Gents, I need your help (again)

Gents, I need your help (again)

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benjj

Original Poster:

6,787 posts

164 months

Monday 26th May 2014
quotequote all
Gentlemen,

It is that time of year again where I come on here and ask for your assistance in the planning and execution of a superb day of motorsport: The 2014 Mission Motorsport Invitational at Goodwood on Friday 5th September.

This year we're delighted to announce that Investec have offered to sponsor the entire day so it will all be a bit more Pimm's, gin & vol-au vents than last year's cans of lager and hogroast.

WHAT IS IT?

Last year a MM supporter donated a not inconsiderable sum of cash and suggested we hire the entire Goodwood complex and put on a day to a) put smiles on the faces of the many Mission Motorsport beneficiaries and b) raise awareness of what MM does and how they go about doing it.

We did as instructed and put on, in our opinion, a rather epic day. 5 paddock groups of VERY different cars took to the track, every single one carrying a MM beneficiary, and the end result was big smiles, skids and generaly hoonery in the sort of cars rarely seen, let alone hammered.

For a first try we all felt that it went off well but we all agreed that this year should be bigger, better organised and involving far more people.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

You smile Oh, and your car, petrol, time, tyre rubber and smiles.

My responsibility for the day is organising 2 of the 5 paddock groups: "MODERN SUPERCARS" AND "CLASSIC SUPERCARS." Each will be 10 cars. We've already had quite a few MM supporters get in touch and baggsy their place. We can confirm we'll be welcoming Chris Harris in something stupid, Dickie Meaden in something ridiculous and several other people I can't tell you about just yet. Suffice to say each and every paddock group will be jam packed with exotica and interesting people to talk to.

WHAT CARS ARE REQUIRED?

Nothing special really wink

For the MODERN SUPERCAR paddock group I want a P1, 918, Zondas, silly Ferraris, Aventadors, stuff that looks like an orange wrapped Batmobile. You know the sort.

For the CLASSIC SUPERCAR paddock group I'm even more relaxed. I want a McLaren F1, Ferrari F40/50, Miura, Pantera, Porsche 959. Bedroom wall cars.

REALLY?!

Yes, really. Last year we had some staggeringly epic cars. Each and every one of them spent lap after lap being driven on the door handles with an MM beneficiary strapped in. If you have one of the above cars and can spare the time you'll be in good company. In addition to Monkey and Dickie there will be a general who's who of classic and modern racers and enthusiasts. NOTHING is off limits. The paddock is open, the cars are all lying around and you'll be free to mingle and do whatever the hell you want when you're not on track.

PROVE IT.

Ok, here's a sample of last year's event.

A video of stills I knocked up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVlFHs7H7w

Aston DB4 Zagato


Aston paddock


Cobra unloading


Lowdrag Cobra


1973 2.7 RS and 1966 SWB


Lining up


599


HWM Jag


WHAT DO I GET & WHAT DO I HAVE TO PAY/DO?

You'll get a very warm welcome. You'll get your own covered Goodwood paddock area. You can bring friends/family. You'll have space for trailers/transporters if required. You'll be fed and watered through the day. You'll be provided with a helmet if you need one. If you ask nicely there is every chance of a cheeky reacharound from one of the navy lads.

Each paddock group will go out together with a Mission Motorsport beneficiary. This could be a one legged Para, a no armed Tankie or a PTSD suffering fly boy (or girl.) Each paddock has MM volunteers on hand at all times to help the guys and girls in and out of the cars.

You'll be asked to pay a small contribution of 75 which will go in its entirety to Mission Motorsport. Everyone involved is giving their time, fuel, tyres etc for free. The track part is being looked after by Melindi & Calum of GoldTrack (they're big MM supporters) and all the marshals, volunteers and misc fluffers are there voluntarily to make sure the day goes off as planned.

WHAT IS MISSION MOTORSPORT?

I'll save time by putting up this link for anyone interested and doesn't know about MM. The bottom line is this: MM utilises every kind of motorsport in the recovery and retraining of sick/injured service personnel. Started and managed by Jim Cameron (PH's Tankslider and 2014 EVO Jerk of the Year) in 2012. http://www.missionmotorsport.org

I'M INTERESTED, WHAT DO I DO?

You get in touch with me: Ben Williams, ben.williams@bjjw.com or PM through PH.

THE LADS

As a parting shot this is a pic of Copey being loaded into a Bugatti at last year's event. Copey had landed at Brize Norton earlier that morning and hot tailed it straight to Goodwood as he didn't want to miss out on the fun. Copey is a Tankie and got hit by an IED in 2011. Hos story is here:

http://www.missionmotorsport.org/testimonials/troo...



countzero

392 posts

219 months

Monday 26th May 2014
quotequote all
What can those of us not blessed with Supercars do to help?