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4 Dec 2006, 21:20 (Ref:1781992) | #201 | ||
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Excellent post Tim and welcome to the mad house.
I marshalled the very first T Car round and do remember them being dual control cars back then. I think JP has done a great deal to enhance the image of the series and the grids this year have been the largest I can remember. You could well be right that to change the name for marketing/promotional reasons might be a good move. Why not suggest it to JP, he always listens to ideas? |
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4 Dec 2006, 21:47 (Ref:1782010) | #202 | |||
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Motorsport is all about money. It's about teams and organising bodies extracting as much money out of hopeful (and mostly deluded) drivers and sponsors as possible. This I don't mind as it funds my hobby at no cost to me! But what I do mind is double standards by governing bodies, and there is just a hint of this with T cars (in my opinion). |
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4 Dec 2006, 22:06 (Ref:1782019) | #203 | ||
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Dan - I agree with your sentiments about too many classes - I feel within single seaters there is still a clearer (although more diluted than historically) career path than once existed (FBMW, FF is now I fear old hat - then moving on to FR - F3 -GP2) - but comparably Saloon cars, and Sports cars suffer in this regard. Perhaps this will be improved by the creation of an LMP3 class but that of course would require a 'uniforming' of the regs that up to now has not been forthcoming. What is sad in all cases that valuable British talent is being lost abroad in pursuit of a clearer 'path'. Both Tom Gaymor and Ryan Lewis will be competing in Formula Atlantic this coming season. The TOCA tour has long stood as the 'logical' path for an aspiring tin top racer as it puts you in the 'right' environment and amongst the teams you are aiming at - unfortunately steep budgets go hand in hand with that and many drivers - myself included, are left in the leading perifery series, like the MINI Challenge. A clearer class structure (by which I mean fewer classes with higher driver numbers) with limited, carefully policed costs and good coverage would ultimately potentially lead, in my belief, to a reduction in 'real' costs as team would have to vye to be more competitive, not simply in terms of 'added value' and technical excellence. |
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5 Dec 2006, 16:38 (Ref:1782656) | #204 | ||
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A couple of very interesting posts from Tim Crighton, someone who is clearly able to put his experience in perspective.
Tim, what is your opinion of having to decide wether you see yourself as a single seater, sports car or touring car driver at such an early age? Before the mid 90's it seemed an aspiring driver tried to go as far as possible in single seaters before peaking and moving to a different type of car. Now it seems you have to decide almost before getting behind the wheel of a car at 14. IMO a shame. Also, where would you see yourself today if your career had started twenty years ago? Would it have been easier to progress with a limited budget? |
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5 Dec 2006, 18:47 (Ref:1782737) | #205 | |
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Very interesting post tim.
Im sorry as i only read 3/4 of it as i am a teenager and have the attention span of a gibbon! WOOHOO! teehee thanks andy. As i must say for you, Andy, Phil and Steve are a VERY nice bunch of people! Easy to talk to and an allround nice family! What are you doing next year? Ema |
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5 Dec 2006, 19:07 (Ref:1782746) | #206 | |||
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5 Dec 2006, 19:28 (Ref:1782757) | #207 | |
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Good post Tim.
Racer-gal - I think I've worked out who your brother is, he's a nice guy with a very supportive Dad. I hope it all works out for him. If I've got it right he's trying to get into Loughborough? |
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5 Dec 2006, 19:43 (Ref:1782767) | #208 | ||
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As to the question regarding career progression. Yes is the basic answer. I can't talk from first hand experience on all of this, and I am quite prepared to stand corrected, but particularly over the past 10-15 years motorsport at a club and national level has becoming increasing professionalised, the running, entry and simple infrastructure costs of racing have meant that it is not as easy to 'talk' your way into a drive, and ultimately money talks. Teams are having to become increasingly commercial and cannot simply afford to look more favourably on a driver simply because they can win in their car. Its a tough call but to see that situation return I think we would need to see great investment in the sport from external factors - and to do that it requires greater exposure. Perhaps a vicous circle but either way a difficult one to call. Had I started 20 years ago? I'd probably be running a company to pay for my racing! Don't they say: "The only way to make a small fortune in motorsport is to start with a large one" |
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5 Dec 2006, 21:37 (Ref:1782826) | #209 | |||
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Next problem, how do I stretch my miniscule budget to support a junior without stopping racing myself? |
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5 Dec 2006, 22:07 (Ref:1782854) | #210 | ||
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the problem with these "career ladders" that take you to FIA GT or Touring cars is this; the only garanteed one is to get to Formula one and work your way down!
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5 Dec 2006, 22:40 (Ref:1782876) | #211 | |||
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You don't, you pay for their 1st car, maybe a clubby stockhatch (not SaxMax unless you are comfortably well off) They learn from their mistakes in those formulae, then get them to pay for an upgrade of car or spec of the engine. I started racing 5 years ago (still been involved for the past 23 years with Dad and the team), if I had the opportunity of t-cars, saxmax or ginettas, my Dad still would have refused to pay for it. Im happy to be a gentleman driver for the rest of my life, Nurburgring 24hrs and Le Mans are my ambitions and I will drive them, even if I have to remortage my house (when I get 1 and when Im finally out of further education) The Nurburg 24hrs is close, need to get a job then I'll do it! Its easier being a gentleman driver, fewer pressures and you still have something to do in the meantime and have a job after you turn 40! |
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These comments are my personal opinion, they do not reflect the views of others at Carr Racing. Born into racing! Will never leave racing, ever! Its in my blood! |
7 Dec 2006, 13:59 (Ref:1784148) | #212 | ||
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made us all laff!!! and hus that certain person eh? |
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7 Dec 2006, 18:39 (Ref:1784332) | #213 | ||
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Another option may be consider supporting them in something like saxmax (if that was an option) and then perhaps use the car for say stockhatch/hothatch (I'll confess I'm not too clued up on which it would be eligable for) yourself. That way the capital is minimised but you both get an opportunity to race. You could even do the same with T-Car - the T-Car is eligable for a number of senior classes also as I mentioned above. You can gain vast experience just having raced a single seater - I believe and attribute it to the purity of the car, you learn how they really work and feel. That could be done in something like Kent FF if budgets were tighter, and thats a car you could both race. Just some thoughts although I'm sure you've been through most of them already! If you want any idea of budgets for T-Cars etc - even one off races/tests then you'd be welcome to speak to either myself or my Father (Andrew) who runs Advent and if we can help we will |
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9 Dec 2006, 10:13 (Ref:1785764) | #214 | ||
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Surely it's the case that all top line (and non-paying) GT / touring car drivers need top level single seater experience and success?? Anything else doesn't indicate whether they really are the best of the bunch (which can be a rather large pool of drivers). For instance, how many of the WTCC drivers haven't raced a single seater at a decent level? I'd be interested to know..
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9 Dec 2006, 23:55 (Ref:1786088) | #215 | ||
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Whilst all the genuine professional WTCC drivers come from single seater backgrounds some like James Thompson and Peter Terting only raced thier first season in single seaters which doesnt really qualify them as single seater trained drivers in my book.
However, they both come from very wealthy backgrounds so they shot into top line saloon series at a very early age, in effect giving them the single seater level of competition and car set up knowledge combined with natural talent. I know for a fact that BMW won't even consider a factory driver without a good single seater background although that doesnt apply to all the manufacturers as above. It is not unfeasible for a saloon or sports car only driver to get a professional drive but they would have to substantialy part fund it for a few years first. |
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10 Dec 2006, 14:03 (Ref:1786835) | #216 | ||
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To add to Simon's points...
Huffy did Formula Vauxhall (the Junior variety) in a Winter Series, and a but of FPA, but that's it. He spent more time racing Wilshere's MGB than anything else I'd say. I thought Thommo was a filthy muddy rally driver type? Rob. |
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10 Dec 2006, 15:43 (Ref:1786867) | #217 | ||
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I think Huff also did a main season of FVauxhall (Junior), after it had departed the TOCA package. I seem to remember a collision with Joey Foster in a poorly supported race at Mallory.
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10 Dec 2006, 16:15 (Ref:1786883) | #218 | ||
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Rob Huff did do a full season of Formula Vauxhall Junior in '00 and took the championship. He also did the '00 Formula Palmer Audi Winter Series and the bulk of the '01 Formula Renault season.
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10 Dec 2006, 17:56 (Ref:1786938) | #219 | ||
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13 Dec 2006, 17:24 (Ref:1789970) | #220 | ||
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[QUOTE=racer-gal]
WOOHOO! teehee thanks andy. What are you doing next year? Junior Ginetta hopefully with two cars this year Emma, QUOTE=tim cryghton I agree with your massive post, T cars are a superb car, without doubt, my boys have driven Freddys car, but the budget is 3 times what it is in Ginetta is, at what ever level you look at it. I feel that sadly next year the T car grid is looking grim, as most have absconded or became to old. I sincerely hope it succeeds and hope JP can reduce the costs to encourage more drivers to enter. |
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13 Dec 2006, 19:30 (Ref:1790044) | #221 | ||
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14 Dec 2006, 08:11 (Ref:1790372) | #222 | ||
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Rob Huff was in the fortunate position of his parents remortgaged to get him into BTCC,good of them I thought.
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Living the dream,Chief instruktor and racing on the worlds best circuits-The Nordschleife and Spa.Getting to drive the worlds best cars-someone has to do it, so glad its me. |
8 Apr 2008, 23:22 (Ref:2173514) | #223 | |
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yes but neither film reviewers nor food critics have the right to be agressive ********s. mate ur argueing with 17 year olds over the internet. get a life !!!
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9 Apr 2008, 08:22 (Ref:2173665) | #224 | ||
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"mate", you've dug up a thread that hasn't been posted on for over a year just to have a pop at someone. Bit late for that isn't it?
Thread closed. |
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This planet is mildly noted for its hoopy casinos. |
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