Donnginton BTCC
Donnginton BTCC
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RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Sunday 20th April 2008
quotequote all
Hi

I was wondering if anybody on this forum knew any team who will be racing at the BTCC weekend 03-04 May at Donnington. Whether it be BTCC or support races. As I am just looking to help a team, so I can gain some more experience. I will be able to get there by myself and will have my own room at my borthers house on the Saturday night.

Thanks
James

dxb335d

2,905 posts

224 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Very nice of you to offer your services mate! I hope someone takes you up on the offer.

A friends brother wanted a Job working for a race team. Ended camping outside various outfits in america and ended up the IRL!!

Pretty cool i thought


Good luck mate


Carlos

phumy

5,827 posts

266 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Im sure there will be loads of people who know people who will be racing, but for a team to just take someone on who they know nothing of them in practical terms or their expertise, then i thing this would be very dangerous, especially in a race situation.

To get into these teams would require you to start at the bottom of the pile and work your way up and by that i mean to get around the junior formulas or the club type race meetings. Its almost like knocking on the door of Ferrari and saying, "Gizza job", it just wont happen. If it does then i will eat my "bobble-hat" hehe

RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Hi

But there is nothing worng with me trying.

James

clarkee200

62 posts

247 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Dont under estimate what your suggesting, it isn't easy to get in the door and is pretty much like phumy said.

I know because I tried!

Dont go to a btcc team with no experience to call on, all you are doing is wasting their time and yours. It took me 4 years of hard work and getting on to a motorsport course before I got a job in the btcc.

Do keep trying though but I would suggest trying FFord teams or Palmer Audi and the like first.

If it was easy it wouldn't have taken me 6 years to get to F1!

RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Hi

Just to let you know, I am know going to donnington with a Clio cup team. By the way I did 2 races last year with Palmer audis and I also work for a local team racing at Castle combe.

James

*Kosta*

911 posts

232 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
RC racer said:
Hi

Just to let you know, I am know going to donnington with a Clio cup team. By the way I did 2 races last year with Palmer audis and I also work for a local team racing at Castle combe.

James
Which Clio Cup team are you going with?

RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
Coastal, the one you reccomened to me

James

dxb335d

2,905 posts

224 months

Monday 21st April 2008
quotequote all
phumy said:
Im sure there will be loads of people who know people who will be racing, but for a team to just take someone on who they know nothing of them in practical terms or their expertise, then i thing this would be very dangerous, especially in a race situation.

To get into these teams would require you to start at the bottom of the pile and work your way up and by that i mean to get around the junior formulas or the club type race meetings. Its almost like knocking on the door of Ferrari and saying, "Gizza job", it just wont happen. If it does then i will eat my "bobble-hat" hehe
Think the OP knows that mate, he will be the tea boy/general gofer for a while for sure!

deviant

4,316 posts

239 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
RC racer said:
Hi

But there is nothing worng with me trying.

James
Exactly...If you dont ask you dont get.

I did it a few times. Obviously not for any top teams but I was happy to be holding spanners and getting the bacon sarnies in.

A lad I went to college with many years ago worked for a local Formula Renault team...he didnt get regular pay but went and helped at the workshop after college and went with the team on race weekends and testing if he could make it. IIRC he would get something like £30 a day for being away from home or working the weekends...he was fine with it though because all his travel expenses and accomodation were paid for. The team were happy because they got a very cheap labourer.

I wanted to get in to motorsport as a techo of some sort but the practicalities of life got in the way and it fell by the wayside.

phumy

5,827 posts

266 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
dxb335d said:
phumy said:
Im sure there will be loads of people who know people who will be racing, but for a team to just take someone on who they know nothing of them in practical terms or their expertise, then i thing this would be very dangerous, especially in a race situation.

To get into these teams would require you to start at the bottom of the pile and work your way up and by that i mean to get around the junior formulas or the club type race meetings. Its almost like knocking on the door of Ferrari and saying, "Gizza job", it just wont happen. If it does then i will eat my "bobble-hat" hehe
Think the OP knows that mate, he will be the tea boy/general gofer for a while for sure!
If he knows that then he will also know that they have the teaboy/gofer already.

phumy

5,827 posts

266 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
Dont get me wrong, im not knocking what the OP is doing, but there are better ways, maybe more difficult and time consuming, of getting into racing (motorsport) in a big way, if thats what they want.

I take it the OP is still fairly young, its great time and opportunity for him/her to get some qualifications and get into it in a bigger way.

There are motor-sport qualifications at numerous colleges and Uni's now, get yourself enrolled onto one and get at the least an HND, the world of Motor-sport will open up to you. It will take time, these things do not normally fall at you feet, you have to do the hard work but it pays off in the end. I know ive been there, not me personally but i have helped and encouraged my son who been interested in the sport since he was about 18 months old. After schooling finished he got his HND in Motorsport, worked around the junior formulas (Renault, Palmer-Audi), then onto a major BTCC team, is now working for Honda F1.

Im extremely proud of his efforts and the hard work he has had to endure to get there, it does not come easy. Hopefully the encouragement i have had to put into his bank account at times will now be paid back with a few pit and garage tickets at a few GP's hehe

RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
Hi

I am at Lackham college doing motorsport, i allready have some experience from last year, like a local team and FPA's and I also attened the Britcar 24hours as a refueller. Where as I am the only person on my course who are that intrested or actually help for free at events. When i was speaking to one of them he said how much do you get paid, I said nothing, and he said what is the point. So I said it will help me get a job but also I just enjoying helping or watching motorsport, gives me a nice buzz.

James

phumy

5,827 posts

266 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
RC racer said:
Hi

I am at Lackham college doing motorsport, i allready have some experience from last year, like a local team and FPA's and I also attened the Britcar 24hours as a refueller. Where as I am the only person on my course who are that intrested or actually help for free at events. When i was speaking to one of them he said how much do you get paid, I said nothing, and he said what is the point. So I said it will help me get a job but also I just enjoying helping or watching motorsport, gives me a nice buzz.

James
By the sounds of it you have the correct attitude, dont forget you can also write to all of these companies too, let them know your intentions and what you are doing at college, they will be interested, badger them and hound them, by letter and email. It wont be easy but one day the door will open for you.

*Kosta*

911 posts

232 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
RC racer said:
Coastal, the one you reccomened to me

James
I spoke to Carl yesterday and he mentioned he had an extra bod. I wondered if it was you. See you there then smile

Edited by *Kosta* on Tuesday 22 April 12:49

RC racer

Original Poster:

2,916 posts

235 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
Hi

I guess I am thta person then, are you helping him, or just watching

James

*Kosta*

911 posts

232 months

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
quotequote all
RC racer said:
Hi

I guess I am thta person then, are you helping him, or just watching

James
I do all his media stuff mostly, so tend to take a bit of a back seat at the race meetings these days. Just do bits and bobs if needed.

I don't work for him - he's my best mate so i kind of just end up getting involved.

Did a hell of a lot more last year, especally when we were running lots of minis.