Friday 30 March 2007

MOTORS TV ROUND 2

Another fine drive by Mike. Although he was the quickest and leading the championship, he had to start at the back as a handicap. Follow the yellow sidepods as he gets to the fron again and retains his championship points lead. On Motors TV 7.30pm 2nd April.

TO VIEW TYPE IN


http://one.revver.com/watch/216818/affiliate/77320


Roll on Rowrah in two weeks for rounds 3 & 4.

MOTORS TV ROUND 1 VIDEO

Enjoy watching Mike drive from the back to the front in just 12 laps, setting the fastest lap time in the process and making the most gains in that round.

TYPE IN

http://one.revver.com/watch/215467/affiliate/77320

This form of a handicap means that those who qualified quickest gain the most points but then have to start at the back. As the season progresses the championship leaders will be starting at the back no matter how fast they qualify. In the first round it was key to get a good qualifying time as there were double points available, from now on, the leader will have to show he or she can gain places quickly and cleanly.

Monday 26 March 2007

WHILTON MILL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER ROUND 3


WHILTON MILL ROUND 3 MARCH 25TH


This image sums up the weekend. Fastest in the heats and placed well in the A final. By the time the final was run, Mike was leading the championship by about 100 points.
Favourite to give Super 1 and Motors TV rivals a good race, the challenge was over after the first bend, when Mike was tactically taken off the track (punted from behind). Mike said "This isn't the right way for drivers to win, but it happens far too often. There are 12 laps which is plenty of time to win if you are a good driver. It should be a non-contact sport not banger racing."
Mike lapped at the back of the field pulling away from the field until the end, when he slowed to allow the race leaders to catch him and pass.
Apparently some of the watching crowd were annoyed that they had been robbed of a good race, by bulley tactics, which is sad and to Mike a waste of a good weekend.
For those who enquired, Rob is slowly on the mend after his heart attack and surgery, and hopes to see the Super 1 final at Whilton in a couple of weeks if the weather is warm enough.

MOTORS TV RESULTS TABLE NOW AVAILABLE

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT http://www.kartingtv.tv/Pages/tkmresults.html

Monday 19 March 2007

SIX MONTHS OF FITNESS TRAINING BRINGS REWARDS

It's now six months since Mike employed the services of Keith Barnes of Jumping Jacks, and on reflection the results have been remarkable. Back in August 2006, before Mike had won any of his recent trophies, he was concerned that he was getting very close to the TKM Intermediate weight limit. Being over 1.8 metres tall it's difficult to keep below 70kg. The total weight for that class was 144kg, and was one of the reasons we chose the ARC chassis, because in race mode it tipped the scales at just 72kg. This allowed a 2kg margin to add ballast. (Despite his speed in testing with Maranello, weight was the original reason for not doing Formula A in 2007. The Maranello is a heavy chassis.)

Back to fitness, Keith attends twice a week for an hour a session and runs through an extensive series of exercises, none of which involve any weights, and leaves Mike with a schedule for the other days. Mikes fitness in terms of recovery rate and his ability to perform these exercises has doubled in this short time. His weight has been steady at 70kg, but his muscle definition and his stamina are now far superior to where they were back in August of 2006. It's assisted in winning the trophies in 2006, but the true benefits will show in 2007 as he attacks a heavy schedule of a race meeting every other weekend. This is just another link in the chain which binds the team and which will hopefully assist Mike onto greater heights.

While writing this piece, thanks for 2007 must already be made to David Klaassen, who has produced some very fast TKM motors and to Danny Allin for getting the most out of the TEC-MEC chassis. Mike is probably the only driver using the TEC-MEC at Super 1 and Motors TV. It is very under developed, but has the promise of being the chassis to be on in 2007 and beyond thanks to the development Rob and Sam Wilson have already made on the project.

This month Mikes main sponsor for 2007 was announced, and thanks go to Andrew and David Granger & Co for all the initial support. We hope their professionalism will attract more like minded firms to partner Mike in 2007. Finally, in April Mike will hopefully have concluded his negotiations to be professionally managed. If it all goes to plan, this will have a massive impact upon his sponsorship and earnings from the sport and other associated engagements which will follow. Watch this space for further website developments and innovations thanks to Gareth!

Sunday 18 March 2007

ANDREW GRANGER & CO ANNOUNCED AS SUPER 1 and MOTORS TV SPONSOR FOR 2007

More local publicity for Mikes employer - Bond St SAAB and his main sponsor - Andrew Granger & Co Estate Agents.

This is the first of many features being planned in association with the Leicester Mercury, to promote Mike within the Leicester business community.

The Kart and Mikes trophies will be displayed in the showroom at SAAB during March 2007 and then some of the items will be on display at the various offices of Andrew Granger & Co.

David Barre is a keen Karting enthusiast, supporting James Gornall to success in both Karting and Cars. This is the first time Andrew Granger has invested in motor sport sponsorship, but his son David id the Production Editor of the RED BULL BULLETIN, which is produced on a daily basis at every F1 venue. Hopefully David's 'insider knowledge' will help to assist Mike with gaining additional sponsorship and PR exposure. Watch this space for more exciting events in the coming weeks.

Saturday 10 March 2007

KIMBOLTON ROUND 3 PRACTICE.


Mike tried the Banshee TEC-MEC chassis today, and was 3/10ths quicker on it thank the Voodoo on old tyres, and faster than any of the other Super 1 runners. He will be using tomorrow (Sunday) as another test session even though it's a club championship round. Most club drivers get more than one race out of a set of new rubber, so if Mike is going to help sell some chassis, it would be nice if it was able to win on old rubber! It also makes Mike drive a little harder and more on the edge, which keeps him sharp.


Rather than start a new threat, Sunday was interesting, as Mike struggles as expected on old tyres and decided with Josh to start at the back of the grid as more practice for Motors TV. As you can see from the graph they worked through the field together and both made great gains while testing engines and unproven chassis and carbs. A good work out.

Friday 9 March 2007

Kimbolton Round 3 March 11th 2007


Just a quick vote of thanks to Dave Klaassen and Danny Allin for their efforts to get Mike to Llandow for Super 1 and then for this weekends Kimbolton round. Fingers crossed that the new TEC-MEC brakes will be the best on the grid and allow Mike his first senior victory.

For those of you who kindly support Mike, Motors TV round 1 is worth watching on Monday night.
THIS IS LAST MONTHS TABLE. iF YOU RECALL MIKE MISSED ROUND 1 AS HE NEEDED TO COLLECT HIS NATIONAL TROPHY AND HE HAD PROBLEMS IN ROUND 2 AS THEY DIDN'T RUN THE FINAL. STILL WITH 8 ROUNDS TO GO THERE IS STILL A CHANCE?

TKM SUPER 1 ROUND 1 Llandow

Not the best of starts to the week, as Mike's dad was rushed into hospital on Monday with a heart attack! He had another on Tuesday morning, so Mike travelled to his first kart meeting in 5 years without his #1 supporter. For those who know Rob, he will be in for two weeks until the surgery has been completed, but away from Karting for a further four weeks minimum.

Back to the story, fastest in Friday practice, as expected, but then slow once the Super 1 tyres had been allocated, and no new wets to be found anywhere! Not good planning by Talko or the dealers especially as the entries were well below those in previous years.

Mike was a target for the poor driving of others, which meant a combination of poor performances in the heats. This left Mike at the back of the A final, but he drove through from there to 8th within 4 laps before the red flag stopped proceedings. Just a couple more laps was all Mike needed to secure the victory as he cut through 20 places in just 4 minutes.

A`pity about the outcome, but with 5 rounds to come it's early days to come to any conclusions.

The table shows a championship position of only 19th but still in the hunt for glory!

TEC-MEC MOTORS TV LEADER IN SAAB SHOWROOM






















Just a few images taken in the showroom of Bond Street SAAB in Leicester. The complete report from the Leicester Mercury will be on the site soon.