Monday, December 24, 2012

The secret is out

Well that’s another Christmas already upon us.  This year has flown by and I know we’ll all be getting ready to go racing again before we know it.  After a very hectic few months I’m looking forward to having a couple of days off and not doing anything car related!  Then I go back to work for two days before heading north to see the New Year in with all my friends in Scotland.  It’s going to be great!

I was going to sit this week and look back over the last season and all the fun I’ve had but it’s going to have to wait until I’m back now as I’ve decided to let everyone in on a little secret I’ve been keeping for the last few months! I have mentioned a few times in recent weeks that the car has been away at SHP and I have always avoided the reason as to why. I’ve heard all sorts of rumours lately so here, straight from the horses mouth is exactly what I will be doing next year.

Firstly I have not bought Robert McDonald’s car or any other car for that matter and I shall still in theory be running the same car next year - the one big difference will be the engine. Rather than the Vauxhall that everyone has been using we are going to try running a new Ford Duratec. I know a few people have run it before and after much conversing with John Toovey and Sonny we have decided to go for it and give it a try.

The car has obviously had to have a few modifications to get the engine in. The biggest difference being the fact that the exhaust is on the opposite side to the Vauxhall. The new engine is also running wet sump so removes a lot of pipes, a pump and a tank out of the engine bay. The engine is very similar in power to the Vauxhall but the big advantage is the weight, being an aluminium block it is considerably lighter.

I have complete faith in John and Sonny and I would like to thank them both very much for all the time and hard work they have put into making it all happen. Also thanks to everyone else who knew and kept it under wraps! I’m really looking forward to getting it all back together and going out and giving it a try.

While I’m on the subject I would like to thank all my sponsors, family and friends for everything this last year, especially my parents because without them the racing would never be possible. In some ways it’s been a terrible year - but in others it’s been great. I’ve met some amazing people and had some great times along the way. I also want to thank John Sibbald . . . I’ve spent nearly as many nights at his house as my own this year. I’ve lost count of how many trips I’ve made to Scotland and it seems fitting to see this year out and the new one in up there!

So that’s it, the secret’s out and I would like to wish you all a “Very Merry Christmas and all the best for
2013.”  Thanks for continuing to read my blog. Something tells me there will be plenty to write about over the coming few months!

Until next time

Mikey

Monday, December 17, 2012

A new floor and a nice surprise


Once again lots has happened since you last heard from me, and what is meant to be the quietest time of the year has in fact turned into one of the busiest.   As far as the car itself is concerned there’s not really much to report at the moment - but there certainly will be over the coming weeks.  It is however, race related things and work that has kept us on our toes recently.

It was all arranged that last Saturday Robert McDonald came down for the weekend with his car so that I could drop it off at SHP when I collect mine.  Again, more on that in the coming weeks too, but I can’t begin to tell you how shocked I was to return home from work to find Robert, John and Gareth sat around my kitchen table.   After an afternoon of moving things around - unloading Hot Rods and starting the epic clear out of the workshop - it was into town for a meal and a few drinks.  We had a great night and it was a fantastic surprise - seemingly everyone knew about it apart from me!  It was just like being out with them in
Scotland - the only difference was it was a twenty minute trip home, not six hours!

The next morning after breakfast they set off on their long journey home, and Dad and I got stuck in and started clearing out the workshop.  My long-standing sponsor Allfloors of Oxfordshire very kindly offered to lay a new floor, and in order to do it they needed everything moved out.  Now at the time it seemed like a pretty straightforward task, but as we got into it we started to realise just how much stuff is in there, and how heavy some of it is.  Eventually, with the front workshop and a van we brought home from work crammed full, it was ready for the work to begin.  Two days later when I walked in and saw it finished, all that effort was worthwhile.   It looks amazing with a blue and silver checker board pattern all over it.   It’s perfectly level now too, rather than having a raised piece in the centre where the car sits.  It really is a credit to Allfloors and I can’t thank them enough.



With the flooring finished it was time to start putting everything away again.  It was a similar job to before but with the added challenge of doing it without damaging the tiles.  A couple of evenings of moving and sorting out got it all back in place though and has left us with all sorts of forgotten treasure destined to go on eBay!  I love having the workshop at home because it makes working on the car so easy, and now it’s finished and as I want it, I’m really pleased.    The big challenge now will be getting Dad to keep it tidy!

There isn’t really much to report at the minute about the car itself.   We finished taking the panels off and took the chassis to work and gave it a jet wash off to tidy it all up and make it a bit nicer to work on.   The new panels are here now too, and will hopefully go and be painted this week so I can have them back before Christmas.

One bit of good news recently is the European Championship at Lochgelly in April.   I have absolutely no desire to get involved with the politics of it all - I am simply looking forward to going and spending the weekend with my friends and having the chance to race whilst I’m doing it.   I don’t need much of an excuse to go to
Scotland at the best of times but this seems like the perfect reason to go and take advantage of Mr Sibbald’s generous hospitality once again.   It is also good to see Mendips on the fixture list for next year, and I’m looking forward to going and trying out a new track.  It’s a shame there’s no Skegness though!

My plan for next year is to try and qualify for every major championship.   I don’t know how achievable it will be though, with money and our hectic work schedule being the ultimate deciding factors, but you’re only young once and I would love to make the best of it whilst I have the opportunity.

I have plenty to do between now and Christmas and I will be back next week and have a look back over a few things from this year.

Thanks as ever for reading.

Until next time

Mikey