The Begining of the End of Proper British Motor Racing Establishment

Great News!

Believe it or not the Motor Sport Assocition United Kingdom has issued me with a competition license! Not simply a racing license but an International 'C' grade license, authorized through the FIA, the primary governing body of motorsport.

To hold this level of racing license is most excellent, because it gives me permission to compete in a number of high level races. Not only can I run the Britsh Formula Ford or F3 events I would also be eligible to compete at the 24 Hour of Le Mans race were a seat to become available!

I hope everything is going well for you this week. I am working very hard on a number of projects. The first of which is a marketing/sponsorship piece with a friend Megan Wood. We have a first draft finished and we are looking towards putting the finishing touches on it in the next week. I will be at Palmer Sport again this week and at the end of the week I have a special guest traveling over from America to visit me, my mom!

Cheers

Michael

Quote of the day:

"Either full gas or full brake, anything in between is bullshit."

- Anthony Sassine

Kickin' it at Carroll's

In Texas motorsport there isn't anyone more famous, or who has made a more significant impact on international motorsport than Carroll Shelby. From the very begining of his motorsport career Carroll has close ties to the United Kingdom. Even today his influence can still be seen as the two stripes which he made famous on the Shelby Cobra's livery are still seen racing around tracks.

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to hang out with Carroll's daughter Simone who I had met earlier this year along with Carroll and his wife at the Barrett Jackson Car Auction. Simone showed me around a town called Henley where we had lunch and had a chance to catch up with what her family are Carroll are up to. Simone told me about a road rally that she had participated in earlier this year where she beat Patric Dempsy in a race between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. After lunch Simone was also kind enough to show me around the Shelby estate, a 7 bedroom mansion, which looked to this simple Texan as something out of the movies! Walking around the home which was full of personal items was like walking through a museum of motorsports golden years.

(some of the things around the estate, notice the rocking horses' name)
Afterwards we met a few of her friends Kate and Mark who both have interesting backgrounds. Kate is a high powered executive at a company called Manpower and Mark is involved with automotive development for Land Rover. Before signing on developing components for Land Rover hespent a few years working for the Williams Formula 1 team! The evening was made up of some intersting conversations and we had a great time.

The past week has been very busy, I feel like everyday I have been going hard and not getting to bed until 11.30-midnight and then back up again at 6 to get back to Palmer!! I hope you are doing well and I will do my best to get caught up on a few posts this week!

Cheers

Michael

Old School Video!

If I may, please let me share with you a video that was shot by my friend Bob Coonrod while I was living in Texas. The video shows footage captured of me at a test with the O'Brien Racing Formula Mazda team. The test went very well and I was offered a paid drive for the team. Regretably the backing didn't materialize so the car sat in the work shop for the season.

The car was fantastic and it was a good outfit. It's too bad things didn't come together because I know we had the right people in the right places to make a statement in the series.

Let me know what you think of the video and look at that ragged hair cut!!

Cheers

MJ

First British Race Seat

During the Brands Hatch A1GP weekend I had a chance to catch up with my friend Peter Jackson. I met Peter a few weeks prior at the Cadwell Park vintage car race meeting. That weekend, after we met at a lunch table he had been kind enough to show me around the paddock and introduce me to the participants in the series.

During this weekend Peter was hosting a 'Retro Racers' exhibit for the A1GP fans, showcasing his clubs vintage racing machines. I stopped by to say hello and see how things were getting on. The classic cars were certainly catching some well deserved attention as the majority of race fans stopped by to look over the cars. Although Peter's job was officially to explain the different machines to the fans, his job was quickly deterioriating to that of a baby sitter as miniature British racing fans climbed all over priceless cars.

During our chat Peter asked me if I thought I could fit into his machine. I climbed into the Cooper and found it to be a natural fit. For years I have appreciated the engineering and design of the early year rear engine single-seaters. To my astonishment Peter asked me if I fit alright if I would be willing to drive the car for him in an upcoming race in July at Cadwell Park. The opportunity to pilot such a car is an incredibly rare opportunity and I took him up immediately on the offer.

For the photo I decided to use a symbol I had just learned about. In Britain two fingers held up is known as a 'V' for victory, certainly what I plan on doing when I drive Peter's Cooper at Cadwell!

On the other hand, during a recent history lesson I learned that if you turn the hand around it becomes a less than friendly gesture. During midevil warfare when the French captured a English archer they would 'remove' the two fingers the archer used for drawing back their bow string. When going into battle the English archers would hold up their two fingers to let the french know they still had them, and the capacity to fire arrows in their direction. Seemlessly this translated into the modern giving someone the bird. I had to be very careful I kept my hand the right direction for the photo op!

The race Peter offered for me to pilot his machine is in July and will be held in Cadwell Park. I can't wait! My first race seat in British Motorsport!!!

Your friend at speed.

Michael

The best day of my life?

I have enjoyed some really great moments in my life. I remember vividly the first time I drove my dads kart at Wizzard Kart track in Carrolton, Texas, graduated from highschool (and University, believe it!!), and raced for the United States karting team. I recently had a day which could have been the most enjoyable, ever.

For the last few weeks I have been at Palmer Sport instructing. As with any company I have started at what is considered the bottom of the preverbial totem pole. As many of you know I feel hugely fortunate just to be at Palmer Sport so I am happy just to be there, let alone getting a job reserved for the most senior instructors.

A few days ago, there was a fluke in the allignment of the stars and the directors schedule said I was the only driver available who could help the mechanics to 'run in' a new car which just came off the assembly line. (50+ hour process of being hand built by mechanics piece by piece)

The process of running in a car is important to break in an engine, gearbox, and differential before the car is driven to maximum speed. There is a strict program which involves turning laps with the engines RPM at a predetermined ceiling, then gradually building up speed. It would be my duty and responsbility to help them with this to drive hours upon hours around the Bedford Autodrome's 'West Circuit.'

Although I do have a fair ammount of time in single-seaters I have only been had opportunities to drive them under pressure and on the clock. It has forced me to push unnaturally hard and always feeling quite on the edge without knowing precisely where that edge was. Where as F1 drivers usually log in between 1,500-3,000 miles before their first race, the first time I wason track was often to qualify. This day gave me the chance to build up speed, confidence, and comfort in the car.

At the end of the day I had completed around 100 laps of the West Circuit. While still going relatively slowly (93 mph) down the straight away's, I was carrying good speed through the corners and getting used to the handling of the Formula Jaguar and the grip the F3 tyres were delivering.

There is nothing more in the world I enjoy more than driving single seater race cars. Although it was a day which ultimately came down to being at the right place at the right time this day served as a reminder to why I moved halfway across the world leaving behind friends and family for an uncertain destiny.

Thank you to our photographer Lee Marshall for capturing the images. If you would like to see more of his work he is available via http://www.lee-marshall.co.uk/

From cloud 9

Michael

The Sights and Sounds of A1GP

From the moment the A1GP cars went on to the track last weekend it was obvious the 'main show' had taken center stage. The most distinct feature of the cars being their 550 horse power v8 Zytek racing engines, which create a brilliant sound. It isn't the hollow noise that many American manufactured v8 engines produce, instead an effecient wail that eminates from the 3.4 litre powerplant. The 'rifle crack' backfire that follows a drivers downchange of the gears is startling if you are not prepared.

Inside the A1GP paddock at Brands Hatch the only way to describe the atmosphere is global. With 22 nations represented in the series known as the 'Olympics of Motorsport' there were drivers, crews, and team representatives from the farthest reaches of the world. While there are many traditional motorsport nations entering cars such as Great Britain, Germany, Italy, United States, and Brazil there are many other nations represented who have not been linked to a racing in the past such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, and Malaysia. It is certainly interesting to see these nations expanding their international profile through motorsport.

This global atmosphere was further accentuated by the pagenatry that one expects in a F1 grid however with the multi-cultural atmosphere this is taken to another level with Brazilian samba dancers, Chinese dragon's, and Roman soldiers adding to the color.

Beyond the shiny pagentry, on the track, some very serious competition was taking place. The A1GP series travels around the world to ten different countries for race meetings where a sprint and final race take place for team to earn championship points. While the traditional motorsport calendar takes place in the summer months, A1GP races during the winter and was finishing their final round at Brands Hatch. A number of competitors from A1GP have gone on to race Formula 1 including Timo Glock of the Toyota F1 team as well as Nelson Pique Jr. who now drives for Renault F1. The race winner on this particular day turned out to be India's Narain Karthikeyan a former Williams F1 test driver.

During my time in the paddock I had a chance to meet with Tim Tuttle the public relations director for Team USA. Aside from his responsibilities with the United States team he is also a journalist for Sports Illustrated covering a number of different racing series from Le Mans to NASCAR and could possibly have more 'racing stories' than anyone I know.

During my time meeting with Mr. Tuttle he seemed intrigued by my story along with my past experience in karts where I raced against and beat one of their teams previous drivers. Whether or not he was impressed i'm not sure, but he did pull the owner of the team aside, introduced us, and we spoke for about thirty minutes.

The team owner is a gentleman by the name of Rick Weidinger who has a racing background with the Indy Racing League where he was involved with Kelly Racing. Furthermore he is an extremely succesful businesman from the technology sector. It was very interesting to speak with him and learn about his strategy and approach to racing and how that has been influenced by his business career. He pointed at continuity within the team, especially the crew, which he believed caused the improvement in performance and earned their first win at the Shanghai Circuit earlier this year.

At the end of our conversation Mr. Weidinger provided me with his contact details, so you can rest assure I will be staying in touch with him! I was very happy to learn about the approach he takes with his team. To drive for A1GP Team USA would be a dream.

I Hope you are doing well. I am staying very busy and will write again as soon as I have a free moment!

Cheers

Michael

The Sites of the A1GP Paddock

Emerson Fittipaldi: Formula 1 World Champion and owner of A1GP Team Brasil

Rick Weidinger IT super guru and A1GP Team USA owner.

A bit of A1GP pageantry. I caught this roman soldier chowing down on a snickers bar.

Although I am from Texas, I haven't gone as far as this guy! He was on his way to the track for his race! I think he said he was from Brighton, England...

More of A1GP's cultural flair.

A Visit to Brands

Dear Friends,

This weekend I visited what is arguably one of the greatest racing circuits in the world and without much argument the finest course in Great Britain, Brands Hatch.

The Brands Hatch circuit is located in Kent, east of London an hour or so depending on where you start from. Like many of the circuits in England I found it has a unique and interesting heritage since the time it was created in the 1920's. Originally the land the circuit is now located on was owned by the Brands farm and used as a military training base. At some point the farmers used their machinery to cut out a circuit which was used by cyclists to ride through the country side. The first actual race was held in 1928 using a 4 mile course and featured cyclist and runners. Since this time it evolved into a motor racing circuit and made the Formula 1 World Calendar from 1964 to 1986.

Many of the greatest Formula 1 racing drivers competing on the circuit. I was able to find this absolutely intriguing video of World Champion driver Jackie Stewart explaining the course as he completed a lap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QfnPipg03c

The reason for my visit this weekend was to watch many of my colleagues from Palmer Sport race who are competing in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship along with the headline race the A1GP World Cup of Motorsports. The weekend was absolutely fantastic and I feel like I was able to see and feel the true spirit and passion the British have for motorsports.

Today I am cracking away today on some sponsorship opportunities and will close for now, but when I have a few minutes tomorrow I will put up a more detailed post on the races, the people and some of the fantastic happenings of the weekend.

Hope you are doing well and are looking forward to the week!

Michael

Super Training at Palmer Sport

Dear Friends,

Last week I got on with the job at Palmer Sport. Although I am not officially working, I have reached an agreement with the directors where as they are allowing me to continue 'training' until my work permit goes through.

'Training' at Palmer Sport has been fantastic however they have kept me working like a trojan. I arrive around 745AM and don't typically leave until around 8PM. Although the day usually ends a bit earlier there are often times things going on afterwork such as tests with the Palmer Audi Championship cars or various track days which I do my best to get involved with. Last week during the a track day I got to see some wanker lob* a Pagani Zonda into a field! Luckily there was no damage done aside from that to the drivers ego, reputation, and I'm sure he has no friends now.

*The term 'lob' is new to me but I really like this one. If it needs any clarification 'lobbing a car' is when a driver misses a corner, brake point, or generally runs out of talent and 'lobs' the car into the field. NICE!

I have been really happy with the opportunity to be a part of Palmer Sport. The organization is absolutely top flight, with really good people, and it is very satisfying to see the excitement of the guests who come through the doors and get to experience the driving.

This weekend I will be traveling to Brands Hatch for the final round of the A1GP racing series. I have arranged a meeting with the United States team and am looking forward to meeting the team. Also the Formula Palmer Audi championship will be racing in support of the A1GP so I am looking forward to seeing many of my colleagues going for it.

Hope you are all doing very well.

Michael