Tanya and I met the APT team at their Norwich HQ on Saturday after collecting a few things for them on the way. We had plenty of time to get to the hotel in Blisworth near the track, so a few 'before' photos were in order, just in case Mr Hayward decided he didn't like the bodywork
again!
Mr Turner of strip club owning and PlayGirl appearance fame blessed us with his presence and drank and swore profusely from the off :thumb: Being the captain of culture that he is, he felt obliged to sample every form of alcohol he could find and it showed the following day with a rare, subdued approach to proceedings. Here he is enjoying the VIP suite @ Brooklands.
Pussy!!I tried to spread my time between the various attendees but I know I didn't get to see everyone from BP. Very well done to the guys and girls that 'walked the walk' this weekend. I think, without exception, that you all did very well in an increasingly tough competition. Huge kudos should also go to Rob Barnes, Glenn Horncastle and Andy Barnes for their show and event. They really have turned this into something to rival the biggest weekends of racing and they've done it in next to no time at all, establishing Time Attack and EDC as one the best series of its kind (and coming from a pipe smoking, flat cap wearing sprinter that's high praise indeed
)Ok, back to the report. Bullet points only as I'm knackered and you'd only get bored anyway.
Hotel-
Avoid the Walnut Tree Inn in Blisworth. Truly crap and I wouldn't give them the steam off of my piss, let alone any more of my money. Would prefer to sleep on the A43 next time
Venue-
It really does justify the hype of the event when you can rock up to Silverstone, decamp in the same garages that the F1 boys use and even dump in the same loos that Schumacher has dumped in (allegedly) The buzz from an arena like this must be mindblowing
The racing-
The highest standard I have seen so far, by a mile. Drifting was cool but the judges suck. A difficult political thing I guess, but it needs to be monitored closely to retain any hard won credibility in my opinion (ooooooh, controversy) The Time Attack was bloody awesome. Tarzan Yamada was rapid but not as quick as a lot of the UK boys with RCM, Zen, Lee Broadhurst, Barrie at DCY and Steve Googliemeiemeiemeie going obscenely well. (Note to Barrie........sort that fecking exhaust out. My ears are still ringing you git!
) I am not singling these guys out because they did well and the others didn't, just that these guys really caught the eye for me.Public track time-
Call me cynical but the monetary element, the revenue that is brought in, must be the only redeeming feature of the exercise. In my opinion it breaks up an otherwise superb event and only increases the chance of stoppages and incidents due to inexperienced people getting the red mist.
This guys killed a perfectly good 32. A real shame
If the SanTreo or Live Promotion guys read this, put the ticket prices up a fiver next year and kick the punters into touch or get a sponsor to subsidise their non-participation and keep it a PROPER race event(only my thoughts)
The APT team
Gary and Chris punched well above their weight all weekend. Their car was as well prepared as anything there, as the number of public getting photographed by it seemed to endorse. The driving was fast but controlled which must be of huge encouragement on their first outing. The car was 100% reliable throughout too. The guys learned a lot about the car and will go into the round at Oulton better prepared and quicker still (no pressure Gary
)
The team seem to be getting to grips with the Toyos
and the revised suspension settings make the car far more stable according to Gary.The pride of Essex, Mike Payne
Pete, Dill, Barrie and Dunk
Hayward-san
Next pic shows Ross and Lee on a spying mission with the AutoSportif car. Caught you!!
About it really. A great, tiring weekend with some really nice people. I have to admit that events like this one do tempt me to get 'involved' next year. So, if anyone wants to sponsor a very ordinary driver with no car and even less of a hope, let me know.
Email 'Ijustwannagofast@hotmail.de'
....I used to be average, now I reminisce !!!
I didn't cause any delay for the other people on track. As soon as i saw smoke i pulled of the track striaght away to not cause anyone else problems. No oil was dropped on the track as it all got burnt off. :lol: