PRODRIVE BOOKING FOR THIS SATURDAY

Ross Jones MD of Driving Experiences Direct has booked Mike for this Saturday once again, and pre-booked him for all next season, subject to his racing. Unfortunately his Stock Hatch gearbox is still away being rebuilt, so he will be unable to enter the final round at Snetterton this Sunday.
His race manager - Matt Wisher has been busy working on the new Everyman brochure, so there has been a slight delay in getting back onto the track. Hopefully winter testing can start in October ready for 2009.

SPENT AT GOOD WEEKEND AT BRUNTINGTHORPE FOR DRIVER DREAM DAYS

Spent most of the weekend in a Subaru WRC taking people round the Bruntingthorpe track, showing them the correct lines in preparation for their Supercar drives. Managed a few hot lap rides in a Porsche Turbo and the rest of the time doing passenger rides. The biggest event so far, with about 30 cars and 50 Instructors looking after about 1000 clients.

INTERNATIONS 2007 VIDEO HAS JUST ARRIVED

It may be a year late, but in the post came the overdue DVD. The camera crew didn't manage to capture the three wins Mike achieved on Saturday, as those scores were dropped to keep the other teams in with a chance of winning. The DVD only shows the final on Saturday, by which time a good drive by Mike in the pre-final ensured an English victory again. The final showed Mike in his TKM 2/ battling to allow the English 4/ pair to break away from the team of Welsh 4/ karts. He held them up for a number of laps before one of them drove straight over him. At an MSA Super 1 round the Welsh driver would have been excluded, but as he has hampered and struggled at the back, no action was taken. In the end Mike restarted with a bent axle and broken seat and crossed the finish to the sound of a standing ovation and congratulations from Martin Capenhurts the team manager. Mike later receive the driver of the meeting accolade.

DRIVER DREAM DAYS BOOKING AT BRUNTINGTHORPE THIS WEEKEND

Mike will have a break from racing to allow us time to get the car prepared for Snetterton in two weeks time. Thanks to an introduction from Matt Wisher, who manages the Everyman Racing events at Prestwold, Mike will be instructing in a selection of supercars and hopefully getting in some hot laps and passenger rides. It's another local event company who can offer him some track time.

EXCELLENT CIRCUIT AT OULTON PARK - SHAME ABOUT THE RAIN AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED!.

The weather was very wet and on Friday in practice, 3 minutes was a good time! There had been several delays due to cars falling off the track, but Saturday looked more promising. Travelling up from Leicester @ 6am, it only took 2 hours to get within a mile of the circuit, but when the SatNav told us we had arrived, be were stuck down a farm lane! We eventually arrived an hour later just in time for breifing at scrutineering.

With a wet set-up, Mike went well for the warm up lap and then the second lap, passing 6 cars and then at the end of the pit straight changing down, he lost 3rd and to avoid the car in front put w wheel onto the grass - fatal! The car slowly slid into the tyre wall, square on, and took out all the front lights and body panels.

Fortunately the car ran, and we pulled the bodywork straight enough to be able to test it round the paddock. All seemed fine as it went up and down the box, and although Mike only recorded a couple of lap times, he was atleast in a heat in 32nd.

With friends from MotorsTV paying a visit, the heat looked to be some exciting entertainment for them, and it was for 4 laps, as Mike got past 10 cars on his way to a place in the final. Unfortunately the 3 rd gear problem returned and instead of jumping out on deceleration, it refused to stay in gear. Mike was reduced to keeping in 4th and driving on momentum like a Pro-Kart.

In the end Mike dropped back to 24th and missed the final, but with the gearbox now getting worse, he coasted round the last lap and we managed to winch the car onto the trailer, for an early end to the day - 3pm. Matt had the car back at 5pm and it was stripped down that evening.

Sunday was spent taking the gearbox out and stripping it down ready for a rebuild this week. We have some spare lights and panels, so hopefully we can have it running next Sunday and hopefully ready for Snetterton the following week for the last signature before upgrading.

The sad pictures of the little wreck will follow.

MORE STOCK HATCH FUN THIS WEEKEND

Here is a taster of the Pug 106 with it's previous driver Paul Sheehan (4) getting away from the camera car back in 2004. It was 10 years old then, so another four years on and the car is still going remarkably well! The bumpers are now black rather than turquoise.
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50qVmxOXqmA
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeuFwDv_rUw
Hopefully more action from Oulton to follow.
Here is a clip of a similar 106 at Brands earlier this year lapping at even minute times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz0uL8UQHY4

ANOTHER SPECIAL DAY IN A FERRARI FOR DRIVING EXPERIENCES DIRECT

Another successful day for Mike at PRODRIVE Saturday. Nearly 40 clients 10 of which wanted Mike to give them some hot laps to show off the cars race potential. Unfortunately he will be at Snetterton when the next day is booked, but in the Meantime he has Oulton this Saturday and then on 13/14th Bruntingthorpe he is booked for Drivers Dream Days. KARTING TV C.E.O. Alan Taddei plans to come to Oulton. Now that the MOTORS TV championship has finished, he may be looking at Stock Hatch coverage?