deekssteve911

[deekssteve911]

Festival Italia - Two wins at Brands Hatch

What a day – actually, what a year. This time last year was also ‘Festival’ time, The Silverstone Festival – I had a hell of a race then, in the forty-car televised ‘Roadsports’ grid – a forty minute affair which saw me run as high as fourth, before eventually taking fifth at the flag …

2024, and after the excitement and drama of our European ‘sortie’ - the ‘Spetacollo Sportivo’ weekend at Zandvoort, where following qualifying and three red-hot races we took second on the track, catching the leader – which became third after my 20 second penalty for accidentally clipping a car I was lapping … We reconvened at Brands Hatch for the UK’s premier Italian Car Festival. I managed a total of twenty laps of testing at the circuit I last raced at 26 years before – then, unceremoniously dumped it in the Paddock Bend gravel!

Ludicrous – I gave myself and the hard-working team a lot of work to do before qualifying, and the two races on Sunday. Everyone had warned me this one would be tough, all the big guns of the Alfa racing community turned out for Italia – and so it proved. We had everything from the 700 BHP Quadrifoglio through to the 455 BHP TCR to contend with …

In testing I was quick – before the spin – managing a 51.29 – but the excursion tore up a tyre – completely, it disintegrated – forcing us to rim our only well-used spare from the workshop, and this tyre didn’t have enough life left in it for me to under 52.5 in qualifying, ending us up 3rd on the grid for race 1. We got lucky, taking the R1 win after a fierce opening battle with Lee Penn who drove exceptionally well in the opening laps, never letting me breathe for a moment. R2 was a matter of just conserving what remained of the rubber – and bringing the car home unscratched. Well almost. Sorry Jamie …

Off-track the road-going Alfaworkshop 4C starred at The Broadway Car Show, whilst the race car was on display at the National Alfa Day at Bicester Heritage. Great events both – and new sponsor SAGE joined the party, eating up the rapidly diminishing space on the little 4C’s bodywork.

In amongst all of this, I headed East for Lexus Europe, taking the superb new GX to Kazakhstan – discovering a wonderful country and people along the way – then upon returning, straight into Volvo at MIRA – followed by a 24hr ‘sortie’ to Mousehole to road-test and write about the new Triumph Rally Pro for Pure Triumph. That was an absolute blast, brilliant bike, beautiful day.

Next up planning the ‘Present to Win’ course I will deliver for a Senior Leadership Team in the Southwest in October/November. My signature course has been somewhat neglected with my return to racing, it’s time to put it back centre stage – the little pusses need to eat, plus its my chance to make a difference in the World. I love presenting this training – I’m known for my technical, dynamic and product expertise, but empowering people is also what I love to do. This is my arena.

The weekend after next I will be hosting garage tours for Ferrari at Silverstone, then a week later, the plan is back in the Alfaworkshop 4C development car at Oulton Park for the final round of the British Championship.

Meanwhile, I can reveal one all-new adventure for 2025: I am in negotiation to host and present talks onboard a cruise liner for a week – bringing motorsport to a whole new globe-trotting audience. Come to think about it, I’ve been doing that all of my life … cruising and talking ...

Steve Deeks – September 2024

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The Walter Hayes. And beyond ...

The Hayes became the focus. We tested with my own engine and got down to a 64.1. But, not consistent enough. It’s been that kind of  year. By the first day of testing for the Hayes it became apparent that we really didn't have enough power. Rich. did a session in my car and said ‘pull the engine’.

In went a hired Bold and I immediately went a second a lap quicker. That’s the lesson right there - and its not a lesson I needed to learn - I already knew it. You have to have a proper motor. In the wet qualifying for the Hayes heat I qualified 16th - a whole gaggle of new cars behind me, and third Classic.

Not my best work - I knew pretty quickly that I really didn't have a wet set-up worth a damn. And it was going to be wet - very wet and slippery. And so it remained all weekend. I had an amazing start in the Pre-Final - briefly holding sixth before a spin dropped me to the back of the pack. I finished the Pre-Final fifteenth, the final thirteenth. Considering in 2018 I was running fifth - until the engine started to cut - this was frustrating, to be frank.

The engine has gone off to have a proper rebuild from our new engine builder. Strangely I’ve known him since 1988. The build will be eye-wateringly expensive - like the Porsche engine build before. But, if I’m too race in 2023, it’s not an option.

It’s a big ‘IF’

I don't go racing to make up the numbers. I worked damn hard in 2022 to race at all. And I never really got it properly ‘hooked-up’. A lot of hard questions to be answered in the close season. I’m too heavy, not at my optimumal fitness, carrying a shoulder injury - and broke..

In 2023, we go BIG or go home.

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2022 - Crazy Year

We fired up the car, #stutely tapped the oil pressure gauge - then within seconds we knew the engine had run it’s bearings. That was Oulton Park. Expensive. And zero mileage.

Croft - I managed to abort this one. We hadn't planned to go, but we knew we needed to bank a race or two before the Finals meeting, where we have guests attending. Bizarrely, I had never raced at Croft. Three 25 minute tests, became three laps. Session #1 - spark plug lead broke up, misfire, I came in. Session #2 I stuck it in the wall on lap 3 😔 After clearing slow traffic, on my first flyer I turned in too fast to Clervaux, thought I would take a load of kerb to scrub off speed, then discovered Croft’s ‘sausage’ kerbs. By the time the car landed it was too late to brake sufficiently, ran off the track, skimmed the gravel - kaboom.

Saturday spent chasing down parts from all over - special thanks to Mike Gardner - plus a debt of gratitude to Enigma Motorsport, #snap and #(not)jesus, who somehow stitched it all back together ... spare nose on, then ...

Shakedown in the Paddock. Saturday afternoon. Rain spitting ... Unbelievable. #stutely managed to get the corner weights within 2KG - just by running up and down, annoying Marshals - bring the tyres to lock up point. Eventually both nipping up at the same time. This is impressive, guerilla race engineering.

Qualifying - massive misfire - car stopped on track. I had clearly fractured a wire in the loom somewhere. Just stuttered around for enough laps to qualify, before pulling up on the side of the pit straight. This is not going too well.

This is where Enigma excel - somehow they managed to rewire the car in such a manner they bypassed the broken wire. Clever. And resourceful. Shout out to #stalin (Richard Tarling) - always pushing hard to make everything  better, without him and #jesus, I wouldn't even be on the grid.

Races - from P16, 10th and 11th - learning the track with each lap, and by the end, running a midfield pace, but all in all, performing well below the standard I set for myself.

And giving myself and the team an enormous amount of work to do on the run in to Silverstone ...

In racing, I remember from first time around, confidence is everything. And, you cannot short cut that ‘acquisition’ process, it’s all about seat time. I still don't have enough of that, and I feel a certain desperation creeping in to my driving. 

The issue is, I know how it SHOULD feel. Time to dig deep ...

Great team partners as ever, coming to the rescue with support and encouragement in the nick of time. Coast Racing blasted and sprayed a set of rims gold for me, for the SDC Gala Dinner, at which both the little Crossle and JoJo and myself were guests, new sponsors Colour Kings Banbury created automotive art from my spare bodywork, the plan being to debut a new colour scheme at the Hayes, and Ian Temple at First Avenue Supplies is taking care of our badge requirements.

Thanks guys 😊

Oh, and somehow, we welcome the ‘RHMS Arnold Rimor’ to the fleet, a new team base on the road 🏁

[deekssteve911]

Finally ...

We raced the 911. It’s been a while, maybe seven years. And it is still far from ready, both in terms of the HSCC regulations and mechanical preparation - it fought me right down to the wire, but we raced none the less. And at the Brands Hatch Superprix meeting.

We qualified the car fourth, and set fastest lap - but that tells only part of the story. I spun the SC FIVE times in the week she was on track, that’s five times more than in the rest of the year to date.

It’s very hard currently to drive on the limit. Probably not helped by the fact that the Pirelli tyres she is shod with are the ones I bought back in 2018, pre-pandemic, and they have now done four tests - plus, worse, have been stored upstairs at Classic Performance Engineering in the baking heat for five seasons. Yes, I should have bought new rubber. But ... that was a financial bridge too far.

In terms of my driving, I was pleased with the qualifying lap, less pleased with the fact that it was so hard to hang on to. And in the race, one of the 911′s other mechanical issues came in to play; the gearbox. Off the start, the 2 to 3 shift baulked, causing me to get swamped, and, drop back to eighth or ninth, I fought my way back up to fifth, catching fourth, then ... well, you know the rest.

The car is heading to Phil’s as soon as we can, new heavy duty engine mounts to stop the the motor twisting under load and hopefully clean up the gearchange, plus tappets, etc. Oh, and I need five new wheel rims, someone specced the wrong size ...

It never ends.

Formula Ford, I haven't driven in eight weeks; we did try, last weekend we headed to Oulton Park for a test and race in the HSCC Championship, on start up, ZERO oil pressure, in seconds metal flake in the oil. Game over, engine out.

And in terms of work, pretty quiet. Hosted a wonderful Ferrari Concours event, made five films for Silverstone Auctions, presented three days for Toyota - but that’s it.

Meanwhile, somehow added a motorhome to our fleet, the ‘RHMS Arnold Rimmer’ ...

Croft next, apparently 😊

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My role as a ‘S’-licence holder for MSUK ARDS

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My Qualifying lap - P4

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The Race 😊

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Here I start working with two fantastic young guys who have set up their own production company ‘Three Blind Mice Media’. I’ve agreed to mentor them, and work to create content for their fledgling channel. A lot of fun, and a chance to support the next generation ... 😊

[deekssteve911]

Brands. First time here in a Formula Ford since I stepped out of my wrecked RF89 at the Formula Ford Festival in ‘89. That’s forever ago. I’ve lived ten lives since then. We all have.

Trying to follow a modern 1600, whilst keeping out of the way of Masters Grand Prix cars.

I’m on the comeback trail. It’s a long trail …

The car gets better and better, thanks to Enigma Motorsport, SDC Builders and all of my many supporters. I’m really grateful to have this chance to be back behind the wheel of a single seater.

These cars are the best. I just need to remember how to drive them. I’m having to dig deep.

That is, I think, exactly how it should be.

With each outing, we get closer.

No short cuts.

Just work.

👌

[deekssteve911]

Driving Standards 2022 

This is an issue. Competitors are being killed. Injured. Forced out of the ‘sport’. For what? Ego? It is not racing, it is definitely not ‘sport’.

And, most of all, it is not acceptable.

And it IS worse today than it was in the eighties and nineties.

And that is NOT rose-coloured glasses. I was there, both times. And today.

Having rejoined Silverstone, steering the ARDS programme, and joining the ARDS board of directors as Silverstone’s representative, it is absolutely my remit to get involved here. Because, since I retired from full time racing in 1998 - then again in 2002, the standard of driving - and attitude - has darkened measurably.

Cards on the table here, I’ve made moves in my earlier ‘career’ that I am not proud of. A combination of being overly-psyched, determined to get to the front, under pressure from sponsors for results - under pressure from MYSELF to get results - meant that I made some pretty reckless moves. Some, fairly high profile - hitting bridges, carrying the BBC Grandstand onboard camera, starring in ‘Havoc’ videos (and hospital wards), stopping races - I’m lucky to still be here. I saw racer’s lives ebbing away - Andrew Coulson in Formula Renault in 1993 at Oulton Park comes to mind - saw things I will never forget. Despite it all, I still love the sport.

But, coming out of retirement in 2015, briefly, woke me up to the changes. My first test day in a borrowed Aerial Atom on the Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone saw an out of control ‘gentleman’, (sic), driver in an Aston GT4 outbrake himself, and run hard into the back of ‘my’ car, ( - then later that same afternoon totally destroy both his Aston and a visiting Lamborghini Trofeo at Maggots ...). imbecilic driving, truly. Silverstone marshal’s had to stop the apoplectic Italian Lamborghini driver from delivering retribution. For what gain?

What had really changed? Rich trackday warriors in powerful GT4 cars stuffed with driver aids - successful businessman, with no time nor ego to serve their apprenticeship in low powered cars whilst they built up their skill sets, and muscle memories. Teams so desperate for the dollar they were prepared to kid these same people on that they were ready for 450 BHP, or an evil-handling powerful ‘historic’, professional sim builders and facilities who allowed delusional novice drivers to build their hours to the point they really believed they were - are - ‘ready for action’. And a sport that worries so much about making the point of entry ‘accessible’, that any consideration of paid for ‘tuition’ or ‘education’ is a taboo topic - because of a ‘barrier to entry’.

Having become involved in F1 Esports as twice-World Champion Brendon Leigh’s coach and mentor, and having in 2008, presented the ‘GTA Academy - Bedroom Gamer to Le Mans’ TV programme, I know EXACTLY  the value of sims. As an ‘ADD ON’, ‘NOT IN PLACE OF’.

When I made that very first ARDS video, way back in, maybe 1993, (?), I remember spending a whole weekend sifting through BHP’s VHS 🤣 motorsport videos picking the sections I wanted to use in my ‘how not to ...’ part of our training video. Scroll forward, 2022, apparently you cannot use clips like that anymore, it offends people - so, Motorsport UK rather cleverly enlisted the sims they have bought for their academy, to remake the scenario - only with a better scenario outcome. 

Let’s be clear here: I watched the ORIGINAL footage with some trepidation. These, by and large, were not competitors driving on the limit disputing race places that would affect the outcome of a championship. For the most part they were minor places, albeit, in important championships - certainly to the drivers. But they WERE ridiculous shunts. And, once or twice, shunts that could easily have been catastrophic. In my era, I remember a Formula Ford driver being rolled and having his head crushed fatally by the Snetterton armco barrier. One of these exact example shunts could easily have ended that way. Props to the drivers concerned for lending us the onboards, that takes balls. Thank you gents.

Paul Crawford, Motorsport UK’s very experienced Esports Manager and I re-ran the scenarios on the sims, in each case scripting a better outcome. Better financially too - I reckon we saved about £500k of damage with our preferred scenarios. And all the competitors finished. 

Listen, we all make mistakes. Me more than most. And returning to race at my advanced age, albeit only in a ‘classic’ way, I’ll make more. But a lifetime of experience, losing friends on the racetrack, seeing a thousand cars and dreams wrecked, has made me focus on my sport - and our business. 

We ALL need to work to make it better. That’s all of us. Keeping it clean requires a mentality reset, not just drivers - teams - officials. Especially including myself. We all have to commit to it. And work at it.

Banger racers have it sussed - they do not spend hours at the paintshop, ordering parts, applying sponsor’s vinyls, setting up suspension to the nth degree. We do. And we are travelling at twice the speed. It’s going to hurt, and its going to be expensive.

There is another way 🏁

[deekssteve911]

Night of the Champions

I told the kids: ‘If you can win, and are fast at Whilton Mill, the car tracks will hold no surprises for you’ And I meant it.

Bold statement - but accurate. How so? Here’s how:

Watch a grid of Senior X30 on an opening lap at t’Mill - and you, literally will not know where to look. Sh*t will be going down too fast for your brain to compute - in fact it would be less frenzied to be sitting in one of the karts.

I’ve been coaching at the Mill for the last few years, with Protrain racing. I see these kids week in, week out. Testing - testing - testing. Watch the front runners at work - it will make your eyes water.

Occasionally, especially when I have a classic car race or test in prospect, I will join them. I can tell you, this is simply NO place for an old man. First off, the Rotax I drive has 31PS - and a savage power band. Hot, the tyres can generate 2.2g on the kerbs at Whilton Mill. This is enough to make someone as ‘classic’, ( - and ballast-laden), as me crack a rib over the kerbs - which you have to ride - if you want to be remotely quick in a kart, which I am not. Realistically, if I break into the 47′s I will be going quickly. The kids on the same rubber will do 45′s. I am the karting equivalent of a diesel SUV ... 🤣

But I do it ANYWAY, because it is the best prep. for racing ... well, anything really. 

The kids we presented trophies to at the FAST-R Whilton Mill Kart Club, are, by and large, ‘quick enough’. WM is fast, technical - and easy to drive defensively. We used it to evaluate the kids on that first ever series of GT Academy, and I use it today to gauge the quality of driver we might test with Enigma Motorsport, our Formula Ford team.

Not everyone transitions easily from karts to cars - entry level single-seaters are, by comparison, soft, slow and imprecise. But those that do - they have racecraft that’s likely to leave those that haven’t - karted - before starting car racing, wondering which way they went ... EVERY contemporary F1 driver came up through the karting route. It’s essential.

Try one sometime. It will blow your mind. And crack your ribs.

And I will meet these kids down the line. For sure.

They will be winning in cars 👌🏁

April 2022

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Gearing up for battle ...

I keep meeting old racing friends in the unlikeliest of places ... 😊

https://vintageformulaford.wordpress.com/2021/11/24/one-last-roll-of-the-dice/?fbclid=IwAR2CyTfZiiN94naDds-VEEk0qwm-0fct8QCV3hzyqGLBZyUKDVOhymCkxZw

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‘Pashley People’

Here’s my entry in the Pashley Cycles ‘Who’s who’ ... 

https://www.traditionalcycleshop.co.uk/blog/2021/2/9/pashley-people-steve-deeks

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Article I’ve just written for Whilton Mill’s website re: the driver development side of what I - we - do. Timely, because I will be presenting the Whilton Mill Kart Club awards evening in a few weeks time ... 😊

Whilton to the World

How important is Whilton Mill in the career of a young driver? Ask Joe Ahrens.

In about a month’s time, 21-year old Whilton Mill X30 Senior Joe will line up on the grid in Phillip Island Australia to race in a Formula Ford 1600, not even a year since he made his debut in the category in the UK.

The personable young racer earned this incredible opportunity through his performance’s behind the wheel of his Enigma Motorsport RF80 Van Diemen last year, and the story all began two years ago, right here at the Mill.

Actually, it begins six years ago, when I came out of retirement, to race a classic 911 in the HSCC national championship. Having barely sat in a race car for the past twenty years, I needed mileage. So like all serious racers, I did the only thing that made sense:

Back to karting.

Obviously I was going to look up my old buddy – the man I made the MSA ‘Start Karting’ video with back in the nineties – multiple British and European kart champion Gary Chapman. ‘You’ve got to get me race fit’ I pleaded. Poor Gary. Poor me. Whilton is brutal for us veterans – but – just like in the nineties when I was racing British F3 – karting is STILL the best way to sharpen the skills. And Whilton Mill is definitely the best circuit on which to practice the art.

I brought my drivers to Whilton in 2008 when I presented the television series ‘GT Academy’. It gave me my champion then – fourteen years later, it still shows me who to watch out for in the future.

It was whilst I was cracking ribs, trying to melt away the ravages of, (a lot), of time passed, I met Joseph. He was mechanicing for Protrain. By then I was also coaching for the team – and I noticed this softly spoken young racer – I remember thinking ‘what a charming young fellow’ – he stood out from the crowd, and had a really nice take on life. Great with customers too. Very promotable. I know the difference – I teach presentation skills and communication worldwide, have my own signature course, https://www.stevedeeks.com/PresentToWin This part of the business is crucial for young racers – few understand or work at it.

Joe cut his teeth at Whilton Mill in an X30, hailing from North West London, he was looking for a way in to the sport – as so many other young drivers are. He approached me for some advice. He was quite shy at first. I told him, as I always do:

‘It’s got to be Formula Ford Joe’

All the serious car drivers have come up through Formula Ford. It’s the best car race driver training formula in the World, no question. Always was; still is. No wings, treaded tyres, limited horsepower. That’s the sweet spot for driver development.

I arranged for my team, Enigma Motorsport, to test the boy, and the adventure began. Joe had an excellent first year, gaining pace with every outing – I studied his onboard camera feed from Mallory Park, and we worked on his technique, (I won my first ever Formula Ford race at the track in ’89, and was Chief Instructor at the circuit’s school back in the day), then, before the Hayes, I got the chance to sit alongside him in our team trackday car, the MX5.

Immediately I could see his potential. If you are quick around Whilton Mill – you can be quick anywhere. I knew if I could smooth off his rough edges, he would pick up pace everywhere – and he did. Joe shares a key strength I was blessed with as a young racer – excellent instinctive car control. This alone won’t make you fast – but it will save you money in constant shunt damage. Teams like it. Plus from a coaches point of view, it allows you to risk letting your pupil push on. I pushed him hard.

I tell all my young charges ‘It takes two years to get quick’ – and it really does. The step-up from karting to cars is a big one – not so much to do with racecraft – karters have that in spades – but it’s everything else that comes with the move up that is the challenge. Gears, high speed corners, four-wheel braking – it’s a lot to perfect. Joe is exactly where he should be for his experience level, and with the whole team looking after his schooling in the ways of professional motorsport – his future looks bright.

I’ve employed Joe at Silverstone as a trainee instructor at the racing drivers school there – to give him added experience in the profession. I hold the ‘S’-licence to train racers, and look after all the instructor training. It’s a great opportunity for a young guy with his sights set on a career in motorsport – and Joe knows it.

I’m driver coach for Enigma Motorsport too – and it gives me immense pleasure to see a young man I took out of karting at Whilton  head to Australia to compete against their best Formula Ford talent. Plus he has our championship winning number one driver, Richard Tarling, on the grid with him to support, tutor and compare data.

And when he gets back, a full British Championship campaign to look forward to.

What a year for a young man less than ten months out of karting. Hope he’s gentle when he comes up to lap that foolish old timer holding up traffic in a Crossle 25F, (who really should know better), – that’ll be his idiot driver coach then … :-) 

Steve Deeks www.stevedeeks.com is Silverstone’s ARDS ‘S’-licence holder, heads up the race driver training at the circuit, and races for Classic Performance Engineering and Enigma Motorsport teams in a classic 911 and Formula Ford respectively. At his age he is lucky to be alive, let alone racing

[deekssteve911]

The Circle is Complete

Back in 1984, as a fresh-faced twenty year old, I started an adventure that continues to this day. I began teaching at the racetrack. Mallory Park was the venue, the school belonged to Mike Jordan and his business partner Ken, and it was here I learnt my trade. Mike went on to become a BTCC star, establish his own team and become one of the World’s foremost historic racers. I attended the school as a pupil initially, and on my second lesson, set one of the fastest ever pupil laps of the circuit. Mike quickly sussed I was completely focused on becoming a racing driver - but flat broke, and cut a deal with me: a day’s instruction in exchange for ten laps of the circuit in one of the school’s Royales at the end of each school day. Mike got a totally committed instructor - and I got my start in the racing business.

At the time I started, I had a Lotus Europa road car that I loved, and spent every penny I earned keeping running. And paying off the bank loan. Naturally that had to go, more or less the next day, to fund my first Formula Ford race car - the Hawke DL11.

I travelled first the country - then the World - plying my trade as race instructor - and I’ve been doing it ever since. Not full time, but in some eras, as good as. I call myself a ‘presenter’ - and that’s what I focus on these days. But the truth is - I am a race instructor, I have as much experience in the trade as anyone in the World. Maybe more.

These days I’m comfortable with my position in the profession, proud of it even.

Thirty-eight years later, and I’ve rejoined the ‘old firm’, Silverstone, to head up their race driver training, and as part of my remit, create and deliver the Instructor training too.

Writing the Instructor  training presentation took me on a whirlwind tour of those thirty-eight years, all the tracks, the cars, the people, the courses, the pupils - the technique. So much fun, so many adventures. Plus so much experience to share.

We are hosting five Instructor training days at the Grand Prix circuit. It’s fantastic to catch up with old friends, fresh young stars of the future - and every type of instructor in-between. On my first training day, I welcomed ex-Lotus F1 driver Martin Donnelly to our team. What an honour for me - and our racing school. Super guy, very funny. needs an interpreter - so he does, so he does, etc.

It’s been a hell of a ride, and I KNOW I’ve been very lucky to make my living in the sport that's captivated me forever. Back in the day, I was angry, because I wanted  to make my living as a racer, not as a ‘coach’. Anything less than ‘works’ driver, I considered failure.

These days I’m just happy to still be in the game. Really, it’s a privilege. The Europa’s long gone,, but I just swapped the CX-5 for the Lotus’s modern Japanese equivalent - the MX5 RF. It’s good to be back behind the wheel 😊

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Getting race fit

Well the race is on - and now I have another racecar to drive in 2022. And it’s a good bit tighter in the cockpit than the 9-1-1. 😳 This is a challenge given that I haven't been able to run since May - the ‘six miler’ is fundamental in keeping weight off for me - always has been. Sprint cycling on my special edition ‘Pash.’ is good, but, somehow, running is the ultimate fat-burner. Enigma Motorsport are taking delivery of the ex-Dave Morgan Crossle 25F that dominated the 1974 ‘Wella for Men British Formula Ford Championship’, and won that year’s Festival. I plan to take in a few rounds of the HSCC FF1600 Classic Championship, the Hayes and the Festival. I am too old, slow and fat for such frivolity really - but I cannot turn down the opportunity. I adore Formula Ford racing 😊

Work continues apace on the orange holy grail - next stage is to fabricate a racing fuel tank for her, then get out on a shakedown to determine wether the new loom has cured the misfire. It damn well better have. And the freshly rebuilt gearbox is ready to bolt in ...

Re: REAL ‘work’ - the last quarter has been excellent, focussing on various projects. I rounded out 2021 presenting a VCT to North America, and recording the voiceover for a new film about one of the best sportscars ever made: the Nissan ‘Z’

I love Japanese craftsmanship - especially their sportscars.

That’s how I come to drive an MK4 MX-5.

So how come come I race a Porsche?

😳😔☠️

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2022 Starts Here:

As I write this, I am in entrenched in a month of solid work - flat out - presenting VCT’s for the new Nissan Qashqai - coaching young racers - filming training content for the new electric Nissan Ariya - hosting the launch of the new BMW iX - its all happening, and it needs to, to facilitate my 2022 plans:

A full championship season.

There really is only one way to set the record straight following the five years of chaos surrounding the building of the HSCC 911, and my return to racing; race wins. 

I am currently in the best place I have been in since my Formula Ford days of the late eighties, Classic Performance Engineering overseeing the running of my car, and Tech9 building the engine. We have secured a wiring loom from the Netherlands, which arrives next week and we believe this should cure the intermittent misfire the car has had since day one.

At some point this 911 will just ‘work’ - and the serious business of test and development will begin.

The picture of the 240Z is the car I SHOULD have bought to race, at our team’s workshop, on the day I hosted the Bicester Scramble. This one belongs to the owner of the business, Martin Greaves. I cannot part him from it.

And the other frame is of me delivering a killer chop shot to the Mayor of Stratford during his 24hr PingPong-athon. Have some of that Mr Mayor ... 👊🏼