road issue 10

Road 10 – Great British special Goodwood FOS & Revival // TVR Griffith 500 // anglesey demolished by Cayman s PDK // ARDS RACE licence // DUCATI 1198 // 370Z // James Thompson

road magazine full page ad:Layout 1

29/6/09

11:22

Page 1

d race C range of sport an EB e th K U e th in e Mad ials ery year. New mater ev er tt be ts ge st ju brakes nge to extend life in ra f uf st w llo Ye on launched aining fantastic cold nt ai m t ls hi w ns io at race applic material upgraded ff tu ds Re e, us et re st braking for d UST than before an D SS LE en ev e uc od to pr e hot suit lighter cars in th to d ke ea tw f uf st Green hatch market.

Welcome to the 10th issue, Great British Special ROAD, and thanks so much for your loyal support of the brand. It’s hard to believe we’re already at issue 10, and there’s still soooooooo much to do with the magazine, the website and all. Stick with us on our journey to bring you the best road trips, track days, events, car reviews, automotive lifestyle news and much more.

And don’t forget that you T.W.O

fans are well catered for in ROAD2, now in its 2nd issue (Ducati 1198 in there); with equaly massive plans to bring you the very best in FREE online digital media.

The theme for our 10th is good old Blighty. And what could be more quintessentially British than glorious Goodwood? Enjoy the fab Festival of Speed and wonderfully retro Revival meets.

We’ve also got a track & road

test in the new Cayman S PDK at Anglesey (wow!) and that lightweight-heavyweight cult; TVR’s Griffith 500, the ARDS race licence process, a road trip to Heston’s Little Chef in Seat’s Exeo, behind the scenes with BTCCs Team Dynamics and an exclusive James Thompson interview, enjoy!

Love Road

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 03

ROAD 10 contents 14 Speedfest Goodwood is so British, it

hurts, and we LOVE it. Revel in the Revival

and Festival of Speed reports 44

The don The don of the sports car world, Porsche’s Cayman S gen II, gets to meet the don of the limit handling world, Don Palmer, at Anglesey’s ocean view circuit.

Road trips don’t get much better, east-west coast...

52

56

Griffith 500 1050Kg, 340 bhp V8: The grunt, the noise, the dramas. Tim gets a good solid dose of Blackpool rock News What’s the story morning glory?

Well turn to Page ** and have a look...

64 Zzzzzzz Tim tackles RAF Odiham in

Nissans fiesty new 370Z, all in the name

of charity!

72 Race ace? Fancy a go at racing?

So does our Phil, so he’s off to Castle

Combe racing School for his ARDS test

88 BTTC Tim talks exclusively to James

Thompson on his return to BTCC, and

gets a sneak at Team Dynamics in action

80 Old School Castle Combe retro show PLUS... GM driving day, Salon Prive, Rolling

report and pictures roads & ROAD2 which features Ducati’s epic 1198. And it’s all free! Tell your mates...

82 Pitstop Tim goes in search of a fine

roadside dining experience, in

Seat’s new Exeo

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 05

Cheap Insurance Rates for Road Magazine Readers Adrian Flux offers specialist insurance to a wide range of vehicles, providing low cost, high quality policies. With over 30 years of experience we will find a policy tailored to your exact needs.

We have great rates for: � High Performance Cars � Classic Cars � American Cars � Jap Imports

� Performance Cars � Limited Mileage � Agreed Value

Visit us for a quote www.adrianflux.co.uk/road

Freephone

Quoteline Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00am - 7.00pm Sat 9.00am - 4.00pm email: quotes@adrianflux.co.uk

0800 505 3000 www.adrianflux.co.uk/road Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority

WHY BUY, IF YOU CAN LEASE!

Huge Mercedes Benz Leasing / Offers Available, limited period only ! (LHD & RHD) For more information email: aleem@lease4wheels.co.uk

www.LEASE4WHEELS.co.uk

All pictures and/or photos and car descriptions on this ad are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily the vehicle on offer. All offers are subject to change at any time depending on stock and are subject to finance approval and vehicle availability. All prices correct at time of publication. Prices shown are for New/Used CH or Lease Purchase deals, some require larger deposit E&OE. (Images: Google)

See here!

Click on weblinks in the magazine to go direct to their websites Please keep our advertisers happy!

Love Road x

Editorial www.roadmagazine.co.uk

Editor: Phil Royle proyle@roadmagazine.co.uk Creative Director: Tim Hutton tim@roadmagazine.co.uk Thanks: Aaron Weeddell, Stephen Hall, Zak Reynolds, Bonnie Coupland, Rob Cooper, Gareth Ablett, John Reynolds, Al Clark, Graham Clarke, David Woodall, Neil Denham et all.

ADVERTISE IN ROAD Target over 40,000 petrolheads for more details contact Phil Royle proyle@roadmagazine.co.uk

Š 2009 Rage Publishing LLP

All rights reserved. All due care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers, staff and contributors cannot be held responsible for any effects arising therefrom. Reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements but no responsibility can be taken for any resulting transactions. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited materials.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 07

champion!

This time last year Jenson Button was nearing the end of another terrible season, Honda where getting itchy feet and a drive in another team was looking tough. Roll on one incredible year and Jenson Button and Brawn GP have turned the F1 world over with an amazing season and a star drive from Jenson (with some of the best overtaking moves of the year) meant the title was his with one race to go. What a season!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 09

batteredbull Last month the mentalist Red Bull X-Fighters came to Battersea Power Station. Road was there to see the ensuing carnage and crazy riding. A packed crowd cheered on Nate ‘The Destroyer’ Adams to a overall series win. But the star of the show was Levi Sherwood. With a return to form, he took Nate to a close finish for the judges. Awesome!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 11

orangey boom This years BTCC came down to the final race of the final round. Three drivers in with a shot, Colin Turkington, Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Colin Turkington took the final honours in the WSR Team RAC BMW. Look out for a full interview with Colin in the next issue. Roll on BTCC 2010, still the best race series in the UK.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 13

SPEED MERCHANTS Another vintage year at Goodwoods stunning Festival of Speed. The question is... what would you have?

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 15

The VETERAN 16 years ago I attended the first Festival of Speed.

That was 1993 and I was just 13. Having grown up around Goodwood, I had already been pretty spoiled by the sights and sounds off supercars and the last days of F1 testing at Goodwood, (remember Onyx?), but that weekend opened up my eyes to the sheer diversity of the motor car.

Maybe the memories are

so vivid as the weather was amazing, as it so regularily is at Goodwood – I have been to every FOS, so I have also experienced the flooded ones too! But, regardless of the weather, there is no weekend on the calendar I look forward to more than the FOS. I could try to list all the things that I saw for the first time this year: 1968 Bertone Carabo, Yasmin Le Bon,

Jesse James’ Baja Buggy, Peugeots 09 Le mans winner, BMW’s awesmoe M3 GT2, Guy Martin, The Pink Pig 917/20, Sebastien Loeb, insanely fast Fensport Toyota Celica GT4, Ferrari 250GT SWB ‘Breadvan’, Citroen BX 4TC, Pagani Zonda R etc etc. Basically, all those who say the FOS is the same every year, just arent opening their eyes to this event. It’s epic!

So, what do I take home with me this year? It’s a toughy that’s for sure, but probably the same car that I would take home every year – the luscious Ferrari 312 PB, infact anything red and V12 would be nice, so if that’s a no go then maybe the Werners’ would hand over their stunning 250 ‘breadvan.’ Sadly, that’s it for another year then, all topped up with Castrol R,

bags full of car models (my vice is slot cars) that vintage manual of a HF Integrale (just in case) and a belly full of Goodwoods finest organic produce, oh and a Pimms, or three! What-ho!

Well it would be over, but I still have another two days yet, excellent! Time to make the pilgrimage up the hill to the rally stage. On the way, I pass some joggers on a Porsche stand, good

luck to them, not my scene though. Do remember that making the hike up the hill at the hottest part of the day is not advisable: I do it every year and still im suprised how hot I get! Not to worry though as the trees at the rally stage act as a great chillout zone. This is where I just sit down for a bit and have some fun with the camera away from the crowds, bliss.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 17

So, to round off, here are my Goodwood Festival of Speed Do’s and Don’ts Do:

DoN’T:

Take a picnic and eat on the lawn outside the house

Take your shirt off, male or female!

Play it cool when you see a childhood hero

Touch the cars and bikes

Go for at least two days

Spend an excessive amount of time walking around the car park Walk to the rally stage Watch the fastest cars go up the hill from opposite the main paddock Stay for the awards on the Sunday, you used to get invited into the house!

Watch the party goers arrive on the Saturday evening

Forget suncream

Leave after the F1 cars have gone up the hill, you are missing the point!

Visit the supercar Paddock at peak times Fall asleep in the press centre in a comfy chair

THANKS

To Janet Bradley, Gary Axon and all in the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office.

To organise the worlds press at these events is something else! Other press offices take note please! Awesome! for more information on all the amazing events Goodwood organise visit: www.goodwood.co.uk

Miss the air display Bring a stereo Forget to buy a programme, it’s an investment, bloody useful and nicely designed WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 19

The Virgin OK, I admit it, head held low in shame... this is my 15th year as a motoring hack, and I’ve never been to Goodwood. I know... I should fire myself immediately. But, I’ve double made up for it this year; attending both the sprawling Festival of Speed, and the utterly magical Revival meets. And, one thing is for sure... I’m here for both now; year in, year

out, until I pop my clogs or Goodwood stop all this motoring madness, which, I pray every night now, they will not. Ever. They are a pure slice of auto-heaven.

These two epic events are not only the best run, most eclectic and well themed shows I’ve ever attended, but, thanks to the awe-inspiring back drop of glorious Goodwood House and Estate and the sheer,

breath-taking quality AND quantity of cars, famous faces and fun on offer, they are simply unmissable.

This year’s theme was ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance,’ with the event littered with phenomenal long distance race ace heroes: celebrating that most hardcore of racing, 24-hour enduro events, like Le Mans and Nurburgring, through epic cars like

the Porsche’s 1970 Le Mans winner, 917K and it’s ‘Pink pig’ team mate and Ferrari’s 512. Seeing these immaculate slices of automotive racing history all together in the pits is one thing, but listening, smelling and witnessing them fly up the tight, technical and fast Goodwood hill climb route, one after the next, is something else. Especially when it’s endurance

legends one minute, rally heroes past and present the next, and the latest and greatest racing and super car gods flying up the hill.

It’s fascinating to see different approaches to the hill climb too, and rally stage: Some show boat from the off; with rolling burn-outs or ferocious launch control starts, lurid power slides – even stopping in front of

Goodwood’s magnificent house, to offer the big crowds picnicing a chance to see all that tyre smoke again. Others, the true racers, not the poseurs, take it flat chat... and want to win. Times are compared, set ups altered and the passion to be the fastest is palpable. In a good, chillaxed sort of way: The Goodwood way. If heaven is not like this, I’ll be gutted!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 21

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 23

In addition to the packed paddock and frantic hill climb mania, there was plenty else to enjoy.

For a special stage sucker like me, Goodwood FOS 2009 was a cracker: The very tight, technical and dusty (almost like an Acropolis rally stage, in the searing 30C heat) stage, tucked in the forests, at the top of the hill climb route, was awash with my dream

garage: Peugeot 205 T16, Audi Quattros in all forms (short sport, I love ya!), Delta Integrales, Porsche 911’s, Mini Coopers, Lancia Stratos (droool), Subaru’s legendary 555 Impreza Colin won the WRC in, Richard Burns’ collection of rally giants... pretty much everything you could ever dream of seeing. And you get to see them, at full chat, wastegate’s fluttering, anti-

lag crackling, in their natural habitat; on gravel, in trees.

And you can get close enough to them all to smell the famous sweat oozing from their bucket seats.

I was on cloud nine up here (maybe caused by the power sapping hike up the hill, in uber heat?), only topped by getting a wave and knowing nod from current WRC legend, the most successful rally driver

ever, Sebastian Loeb, here for the first time (like me!), in the Citroen WRC. Naturally, he won the special stage in it... which was a pretty safe bet, even in this esteemed company. Living legend.

Away from the sideways action on track and gravel, there is so much to do and see at the FOS. I really enjoyed seeing all the motor manufacturer stands. In fact, FOS has

become like the absent British Motor Show. Audi’s stand, celebrating 100 years of the uber brand, was deeply impressive and expensive; showcasing the new TT RS etc. And Nissan had a work of marketing genius, in the form of urban decay, promoting their fabulous new GTR and 370Z. Porsche had the new 997 GT3, Gen II Cayman and Boxster, Panamera

and Cayenne S on display nicely too: All the major food groups were there. It was a heart warming sign for an industry on its knees (as was meeting Yasmin Le Bon, for very different reasons!).

The multifarious trade stands were all great, as is the food, the racing, the paddock, the stars, the people, the picnics... the lot.

Best show on earth?

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 25

Golf at Goodwood Having tested the new Mk6 Golf GTI, on road and track at Castle Combe (see in this issue), VW were keen for us to try the oil burning version, promising it to be ‘Powerful, sporty, fuel efficient and luxurious.’

Ideal transport for a 550 mile road trip from East Anglia to Goodwood house, where the VW brand values sit very nicely, thanks very much, and one tank of fuel will see me there and back, with miles to spare.

Now, I should confess here, like the tall hack off the telly, I’m not a fan of diesels: The clatter, the sickly smell of the fuel, the lack of revs (& power), the

lack of passion they evoke in me. Yawn, sorry...

But, I am aware that is bias, and that diesels are changing, fast. And that they are, well, fast: A-B at least, thanks to tidal waves of easily accessible torque, from their tricky, quick spooling turbos and direct injection technology (now tricks seeping back into petrol cars, thankfully).

The fast and frugal Golf GTD is one of these new breed of ‘performance diesels.’ It knocks out 170 PS (at a not so heady 4,200 rpm), and a thumping 258 lbs ft torque (at a very useful 1,750-2,500 rpm) an this one is mated to VW’s

excellent DSG dual clutch gearbox, which although not as well suited to the diesel as it is the petrol lump, is still mighty good.

The GTI is actually incredibly frugal, easily knocking out mid-30’s, driven hard, which is amazing for a turbocharged engine with over 200 ponies and 6,500 rpm on tap. But the GTD makes the GTi look like it’s got a drink problem, returning over 50 mpg combined, and seemingly never dipping below 40.

This offers the GTD another huge advantage, which I can buy into, as I hate stopping for fuel... range: Over 600 miles for the GTD! WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 27

The GTD is, as you would expect from VW, a very mature, refined, cosseting place to spend time. Ride quality is good and the handling, whilst not having the sharpness the GTi has found, is still pretty darn good, although rather nose heavy and understeer-led, as you might expect.

It looks almost as good as the GTi too... it’s just got the wrong letter at the end

of the GT bit, for me. Don’t get me wrong, this GTD is quick, reliable, comfortable and all that jazz. It’s a great A-B car, if you like torque surges, not power rushes.

Personally, I’d rather have the GTi, which is almost as economical, faster and, more critically, a whole lot more fun, which, is the bare minimum I expect from any car really. Motoring should be fun, the Goodwood way!

THANKS Nicki and team at VW, for the GTi and GTd loaners www.volkswagen.co.uk All the staff at Goodwood for their hard workon the FOS www.goodwood.co.uk

Stradale Media – the Automotive media company, with over 50 years combined, top-level media experience on tap to boost your company media profile and provide accurate solutions for all your media and marketing needs.

Stradale Media is a full service automotive PR and marketing agency, pooling a vast, experienced creative talent of writers, designers and photographers, specialising in all forms of automotive brand development, media coverage, advertising campaigns, marketing and promotion.

Our client list includes Subaru Cars, Isuzu Cars, Daihatsu Cars, RMA Track Days, Gumball, Bullrun, Tracktive Solutions PR, Leyton Clarke Racing, Fisher German CS, RICS UK, KW Suspensions, Opentrack.co.uk, and European Porsche tuners.

Call Stradale Media now to see what we can do for your company – at highly competitive prices. One call or email, and we can provide all your PR solutions…

Stradale Media Contact Phil Royle Email: phil@stradalemedia.com Telephone: +44 (0)1379-688168 or +44(0)7946-610193 (Snetterton Office)

Tim Hutton Email: tim@stradalemedia.com Telephone: +44 (0)7788 177 555 (Goodwood Office)

www.stradalemedia.com

when they were heroes The Goodwood Revival is a celebration of a time when drivers took risks and raced to live. Tim & Phil were there too, snapping this magical event: Heaven on earth...

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 31

The ‘magical step back in time’ reputation of the Goodwood Revival race meet is legendary, and rightly so. Shockingly, this was my first year attending in 15 years of motoring hackery, which I am gutted about. I’ve missed ten of these beautiful, epic, marvellous events. Darn! Never mind, I more than made up for it this year, enjoying two full days gorging on glorious Goodwood: Dangerous race aces in proper cars; sideways everywhere, gorgeous women; dressed in fabulous period clothing, the old school etiquette, the G&T’s, the old school fuel smells, the NOISE, the four wheel drifts: Utterly, totally heavenly. If the after life is not like this, I’ll be gutted!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 33

Every Goodwood Revival is themed, and this year we were spoiled for choice: Celebrating two British legends; 50 years of the iconic Issigonis Mini, with a brilliant range of 1293cc Cooper S’ doing battle in the St Mary’s Trophy, drifting in and out of every corner in a wave of crowdpleasing lift-off oversteer.

Absolutely awesome.

And this year’s event also celebrated the 80th year of our lord, Sir Sterling Moss, with the outstanding Goodwood folk attracting some 80 of the race cars SSM took to victories all over the world, as part of his epic race career.

It’s half a century since Goodwood played host to

its most famous race – the 1959 Tourist Trophy, won, naturally, by Moss. And they played homage this year, with the Lavant Cup, featuring Aston DBR1, Ferrari 250 TR57, D-Type Jags, 246S Dinos, Lister ‘Costin,’ Porsche 718. Oh. My. God. Life simply does not get any better than this, in our opinion.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 35

Without doubt, what makes the Revival meet so utterly perfect is the fact most people (over 90%) make an effort to dress up in period clothing, which totally changes the way they behave; it’s back to ‘after you madam,’ holding doors open, P&Q’s and all the things our grandparents taught us.

Bloody marvelous.

From the moment you arrive and wander through the pre1966 cars parked in the sunbaked fields, the Revival is a beautiful, cosseting time warp. And it just gets better and better the deeper into the event you get; strolling past the 1960’s (theme for

‘09) dancing miniskirters by a London bus, through the beautifully restored period tunnel and paddock infrastructure (fresh as it was when it was built, in 1948), through the retro trade stands and into the pits, where all these utterly outstanding cars – every one a winner – lie in wait to treat the eyes, ears and soul. It’s just stunning.

As are the fabulous women, gentlemen and whole families who make such an effort with their outfits. Period hats off to everyone... as it’s you guys who create the totally enchanting, magical special atmosphere. And they say time travel is impossible...

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 37

If racing cars, retro retail therapy, mingling with legends in the period paddock, having a peak at the Earls Court Motor Show (new Rolls Royce, Nissan’s 370Z Cabrio and super car heroes by the bucketload, not to mention some of the most glam girlies you could imagine highlights here!) and old school people watching, over a Hendrick’s G&T aren’t your bag, then Goodwood has still got aces up its sleeves. I defy anyone not to enjoy this event. You must be dead if you

can’t revel in something from the multitude of magnificence here, I’m telling you. Stimulating? You bet!

Highlights this year certainly included watching 60,000 folk come to a halt to witness, and feel the full force of the Vulcan bomber, or marvel at the maneuverability of the superb speedy Spitfires. And, as if that wasn’t enough, you had Mr Bean (Revival nut, Rowan Atkinson) driving his famous green Mini, from an armchair on the roof! Oh, and Buzz Aldren. What more d’ya want?

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 39

The spirit of Goodwood’s Revival in an image: Beautiful lady in stunning, authentic dress, gloves and hat; poised gracefully, admiring the sights, sounds and smells, deep in the middle of Parc Ferme, by a slice of motor racing history.

All she needed was a ciggy in a long holder blazing away, and it could so easily have been 1948 again. Imagine the swing jazz on the tanoy overhead. The V12 engine noises. The rich smell of race fuel, and lingering sweet perfume: Revival IS heaven.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 41

Thanks

Janet and Gary and all the wonderful Goodwood staff who make this event, and the FOS, so magnificent.

They make managing the world’s press look easy.

Like running the best shows on the planet. www.goodwood.co.uk WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 43

Second coming Three years after it took the sports car market by storm, Porsche’s stunning Cayman S is back, in ‘Gen II’ form, and now with PDK dual clutch... and launch control. So, what better way to see if Porsche can perfect perfection, than taking the 320 bhp, 3.4-litre Cayman S 900 miles, from east coast to west, and back. Destination...? Anglesey’s superb, coastal ‘Tracmon’ circuit. Very nice...

The Porsche Cayman S and I are great mates.

When Porsche launched it in 2006, I took a bright red (then 25 bhp less, no direct fuel injection, or PDK box of tricks) S to the Isle of Man to follow special stage legend, Jimmy McRae around the mad Manx rally. Sadly for Jimmy, his 911 retired, forcing him out of the rally.

So, as a sweetener to such disappointment, I offered

Jim a chance to rag the S up and down the TT mountain route, where there are no speed limits: It was one of the most memorable drives of my lucky life... not just to have the honour of sitting alongside a hero of mine, but also to see such a stunning sports car being driven absolutely flat out... and Jimmy stepping out, mighty impressed; praising the chassis, the brakes, the steering, the engine... the

lot. And I totally agreed: The mid-engined Cayman S is better than the rear engine Beetle, sorry. 911, for a lot, lot less dosh. No brainer...

That was three years ago. And now Porsche have re-worked the Cayman and S models; introducing a brand new 2.9 flat six with 265 bhp, offering 163 mph as a base model and also this new, direct fuel injection (DFi) 3.4 flat WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 45

TOP LEFT Cayman S in its element, hunting out another anglesey apex TOP RIGHT C-F Sports seats option is well worth it; much lighter, and so comfy Right Hales and Palmer are driving & tuition gods

six with 320 bhp, which V-maxes at 172 mph. They are not only more powerful versions, which are faster, but are also much more fuel efficient, thanks to DFi and major inertia reducing Porsche magic. Very clever.

Also highly sophisticated and new for the Gen II Cayman is the PorscheDoppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), twin clutch semiauto gearbox, which is faster than the manual, includes a warrantybacked, ballistic launch control map and normal, sports and super sports maps (linked to different

engine maps), to suit your mood; and road or track use. And you can change gear on the slick steering wheel paddles, using the notchy gear stick ‘manually,’ or just leave it well alone and let it make the right call, for maximum efficiency; fuel or grunt. A1.

The journey from East Anglia to Anglesey is a long old 350 mile drag, crossing the country eastwest, not speedy northsouth. But, the Cayman S made unbelievably light work of it; carving up the A14, A50, M6 and A55 with consumate ease, comfort,

speed and efficiency, using naff all fuel, thanks to its highly sophisticated DFi, PDK ‘box and hugely low inertia, highly aerodynamic party tricks.

I’d also forgotten just how cool a car it is; inside and out. And how easy it is to drive; smooth and chilled, or stupidly fast and impressive.

Equally excellent is how much R-E-S-P-E-C-T the Cayman S gets... no one sits up your ass, everyone pulls out of your way on the motorway and you just get this beautifully empty road in front of you. That’s what

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 47

Porsche ownership does for ya. Very nice.

I arrived at the beautiful coastal resort of Beaumaris, my place of rest for the weekend; relaxed, free of back ache, happy and ready for two full-on days at a track I’ve been hungry for since its brave and epic creation in recent years: Britain’s only new circuit: Anglesey’s Tracmon.

I say circuit, it’s actually four in one; designed utterly brilliantly by owner and ex-racer, Richard Peacock, making full use of the natural coastal contours, breath taking views and natural amphitheatre. There’s a 2.10-mile International circuit, 1.55-mile Coastal track, 1.20-mile National and short sprint 0.8-mile

Club configuration. No other circuit offers so many exciting, and wellthought out tracks, or the views. It’s a simply stunning venue and ROAD applauds Richard whole heartedly.

What a fabulous vision...

The brilliant Cayman S and I are here to learn... as we’ve enrolled on the ‘Anglesey Masterclass,’ run by historic race ace and car

hack, Mark Hales and limit handling guru, Don Palmer; both gentlemen, amazing drivers and intelligent men, with radical, deeply impressive tuition techniques.

It’s not cheap, at £1995 + VAT, but you get what you pay for in life, and the Masterclass is a perfect example of this.

Your two grand buys

you two days intensive, bespoke tuition; in the class room and out on track in Don and Mark’s Toyota Avensis and a Ford Puma: Not the most exciting cars, but absolutely perfect to learn the fundamentals of car control in, at speed, but not silly speed.

The Masterclass is run in small, intensive groups.

There were eight of us on

this two day course; all from different walks of life, with different skill levels and reasons for being here.

Some are wannabee racers, others just want to learn car control, while most are here to hone their track days skills, and learn to paste their mates.

Don and Mark certainly have a very different approach to most tutors; WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 49

pooling their many years experience into this outstanding course.

I can’t give away all their secrets here, suffice to say, no one has taught me as much about fast, smooth, safe driving as Don and Mark. They are truly exceptional at their job... forcing punters to analyse themselves, come up with their own solutions, using

very clever mind games.

It’s all very well conceived, and highly effective, more than living up to its title of Masterclass: After two days of perfect track time at this stunning place, in the phenomenal Cayman S, full of new tricks imparted by the old dogs (sorry gents!), I am faster still; track and road. Considerably. Well worthwhile investing in....

THANKS Nick Perry at Porsche www.porsche.com Don Palmer and Mark Hales, Masterclass www.donpalmer.co.uk/masterclass.htm Richard Peacock www.angleseycircuit.com www.opentrack.co.uk

OPENTRACK PRESENT: PARKLIFE CADWELL PARK £119 PER CAR & DRIVER Nicknamed the ‘Mini Nürburgring’, Cadwell Park is a true drivers circuit, with the famous mountain section and Charlies with it’s drop down along the Park Straight.

We will be using the full Circuit which is 2.17 miles and has 11 corners. You may have a extra driver sharing your car and track time for £40.00.

Passengers are £10.00 each, and circuit tuition

will be available FREE OF CHARGE on a first come first served basis.

Db limit at the circuit is 105Db measured statically at 75% full throttle.

OULTON PARK £119 PER CAR & DRIVER Oulton Park should be on your list of “must do” UK circuits. It’s a technical and challenging circuit with a combination of high and low speed bends and plenty of gradient to get to grips with.

Situated next to Little Budworth and is best accessed from the A54 and the A59.

Garaging and tuition is free, on a “first come first served basis.” You may

have a extra driver sharing your car and track time for £40.00 and passengers are £10.00 each.

Db limit at the circuit is 105Db measured statically at 75% full throttle.

www.opentrack.co.uk

FOR FURTHER DETAILS call Dave or Phil on 01954 202 588 / 07946 610 193

BEST OF BRITISH

Tim Hutton takes a trip back in time to discover the joys of the British ‘Blackpool Rock’ bruiser, Griffith 500, in the stunning surrondings of Sussex.

I have driven a few TVRs in my short career as a motoring journalist – some better than others – but always the same feeling of raw power coupled with ‘will it get me home’ excitement.

But the few days I have just spent with the 500 have changed my perception of the British brand, that we all love, deep down.

My adventure started heading over to Basingstoke to pick up the keys to this beautiful example you see here. Thanks to the guys at Driving Spirit for having the brains to carry on fleet one of the true British classics,

after a quick ogle at the other tasty treats in stock I am handed the keys and I’m off on my way, destination Amberley Castle.

Cutting across from the M3, the A3 and down towards Milford, the TVR is instantly easy to get on with, and with the gorgeous weather I find myself happy to sit at 70mph and enjoy the fantastic sense of occasion.

On top of that, the sight of unhappy, hot, suited office people making their way to and from meetings in their dull executive expresses is pleasing me no end.

Burbling TVR exhaust hot,

I reach the A283: A cracking piece of road; it’s midday on a Wednesday, there’s no traffic and just 30 miles of uninterrupted black top to enjoy with a growling 5 litre V8 soundtrack. Sweet! As the roads narrow and the corners become tighter, the 500 really starts to shine and, through commitment, gives back confidence and feel that you just wouldn’t get in a modern rag top.

Of course I am biased, the weather is great and I’m on one of my favourite roads heading to a castle in a V8!

Amberley nestles next to the river Arun in the heart WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 53

of West Sussex, and the Castle (which is over 900 years old) has been part of the Von Essen Group since 2007. Lucky for us, as this is probably the grandest entrance to any hotel I have been in, on top of that the room is decorated tastefully with a four poster bed and massive jet bath! Happy.

Once freshened up I make my way down to dinner only to find I haven’t done my research! It’s V smart dress for dinner and all I have crammed into my overnight bag is a pair of shorts in anticipation of the hot TVR cockpit. Not to worry as I can order from the bar menu and sit in the garden with the doves and white peacock!

In fact, it is a real winner, everyone retreats to the dining room, leaving me to sit in MY garden savouring the drive and evening sunshine.

The morning arrives with sun peeping through the vintage castle windows: I waste no time in tackling breakfast, a full traditional English breakfast of course!

That should see me fit to hustle the mighty 500 back

to Basingstoke via a re run of Sussex and Surrey’s finest.

Slipping back into the (now familiar) cream leather seat, I turn the key and fire up the gloriously chunky V8 for the last time. This isn’t a car for trackdays; it’s a car for a spot of spirited top down driving. Bags of torque catapult you past anything that might try to ruin your blast and the classic car handling keeps you on your toes.

If I was lucky enough to own a 500, I am sure it wouldn’t be too long before I was caught out with the 500s deceptive pace and picked up some points on my license. But that’s the beauty of Driving Spirit, by the time you are too familiar with a car it’s time to give it back. If you’re wondering you can join from £3,000!

Thanks Tom and Family at Driving Spirit and Amberley Castle for their fine hospitality. drivingspirit.co.uk vonessenhotels.co.uk WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 55

NISSAN RACE ACADEMY RETURNS FOR A SECOND YEAR

Start your engines – the Nissan Race Academy is revving up for action as the class of 2009-2010 takes the wheel. Only this time it’s not just lucky GT-R buyers fighting it out for the overall Top Gun title, because a new crop of 370Z customers are joining the ranks to find the ultimate Nissan performance driving champ, at the ‘Ring and here in the UK. The Nissan Race Academy has now opened its doors at the famous Silverstone circuit, Home of British Motorsport, so there’s still time for budding British hot shoes to claim their place and take to the track to explore the lmits and have fun in their new naughty Nissan. Enjoy! www.nissanraceacademy.co.uk

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 57

GET ON THE STARTING GRID AT RACE CAR LIVE! As the UK’s motorsport season draws to a close, the action will just be getting started again – as Race Car Live returns to Brands Hatch on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November. Featuring cars from various motorsport series, a number of manufacturers will use Race Car Live as a launch pad for plans for the 2010 season.

Radical Motorsport, ADR, Advent Motorsport and Tiger Sportscars to name a few will line up alongside clubs such as the 750 Motorclub, Mini Seven Racing Club, and the BMW Racing Drivers Club.

Saxmax, Formula 4 and Mini Challenge will all be looking to entice yuff new entrants, while Demon Tweeks will provide all your gear for the new season.

Any visitor holding a current MSA license (senior or junior classes) can go on the circuit in a class appropriate to their license and ride – and in many cases drive – a variety of racing cars on the Indie Circuit. www.londonmotorsport.co.uk

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 59

Avon Tyres & Caterham aim for maximum grip Avon Tyres’ most uncompromising ultra-high performance tyre, the ZZR, is set to be paired with another equally high-performance product, the Caterham Superlight range. Suweeeet.

The two iconic British motoring brands’ long association, stretching back 18 years, has resulted in the creation of a bespoke version of Avon’s road-legal ZZR tyre, designed for maximum dry weather grip. Ideal for track days.

The ZZR range has proved itself to be a formidable performer, particularly among the track-day fraternity, which seeks a tyre offering predictable and progressive handling. That’s why we run them on our Project 320 trackday car, and yes they are excellent! www.avon-tyres.co.uk www.caterham.co.uk

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 61

JACOS-PADDOCK DUBAI 24H DRIVE Nurburgring-based BMW racecar rental company, jacos-paddock.com have an exciting opportunity for two lucky drivers to take part in the thrilling, fifth-anniversary Dubai 24 Hour race on 14-16 January 2010 in one of their finely tuned E36 325s, pictured at full chat on the Green Hell above. Nice... www.jacos-paddock.com www.24hdubai.com

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 63

WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION Tim Hutton samples the delights of the new auto 370Z on track at RAF Odiham, all in the name of charity, mate.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 65

Before I have even got out of the 370Z at RAF Odiham, there is a crowd around the car: Pretty impressive considering that today we are in the company of some very exotic cars for RMA’s Help for Heroes track day.

Odiham is a great place to put a car through its paces in relative safety. And with a straight of over 1,000 metres there is plenty of opportunity to see some high speeds.

Firstly though, what about this auto box? Well the seven-speed Tiptronic box gives lightning fast changes and to be in full control on

the track you can utilise the GT-R style steering wheel paddleshifters. On the down change Nissans’ new Synchro Rev Control system means you get the perfect blip down change everytime.

On track, this means you can focus on keeping the 370Z pointing in the right direction, which is no problem: The 370 is flat (flatter than the tail waggy 350Z actually) and there is a good amount of feedback coming through the steering wheel. Not bad for a modern car! Hee hee hee.

Down the main straight,

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 67

we comfortably hit 150mph.

Turn-in is spot on and with the power up by the redline you really can drive the doors and ass off the 370.

Talking to some of the surrounding crowd, the general consensus is that Nissan have managed to build a car that improves upon the already ace 350, the aggressive lines bring the 370 right up to date and the 19in Rays alloys (standard on the GT) finish the car off. My one gripe would be the tyre noise on public roads. It’s not surprising considering those massive wheels and the

rubberbands stretched round them, but if you’re hoping out of your daily exec mobile into one then don’t expect silence, this is a sports car, with sport rubber.

0-60 is dispatched in just under 5.5 seconds; more than enough to embarrass any Cayman owners flashing their keys around (not with PDK and launch control, Ed).

If you want a car for the weekend that turns heads and kicks butt look no further – the new 370Z delivers bags of fun in the same way the 350 did, but in a cooler, faster, lighter package.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 69

THANKS Gloria at Nissan for making it all happen www.nissan.co.uk Graham at RMA www.rmatrackdays.com All the guys at RAF Odiham, if you want to support our nations heroes visit the website for more information and to donate now. www.helpforheroes.co.uk

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 71

Are you Ready to race?

The first step to becoming a race ace is to pass your ARDS test and get your race licence. Our Phil gets stuck in at Combe’s course

Budding mcrae and bellof ‑ Phil Royle

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 73

Ever since I was a wee bairn, holding my dad’s hand, bobble hat on, watching Michelle Mouton’s short sport Audi Quattro, spitting flames and snap crackling and popping the side of the Lombard RAC special stages, deep in the forests, I was smitten with motorsport. And I knew, one day, I would be in the car – spitting gravel on excited folk, like me... inspiring the next generation of rallying giants and race aces.

I’ve done rallies, sprints and hill climbs – and will

again, they are ace; you and your car (& co-driver!), versus the clock and the stage. Ace: But, being a lucky, happy motoring hack, I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some of the best racing in the world, firsthand, and it’s got me. BIG TIME: All that bumper to bumper stuff, mind games and that most intangible of skills, race craft. I just have to have a go... soon as.

My aim to is to get a few races under my belt in the UK, do some more rallying,

sprints and hill climbs and then take up Jaco Velders on his offer to race his www.jacos-paddock. com E36 BMW 325i in the thrilling VLN Championship, at the Green Hell.

But, before I do any of that... I need a National B race licence, from the UK’s motorsport governing body, the Motor Sports Association (MSA), achieved by taking my ARDS test, which I have chosen to do at ‘Britain’s friendliest circuit,’ Castle Combe in Wiltshire, just off

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 75

the M4 near Chippenham.

The folk who run Combe are amazing – the nicest, most helpful and lovely in the UK. It really is a special, unique circuit: So

uncorporate, but totally professional. Perfect.

Their instructors, Rolly Hamlin, John Wood and Alan Cooper, have raced here, maybe even too much!

They know everything there is to know about the place, and have guided 1000’s of newbies like me through the ARDS process.

To book a place, you first

need to contact the MSA and get your blue book and starter pack, containing a DVD, which you need to swat up on, to pass your examination. Gulp! I hate

exams! Pressure!

The ace ARDS day starts with breakfast in the fab Old Tavern, then it’s a quick re-fresher of the MSA DVD, a thorough briefing, before

you’re out on track for your practical test: One spin, or piece of muppetry and it’s a fail. Thank God it’s dry!

My instructor, Rolly, shows me how it’s supposed to WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 77

be done: Smooth, swift and steady (no wonder he has won so many races here!).

Nice. Then it’s my go... and I’ve never been so nervous, in over a decade of being out on track. Even dicing in a 135i, with Tim Schrick, on a greasy, icy Green Hell in a KW GT3, did not make me this nervous! Thankfully, I chillax and the 20 minute session goes blindingly, in the perfect CC Racing School Focus Zetecs; which have been fitted with sticky Avons, uprated Mintex pads and look ace in their chequred livery.

They are really well set-up and suit the bumpy, quick circuit, and the process of learning the racing lines and building up to some pretty impressive speed.

Rolly is very generous with my ARDS on track assessment scoring, where you are judged on; clutch use, gears, up and down shift technique, braking, vision, steering, braking to cornering transition, mechanical sympathy, consistency, traffic approach, line, throttle useage and your style (relaxed, confident is aim).

I’m not one to boast... but, I got straight A’s – for the first time in my life (in a field appropriate enough to tell you lot about anyhow!), and Rolly was totally confident I would do well racing. Fanbloody-tastic.

Shit. The exam. I forgot.

And it’s everything. You need 100% pass. No errors.

Thankfully, it’s multiple

choice, and all about the safety flags, which, as a track day hound for years and track day operator with Opentrack.co.uk, I should bloody know. And I do. And I pass. And I now have my race licence, in its plastic folder, ready for action. Yay! Nurburgring, Spa, Cadwell, Oulton, Brands, Snetts, Combe, Anglesey and Silverstone, here I come! Have it!

THANKS It may not be cheap to do all this, but, God, it’s fun... and it’s only just the beginning. One day, soon, I’ll be on a start grid, bricking it, but feeling o-soooo alive. Perfection.

Rodney, Maria, Alan, John and especially, my main man, Rolly, for such a brilliantly run course, and for all the laughs along the way. castlecombecircuit.co.uk WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 79

e b m o C k c a r t o r t e R

etro R c i s s a nual Cl n a s t on Day i i t o c t A t r s a o ortsc lays h p p S e d b n m a o

Castle C

The good old Blighty weather may have decided to be a git, and piss on the parade, but that did not stop hoards of happy oldskool car nuts descending on Castle Combe Circuit in Wiltshire, for the annual Classic Retro and Sportscar Action Day. Combe’s ‘Action Days’ are a fab idea; allowing folk to come to not just

a static car show in the packed paddock – with representation from most of the major car clubs, traders and the like – but also grant access to the wide, fast, flat expanses of the old WWII airfield. Nice!

This year, the main focus was the 40th anniversary of the good old Ford Capri, with a wicked range of the old classics on display, and on track; going from

understeer to rampant oversteer (especially in the greasy conditions here today), as only a Capri can do.

Car of the show for me though, was that Group A works replica Renault 5 Max Turbo (see right). What I would have given to take that out on track, and have a dabble with that white Mk2, who was loving the rain, and crowds loved him!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 81

tasty?

Tim Hutton has a hot date with Seat’s Exeo, on a dual carriageway at Mr Blumenthal’s Little Chef?

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 83

The Little Chef – hardly the gastro centre of the world, but if you’re an exec on the go, it’s a life saver, even if, up until recently, it was a pretty shoddy one, although the Olympic Breakfast is pretty legendary!

So, what better way to celebrate the arrival of Seat’s new Exeo than with a trip to Heston Blumenthal’s revamped little Chef on the classic A303; another haunt

of the hard working exec.

OK, so the Exeo. It’s the old Audi A4; and a good starting point too. The A4 was a great car and the Exeo is 30% all new. We have the pleasure of the 2.0 TDI Sport, and it’s not half bad, especially when you consider the rather dull competition they have in the fleet market (the cars key target audience) Ford’s Mondeo and the Insignia

from Vauxhall – by no means lemons, but not on the level of German quality.

And, styling-wise, the Exeo’s cool lines has them licked too. Clever Seat.

On the road, it’s a firm ride, but positive. And when you get going, there is feel and confidence coming through the steering wheel and bags of torque from the 170bhp 2.0 TDI; our choice of the range (huh? Ed!).

We make short work of the drive to Popham and the location of tonight’s road side dinner. Parking up, the Exeo looks good, standing out against the other dull rep mobiles and, importantly, after two hours drive we are still fresh.

Also feeling fresh is the Little Chef. Heston and his team (I’m guessing he didn’t paint it) have done a sterling job inside. If your

coming with your autograph book though, don’t get too excited; we didn’t spot any of the original staff. In fact, the staff all looked pretty pissed off with life!

I order a beef burger with bacon and cheese, I know, pretty naf on my part, my co driver orders macaroni cheese, our drinks arrive; luke warm white wine, my favorite! Mmmmm.

Unfortunately, dinner WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 85

arrives. My burger, sans bacon, which is hurriedly fried and the green salad turns out to be just lettuce!

So, not great, but not truly awful, and up to usual road side standard, only the prices are even higher now!

Want my advice? Get a McDonalds and sit in your plush new interior and have a working lunch! Or M&S! Strangely, I spend the next few days in bed with a nasty

stomach bug. I’m sure the two aren’t related, but as such, I don’t get to stretch the legs of the Exeo again before the kind man from Seat comes to take it away.

On paper it’s an old Audi.

In reality, its a huge amount of car for not a great deal of money, Seat styling bringing it up to date and the 170bhp diesel making it a fun, fast A-B oil burner with handling to match.

THANKS To Scott and co. at the Seat press office. www.seat.co.uk

09 20 . v site No eb 21 w & see 0 ;2 – ct ys O da 17 se & the 16 on ys r da ffe n lo pe ia O pec S

Performance and Prestige car club Drive Prestige and Performance Sports cars from Driving Spirit Car Club. We take care of all the running costs and depreciation so you have all the enjoyment. With affordable annual memberships starting at £2,500 it’s a simple way to experience some great drives.

No need to drive into London as we are conveniently based in Basingstoke

Aston Martin Vantage - Ferrari 360 Spider - Porsche 996 Turbo - Ferrari F355 - Jaguar E-type - Bentley Turbo R - Ferrari 328 - BMW M3 TVR Griffith 500 - Lotus Elise 111R - Porsche 911 - Mini Cooper S 1275

Quizmaster: Tim Hutton Wet photographer: Russell Huggett

James Thompson As if stirring it up in the BTCC this season wsn’t enough, ‘Thomo’ also competed in the Danish touring cars and as we go to press is about to tackle the mighty Bathurst. Tim Hutton has a quick chat

Tim Hutton: Hi James, so you’re doing Bathurst this year?

James Thompson: Bathhurst, yeah, I can’t wait.

Excellent. And is this your first time doing something along those lines, compared to the touring cars?

Yeah it is. I’m looking forward to it. A wee bit apprehensive... but ...yeah... Bathurst is always something I have wanted to do, it’s one of those things, ..... I need to have done it before I finish driving and when you’ve done it for the first time you know for the second time. I’d be disappointing to have got to the end of my career and never got to take part in it.

I know what you mean.

When you look at the racing

it looks exciting with huge crowds, plus the cars are massively powerful.

The cars are quick, when you look at the racing, big V8s. The fact that there’s so many people there makes it really special, like Le Mans.

Have you got aspirations to do Le Mans at some point?

Definitely. Im working really hard on getting a drive.

Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a stigma attached to being a touring car racer; you either need experience or you need to buy your way into a team. I mean I’m not going back to payto-go racing. Despite my lack of experience, I really believe I have something I can offer a team. I know I don’t have any credentials for endurance racing, but i’d like to think that I’m not just

a touring car racer.

And are you still doing the rallying for a bit of fun?

No, no more rallying, I’ve knocked that on the head!

Why was that?

The main difference, I was paying to go rallying, but I get paid to go racing, so it’s a no brainer in this economic climate I’m afraid.

Well thats fair enough.

And also I’m safer – touch wood – when I’m racing than I was through the forests, so that’s a factor. It was great fun, one of those things I had to do: I’m from a rallying family and grew up wanting to be a rally driver so it was one of those things I had to do, to know I could do it.

So your return to the BTCC. Were you pleased to get the podium on your first WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 89

weekend back?

Really pleased yeah, it was a nice reward for everybody at Team Dynamics, I mean I just come and drive the car. Getting into the race for the first time was a bit of an unknown: My driving style is quite particular to me. I know what I want from the car, and it’s just a question of working with the guys to acheive it. It’s a great atmosphere when you’re with a group of guys that are really enthusiastic and want to win, and want to give you everything so you’ve got the best chance of getting the job done.

Team dynamics - it always feels as though there’s a great team behind the drivers...

Yeah that’s right, they give you 100% - they don’t have

the budgets of some of the other teams, they’re fighting against Vauxhall, and some of the other very wellfunded private teams.

So when you head back over to do the Danish championship, is that a big adjustment to make back to the different car?

Yeah, left hand drive to right hand drive over here, but I’m working with my Italian racing team to make a few adjustments And how does the racing compare?

The Danish championships?

Well I’ve only got positive things to say about it. It’s a very good championship, a very well funded championship, with good cars and very good drivers.

So do you and the other drivers go out for drinks and

things after the heat?

Yeah, it depends, I mean we’re in the middle of the season. I have a lot of good friends... but invariably, if you’re friends with them you end up crashing into them! I’m not sure why that is, but of course they’re old enough and ugly enough to know its not intentional!

What happens on the track stays on the track?

Yeah exactly.

Thanks for your time, and good luck at Bathurst.

Thomo’ has since finished up his contract at Team Dynamics to focus on Bathurst, and almost won the Danish championship with out attending the last few rounds. Don’t be suprised if you see his name poping up in a few other races in 2010.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 91

Salon Privé Late July saw the 4th annual Salon Privé at the Hurlingham Club. Probably the sexiest automotive event in the UK. We sent photographer Steven Hall down to capture the mood.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 93

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 95

While the GB rain tried to bring spoilers to this years event, the high spirits of a beautiful crowd cleared the sky. And, once again, the Hurlingham Club provided the perfect setting for an exclusive display of the worlds finest road and race cars; old and new.

This year also saw the UK debuts of Aston Martin’s simply stunning One-77 and Jaguar’s Autobahn storming XJ: A new dimension that now puts this British event in a league with America’s legendary Pebble Beach.

That brings us to the main event, The Concours d’

Elegance. This years overall winner was Clive Beechams stunning 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, while the People’s Choice Award went to Stewart Ross’ 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS. Thanks again to Steven Hall for the gorgeous shots. stevehallphotography.net

www.avontyres.com

Goodbye, middle of the road An epic journey requires an invigorating connection between you and the road. A connection formed by the performance, control and tenacity of Avon tyres.

Wherever and whenever they’re called upon, our tyres deliver an experience unlike any other. Meaning they’re the difference between the everyday and the epic.

BIG CAR BIG HEART Tim Hutton discovers the many charms of the Fiat Multipla, with a jolly family outing.

The Fiat Multipla: A car that is well-loved within the motoring community, but a car maybe a lot of the general public never quite ‘got.’ Well, I can tell you now... go and drive one, it’s bloody great! I have been meaning to take one away for a few days, and a family occasion arose rendering me designated taxi driver. And, not only that, but I would need to carry five passengers in comfort for over 100 miles.

A quick chat with the Fiat press office and a deal is struck. And, a month later, the shiny Multipla people carrier is sat outside ready to go, funny gear lever on the dash like a Renault 4 or 2CV,

and all it’s euro charm.

First impressions? There is tons of room inside; the Multipla is wide. A rude colleague has already called it ‘a greenhouse on wheels,’ and in a way he is right, because there is bags of visibility and a feeling of space and serenity inside which few cars offer (even big limos). And this space is not just for the designated driver, but also the passengers; everyone gets a good view, and if you want to keep everyone happy that’s a good thing. Also great for that unfortunate of breeds; car sickies. Mum’s and dad’s, take note...

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 99

Rather sadly, I seem to have got in a habit of trying out McDonalds drive-thrus’ with each car I drive: This is probably due to the fact that my ROAD Project 320, doesn’t have working windows, so my daily driver excludes drive thru joy.

Anyway I digress. Driving down the road, the Multipla instantly feels good. With the wheels – Fiat 500C style - right on each corner of the chassis, the handling is great, considering the size and height of this car.

Body roll is remarkably low and it corners flat, for what it is. The 1.9 Multijet diesel engine delivers enough poke to keep a car enthusiast happy and returns 43.5mpg on the combined cycle, easily.

Meanwhile, supporting the nippy diesel lump is a typically Fiat well-sorted, fun suspension set-up. In fact, during my time with the car, I did wonder what it would be like to hustle round a race track, such is its surprising ability.

It would certainly be fun finding out (or getting it on two wheels, Ed)!

Anyway, my trip to McDonalds was textbook; my partner enjoyed the

drive up there chillaxing right next to me. The Multipla certainly has a charm to it; cuddling up on a evening drive, as the sodium glow street lamps flash light the interior. Parking up at the local beauty spot, it takes no time at all to turn the Multipla into a picnic (or lurve, Ed) area. Great!

Another thought crosses my mind: How long could you actually live in one of these for? I reckon 3 days, any takers? Maybe longer... and it usually takes a V12 to get that response!

So, the trip... well a late addition to the party means there are now seven of us traveling, as such, in two cars. Not to worry though, I distribute my three passengers with equal weight on each corner for perfect balance and set off.

Feedback is good from the mere cats in the back; they share my opinion on the good viewing potential, and there are no complaints for the whole 100 miles.

We set a fair rate for the motorway section and still nobody bats an eyelid.

Stealthy, frugal, easy mileage, with great vistas... nice one Fiat.

The family gathering passes without incident, the sun sets, and people start making their way home. Sunday evening traffic means progress is slow, but not to worry as everyone in the car has fallen asleep (including me for a moment on the M25!): I guess that says all you need about the seats in the car, and its ride quality!

So, in conclusion: Do put your ‘greenhouse on wheels’ comments and Fiat prejudices aside: Test this car out if you are in the market for a MPV. It might not have the mpg of the other models, but it has character, practicality and handles well. On top of that, there is a real following for Mulitplas, like owning a Mini or Impreza: I get a few toots and waves on my travels from fellow Multipla happy folk. More than that though, there is a hardcore following who organise the Ugly Bug Ball every year. And, whilst it might not be a weekend of hedonism, it is pretty impressive that this MPV draws such a following eh?

Can you imagine any other MPV creating that? Must be the funny, retro dashmounted gear lever...

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 101

Scribbles and snaps – Phil Raby

Heaven knows I’m miserable now…

Mr Raby is having a bad hair day, and takes out the Chevrolet Captiva in the fog to try and cheer up...

Stevlio in a Carrera, Welsh mountains in an MG SV, Silverstone in a Turbo Elise, Scotland in a Cooper S, Goodwood in a GT3… Been there, done that, bought the petrol and had a lot of fun in the process.

But do you (or rather, I) need exotic cars and locations to have fun?

Obviously thinking; I lead far too an exciting life, Road has given me the keys of a Chevrolet Captiva Ikon VCDi (a sort of 4x4 thing) and shoved me out of the door into the rain. Great, not even the sun’s shining for me (cue violins, Ed).

I’m told to find a speed camera strewn English road and have a laugh. Er, who’s

having a laugh? I’ve a trick up my sleeve, though, in the form of the A44 deep in the Cotswolds. It’s renowned for its speed cameras, but it’s also a great road, with the nearest thing to hairpins you’ll find in England. I know it’s fun, because I drove it just a couple of weeks ago in a 997 Turbo, on a glorious Spring day. It was one of those back-end out, silly-grin drives that stays with you a long time.

Will it be as much fun in a oil-burning yank tank, though? Well, the weather may be grim, but the wet roads could add a bit of drama. Let’s find out.

I’m lost without a sat-nav (noooo, Ed), so I’m pleased

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 103

to see a plastic flap in the centre of the Captiva’s plasticy dash. I’m less pleased when I open it and find an aftermarket sat-nav wedged in with a couple of strips of metal. Classy.

Still, it gets me to the start of my road – Eynsham: Probably classic 4x4 habitat, but I’m not staying to find out. Broadway Hill beckons, not far down the A44 towards Oxford, where the road zig-zags up fantastically. Who needs Stelvio eh?

Er, confession time.

Despite the drizzle, I totally fail to break traction with the Captiva (which, by the way, is a daft name – a car should set you free). You see, as I enter a corner with aplomb, I have an overwhelming fear it’s going to fall over (the car, not the corner). I race sailing dinghies in my spare time, and I instinctively find myself moving my weight across the car in an attempt to stop the thing capsizing.

And the seats offer zero lateral support to keep me intact.

Maybe this roly-poly handling is an effective form of traction control, me no likey and, for the first time in my life, I feel car sick. It really is that bouncy.

I wobble to the top of the hill with guts intact and pull off to the country park, where there’s the distinctive Broadway Tower, a stunning folly that I reckon will make a photo opportunity – one folly in front of another.

Trouble is, the tower’s so shrouded in mist, I can’t see it. Oh well, the bumpy track let’s me experience the car’s offroad ability and, let’s face it, I doubt anyone’s going to do anything more extreme in a Captiva than this.

Onwards along the A44, I’m aware of the speed cameras, so have activated CamsAhoy on my iPhone to avoid being caught out.

There’s not much chance of this though, as I’m rarely over the speed limit. Not that the car’s not capable of it – I found out earlier that it cruises comfortable at 90mph – but because I can’t get past slower traffic.

This is so frustrating, as one of the great things about this road is its mix of bends and decent overtaking opportunities. Or they WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 105

would be opportunities in a car which doesn’t run out of breath at under 5000 rpm. Gosh, I hate diesels (here here, Ed), especially ones where changing gear is a lottery and you have to open the side window to engage first. Speaking of gears, aren’t 4x4s meant to have all sorts of clever lowratio stuff to get you up the side of Snowdon?

By now, I’m well and truly grumpy; stuck behind a filthy lorry, getting backache from the seat, shocked at the OE Bluetooth kit jammed into the dash, and wishing I was at home doing something useful.

A usually pleasant

interlude to this journey is passing through the pretty market town of Moreton in the Marsh, but today it’s chocked with traffic and the usually cheerful Cotswold stone looks dreary. I spot the Wellington Aviation Museum and think about popping in there for a break from my ordeal, but it’s closed. Sigh.

So, it’s on through the next town of Chipping Norton, home to some journalist called Clarkson, and then to Woodstock, where Winston Churchill was born. I wonder if he’d have been so chummy with the Americans if he’d known what bad cars they’d

be building 60 years later.

This, thank goodness, is the extent of my journey. I’ve driven the Cotwolds leg of the A44 and am thankful I don’t have to do the entire road from Aberystwyth to Oxford. Which I’m sure would be a great drive. In the right car.

I’m being a bit unfair on the Captiva: Its cheap at £17,000. And it’s not designed for tail-out action on winding roads, but for ferrying snotty kids too and from school and, for that, it would do the job admirably.

Oh, and it’s got an airconditioned glovebox. Now, can I have the 911 back, please?

R A E Y E H T F O Y THE TRACKDA

E F I E L H C S D R O N G N I R G R U NĂœRB NOVEMBER 2009 3RD 4TH T

RMA PRESEN

s at 12.9 mile re g e h t f o g whole days upted lappin r o e w t t r in n fo u s r d u n o ll y Just free a ld which is a r o w e h t in of tarmac

BLE A L I A V A S E C LIMITED SPA vehicles ommercial C No No Motorbikes No Toll gates No Coaches No Buses NO IDIOTS

For more information and to book please visit www.RMAtrackdays.com or call +44 (0)845 260 4545

ROLLING ROAD LEYTON CLARKE RACING DIARY

It’s been a while now since I’ve written to you guys, but, boy has it been an up and down year for me and the 888 squad.

We’ve had numerous wins and podiums between the three of us, and have also had our fair share of bad luck with quite a few engine problems and driveshaft failures. But that still didn’t stop the 888 squad standing above the rest of the other teams. It’s been a privilege driving with such a high calibre team at such a young age and the knowledge I have learnt from them is invaluable.

I have also raced in a couple of other series of late, including driving for the Jaguar UK Factory Team in the International GT Open Series in a Jaguar XKRS8 GT2! This is still probably the best experience to date for me: It was an awesome piece of kit to drive. 1100Kg with 700Bhp underneath my right foot with just over 1000 lbs of downforce.

Awesome thing.

I have also driven in the international V de V Prototype Series for the Norma UK Factory Team in the Norma M20: This was brilliant fun, despite

having a few problems in qualifying, which put us 18th on the grid. But, after having a faultless race, we ended up eighth, which was brilliant.

Now I guess the wait is on to see what happen to Team 888 in the Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup and also the Caparo T1000, which looks very good to me: I guess I will have to get myself in it some time soon.

Thanks for all your interest and support. Speak to you soon, with more race ace news.

Leytonclarkeracing.co.uk

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 109

ROLLING ROAD TIM HUTTON E36 320i

So, at last Project 320 gets to stretch her legs. How did it go? Darn well! And thanks to Bilstein’s B16 PSS9 coil overs, very, very well.

But before we get into that though, what’s new?

OK, well to kick off, I gave the wheels a quick respray in satin black in preparation of fitting Avons awesome ZZR trackday tyres – Group N slicks with a groove cut in them, and they is super sticky, innit?

Before the tyres arrived though a very big and heavy box arrived from Bilstein.

B16 PSS9 coil overs. The fact so many cars run Bilstein on the Nurburgring 24hrs is a good sign. These have nine different bump/

rebound settings, have a threaded height adjuster and use their unique mono-tube/Upside-Down technology. It’s pretty trick and almost embarrassing fitting these gorgeous shocks to the car, but in the long run, the car will look as good, finished.

Anyway back to the show: RAF Odiham was the scene of the 370Z test earlier in the issue, but we wanted to get the 320 out for a leg stretch too and what better place to kick off its campaign. Odiham circuit is made up of the main runway and half of the peri track. Rocking up, it is pretty intimidating looking at the serious motors along

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 111

ROLLING ROAD TIM HUTTON E36 320i

for RMA’s Help for Heroes trackday, not to mention Derek Bell giving hot laps in Porsche’s epic 997 GT2.

I need not have worried though. As soon as I got out there, I managed to keep out of the way on the main straight and even scared a few 911s into moving over in the corners, that’s where the 320 comes alive. With the tyres and brakes warmed

up, the braking and grip levels are phenomenal, the tyres just keep eaking it out.

And, when you do eventually run out of grip, the tyres give up so very progressively, allowing you to correct in slow motion and carry on.

Great stuff.

The real star of the show though is the suspension: With the car running seriously low, the ride is

not crashy and harsh, just firm and devoid of body roll. With the suspension now fully bedded in, it has become apparent the ride height needs to be lower at the rear, as it looks like the car is trying to drill itself into the ground!

A few days later, whilst on the dual carriageway, the driver rear tyre gave up on me. Later it is traced back

to the builders who have been next door leaving screws in the road! While it is always a pain to get a flat tyre, the way it gave up was very gradually thankfully as we were travelling at 70mph at the time. What wasn’t so skillful was the fact that I had taken everything out of the car the trackday and not put it back, so I had no locking wheel nut. Bugger!

Moving forward, I have the Corbeau seat to put in (I’m yet to find a suitable welder!) lovely Millers oils and I have just ordered a FSE Powerboost Valve from the fine gents at www.potn. co.uk. Oh yeah and once I have got the body work tidied up it is going in for a full matt black vinyl wrap and to finish off, a set of the new lightweight Wolfrace

Pro-Lites. Well that’s the plan anyway! Lets just see what happens, and there’s a busy trackday schedule coming up including two mighty Road trackdays, see you there?

THANKS... www.bilstein.de www.avon-tyres.co.uk www.potn.co.uk www.rmatrackdays.com www.wolfrace.co.uk WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 113

ROLLING ROAD PHIL ROYLE AUDI S4 Welcome to ROAD’s new fast road, track and Nurburgring Nordschleife project car… a 1998 B5 Audi S4 2.7 bi-turbo.

I bought it from Richard at www.jacksonandhow.co.uk, who offered a fabulous ‘personal touch’ to what was probably the nicest, most open car deal I’ve ever done (a lot!), over a very nice chat and a cracking espresso from Richard’s retro post-war uber-cafemachine. It was a no brainer: Richard gave me a very fair price to part ex my Scooby Wagon. The S4 has only covered 48,500 miles in 11 years, with two careful owners and a full Audi SH, had just been serviced (inc. cam belts) and already had a Superchip stage one ECU remap, creating a very smooth, accessible, more economical (average 28 mpg, mid-30’s on a run) drive. The Quattro 4WD is very tractable and handling surprisingly flat and brakes solid, even before I get started on it… and it’s

faster than the Impreza, no doubt; in all areas, despite being 300Kg heavier. Nice late ‘90’s specification too, with C-F trim, and even a cassette player! Retro!

I ain’t gunna go mad (famous last words). But I know the S4 shares many components with its RS4 bigger turbo/injector/ECU map brother (2.7 V6 30V biturbo, dual mass flywheel and clutch, Quattro etc.), so there’s easy tuning potential to be explored, for sure.

First things first, insurance… and there was only one choice for my road car, Adrian Flux (www.adrianflux.co.uk), who have served me so well in the past, with first rate customer service, well trained, nice staff actually on the end of the phone, very competitive pricing and great extras.

Another no brainer: Highly recommended.

All my cars get treated to the same initial treatment… get them up on the ramp at my spanner man of choice,

Dave Green of Henstead Motorsport (01502-714177), in Beccles, Suffolk & dump all the fluids in favour of the fabulous range of www.millersoils.net. So in went Millers Triple Ester CFS 5w40 fully synthetic engine oil, while the Quattro gearbox and centre and rear diff oils were replaced with CRX 75w90, featuring ‘Nano technology,’ as found in BTCC cars, aiming to reduce wear rates by over 30%. And, as it’s a twin turbo and I want no detonation… I also ordered a case of CVL Turbo octane booster, specifically designed to resist ‘det’ under heavy loads… my right foot at the ‘Ring for example…

Negatives? Found the nearside exhaust manifold is blowing… but that eggs me on to replace the lot with RS4 turbo/injectors/fueling, and a bolt on 400+bhp. The exhaust is being swapped for a Milltek system soon, with Green air filter too, and Forge BOV’s. Groovy!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 115

ROLLING ROAD AL CLARK NISSAN SKYLINE / SiLVIA!

One of the best things about a project car is that you can take all the time in the world to make sure you get everything right.

The methodical process of rebuilding a car from nearly a bare shell is (for the fairly mechanically unskilled like me) a steep learning curve, a good way to become intimate with a new car and learn the ins and outs of it before you’ve even turned the key.

Or so I thought.

You see, the problem is, when you’re working in London on a drive way with no garage you are not only open to all the elements, but your working hours are dictated by wherever the sun happens to be should you find yourself with a free couple of hours. Also, and this is entirely down

to society, tools, fluids, expensive and fairly rare parts all need to be taken outside, and then carefully put back so that you can find them again... and to stop someone half-inching them. My father started building a Fisher Fury kit car two years ago and it wasn’t long before he’d moved it to a garage in Liphook to work on it in some sort of warmth, surrounded by workshop benches and pillar drills and goggles.

So with winter fast approaching, and one of frankly the wettest summers I can remember (the twisted irony being its sunny outside as I write this, ho-hum), I was getting slightly tentative that I was making much slower progress. Then as I was browsing through the

classifieds on Driftworks, I stumbled across a pretty much identical car to mine - except it had a different shell, and was actually running, and had a cage, and a posh differential, and coilovers, tubular manifolds, external waste gates, nice wheels and everything I could ever want from a drift car (pretty much) all for a nice tidy complete package at a bargain of £3500.

Now, this bright yellow Nissan Silvia PS13 has shoe horned it’s way onto the drive in place of the now sold Skyline project. There are a few areas on this new beastie to address, namely the brakes, some cracks in the manifold, and some other jazz, but actually - as a base to start from, this is much better, principally because I can actually drive it!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 117

19 Ashmere Lane, Felpham, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 7QT T +44 (0)1243 585303 E info@peterhuttonillustrator.com W www.peterhuttonillustrator.com

2

LIFE WITH BIKES

Life with two wheels

Welcome to issue ten of Road featuring the second instalment of Road2.

This edition features the latest and greatest of modern superbikes, racing from home and abroad, trackdays and the discovery of why we love motorcycles so much.

Read on and enjoy at your own leisure, but when you’re done get out there and make the most of the roads before full-blown winter is upon us. Remember Road2 is online and free, so come back and check it out whenever you like.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 121

RETURN OF A CHAMPION Five-time MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan will return to the race track this November, when the biking legend competes amongst motorsport stars including Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button at The Race of Champions, at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Doohan, who won five consecutive titles at motorcycle racing’s highest

level from 1994-1998 will compete for glory in The Race of Champions on Wednesday 4 November.

Doohan is the latest name from the world of twowheels to take part in The Race of Champions, former competitors include MotoGP god Valentino Rossi, triple SBK champ Troy Bayliss and FMX legend Travis Pastrana.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 123

Points to prove Following the news that Ben Spies will move to MotoGP next year, Yamaha have announced that it will enter the Texan as a wild card into the season-ending Grand

Prix of Valencia. 25-year-old Spies will participate as a single rider entry of a Yamaha Factory Racing Team, using YZR-M1 test bikes brought over from Japan.

British rider James Toseland is heading back to World Superbikes in 2010 as a direct swap for Spies. James has struggled to realise his targets in

MotoGP this year and the opportunity to race against his replacement could be just what he needs to silence his critics and build confidence for a return to the top at SBK.

With lots of points to be proven, you can be sure of more than just the excitement at the front of the grid in this season finale! The Valencia MotoGP race takes

place 6-8th November, two weeks after the final World Superbike round at Portimao, Portugal.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 125

Yukio brings talent back to Britain Recent news has revealed WORX Crescent Suzuki rider Sylvain Guintoli will be moving to World Superbike with Alstare Suzuki next year.

At the same time the announcement came that current World Superbike rider and fans favourite, Yukio Kagayama, will make a return to the BSB series in 2010 for the Worx Crescent Suzuki

team as part of a new two-man team.

After a huge near-fatal crash in 2003, Kagayama’s last appearance in BSB 2004 saw him claim 3rd place at the end of the season, taking 3 race wins and even featuring in the Suzuki MotoGP team for 2 races.

We welcome Yukio’s return and look forward to an action packed 2010 season!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 127

Ducati - never has another word conjured up so many exotic connotations in the world of two wheels, ask any biker what it means, the answer will vary but it will always allude to a dream motorcycle of painstaking craftsmanship and sublime beauty.

The latest model to take a place at the head of the factory’s superbike legacy is the 1198. Raced to the ragged edges in the hands of ‘Nitro’ Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio in the 2009 World Superbike

Championship, this month it was our job to tame the animal on our beloved British roads.

The motorway miles racked up to collect the bike from Ducati Coventry soon passed, with daydreams about how the journey back on the 170bhp, 169kg superbike would be more interesting. Some of the more entertaining but less legal thoughts, such as back wheel blasts between motorway junctions, obviously didn’t happen, but the 1198 was

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 129

remarkably well behaved and relatively easy on the rider.

It soon became clear that motorway miles should come only when critical, as the first attack on some quiet A-roads started to reveal its natural habitat.

Packed with enough v-twin grunt to tear your arms clean out of their sockets, this package demands to be handled with care. Find a good sequence of corners though and even at 10% the 1198’s solid ride inspires so much confidence, it’s easy to imagine yourself showing a pack of R1s how it’s done on the track.

Our encounter with the

Ducati covered every type of riding from low-speed stop-start city centre dashes, our least favourite with the twin underseat pipes adding to the blazing summer heat, to head down, toes on pegs country blasts, the latter helps you forgive the hot exhaust pipes as that unique Ducati mechanical roar melts your ears, each gear adding to the excitement as you feed them in just like Troy Bayliss would.

Riding the 1198 makes it easy to understand why Ducati are often referred to as the Ferrari of the biking world, but to us this bike is much more than just

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 131

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 133

a Ducati. Stunning looks are a must, just look back at the 888, 916, 998 and 999 superbikes, the 1198 comfortably carries on the tradition with it’s razor sharp bodywork, demonic lights and mirrors and meticulous detailing to the frame and single-sided swingarm.

What separates the 1198 from the rest of the legacy though, possibly with the exception of the 999, is how easily you can extract

awesome performance from it. Effortless grunt in all gears, planted handling at higher speeds and front brakes that defy physics make it easy to ride even for novices. No matter how hot you head into a corner the brakes can scrub off a hell of a lot of speed in a very short space and providing you have the confidence to tip it in, add a touch of counter steer and look for the exit, it will get you round

in one piece.

Ducatis often carry a premium price tag over some competitors, but with high-spec components and attention to even the tiniest of details, we think it is justified. If you’re looking for a different superbike experience, you need to try the 1198.

Thanks to Al at Ducati and all the guys at Ducati Coventry.

COMPETITION Win a set of wheels!

Road has teamed up with SMC to offer some great prizes in a free-to-enter competition.

Star prize

One set of two wheels, which includes a black anodized rim, an off-road tyre and a hub. This can be two of either 21, 19, 18 or 17 inch in diameter. These are worth £133.00 each.

Runner up prizes

One litre bottle of Muk-Off bike cleaner – we have two bottles to give away.

To enter, all you have to do is answer the following question: Where are SMC based?

Hint – you can find the answer at www.smcgb.com Send your answer in an email marked ‘SMC competition’ to rob@roadmagazine.co.uk WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 135

CARBON GOODNESS A couple of days with the Can-Am and a trackday in a car gave me an opportunity to break the lid in.

Firstly it is just unbelievably light, and pretty good value for money too, It’s the most expensive lid I have ever bought but then a few years back carbon lids where seriously big money. Weight isn’t the main factor though, with my old age I am feeling the risk a bit more these days and the Shark lid has a SHARP (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme) five star rating something some of the big guns are struggling to match.

Another bonus for me is I can slip my glasses on in relative comfort! www.shark-helmets.com WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 137

No ordinary day at the beach for Team Suzuki Suzuki GB race teams Anderson ATV and MKM Rocketman Suzuki both fielded riders in this year’s Weston Beach Race. It was Anderson ATV’s David Baldwin who blasted his LT-R450 to the best result of the weekend, scoring a spectacular 5th place out of 400 competitors.

MKM Rocketman Suzuki’s Sam Barrett claimed 18th position at the end of the 3-hour endurance race.

Barrett combined his specially prepared QuadRacer 450 with his enduro experience to clock up around 18 laps.

Jason Wildman also represented MKM Rocketman Suzuki. Despite being caught up in an accident, Wildman rode like a man possessed, posting a best lap of 8 minutes 57 seconds. Wildman went on to finish the race in 48th place.

Carl Bunce looked set for a top result following his 3rd place last year. A perfect launch saw Bunce power his Anderson ATV LT-R450 into 2nd position. After seven blistering laps the deeply rutted, sandy conditions conspired against Bunce, forcing him out of the race.

Weston Beach Race 2009 – Overall Results 1 Jason MACBETH 2 Steve ATKINS 3 Stefan MURPHY 4 Paul HANNAM 5 David BALDWIN 18 Sam BARRETT 48 Jason WILDMAN DNF Carl BUNCE

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 139

Trackday Terrorist It had been a while since I’d felt the thrill of pushing my bike to the ragged edges without the little fear of losing my license or ending up sampling the local hospital’s delicacies. When I was offered the chance of riding as fast as I wanted with at least decreased risks of the above, and all for £50, you wont be surprised that I leapt at the opportunity.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 141

The venue: RAF Odiham air base, home of the Chinook helicopters. The organisers: Odiham Motorcycle Club (OMCC). The bike: Honda CBR600RR. The weather: spanking! The result: 7 sessions, 140 minutes, 120 miles, 160mph, knee down and a burger!

Being a while since my last trackday (3 years) I elected myself for the novice group, even with the brand new Avon VP2 tyres requiring a good scrub-in the first 2 sessions were slow but great fun. The sessions after I found myself held up by born again bikers as I started to transfer my road skills to the higher paced track riding.

Without wanting to terrorise the novice group too much I pressed on and started to push the bike, this eventually led a thoroughly scrubbed-in, warm and grippy tyre, at which point I felt the confidence for a bit of overtaking. A risky move on the entrance to a flowing right hander saw me poach someone’s line and force them wide, afterwards a scare as I hit and knocked over a traffic cone compelled me to slow it down a bit.

My equally frustrated mate suggests we get to the front of the group for the next session, so we would have a clear track. Simple but effective, we make our way to the front of the group and sure enough, 2 warm up laps down and it was on. We break from the group and his bike has the edge down the straight, by the time we’re round the first chicane and sweeping right hander I’m back on his tail. What follows are 2 laps of absolute bliss as we take turns in clipping apexes, sliding rear wheels and other hi-speed tom foolery.

It might not have been the most technical track or have the best surfaces but it was cheep and more than cheerful.

The whole enjoyment for me is experiencing what you and your machine are really capable of when you remove the worry factor. Despite being in the beginners group, there was plenty of time and space to have fun. Next time we will be more confident to move up a group. Mallory park at the end of October – watch this space!

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 143

GLORIoUS GOODWOOD 2009 FESTIVAL OF SPEED With the usual selection of ultra-rare and super exotic bikes present at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed all it needed was some world famous riders to show them off up the hill-climb course, and luckily Lord March knows just a few of them!

Former world champion Mick Doohan, current World Superbike racers Troy Corser and Carlos Checa, GP stars Scott Redding and Danny Webb, right through to Easy Rider star Peter Fonda A.K.A Captain America

all took the opportunity to showboat some of the awesome machinery at the prestigious international motor show.

Anyone who’s visited this motoring extravaganza will know you can find everything from classic bikes to modern prototypes around the pits, exhibitor stands and even in the car park and roads around Goodwood. Even though the tickets are far from cheap, if you are a true petrol head, be it 2 or 4 wheels, you wont come away disappointed.

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 145

ROLLING ROAD Rob cooper honda CBR 600

This last month has given us some great weather and with the new Avon VP2 supersport tyres fitted to the CBR there was no excuse for me to stay at home.

With the days quickly closing in, nothing compares to blitzing your favourite local route, breathing in the last of the summer air. Whether you’re riding solo or scouting out new roads in a group, now is the best time to be enjoying two wheels.

A fast commute to Coventry and a south coast tour with Tim and the Spyder helped me realise that bikes aren’t just about the mechanical process of throttle, clutch, gears and brakes, or even the riders thought processes, it’s the little things like getting your

gear on, right through to cleaning your bike, every part comes together to make it a truly rewarding experience.

Quiet roads and dry tarmac, offering peak amounts of grip make a weekday evening cruise not only good fun, but a great way to relieve some stress.

Stopping for mid and postride breaks are essential, not only to refresh yourself but to think and talk about your ride and bikes.

Let’s hope this late summer continues, be sure you make the most out of it, call up your mates and get out and ride, it’s all about the experience!

Thanks: www.avon-tyres.co.uk/ motorcycle/

WWW.ROADMAGAZINE.CO.UK 147

LIFE WITH CARS

NEXT MONTH Ken Block EXclusive FREE FOREVER TELL YOUR FRIENDS www.roadmagazine.co.uk