PH at Race of Remembrance
Mission Motorsport's inaugural memorial race proves the perfect petrolhead tribute to military heroes
See, qualifying really was that wet
Testing on Friday was bizarre. Many more professional outfits were tweaking set ups and tyres and race strategy. We went out, drove as fast as we could for as long as we could and then discussed what we'd found out over a coffee from Barry's motorhome. Pro novices you would probably call it.
If in doubt...
What did we discover? We were fast enough, that wasn't a problem. As 1.6-litre Caterhams we were racing against Mk1 MX-5s and were typically five seconds a lap quicker than them. The problem we had was sustaining that pace. None of us has ever done more than a 15-minute race against identical Caterhams, leave alone stints of more than double that in an eight-hour endurance race with all sorts of cars. Could we do that? Could the cars? One mistake late on could so easily ruin an time advantage built up. However, with a three-minute stop compulsory at every driver change, we didn't want to swap too often and waste time in the pits. Much to ponder then.
Memorial service in a pitlane very Mission Motorsport
...maybe not flat out
Unfortunately most of the Irish Sea was falling over Anglesey island on Saturday, ergo everything we had learnt about the circuit on Friday went out the window. Lap times were around 12 seconds slower, visibility was appalling and the kerbs were lethal. I think one of us did the entire allotted half an hour qualifying for fear of falling off and ruining a car for the race. Far more importantly a couple of the MX-5s were quicker in the sodden conditions. We looked good for a result running faster than them but with more stops; with a wet circuit there was no chance. The forecast for Sunday was changing more frequently than Nurburgring ownership and with no apparent predictability; any rain that would arrive was likely to be severe, meaning Saturday evening was spent drying out race gear, staying off the beer (well, two of us did) and praying for sunshine.
Six guys from Mission Motorsport raced
Into the fray
I was in Steve's car from 1020h, running into the memorial service and for 10 minutes on the other side. Radio contact with the pits was through a walkie-talkie with a headset gaffer-taped to my cheek, just to ensure the warnings about the service weren't missed.
To stop a motor race for a memorial service is certainly odd but wholly appropriate given the context. It was a great reminder too of why everyone had collected on a remote part of North Wales in November. The service was excellently organised, run and observed, a superb addition to the Race of Remembrance itinerary.
Steve gets the team off to great start
But we were still changing too much. At the current rate a Mazda would take it because they were able to run longer. The slower pace was less important than their ability to maintain it for longer. We had to extend our stints, not really knowing how the cars or, far more importantly, our motley collection of first-season racers would cope.
Focus
Driving for 45 minutes sounds like nothing. Driving flat out in a race for 45 minutes is really hard. Well, for me it was. By the time of my second stint just before 1400h Steve had been out again and the little Seven was feeling pretty tired. The brake pedal especially was going very long very quickly, making the fourth to third to second into Rocket rather hairy at points. As the tyres got a little too warm, so much of the Caterham's lovely precision was disappearing as well. Understeer and wheelspin reared their ugly heads where they hadn't previously and the car was locking up more. Then a bit of rain came, the wipers stopped working and the rain disappeared. Oh, and the front wheelarch came loose over a kerb. The last thing we needed was a black and orange flag for flapping bodywork so it was the black stuff only for 20 minutes or so.
Matt in a rare case of hitting an apex
The Mission Motorsport car was given a rest after my run, Steve doing his final stint in Barry's car. Both of them and Paul had flawless runs (OK, bar one little spin for Steve) which was a real achievement in itself. If you had seen Barry's car after a few races this year you would know that statement is no exaggeration. Sorry Barry.
With good conditions the race ran until very nearly 5pm. Steve somehow set our fastest lap time of the day late on, kept it clean throughout and ran the #97 Caterham (well, one of them) through the chequered flag sixth and as winners of the 1,600cc class. We'd done it!
Thank you marshals!
The elation from everyone involved was understandably huge. Yes, we had a faster car than our class competitors but we came into this weekend with absolutely zero experience of endurance racing and the most basic spreadsheet for our strategy plan. We had to adapt during the race and each of us drive damn near as fast as we could for longer than we had ever done before. In the grand scheme of motorsport it's an insignificant milestone but bloody hell does it feel good. I'm exceptionally proud to have been a part of it.
It gets better too. As the highest place Mission Motorsport driver of all six that finished, Steve will receive £500 towards his racing next year from Strata Motorsport, with the same amount being donated to the charity also. Truly a win-win situation!
The dream team!
Huge thanks to Caterham, Mission Motorsport, Anglesey Circuit, 750MC, Bookatrack and SnappyRacers for your work and support over the Race of Remembrance weekend.
[Images: Bourne Photographic]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
There was a vast range of talent out there. We (Shorsec Racing, car #22) were the only all novice team on the grid - this was our very first race of any kind, in fact we have held our race licences for a combined 9 weeks between the 4 of us
Going out into the monsoon with Marino Franchitti, Calum and the BTCC lads was a bit of a wake up call. The fact that was my very first motorsport experience will stay with me forever.
As will the remembrance service. I brought along my great grandfather's WW1 medals and had them in hand as everyone paid their respects. The sensation of a racing circuit in full swing going totally silent was indescribable. Probably one of the most profound moments of my life.
As for us, we were happy with our performance, delighted with the car and have already signed up for RoR 2015.
I saw a lot of PH stickers and tshirts about all weekend, good work those PHers getting out into the Welsh countryside.
It was a good race! Lots of overtaking, few slips and decent weather! Will be back in 2015 for sure!
Yesterday we were lucky enough to be invited to the Mission Motorsport Race Of Remembrance at Anglesey. It's been confirmed for next year and we cannot recommend it enough. Apart from the obvious fact that it raises money for the best charity, delivers one of the most moving Remembrance Services on the planet and showcases wounded & injured service personnel driving race cars, running race teams, engineering race cars and messing around with sock monkeys, there's something else.
It's a fantastic race. It was 8 hours (with a break for the service). You can enter a car or a group and run it as a relay. The driving standards were superb and there were no headbangers. If you haven't been to Anglesey since all the upgrades (or ever) you'll be very impressed. It's a great circuit (with a serious corkscrew)
Well worth having in your 2015 race calendar as an end of season bash. Also a great event to bring family and sponsors to. There were parties, get togethers, reunions, new friendships and bacon.
A perfect race weekend.
https://www.facebook.com/missionmotorsport/photos/...
Absolute privilege to race alongside the soldiers and BTCC drivers - we had an injured serviceman James Webley with us (far left) who is part of the Mission program and an old friend of the team. We even made it up to 10th place before our exhaust completely fell off and the extended pit stop lost all our ground and dropped back to stone cold last. We did finish though!
Didn't matter, it was an amazing day, and had an awesome battle for about an hour with a Silver Peugeot 206 with Chris Slator. A brilliant end to the years motorsport calendar. The spirit between teams was fantastic too - 'rival' teams all helping each other out and sharing recourses to make sure we all finished.
They had some mechanical and tyre difficulties which put them way back down the grid. Instead of circling the troops and leaving us out in the cold they got well behind us and got both cars to the finish. They'd have beaten us if they didn't.
Also out on track the driving was just first class. I was expecting it to be a bit more BTCC body-checking than it was, massive respect from and to every driver out there.
Now ticking off the days until the next one. We've already had a team chat to start planning it so we're not so wet behind the ears and in with a chance of some silverware
The RAF Motorsports team took a very standard (even still had the CD changer in it!) 206 gti on the control tyres to 15th overall with a team made up entirely of serving RAF personnel some of whom this was their 1st ever race meeting.
We enjoyed keeping the Alfa and a few MX5's honest and had a great team result - thanks to John and the team and 750 MC for putting it on and Anglesey for hosting it and the marshals for standing out on what must have been at times a miserable weekend.
Look forward to next year!
Brian
Team Manager, Team 18
It was a good race! Lots of overtaking, few slips and decent weather! Will be back in 2015 for sure!
There was a vast range of talent out there. We (Shorsec Racing, car #22) were the only all novice team on the grid - this was our very first race of any kind, in fact we have held our race licences for a combined 9 weeks between the 4 of us
Going out into the monsoon with Marino Franchitti, Calum and the BTCC lads was a bit of a wake up call. The fact that was my very first motorsport experience will stay with me forever.
As will the remembrance service. I brought along my great grandfather's WW1 medals and had them in hand as everyone paid their respects. The sensation of a racing circuit in full swing going totally silent was indescribable. Probably one of the most profound moments of my life.
As for us, we were happy with our performance, delighted with the car and have already signed up for RoR 2015.
I saw a lot of PH stickers and tshirts about all weekend, good work those PHers getting out into the Welsh countryside.
I am lucky enough to be one of the co-founders of Mission Motorsport, so am privileged to be involved in the organisation on a daily basis, this past weekend was one of the most rewarding activities the charity has delivered in its short 2 1/2 year history.
I am lucky enough to be one of the co-founders of Mission Motorsport, so am privileged to be involved in the organisation on a daily basis, this past weekend was one of the most rewarding activities the charity has delivered in its short 2 1/2 year history.
Still debating how much of a contribution to MM he needs to make for me not to show his wife.......and wondering how we get our Ginetta on the grid next year for this.
One set of tyres and pads were used over the three days of testing, quali and race. We needed to use two different seats due to the size difference in the drivers, which slowed us down in the pit stops quite a bit.
The car proved to be faster than expected (quicker lap time than a front running max5 car) and handled well enough in the dry.
For a car that hadn't even been tested before the event, it amazingly suffered from no issues during the race and the boys didn't spin or do anything silly to bring it home with no dents.
A great first race for the team (Skuzzle Motorsport) and no doubt the first of many as they loved every minute of it.
One set of tyres and pads were used over the three days of testing, quali and race. We needed to use two different seats due to the size difference in the drivers, which slowed us down in the pit stops quite a bit.
The car proved to be faster than expected (quicker lap time than a front running max5 car) and handled well enough in the dry.
For a car that hadn't even been tested before the event, it amazingly suffered from no issues during the race and the boys didn't spin or do anything silly to bring it home with no dents.
A great first race for the team (Skuzzle Motorsport) and no doubt the first of many as they loved every minute of it.
Absolute privilege to race alongside the soldiers and BTCC drivers - we had an injured serviceman James Webley with us (far left) who is part of the Mission program and an old friend of the team. We even made it up to 10th place before our exhaust completely fell off and the extended pit stop lost all our ground and dropped back to stone cold last. We did finish though!
Didn't matter, it was an amazing day, and had an awesome battle for about an hour with a Silver Peugeot 206 with Chris Slator. A brilliant end to the years motorsport calendar. The spirit between teams was fantastic too - 'rival' teams all helping each other out and sharing recourses to make sure we all finished.
Same time next year?Matt
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff