Silverstone Classic weekend

Classic Weekend was great - we had a tidy stand and made several quality sales. And then when it got quiet we just popped up over the bank and watched beautiful cars racing!

With the cream of European historic racing on display, it was an opportunity to show some top-of-the-range racewear. The Uvex lightweight suits generated a lot of interest, but the star of the show was (unsurprisingly) the Dunlop Historic. As a replica of the sixties, it is almost de rigeur wear at the Revival and we spoke to many drivers preparing for that and other classic festivals such as the Grand Prix des Remparts at Angouleme.

The Silverstone weekend could join those major events, but it needs a bit of tightening around the edges to fully deserve its place. I couldn't comment on it from a driver's point of view, although I've heard some gripes, but I think the trading area needs tidying up, and something given back to us in the form of communcations. Perhaps even a reception? On the whole it was close, but needs a bit of work to be special. We put every bit as much work into our businesses as the racers to their cars, and contribute to the overall Festival atmosphere, it would be good to get some recognition that we're all working together. But we'll go back next year, there's such a good captive audience of racing drivers looking for something to do :-)

One downside of the event though - I had a yearning to be racing! I can watch GPs, Le Mans, BTCC etc with no pangs at all but this weekend my heart ached. I can relate to these cars and drivers, and just want to be out there with them. The Midget is unlikely to be welcome of course, so maybe an MGB build is called for? Let's get this one finished first - absolutely nothing done to the car since the last post! Time and tide wait for no man, so 2009 season is written off. Here's to 2010 already???

Photos of the weekend on my Facebook page, more to come soon.

Racing at Silverstone

Great weekend!

Was a bit cautious about driving a Montego at first, it's a long time since I raced a tin-top. Practice was steady without going mad, but the race was mental! Lap times weren't good but there were some really good dices - looking at the official lap times, I always crossed the line in close company with other cars. You know, because the Montego isn't very fast but has superb grip, braking distances are miniscule....5th gear through Copse and Maggots, brake after the right hander for Becketts and stick it up the inside of supposedly faster cars who slowed for the left kink (!). Lose the drag race to Abbey hairpin, thread the way through the middle of them again, lose the drag race up to Bridge, past them again on the outside of Bridge or inside of Priory and try and be as wide as possible coming onto the start straight, only to have to do it all over again after they blast past on the run down to Copse. Top fun!

Tyres went off of course, and we found a fuel pick-up problem. But the car finished two half-hour races with no other problems.

Wore the new Uvex rs3, everywhere I went I got cries of "It's the Stig!" Fantastic :-) Suit was supremely comfortable, all the exertion had no effect physically because I stayed cool. Bet it's great in a long hot race. I need a new helmet next year, bet it'll be the Uvex fp3, it's comparable quality.

S-o-o much better than the Spa kart race, just wish it had lasted longer! Ah well, probably me done for 09 unless the Midget's ready for an end-of-year blast.

Goodwood, Silverstone and a new kart uit

Been a busy few days. We were invited down to the Festival of Speed on sumday, unfortunately couldn't leave until nearly lunchtime so we only spent an afternoon there. Great fun, Alex couldn't leave the side of the track there was so much to watch. I suspect Sunday afternoon was one of the quieter times, there were few stars about - but Alex got Jenson's autograph so he was delighted. Nice afternoon and the sun shone for once.

racewear.co.uk's web site is steadily growing, I've spent more time uploading new products and even got some on special offer (ouch, that hurts!). A really nice budget-priced CIK/FIA Level 2 kart suit has come my way, I wore one at Spa and it was really comfortable so I've included it in the range. With full homologation, it can be used up to and including international level - take a sneaky look now, you know you want to!

All ready for Silverstone this weekend. Mike and I are sharing MGDavid's Montyzoomers Revenge in a 30 minute 2-driver race, just praying that I hand it over in one piece to Mike and that I'm the quickest of the four drivers behind its wheel this weekend :-) I reckon we'll only have time for about three laps each in practice, so it's a steep learning curve.

Wish us luck!