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Castle Coombe Eurofest
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CIM Attended the Castle Coombe Eurofest track day in September. We registered as a club and had a couple of cars on display (we need more next year).
Andy Clark and John Clayton drove Andy's newly finished 309 on the track. Both drivers took partners out for taster sessions as well.
Unfortunately the car blew it's gearbox which reduced the amount of driving possible but it was still hugely enjoyable.
A number of people stopped and spoke to us on the stand and we were able to distribute a number of leaflets.
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Castle Combe Performance Car Action Day
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Tricia had volunteered us to run the Christians in Motorsport presence at the Castle Combe Performance Car Action Day on 21st April. Preparations included liaising with the organisers to arrange our pitch, a trip to Oxford to collect the display materials, polo shirts & leaflets and printing and laminating some fresh information and pictures for the event. Many emails, miles travelled and sheets of photo paper, business cards and ink cartridges later, we felt we were as ready as we would be. Being woken up on a weekend by an alarm is never a pleasant thing, but at 5:30am we were glad that we chose to pack and load the night before. Grabbing the few remaining items we set off up the A38 and through Bristol. The good thing about early starts on the weekend is how empty the roads are. By 7am we had arrived and could setup. 8am and we had a car on display, banners, tables, leaflets, display boards, a gazebo and, most importantly, tea and coffee making facilities!
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As people arrived with their cars, our thinking changed from fears our pitch would appear a little empty to wondering how we can get a larger pitch next year. Our display was a good mix of cars, with the Striker (my kit car), Volvo S40, Porsche 944, Nissan 200SX Turbo, the Alpha liveried Hornet race car and a Ford Fiesta ‘stock hatch’ race car. During the lovely sunny day several of our cars ventured out on track with our friendly, Christian, Brazilian, race driver/instructor on hand to passenger and give some tips to drivers.
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Adriano’s contribution helped make for an excellent team building day and, whilst the morning was largely dominated by the ‘boy racer’ types, we still managed a few meaningful conversations. The afternoon, it would seem, was when the more mature audience were allowed out to play (having completed their shopping and household chores I expect. Lovely sunny weather combined with a mutual interest in cars facilitated many a conversation between our team and visitors, who were generally very welcoming of our presence and knowledge.
The only ‘fly in the ointment’ on Saturday was news coming through from Donnington that the Team CIM Ferrari had been badly damaged and could not be repaired in time to race that weekend. After much deliberation it was decided that Tricia and I would still travel up there and see what could be salvaged from the weekend. After prayers and packing up we returned home on Saturday and had managed to unload by 8:30pm. An early night was followed by another early morning (just 6am this time) and we set off for the Donnington race circuit – but that’s another story . . .
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Elvington
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At the end of February this year, John Clayton and I went to Elvington Airfield near York for a track day run by Javelin Motor sports. The night before we spent a good time polishing up the car so it was nice and clean when we left in the morning.
When we arrived we got the usual safety briefing and we had just about managed to check tire pressures, oil levels and we were off! Because there were a few of us (John also brought some friends in the church) we took it in turns to go with John whilst the other two either read, filmed, tried to hitch a lift with another car or went to admire the other cars (there were many of them). Unfortunately for one particular car, a classic V8 racer, it didn’t want to start and they spent all of the day trying to fix it! The track itself was full of challenging corners and chicanes but thankfully John handled it very well (in fact he was one of the few people not to spin!) It was also a great chance to speak to other people, when you’re not racing you are able to talk really easily because you both have a common interest. Rev Phil Ball (from 'The Track' Scripture Union youth camp) and his wife Marion, together with Peter Fryatt and his wife Ruth came along for the day and had a number of laps with John in the kitcar. If you are in to motor sports and have a love of things fast then something like this is definitely worth visiting. John, me and everyone else had an absolutely excellent day.
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Ray Thorpe
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Anything that you do can provide opportunities to spread the word, with a little effort. Ray Thorp from Coventry in central England would like to encourage others to use Trackdays for more than just a bit of fun.
Here's an account of how he managed to do this recently:
On the 26th August Judith and I took my Volvo S40 saloon to Mallory Park in Leistershire, UK for a Trackday. Mallory really does live up to its name of "The friendly circuit". On the two times we have been we have found the staff and other "track dayers" always willing to talk with no snobbishness or "mines bigger than yours" attitude. Also I have found the track manners exemplary.
On this occasion the cars ranged from a little race prepped Suzuki Ignis to a couple of monstrous Nissan Skylines, with the usual smattering of Caterhams, Porsche and Lotus. There was also a Ferrari complete with miniature race seat for the owners 4 year old daughter. She was only taken out in the slow "ducks and drakes" laps, but loved it never the less!
My fastest average was 63mph round the 1.35 mile circuit, with my fuel consumption dropping to 14.9 mpg! I did take my newly purchased slicks but as the track was somewhat damp I decided not to use them on this occasion.
The CIM stickers on the rear wing often cause people to enquire about a Christian being involved in pastimes other than the church. I never "Bible bash" but just explain that Christians can enjoy ourselves as much as the next man, we are not a faith of "don'ts"! I leave CIM leaflets on the car when it is in the paddock and one or two of them are always taken. I would recommend a trackday to all. You do not need to have any special machinery -a friend of mine took his Renault Megane round the daunting Nurburgring recently!
Ray Thorp
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