CEO COMMENT

28.11.08
Top Gear

Is my favourite TV show – not just the cars but the irreverence and the unpc approach. I loved the bit where they staged a competition against the Geeermans – and rocked up in three two seater spitfires with 633 squadron as the sound track.

Last week - with the fuel duel - Basel to Blackpool was prescient. I now drive a diesel and spend a significant amount of my attention on mpg. I really enjoyed that segment and I believe the three presenters did as well. Funny thing for a guy in the go kart game to be saying but then again this is a business and a few extra mpg’s in the karts does make a difference at year end. There’s an idea, maybe we change the business model – give everyone three litres and the person who gets furthest is the winner.

Guys, whatever were you thinking of when you put Will Young in a reasonably priced car....is Will Young quick? Who cares? Come on Guys...

18.11.08
The Behr necessities

So my old friend Dani Behr is going into the jungle! Dan likes her food and comfort but she’s very tough and down to earth so she could be in there for a while. Dani lives in Sydney now and will therefore have an advantage over the others in terms of jet lag and acclimatisation as I believe the show is made down under. Nice if she does well because I guess that means she would be back here for a while. Dan was over last summer and I told her then that a few square meals wouldn’t hurt but witchy grubs wasn’t quite what I had in mind.

Back in 2001 Dani was out in LA and she called me and suggested that I come out for a holiday, the fact she had a borrowed Porsche and a Hollywood mansion didn’t hurt so I jumped on a plane and flew out there. I arrived at LAX hoping to be picked up by this hot angeleno, in a 911. Waited on the kerb for 2 hours and then down the road came Dan in a 15 year old multicoloured Honda civic. Apparently she had broken the Porsche! We were staying in the guest house of a place in West Hollywood – that was recently purchased by Paul McKenna. That night we were going to dinner with Anne Archer and her husband Terry at the Mondrian. For those of you that don’t know the name Anne played the wife in Fatal Attraction and is lovely. The Mondrian is an Ian Schrager hotel and has a big arrival – with I guess ten guys standing in a line waiting to valet park the car. So we were driving down the hill to sunset and I was thinking about pulling up at the Mondrian in the rentawreck and I turned to Dani and said “shall we park and walk in?” She laughed and said “I was just thinking the same thing”. So we did, funny thing is walking in L.A is such a nono – probably worse than turning up with no car. So we had a great dinner and I did a little magic, which went down well.

The next day we decided to go to Vegas, as I had been thinking about an indoor track there. So I went and hired a big merc and we spent the following afternoon/evening driving up through the Mojave. Vegas was amazing, we checked into the Bellagio – of Ocean’s eleven fame, which I think had just been built by Steve Wynn.
One night we ended up in a lap dancing bar and Dani paid one of the girls to take me for a dance, so I turned the tables and gave the girl some money to ambush Dani. Got your attention now haven’t I! This girl drags Dan off to the dance area so I sneak round the back, climb up on some furniture and look over the wall ... and they are sitting there discussing the merits of different nail varnishes!

I also went out to L.A. a couple of years back for Dani’s wedding which was lovely until some guy fell out of an eleventh floor window at the hotel.

I also recall that there was a plan a while ago to appear on one of the reality shows, which I counselled against. So we’ll have to see how this pans out. I wasn’t planning on watching the show but I guess that changes now.

Good luck Dan

Ps Just had an email from her ladyship, asking everyone to vote for her – she says the numbers on the back of her shirt. I sent one back saying “nobody is going to be looking at the back of your shirt Dan, maybe better to wear it back to front”.

07.11.08
I fixed it for Jim

I was driving down the North East coast recently following a fun day out driving round Bob Pope's excellent Teesside Autodrome, stopped off for coffee in Whitby, which is beautiful and then drove further south through Scarborough. Couldn't quite believe my eyes when I saw Jimmy Saville standing in a shop doorway talking to some people. A surreal moment - he was even wearing a shell suit.

The last time I saw Jimmy Saville before that was during a race briefing I was doing at Wood Lane in 92 or 3. Jimmy was in the driver enclosure talking very loudly so I asked one of the marshals to go over and ask him to speak a bit quieter.

Jimmy stormed out. Ooops!

27.10.08
Motoringlawyers.com

I am quite a cautious driver but I got a speeding ticket through the post last June. Called up the camera partnership to get some info - they gave me totally misleading information - in my opinion deliberately.

So I called a firm of solicitors (see above) and left it with them. They then asked me to send a cheque on account - which I duly did.

I handed them a pretty good case to work with and on the due date they sent a barrister in who ate the CPS for breakfast.

The thing didn't even get into court - the barrister had the CPS withdraw before it could get in front of the magistrates. Motoringlawyers.com then successfully applied for costs and duly sent me a cheque refunding my original payment.

motoringlawyers.com it does what it says on the tin.

01.10.08
Gryff

Three Men In A Boat was one of my favourite tv shows of the last few years so when I saw that Gryff Rhys Jones was doing a two-parter on “Anger”, I was compelled to watch. The thing was about Gryff’s issues with anger management. He spent a considerable amount of time with therapists in the show and one of these guys was charging $250 an hour - more like The Rapist than the Therapist!

I don’t laugh out loud at the TV too often, but at one point Gryff was describing an incident where he had to do some early morning TV and they had called him in really early and then left him sitting in the green room for hours. He was watching the program and they announced that Ben Fogle was about to come on and Gryff got angry that Fogle was on ahead of him so he started cussing Ben Fogle.

He was shouting “F%&k Ben Fogle, F%&*ing Ben Fogle” at the top of his voice when Ben Fogle walked in! Great TV.

Very brave of someone with Gryff’s profile to admit he has these anger management issues.

I blame the parents.

22.09.08
Prime Minister

I’ve always supported the idea that anyone who wants to be P.M. shouldn’t be allowed to take the job and on that basis Jeremy Clarkson should be P.M. and Simon Cowell should be his deputy.

I had an experience this weekend that changed my mind.

I don’t get out much and I don’t really do parties, live music etc so for me to go to both the Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival in a year is unusual. It was my old man’s birthday last week so I got him some tickets and we went down to West Sussex to watch the racing.
People saying “the atmosphere was blah blah blah...” always leave me cold. However, the revival was wonderful. I appreciate that an event like this appeals to a certain demographic but it was all “please, thank you and excuse me”. Everyone was absolutely on their best behaviour, my dad was all fuzzy because there were spitfires all over the place and I think he felt transported back to a time when standards and qualities that he is comfortable with were important.

At the beginning of the TT race (the main event) Lord March stood up and said a few words, and then his sister sang “Jerusalem” followed by the local Cannon saying a prayer. You could have heard a pin drop. This was immediately followed by a WW2 flight comprising a spitfire, hurricane, thunderbolt and a mustang which buzzed the grid.

The race was rumoured to be the most expensive grid ever raced at some £85m. Countless Ferrari 250 GT’s would have accounted for a significant proportion of this. Martin Brundle had put Adrian Newey’s lightweight E type on pole. Newey was starting with Brundle taking the second spot in the 1 hour race. Newey handed over to Brundle after 25 or so minutes in 3rd or 4th place (sorry can’t remember) and they had a bad pit stop. Brundle re-emerged in 7th and then proceeded to drive his heart out. This is the man who had said he would be driving at 90% for the TT. I don’t believe that Brundle knows how to do 90%! My take was that he was at 101% as there were a number of lock ups, near offs etc. It was thrilling to watch and a Safety car for Barry “Whizzo” Williams accident probably robbed him and Newey of the top spot on the podium. Stuart Graham and Bobby Verdon Roe’s Ferrari crossed the line first, to applause, but there was a huge cheer when Brundle crossed the line for third.

The genteel atmosphere created by Lord March and my Fathers happiness was a joy to behold. I have great admiration for what Rudy Giuliani did in New York when he was Mayor and I do subscribe to the broken windows theory. Lord March created that atmosphere yesterday and it is my view that the society we live in today could do with a little of the Goodwood treatment. It kind of makes an argument for the House of Lords, or maybe March could be persuaded to join the lower house!

19.09.08
Don’t talk while I’m watching F1

I don’t have a lot of me time, but watching the F1 race on a Sunday is sacrosanct, as is the time that I spend mowing the lawn. Following SPA anyone who thinks there aren’t agenda’s has to naive. There simply was no advantage - Hamilton was actually ahead of Raikkonen going into the corner, albeit on the outside. Raikkonen then proceeded to run him off the track. Rum business - this may make for a nail biting finale but at what price! In my view the persecution of McLaren has to stop.

I was watching the final of the last Rugby world Cup with a mate and the one thing that I learnt is that I don’t know much about Rugby at all, even though it is my favourite team sport. So I should apologise to my buddy Andy Smith, who had to put up with constant interruptions and questions from me about the game which he handled with his customary grace.
I am privileged to own a Countax mower which does exactly what it says on the tin and being the big diesel, makes quite a lot of noise. Between my deafness and the diesel I can’t hear anyone shouting at me or asking any questions, I just drive round the garden in my own little world..bliss!

So, if you are watching F1 at my place, please keep quiet as I don’t have Andy Smiths grace or patience. www.countax.com

20.08.08
Polizei 144

I was up at Auto Audio the other day (if you need anything doing Greg is the Man), went to collect a car that was being worked on, but the car wasn’t ready so I had no ride home. Park Royal is not an easy place to get anywhere from but I spotted a car that I know in the car park. The team Polizei M5 is I believe the fastest car to cross the USA, courtesy of some serious preparation, some devious electronics and a couple of spotter planes. My recollection is 32 hours. The car has night vision cameras, laser cloaking - extra fuel tanks, Brembos, police lights and sirens and a whole host of other tricks. The guys that run it always use a police I.D. from another country - currently Italian polizia stradale. So I “borrowed” the car to get home and it sure got me home in a hurry!

I understand its going back to the states shortly, in the meantime it’s unlikely that the NYPD and the dreaded Ohio Highway Patrol will find it whilst it’s sitting outside my office!

http://www.teampolizei.com/
http://www.autoaudio.uk.com/

10.08.08
Who is?

Bronek Masojada?

He is the chief executive of Hiscox Insurance, who just happen to insure my house. I have had two issues since Hiscox insured the house last November. The first, a burglary, was dealt with efficiently and with the minimum of fuss. The second where a couple of tiles were blown off the roof in high winds prompted me to call Hiscox just to see if I had cover. Their response was that I not only have cover but that they would send a team round to sort out the problem straight away. Sure enough, a couple of hours later two guys turned up, had the right tiles on the truck, done!

Who is

Ben Verwayen?

He is the chief executive of British Telecom. We rely very heavily on our internet connections and our sales operation falls over without the connections. Some months ago BT cut our line by mistake. To add insult to injury they denied responsibility. I had to go round to the chief executives house on a Sunday to get any action. It took ten days to get the system hooked up again and cost Daytona thousands in lost revenue. They’ve just done it again! This time they did it deliberately for non payment of a bill. Only trouble is they forgot to send us a bill or advise us that they were going to cut off the connection! Anyone contacts me with an issue they get a personal response and involvement from me. I’m still waiting for a response from Mr Verwayen.

Mr Masojada is this month’s hero. Mr Verwayen is this year’s zero

14.07.08
Goodwood Festival of Speed

Went down to Goodwood on Sunday, courtesy of BP and the Launch group. I thought that the oil companies were coining it at the moment, but apparently turnover is down 10% as everyone’s staying at home.

Charlie March has created something out of nothing, very clever. All those drivers and teams turn up, create the spectacle, and they pay for it! I was told that Land Rover paid £300k for the rights to put the sculpture up, celebrating 75 years, big money, but decided that it probably represents good value, with the exposure it gets.

Nice to see people celebrating Motorsport, not pc, but it puts food on my table, thanks Lewis, thanks Charlie!

07.07.08
British GP

We were served a master class on Sunday. I believe that the McLaren was the only car out there that could work heat into those inters, not sure what happened to Kovalainen though, whilst he is clearly quick I get the impression he can’t deal with Hamilton. Many people have made comparisons with Senna’s drive at Donington 1993 so there is no need for me to do that here, but I think this guy will eclipse them all, nice to have something to smile about in these times!

Next year, with less aero could be the best ever.

06.06.08
Racing in the Virtual World

Went down to Eastleigh the other night, to see David Goode at his new place of employment. David has gone from racing some pretty serious sports cars, to racing karts at Daytona, to racing virtual cars on virtual circuits at Sim Racing. Just occurred to me, where do you go from there?

The venue has monocoque like pods that you sit in, wearing headphones in front of a very large screen. First David put me out in a 50’s Ferrari round Imola - which I didn’t enjoy much, kept crashing as I don’t know my way round Imola. I suggested that I may do better on a circuit that I know so DG put me out in a GP2 car round Silverstone GP circuit. That didn’t go to well either, so I was then sent out (virtually sent out) in the Sauber BMW F1 car - better, downforce and brakes - I kept stopping dead out on the circuit. The sound, through sony headphones was great, going through bridge flat in 5th or 6th.

DG then suggested we go round Le Mans in sportscars, great fun, the sound was so realistic that you can actually hear the diff winding up in the slower corners. Because I was so crap DG suggested that he lead, showing the way round for a few laps...DumDum because I decided it would be great fun to have him off. Managed to get in front on the Mulsanne then brake tested him at 168 mph, the look on his face! The resulting accident and all of the other subsequent accidents put a big smile on my face. In fact I smiled all the way back up the M3. There’s a note on their forum saying that Backo’s been banned, I think that must be me.

Sim Racing www.driverschallenge.co.uk

20.05.08
The Italian Job

Kart I was very privileged to be invited out to Italy as a guest of Birel to test some kit earlier in the week. Met up with Andy Cox of ACR and some of the Birel technical people at Circuit De Laghi just south of Milan on Monday morning, spent a very enjoyable and useful day testing some interesting gear in the beautiful Italian sunshine, on very grippy Italian tarmac, could be worse. Tuesday was spent at the factory with the old man, Oscar Sala which is probably the karting industries equivalent of an audience with Enzo.

The technical development that is going on at the factory in Lissone, next to Monza, is fascinating and very timely so keep an eye on the website for developments. Thanks to Andy, Ronni, Dario, Franco and Carlo for keeping me on the black stuff.

I can’t unfortunately say the same for Easyjet who messed things up royally and then compounded matters when I tried to complain. Called their “customer sevice” number and after nine minutes waiting hit a recording that advised me that they were recording the call. When I got through to a lady who was in Poland and advised her that I was also recording the call I was put on hold, she came back on the line and said “we refuse to talk to you as you are recording the call” !

I wonder what they have got to hide!

18.4.2008
Easykart and the power of celebrity

We managed a couple of events for Vodafone last year, one in a square in London and the other at Daytona Milton Keynes. The guest of honour was, of course, Lewis Hamilton and I greatly enjoyed watching him overdriving a Zip Evo JICA on both occasions. This took me back to my early Kart racing days with direct drive, 19,000 rpm and 27 horsepower under your right foot. The problem that I always had was the direct drive, which meant that if you stalled the kart you had to get out, pick the kart up, run with it and then drop the kart, whilst jumping in the seat and hoping the engine would start. Having suffered a big accident in 1985, which left one of my legs broken for 10 years, you can imagine I wasn’t much cop at the kart start shuffle!

Kart After watching Lewis I called Andy Cox of ACR and John Vigor over at Club 100 and arranged to spend best part of an hour on an EasyKart round Rye House. What a blast! I enjoyed it so much I phoned Andy and ordered one. That was last October and I’m ashamed to say that the kart is sitting in one of the Daytona engineering departments waiting for me to go and have a seat fitting! However, this Monday coming, this overweight 45 year old is going to Milton Keynes and I’m going to spend the afternoon reminding myself what it’s all about. The EasyKart has an electric start (oh joy) and a clutch, which means I can get myself going again when I spin off! The only thing that isn’t easy is the brake which isn’t self adjusting but Andy assures me that a self adjuster is on the way.

EasyKart, I’ll never be Lewis Hamilton but if you are determined to have your own Kart I couldn’t recommend it enough.

April 08
Downhill Karting?

I thought I would check out some local competition the other day, so I phoned a nearby indoor skiing place for a snow boarding lesson. The phone was answered... after 13 minutes, by someone who immediately apologised that, as they were covering for someone else, they actually didn't know that much about the product. After enquiring about equipment hire, I booked myself a lesson.

When I arrived at the appointed time, I wandered around a little and struggled to work out the geography. Eventually I found the right desk, only to discover that hiring "all the kit" didn't include gloves and that I had to part with a further £10 to purchase a pair.

I went off to get changed and put my clothes in a locker - which kept the £1 - before going off to the next desk - where they told me I needed to show some paperwork - which was in the locker - another £1. I kitted up for the lesson, after failing to find a helmet that didn't smell or contain a lot of other skiers' hair (not great for anyone, let alone a mild-OCD sufferer like me) and realised that the instructor had started with only half the group being ready.

The 1 hour lesson only lasted 35 minutes for some reason - and we didn't do a lot of boarding as the lift wasn't working and we had to walk back up the slope after each run. I reckon none of the group were happy with the overall experience.

If you have any comments about your experiences at any Daytona venue, I would like to hear about them. Good or bad - let me know by clicking here: feedback@daytona.co.uk