Monday 29 January 2007

Mike on the podium at Whilton Mill - Senior TKM Final



Mike Comber was again on the podium on Sunday afternoon as he won 3rd place in the Senior TKM final at Whilton Mill near Daventry. He was narrowly beaten by Luke Caudle, his old ARC team mate who is now a Gillard works driver and rated 7th best in the country and by Lewis Scothern an ARC works driver, whom Mike would have beaten had he not weaved in front of him for the last two laps defending.

So Lewis Scothern, who won the British GP a few weeks ago, and was acknowledged as being the best Senior driver at the time, was nearly beaten. Mike came 3rd in his first meeting of the season and thankfully off the ARC but onto the very different TEC MEC for the first time.
As this is only his second drive as a Senior, it all looks very promising for 2007. To put it in perspective, today he beat the 5th seed driver, the 8th seed and the O plate champion, plus the Senior club champion. Over 40 entered the class, so there was a B final for those who were placed 30-40 after 3 heats.
The 4 best from the B final join the top 30. Mike was already placed in the A final grid 8 and progressed past the 5 top seeds in just 12 laps and recorded the second fastest lap of the day.

As always, full reports, comment, pics and other info are here...

Thursday 25 January 2007

Our eBay & Amazon Stores

The Michael Comber Racing Shop: You can help support our tea Help support the team by shopping online with us...



Our eBay Store

Karting magazines, karting supplies, spares and kart tyres

To help fund the team we run a couple of web shops: so if you want to help us out then why not go and take a look at our eBay shop - Michael Comber Racing Supplies - where we sell all kinds of stuff from karting magazines and publications through to actual karting and car parts, spares and supplies.
Our prices are really competitive, and at the same times it's all in a good cause.

Click here to go to the shop...


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Our Amazon Store

Business and other text books

Being a teacher of Business and ICT, Rob Comber has contacts with a couple of publishers, who can't sponsor Mike, but instead offer him deep cut discounts so he can market text books at a fraction of thier RRP. He tries never to be beaten on price even if that means suffering a few loss leaders to keep the traffic flowing and the funds to help Mike fulfill his dreams.

Just have a browse and see the range - about 600 titles - Regularly added to and regularly updated.

Click here to go to the shop...


Contact Us...

If you want to get in touch with Mike, the team or the website, then feel free to use these addresses...


General contact for Mike and the team - info@michaelcomberracing.com

Contact Dave regarding publicity and PR matters - pr@michaelcomberracing.com

You can also ring Rob Comber on 01664 420148

Contact for matters regarding the website - webmaster@michaelcomberracing.com





Sponsorship

Prospective business partners are now being sought who would like to be associated with Mike’s career. A wide range of sponsorship packages is available to suit different marketing objectives and budgets. These start from as little as £5,000 and extend to over £200,000 including hospitality.
Mike and those working with him recognise that businesses will be looking for tangible benefits in return for their funding. The team are, therefore, committed to building relationships with their business partners to understand their needs and enable them to get the best value from their investment.

Opportunities for Individual Supporters
Private individuals may also wish to have an association with Mike and give some personal support to assist his career. Packages from £1,000 are available which offer the opportunity to attend some events and experience what it is like behind the scenes as a professional team prepares for a race.

Corporate Hospitality at Events
Facilities are available at the circuits to cater for a wide variety of corporate hospitality needs, whether they are used for entertaining key clients or to reward staff for outstanding achievement.
Mike and the team will also make time during the weekend to entertain guests, show them the vehicle and explain everything that is happening. In this way, business partners and those they invite can feel closely involved in the team and share in the celebration of its success.

Advertising and Promotion
Space will be available on Mike’s vehicle, his overalls and helmet and team clothing for advertising banners and logos. The amount of space allocated to each business partner will reflect the level of funding provided and the whole advertising offering will be developed to achieve an attractive cohesive design.
Opportunities will also be provided for the distribution of business literature at the team’s area in the paddock and as much support as possible will be given for the promotion of the business partner’s products or services, including space and links on the team’s website.
The promotional investment in the Championship itself will provide a valuable opportunity for companies to raise their profile and increase the exposure of their brand.

Test Days and Off-track Evenings
Business partners, individual sponsors and their guests may attend test days where there is more opportunity to see Mike and the car/kart on-track.
Evenings can also be arranged where Mike and the vehicle can be seen in a more relaxed atmosphere than is possible at the circuit.
If businesses are interested in running hospitality evenings for clients or staff at indoor Kart tracks, Mike would be pleased to be involved to offer advice, do demonstration laps and help in any way he can.

Other Promotional Opportunities
The team would be pleased to discuss any other requirements of business partners in order to maximise their exposure and that of their products and services.

If you are interested in being associated with the team, please contact us...

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Sponsors & Investors

Andrew Granger & Co.
Andrew Granger & Co are a well established firm of Estate Agents and Valuers with three offices based in Leicestershire. They are also investors in Mike and the team.


Flying start to 2007 for National Champion



It’s been a better start to 2007 for British karting champion Michael Comber than it has Jenson Button.
The Honda Formula One driver had been expected to present 16-year-old Comber with his National Kart Champion trophy at the Auto Sport Show in Birmingham on Sunday but was unable to attend – due to an injury sustained while Karting himself.
Comber however has picked up that metre-tall award – something Button never achieved – to put next to his British Open trophy and TKM International trophy.
The Thrussington driver has also this week secured a place in the England Karting team for the second year and two new sponsors.
The trophies Comber holds will be on show in the offices of Leicestershire estate agents Andrew Granger & Co, his main sponsor this season.
At the awards presentation, Comber said:”This victory was down to a good team effort and consistent driving, which placed him on the front row in most of his races.
“Thanks to the commercial support from Andrew Granger & Co, we will attempt to win the senior title in 2007, but our main focus is the Motors TV Ultimate Challenge.
“I am a favorite to win and now I have works backing from Klaassen Motor Sport who produce the best engines available, it’s just down to my driving.”
Comber’s team is now hoping other local businesses can aid him brings more motor sport glory to Leicestershire.
For more information or if you could help him this season, visit Mike's official website at www.michaelcomberracing.com or email info@michaelcomberracing.com

In testing on the Saturday prior to the presentation on Sunday, Mike recorded the fastest lap of any competitor at the kart circuit at Kimbolton this season on his 2006 chassis. His new one is still at the factory in Italy, but should be here by the end of January and should be quicker!

Saturday 20 January 2007

Mike Comber - Biography


Michael Comber was born in Rugby in 1990.

He started karting back in 2001, when he visited a local track in Leicester called Stretton 2000.com. There he was fortunate enough to be introduced to Darren Stacey and Kevin Warring, two England Pro-kart drivers.
They encouraged him to get within a second of the lap record after just an hour in the kart. They told his father that he should buy him a second-hand kart. The following day they returned to the circuit and in Kevin's kart he broke the lap record.

Kevin told Michael's father that Michael deserved a new kart, and that they should talk to the England manager and karting reporter Martin Capenhurst.
Martin let Michael drive in his TKM 4 stroke at Whilton Mill the next Wednesday, when he got within 10% of the lap record. The following Wednesday Michael took his ARKs test with Protrain, and that Saturday competed at Whilton Mill and won the Novice trophy.

Since then Michael picked up a number of titles and took part in championships in both karting and SAXMAX through 2006.
At the end of 2006, Mike tested in a G20 Ginetta, and their MD Richard Dean offered him assistance for 2007. Mike was also offered works support from Maranello to race in Formula 'A'. Unfortunately Mikes dad became ill, so Mike reverted to the safety of TKM Seniors in an attempt to win a second championship.In 2007 for David KLAASSEN Motorsport. Mike ended up at a top seeded driver and came runner up in the televised Motors TV Championship.

It would have been beneficial to his career if he was backed up by different sponsorships from companies like norwich union; but in 2008, with very little financial backing, Mike decided to become a driving coach and race engineer and was employed by Ultimate Racing, to assist them in sourcing good drivers for their F3 program. Mike also gained his PRODRIVE licence, so worked for a number of track companies instructing at weekends in a variety of Supercars. In order to gain his ARDS Instructors qualification he had to compete in six car races. Hiring an old Peugeot 106 from the General Manager of Everyman racing, Mike gained some good results at Mallory Park, Silverstone and Oulton Park in order to lose his novice plates while competing in the 750MC Stock Hatch Championship..

Over the winter Mike built his own SAXO, with helps from local Peugeot specialists SPOOX, and also gained support once more from Andrew Granger Chartered Surveyors, plus a number of local parts suppliers. The aim is to learn the circuits in 2009 and subject to funding to aim for a championship win in 2010. Mike currently supports and coaches a top Rotax 177 driver in Super 1. 


Karting Titles:
  • Fulbeck Junior TKM Champion 2002
  • Festival Winner Junior TKM 2003
  • Super 1 Winner Junior TKM 2003
  • Winner Junior Rotax 2004
  • National Schools Champion 2004
  • National Schools Champion 2005
  • 2006 TKM Festival Winner
  • 2006 TKM O Plate Winner
  • 2006 TKM National Super 1 Champion