BPM Racing Britcar 500
Discussion
We got second in class.
We had first place sewn up,
, until I got punted off by an American pile of cr@p
, 
that would be a Mustang. I am not bitter.
VBH
gave a stunning performance in the first stint making up 5 places on the first lap, that may be wrong, could have been 6.
I took over and had a nightmare of a stint which covered everything from a dry start, rain, oil, a flat rear and playing bumper cars with a BMW and the Mustang. Each punt
was from behind, ooh er.
I took the decision that slicks should go on the car whilst behind the safety car, I pitted, slicks on and Owen
took over, I know, I thought long and hard 
about this and thought stuff it, its Owens stint next why should I worry
.
I have a feeling that the air was blue
when he took over as there was a lot of oil and it was slightly damp.
However, he is a smooth driver
and soon got to terms with it and towards the end was making up 8 seconds a lap on the lead car. Sadly, the 
Mustang put paid to us catching him, he was too far in front.
Anyway, 2nd is good
, started low 40s and finished 25th overall.
Roll on the 24 next year.
We had first place sewn up,
, until I got punted off by an American pile of cr@p, that would be a Mustang. I am not bitter.VBH
gave a stunning performance in the first stint making up 5 places on the first lap, that may be wrong, could have been 6.I took over and had a nightmare of a stint which covered everything from a dry start, rain, oil, a flat rear and playing bumper cars with a BMW and the Mustang. Each punt
was from behind, ooh er.I took the decision that slicks should go on the car whilst behind the safety car, I pitted, slicks on and Owen
took over, I know, I thought long and hard about this and thought stuff it, its Owens stint next why should I worry.I have a feeling that the air was blue
when he took over as there was a lot of oil and it was slightly damp.However, he is a smooth driver
and soon got to terms with it and towards the end was making up 8 seconds a lap on the lead car. Sadly, the Mustang put paid to us catching him, he was too far in front.Anyway, 2nd is good
, started low 40s and finished 25th overall.Roll on the 24 next year.
Owen...did you notice in shots 10 and 11 Vikki has the rear offside off the ground? And I love the shot of my lovely, lovely mate looking so happy...makes me feel warm all over. And what the **** was Kieth doing? 
And I told Vikki to get off the quad coz it was a BOY'S toy, but she just laughed. I love the look of concentration on Worty's face...must have been a bacon sandwhich on the table.
Chuffing good photograper, the bloke that took them
Great day mate, thanx for having me.
And I told Vikki to get off the quad coz it was a BOY'S toy, but she just laughed. I love the look of concentration on Worty's face...must have been a bacon sandwhich on the table.Chuffing good photograper, the bloke that took them
Great day mate, thanx for having me.
Edited by Jenx on Thursday 8th October 10:30
Gadgeroonie said:
wish i had the time and money to enter a race series, respect for you guys for having the balls to go for it
how did you end up with Vicki as a driver ? she lives near me i think, what does she drive herself ? does she like the noble ?
what other cars are in the series ?
We met Vicki as Ash's "The Event" Charity do at Elvington - asked if she fancied coming to drive with us in the 6hr and she said yes straight away! She has an old Golf GTI and a Rangie for the MWay miles! Didn't ask about Nobles!how did you end up with Vicki as a driver ? she lives near me i think, what does she drive herself ? does she like the noble ?
what other cars are in the series ?
Lot's of stuff in the series, Britcar is normally split into "GT's" - Moslers, 911's, Astons etc and "Production" - Beemers, Seat's, Hatches etc. On the longer races we all race together
Here's our race report
Another mammoth effort from the BPM team saw us take the class runner up spot and 25th overall in this years Britcar 500. The 888 Solutions Honda Civic just pipped the Clio to the chequered flag after an amazing 6hr battle.
We were joined at Silverstone for Thursday testing by third driver Vicki Butler-Henderson, who after a first drive the previous week was eager to get back behind the wheel and put the Clio through it’s paces. Chris, Jim, Matt and Keith once again put a fantastic car under us and we were soon lapping a full 7 seconds quicker than our last outing on the Grand Prix circuit. By the end of the session we were all within a few tenths of each other in the low 2.15’s. Pleased with the driver consistency, Matt and Chris were able to get some good fuel burn data and quickly began building a race strategy.
Friday morning saw us out for qualifying and gave a first chance to look at the real pace of the in-class opposition. The enemy were looking good, and despite a gearbox problem, the 888 Civic put in a blistering 2:09, which was quickly followed by a 2:08 from the always-rapid Chimptune Lotus. Technical problems were hampering the Lunar Racing MG, which set a 2.24. Ash took the first qualifying stint and quickly got into the 2:15’s – no doubt spurred on by the potential prize available from the £5 each we had in a fastest lap bet! I matched the pace but Vicki was a girl possessed and with a fantastic last minute lap pushed the car to it’s first ever sub 2:15 time – 2:14.8 – 3rd in class and 41st overall.
Unfortunately the data was showing that at the pace we’d been driving, there was precious little room in the fuel strategy….in fact there was none! Our 2 stop plan was looking in danger – we would run out 12km short. To stay on a 2 stopper we’d need it to rain or to get a safety car.
Night qualifying gave us the first chance to test the lights we’d borrowed from MGA Motorsport. We learnt the hard way at last year’s 24hr race that under illumination destroys night lap times! No such thing this year, the big twin PIAA’s were fantastic and allowed me to set our fastest night lap time at 2:17.
We decided to get Vicki out first and she was awesome from the start, despatching five cars in the first lap! She rapidly set about the main task for the first hour – hang on to the Civic! Chimptune had developed a problem with the Lotus, so as the Honda pitted for fuel and we took the class lead. Some fantastic consistent laps followed and at the end of her 2hr stint Vicki had hauled the car up to 24th overall.
More great work at the pit stop saw the team change drivers, refuel, fit 4 new tyres and fit the night bonnet in under two and a half minutes. Ash set off into the twilight and got quickly onto the pace. Little did we know about the fun and games that were to follow!
As darkness fell the rain came, but with the downpour only expected to last for 20 minutes, all the teams had to gamble on whether to change to wets, or stay on slicks. Ash radioed in to say he felt comfortable on the slicks, but the rain was getting heavy and standing water was forming on the track. One of the Moslers had a spin as it passed, forcing Ash into a seriously evasive manoeuvre…time to change to wets!
The wet had thankfully done it’s job helping us out with less fuel use, but as the rain persisted Ash got a nudge from the no77 Mustang, sending him flying into the gravel. He managed a quick recovery, but after half a lap it was clear that there was something wrong. A visit to the pits confirmed a punctured right rear and despite more brilliant work from the pit crew, the Civic re-took the lead. They had also been helped by the rain’s effect on fuel use – our bigger tank was losing its advantage!
Already in one of his most eventful stints ever, things were about to get even more interesting for Ash! One of the other cars gearboxes let go on the approach to Priory, spreading oil across the track on the fallen rain. The first four cars through all ended up in the gravel and Race Control immediately called for the safety car. This presented us with a problem as you are only allowed to add 25 litres of fuel in a pit-stop under the safety car….we needed to add 50!
With marshals all over the track in the treacherous conditions, the pace car was ordered to run extra slowly. Back in the garage, we took stock of our options - the rain had stopped and the beginnings of a dry line were forming. We were in the slicks versus wets debate again, but with the safety car out and still running at a crawl we realised we could pit, change drivers, add 25 litres, put slicks on and go back out. I could then feel the car on the slicks, come in for another 25 litres and tyre changes back if necessary – all without losing a lap.
We set the plan into action and although the slicks were very lively on the out lap, I could see from the track that it was the right call. Unfortunately as we pitted for the second lot of fuel, the safety car came in leaving me a long way behind the Civic. They pulled further away for the first part of the stint as I struggled to get the tyre temps up on the cold damp track, but having stayed on wets, 888 began to have the opposite problem. As their tyres faded away, mine came in but it was too little too late and despite biting chunks out of their lead, I couldn’t quite reel them in!
A huge well done to 888, it was another brilliant race and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Here’s to the final round at Brands Hatch next month! A massive thanks to Vicki for coming to drive with us and to all the sponsors for making it possible.
O.
Another mammoth effort from the BPM team saw us take the class runner up spot and 25th overall in this years Britcar 500. The 888 Solutions Honda Civic just pipped the Clio to the chequered flag after an amazing 6hr battle.
We were joined at Silverstone for Thursday testing by third driver Vicki Butler-Henderson, who after a first drive the previous week was eager to get back behind the wheel and put the Clio through it’s paces. Chris, Jim, Matt and Keith once again put a fantastic car under us and we were soon lapping a full 7 seconds quicker than our last outing on the Grand Prix circuit. By the end of the session we were all within a few tenths of each other in the low 2.15’s. Pleased with the driver consistency, Matt and Chris were able to get some good fuel burn data and quickly began building a race strategy.
Friday morning saw us out for qualifying and gave a first chance to look at the real pace of the in-class opposition. The enemy were looking good, and despite a gearbox problem, the 888 Civic put in a blistering 2:09, which was quickly followed by a 2:08 from the always-rapid Chimptune Lotus. Technical problems were hampering the Lunar Racing MG, which set a 2.24. Ash took the first qualifying stint and quickly got into the 2:15’s – no doubt spurred on by the potential prize available from the £5 each we had in a fastest lap bet! I matched the pace but Vicki was a girl possessed and with a fantastic last minute lap pushed the car to it’s first ever sub 2:15 time – 2:14.8 – 3rd in class and 41st overall.
Unfortunately the data was showing that at the pace we’d been driving, there was precious little room in the fuel strategy….in fact there was none! Our 2 stop plan was looking in danger – we would run out 12km short. To stay on a 2 stopper we’d need it to rain or to get a safety car.
Night qualifying gave us the first chance to test the lights we’d borrowed from MGA Motorsport. We learnt the hard way at last year’s 24hr race that under illumination destroys night lap times! No such thing this year, the big twin PIAA’s were fantastic and allowed me to set our fastest night lap time at 2:17.
We decided to get Vicki out first and she was awesome from the start, despatching five cars in the first lap! She rapidly set about the main task for the first hour – hang on to the Civic! Chimptune had developed a problem with the Lotus, so as the Honda pitted for fuel and we took the class lead. Some fantastic consistent laps followed and at the end of her 2hr stint Vicki had hauled the car up to 24th overall.
More great work at the pit stop saw the team change drivers, refuel, fit 4 new tyres and fit the night bonnet in under two and a half minutes. Ash set off into the twilight and got quickly onto the pace. Little did we know about the fun and games that were to follow!
As darkness fell the rain came, but with the downpour only expected to last for 20 minutes, all the teams had to gamble on whether to change to wets, or stay on slicks. Ash radioed in to say he felt comfortable on the slicks, but the rain was getting heavy and standing water was forming on the track. One of the Moslers had a spin as it passed, forcing Ash into a seriously evasive manoeuvre…time to change to wets!
The wet had thankfully done it’s job helping us out with less fuel use, but as the rain persisted Ash got a nudge from the no77 Mustang, sending him flying into the gravel. He managed a quick recovery, but after half a lap it was clear that there was something wrong. A visit to the pits confirmed a punctured right rear and despite more brilliant work from the pit crew, the Civic re-took the lead. They had also been helped by the rain’s effect on fuel use – our bigger tank was losing its advantage!
Already in one of his most eventful stints ever, things were about to get even more interesting for Ash! One of the other cars gearboxes let go on the approach to Priory, spreading oil across the track on the fallen rain. The first four cars through all ended up in the gravel and Race Control immediately called for the safety car. This presented us with a problem as you are only allowed to add 25 litres of fuel in a pit-stop under the safety car….we needed to add 50!
With marshals all over the track in the treacherous conditions, the pace car was ordered to run extra slowly. Back in the garage, we took stock of our options - the rain had stopped and the beginnings of a dry line were forming. We were in the slicks versus wets debate again, but with the safety car out and still running at a crawl we realised we could pit, change drivers, add 25 litres, put slicks on and go back out. I could then feel the car on the slicks, come in for another 25 litres and tyre changes back if necessary – all without losing a lap.
We set the plan into action and although the slicks were very lively on the out lap, I could see from the track that it was the right call. Unfortunately as we pitted for the second lot of fuel, the safety car came in leaving me a long way behind the Civic. They pulled further away for the first part of the stint as I struggled to get the tyre temps up on the cold damp track, but having stayed on wets, 888 began to have the opposite problem. As their tyres faded away, mine came in but it was too little too late and despite biting chunks out of their lead, I couldn’t quite reel them in!
A huge well done to 888, it was another brilliant race and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Here’s to the final round at Brands Hatch next month! A massive thanks to Vicki for coming to drive with us and to all the sponsors for making it possible.
O.
RobP said:
Well done, lads (and lass) - good to see some of the (ex)Nobiity doing rather than talking!
5 years of talking then I get a phone call from Owen, here is what he said."Hi Ash, you ok? I have been to look at a Renault Clio Cup, looks fantastic, you owe me ££££££££"
After that, the talking stopped.
Much the same as he did when he said....
"Ash, we are defo not doing the Britcar 500 as we are skint"
2 weeks later.......
"Hi Vicki, we are defo doing the Britcar 500, do you want to race with us?"
Great result guys! Shame my Spa race was the same weekend as I would have loved to be there too!
Know what you mean about the budget conversations!
Myself and Matt Faulks before I started racing.
Greg :- "I think I can afford to race an Elise in the Elise Trophy, It should be about £8k a year.
Matt F :- "If thats the number you've thought of, then double it mate and you should be about there."
Myself and Matt yesterday at TDF.
Matt :- "So hows the budget looking"
Greg :- "Can you remember that figure I'd come up with?"
Matt :- "Yes, 8 grand wasn't it?"
Greg :- "Yup............well double it and you're about there."
Know what you mean about the budget conversations!
Myself and Matt Faulks before I started racing.
Greg :- "I think I can afford to race an Elise in the Elise Trophy, It should be about £8k a year.
Matt F :- "If thats the number you've thought of, then double it mate and you should be about there."
Myself and Matt yesterday at TDF.
Matt :- "So hows the budget looking"
Greg :- "Can you remember that figure I'd come up with?"
Matt :- "Yes, 8 grand wasn't it?"
Greg :- "Yup............well double it and you're about there."
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