the new surface on the entrance to Paddock, however Clearways is much improved. Gone are the old patchy repairs and it’s generally far less bumpy.

The new sections appear to hold water more than the old sections, and there’s little grip offline however when I was on track the tarmac had only been laid five days before so it needs time to bed in.

Oulton Park held its first test day of 2010 today. With the track conditions being very slippery due to the current weather and leaves falling from the trees that surround Oulton, it made life challenging for the drives participating.

However, this challenge was something they were relishing. Ginetta G50 driver Tony Hughes was utilising the day to get his eye back in and try and to get more time in the seat. He had this to say:

‘Seen as this is the first test day at Oulton Park for the 2010 season, it is a perfect opportunity to get back into the groove. The circuit is brilliant and the conditions are very slippery and challenging which helps to get your eye in again. I have many plans for this season. I am hoping to do 7 out of the 10 rounds of the Ginetta G50 Championship but also going to make appearances at the Spa 6 hour, Classic Le Mans and the Britcar 24hr races.’

Tony powers down the start line – © Matt Sayle

Testing alongside the Ginetta of Tony Hughes ran by Speedworks Motorsport  was the F4 of  Patrick McKenna. Patrick was using the day for the same reasons as Tony above. Borrowing the F4 of Absolute racing, he found the conditons to be varying but fantastic to get back in the car:

It is great to be back in the car. I am using to day to get my eye back in with racing; the plans for 2010 are to race in the US with the Formula 2000s. I am using the F4 car to get my eye back in and then in the afternoon I am going to try and set some fast laps in the afternoon!

Patrick McKenna guides his F4 around Lodge – © Matt sayle.

Rallies being held at Caerwent in 2010 on the Defence Training establishment are run Jointly by Forresters Car Club and South Wales Auto Club. The dates are :-

Tour of Caerwent (run under Forresters CC’s name) – Sun 28 March
Midsummer Caerwent (run under SWAC’s name) – Sun 20 June
Patriot Stages (copromoted by SWAC and Forresters) – Sun 26 September

Details of Regulations will be posted soon

Hornsey prepares for final Stock Hatch season.

Seasoned stock hatch racer William Hornsey has been out testing recently at Snetterton in his venerable Peugeot 106 Rallye. After a couple of years of part seasons due to time constraints, Hornsey has committed to competing on the whole season with race preparation experts Lanan Racing, and legendary driver coach Malcolm Smith to improve his fortunes.

Hornsey said “ It’s going to be my last season competing this year as my work and family commitments make it very difficult to commit to the time required to do justice to a championship challenge. Therefore I am looking to go out on a high and feel that Lanan and Malcolm will help me make the most of the season. The aim is to finish well inside the top 10 championship positions.”

“ Testing last week at Snetterton was very cold, but the car ran well and was not far from the leading times of the previous race meeting. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Testing at Snetterton

The view from Clubland
Getting value for Money
William Hornsey – Stock hatch competitor.

The age old issue of club motor racing is cost, or more specifically, getting value for money doing our highly addictive hobby. Even the most miniscule of championships will take £5000+ of your income to complete and even then you would likely be far away from a competitive season.
It has to be said that the main reason in the UK for the high cost of competing isn’t necessarily driven by the competitor’s desire for obtaining the competitive advantage through laying down the cash, on better engines or suspensions, but a lack of entrepreneurship on the parts of both the organising clubs and the circuits.
A couple of seasons ago there was the ill fated ‘Powernights’ race meetings, which were mid week evening races which failed to really work due to the races in question being standalone and not part of a championship season. Understandably driver’s would be loathe to compete in a ‘meaningless’ race due to the risk of accident damage or mechanical breakdown, thus potentially thwarting their championship ambitions. However the fundamental raison d’etre behind this type ofmeeting should be revisited and perhaps tweaked.
Jackie Stewart’s autobiography gives us many pointers to how racing could be today for the club competitor. I’m not suggesting that we go back to straw bales and disused airfields, but the spectators of the time paid to watch the races and the money went into the driver’s pockets as start money or prize money. I don’t need to tell you that this does not happen today.
Ok, so the first point to address is the fact that most club events are very poorly attended by spectators, mostly the people in the stands are driver’s family and friends who probably got in on the tickets dished out with the entries. However, how many club events do you see being advertised?
The clubs won’t risk the cash required to advertise an event as generally they do not get the gate money. Unfortunately, the circuits, as well as charging for the hire of the track, also keep any revenue derived from spectators. However the marketing departments at these circuits won’t invest in promotion as, they possibly conceive the reward not mitigating the risk. And yet they can work, anyone who has ever raced at Castle Combe will attest to the 8000+ crowds that regularly attend their championship days. With the greatest of respect for Castle Combe it is hardly fan friendly in terms of facilities, but still the fans come so it would appear that there is enough latent demand for club level motor racing from the general public.
It would seem that club racing will remain an expensive proposition whilst we have this impass. The circuits and the clubs need to work together to generate spectator revenue, either by allowing the club to keep any gate receipts or by the circuit reducing its track hire charge and funding the reduction through increased spectator attendance. We are not talking ten’s of thousands of spectator’s either – a thousand would do at £10 per head. That’s £10k in total, minus say, £1000 in PR/Advertising spend on things like local radio adverts, local paper promotions etc. This could be used to offset the circuit hire cost, and therefore reduce entry fees, or be used for prize money for the winners and any multitude of other options, not least of which making the venues more child friendly so that families can see it as a cheap day out – ( fairground rides, kids clubs etc).
Club motor racing lacks a distinct amount of entrepreneurship at all levels, and whilst we may not be in the entertainment industry per se, I think all agencies tasked with running and promoting a meeting should look long and hard at how to provide better value for money for the competitor.

2010 Provisional Race Dates

3rd April Cadwell Park BARC
8th / 9th May Silverstone BARC
15th May Goodwood CTCRC Sprint
5th / 6th June Brands Hatch BARC
27th June Thruxton BARC
17th / 18th July Lydden CTCRC Classic Festival
20th / 21st August Snetterton BARC
25th September Oulton Park BARC
16th / 17th October Pembrey BARC

Source: CTCRC website

Duratec Formula Ford front runner Patrick McKenna is to test Absolute Racings race winning Van Diemen F4 at Oulton Park on Friday (29th Jan) to gain some experience ahead of a possible graduation to the revitalised US F2000 Championship.

US F2000 kicks off a packed 2010 calendar with a support race to the IZOD Indy Car Championship on the streets of St Petersburg at the end of March.

750MC have published their calendar and can be found at this link

Sadly its not so easy to cut and paste into this message, so have posted the link instead as a temporary measure.

Lee Coombes, long-time motorsport enthusiast, is hoping to build support for Donington Park to return to active duty following the collapse of the proposed Formula One contract.

“I am a vintage/historic/classic racing car enthusiast who travels all over the UK to watch these magnificent machines competing.

Of all the circuits, by far my favourite was Donington Park, and I’d seldom miss a meeting. There is now a significant chance Donington has seen its last race.

I am deeply concerned about the future of the circut, so I’ve been looking into trying to organise a “Save Donington” rally.

I am contacting car clubs and racing forums about a show of support for the circuit by turning up in numbers to the car park. I figured if enough people turn up demonstrating how important the circuit is, it would justify to the people involved that it must be repaired. I have been impressed by the response in such a short time.

I know this is a naive pipe-dream, but a ball has started rolling, and it was all I could think of. After all, all I am is a skint racing enthusiast, with no contacts, who considers Donington Park his second home.

If anyone is interested, I’ve set up this email account:

savedonington@live.co.uk

The proposed date for the “rally” is 7th March. I figured, if a positive decision was to have been made by then, then it would’ve rendered it unecessary – let’s hope!

I have had some negative comments regarding this idea, so I am asking, initially for people interested in the demonstration to email me messages of support, which I will first compile and send off.

Kindest regards,

Lee Coombs”

Show your support for one of Britain’s finest circuits by attending the rally and spreading the word.  Since the start of Lee’s campaign Kevin Wheatcroft, son of the late Tom Wheatcroft who made the circuit into the national landmark it became, has vowed to return the circuit to a working state, so this show of support is working. Lee has set up a website, a Facebook group, and has spread the word via numerous motorsport websites and discussion forums.