There were 6 Beetles on the entry list the week before this the first race of 2010, but as is the case with racing 1 week to go but 3 weeks work still to do!
Race day dawned with 3 cars on the grid to fight it out. Let battle commence.
Qualifying saw Dave ‘The Bandit‘ Charlton in his reliable 1600cc ex rally beetle only staying out for 7 laps coming in with a slight smoking problem (Nothing a Nicorette patch and some self-discipline didn’t sort out!). Craig ‘Grandad‘ Winfield in his 1914cc ex beetle cup car and Nick ‘The Vicar‘ Whitty in his 2332cc ex beetle cup car both stayed out for 9 laps. Dave qualified in 1.02.052 Craig in 1.03.031 and Nick in 1.09.841. This was Nick’s first time out and the others need to watch out for him as he gains more experience and track time.
Race 1 was a good battle and won by Dave (having solved the smoking problem) Craig put up a good chase but was just lacking in enough power to get past Dave (That pesky HP Robbing gearbox… will be sorted for Mallory! so expect some fireworks and more dogfighting!). Their fastest times being 1.02.320 and 1.02.344 respectively!!!. Nick unfortunately had a spin and damaged the exhaust so back to the pits for him.
Race 2 was looking like the rain could play a major factor however the hailstones actually held off until 2 minutes after the race finished. Although Nick had managed to get another exhaust on his car he was not happy with it and so decided to withdraw and live to fight another day. Well done Nick for getting to the grid in the first place and having a go. An achievement in itself. So this left Dave and Craig to again commence battle. This time it was Craig who had a problem (a fire!) Nothing too serious (Exhaust Lagging, oil and heat = ignition!) but obviously the end of his race. Dave was flying in this race actually doing a fastest lap of 1.01.669 and so taking victory again.
We should have a lot more beetles on track by Mallory in May making “The 2010 Beetle Challenge” a real Beetle Challenge! (Hopefully the biggest class in the race)
So what happened to the other 3 cars which were registered to race?
Simon ‘Monster‘ Sergides: Oh… so close but no cigar! (Gutted) Fresh engine only went in on the Weds before the race.. and then had some gearbox issues… all should be sorted for Mallory.
Steve ‘Cookie‘ McV: Was working on his car until the 11th hour… and just needed a few more hours.. (Double Gutted) All done now and ready to race.
Lawrence ‘Can I have it for Free‘ Butcher: Only Lemony Snicket has had more unfortunate events.. Rebuilt his engine… raised the compression.. bugger the starter was not man for the job!.. Painted the wings.. and a freak Charlie Brown cloud showered on the not-quite-cured-fresh-paint… end result… Galaxy Aero style paint finish! the list goes on! LoL… but now it’s running, and the once long list of To Do’s has rapidly diminished.. and he’ll be out for Mallory.
The Time Table for our season opening race on Saturday 27th March has been published:
MSVR Season Starter at Brands Hatch
We’ll be racing in the ‘Cannon’s Motor Sport Spares Tin Top Challenge‘ there are many other races throughout the day, but below is the schedule for the racing Beetles!
10:00 - Sign On 10:30 - Scrutineering 11:00 - Compulsory Drivers Meeting 11:40 - Qualifying
14:20 - RACE ONE 17:20 - RACE TWO
There will be a full day of racing action, with several different championship races throughout the day, makes for a great day out - remember you can stroll in the paddocks too!
Full Time Table available here.
Spectator tickets are available now for at Saturday £10 in advance online (£12 on the day) -
To buy online click here
We have arranged for a full days access to a rolling road (and workshop facilities) for all competitors to utilise in the week leading up to the Brands Hatch Opening Race - That’s the 24th March all day - and also on the 25th March in the afternoon/evening (and not forgetting the Volksworld Show on the Sunday!) - Get in touch!
(Mental note - Must remember to bring a set of rear wheels with higher profile tyres in case we get any clearance issues - obviously this is not relevant to No.40 Cookies car, as all he’ll have to do is get out of the drivers seat to raise the ride height by a good few inches
*Note this is a new updated PDF race entry form, which allows you to type in your personal info and it will automatically appear in every individual race entry forms for the entire year… saves a bit of time!
1st round closing date is 6th March so get them in quick if you want to get on the grid.
Dave ‘The Bandit‘ Charlton, and his 1303 bug ‘Smokey‘ took the coveted ‘BARC Driver of the Year‘ award at the annual British Automobile Racing Club Awards Presentation… adding yet more to his silverware collection… Big Up ‘Smokey and the Bandit‘ …
Craig Winfield, was also recently presented an award from the BARC, winning the ‘Best Prepared Race Car‘ for his No.78 race car.. collecting a Torque Wrench as a prize.
It’s going to be a busy weekend in March… the 27th is the 2010 season opener at Brands Hatch, which will be debut a few more new drivers and bugs on the grid…
Then on Sunday 28th March, we are excited to announce, we will be rolling from Brands Paddocks directly into the exhibition halls at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, to the Volksworld Show 2010, were we will be featuring some of our race cars, literally directly from the grid, along side the very best show cars from all over Europe. (Hope they don’t mind some of the bumps and scrapes on the race cars?.. Rubbin’ is Racing after all !!! )
The season starts at Brands Hatch on March 27th and in May it goes to Mallory Park for the live televised meeting on the 16th. All the races during that day will be shown live on Motors TV and then repeated at least twice during the following week. A free DVD will be sent to every driver and free hospitality will be provided to each team member on the day.
The full set of race dates for 2010 look to be delayed for a while yet, due to the Silverstone/Donnington fiasco. Currently dates are changing on a near daily basis as the organizing clubs try to reconcile the changes to their race calendars.
Next season you’ll see a new Race Support Vehicle in the paddocks.. keeping true to our routes it’s going to be an aircooled bus, wearing a stunning orange flip coat (the same as the No68 race car).
Body work was repaired and replaced.. the donor bus was superb.
Bernie trying to convince an eager team that all you need to restore vehicles is a small yellow tool box, and two hammers.
The bus shot in white, after all the body was massaged.. nice straight sides!
What you can’t see is Bernie looking smug saying “I told you so!”
Even more massaging of the panels after filler primer, a hive of activity!
Door, boot and decklid panels receiving that mad Orange Flip paint (Look at that reflection! all the hard work and effort from all is paying off!) You can just see Stu in the adjacent booth with the bus getting it’s top coat)
Bus receiving it’s final coats of clear lacquer.. you can see the flip in the pain on the rear quarter panel.
Many thanks to Morelli Paints and of course the CNWL paint and body teams who continue to support our racing series. The bus will be built up over the next few weeks now.. then it’s time for the livery graphics!…
As you prepare your car for next season please remember to also check that your race suit and helmet are still up to date. As outlined in this years Blue book, helmets to standard BS6658-85 Type A will not be allowed next year but those to BS6658-85 Type A/FR (with fire proof lining ) will be. Similarly suits to standard FIA1986 will no longer be allowed next year. We understand that helmets to Snell SA2000 will be allowed for a further year but have not had official confirmation of this yet. For more details please see page 168 of the Blue book which can be viewed on line at. http://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/bluebooks/09/Competitors_Safety.pdf.
Please also remember to check that your belts have not passed their use until date.
Yay! Watch this space the No.96 car is no longer for sale… better still it is undergoing a brand new paint job and will have a new engine for the Mallory Race…
This is the Ex-Rich Welsh Beetle Cup Car that has recently been re-commissioned to full MSA and Beetle Challenge regulations. This car wants for nothing and is fully race ready having just competed at Brands Hatch (14th Nov) finishing both races trouble free.
The car has many new parts and comes with a spare set of Alloys, its even road legal with long T&T. This is a well sorted good handling car all you need is a competition license and your good to go. Car is located in West London Heathrow. NO LONGER FOR SALE
We’ll be seeing this car out on the grid in 2010, with a new driver… !!! Another Ex-Cup car returning to its spiritual home on a race circuit… Happy Daze!
Neil Birkitts 1969 no.14 ex Beetle Cup car
Currently fitted with a new zero mile 1600 twinport with twin Italian Weber 36
idf’s ultrasonically cleaned carbs with all new internals.
Full flow oil cooling system fitted with external oil filter/thermostat and
Mocal cooler coil
Recently fitted engine, clutch, release bearing, exhaust
system, oil cooling, new fuel lines, door seals, engine seals, new battery, new bulbs
and rear lenses.
Everything else on the car is as it was when it was last raced, the paint is
slightly tired in places and a few knocks on paintwork but there are no holes or
underlying issues. No welding needed!
Comes with two spare doors a bonnet plus a spare alloy wheel
Interior is full rollcage plus Ridgard racing seat with 5 point harness,914
clocks and custom electrics(full wiring diagram)
Externally there is Spax suspension, anti roll bars, camber kit, front discs and a
welded gearbox, all side windows are plastic.
Nick, Cookie & Phil’s racers all have MoT’s and are in final pre-race prep stage! (Well done guys during these tough financial times) - The Red and Silver cars were shot at the College of North West London and look amazing!
This is a rough diamond… lot’s of neat stuff on this car.. engine is getting an update also…
Cookies circuit racer nears completion… now ready for tax n’ ticket so that it can be shaken down initially on the road… shhhhhh ! Cookie would like to thank Thingamies Beetles for the build, and the College of North West London for the Paint and Body.
Some fear a complete ‘A.R.S.E’ will be driving it…
Some don’t care as he is clearly up for the craic!…
But scarily someone peered through is window and complimented him on his ‘rim’ <ed: Steering>
The Lydden Races were held over the full weekend, with the BARC putting on a fun BBQ and usual frolics you’d expect from a fun circuit host!
David ‘The Bandit’ Charlton and his faithful steed ‘Smokey’ came to the event with a single point lead in the overall tin-tops championship which the beetles are running as a class (Dave 193 points, Ken Angel 192 points!) he went on to win both class races over the weekend… (A special mention must go out to Tony Sharpe who made good progress chasing The Bandit down, given this was the first time the car had turned a wheel!.. but was let down by a faulty throttle cable in race one, and an issue with 2nd Gear in race two…)
Tony Sharpe debuted his No: 65 Challenge car this weekends at the Lydden Circuit.
It’s taken a year to prepare (The classic it takes three times as long as you think it will) but was very well received and a welcome addition to the paddocks. Having not turned a wheel in anger, Tony set out on the track to start dialing it in, and it looks like this car has a lot of potential to start working it’s way up to the front of the grid.
Nick joins Steve in a race to see who can get there freshly painted cars finished first!
(Fresh Diablo Red paint and Black interior laid down by the teams at the CNWL again!)
Thingamies Beetles & Motorsports proudly present The Beetle Challenge. We would also like to thank our sponsors and partners whom have helped us develop the series... in no particular order...
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This is a rough diamond… lot’s of neat stuff on this car.. engine is getting an update also…
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