Ajec Racing Trackday at Gloucester Airport
Discussion
Did anyone do the Ajec Track evening at Gloucester Airport a year or so ago? Seems like our efforts to support the Help for Heroes charity went straight into Laurence Kilby's pocket.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershi...
"One time socialite Kilby, also admitted stealing around £4,000 meant for Help For Heroes when he hosted a scam charity race day at Gloucestershire Airport".
Thankfully, he is now serving 18 years at Her Majesty's pleasure for his drug dealing antics. Sadly, this doesn't do anything for the worthy charity we thought we were supporting. Maybe someone should arrange another evening!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershi...
"One time socialite Kilby, also admitted stealing around £4,000 meant for Help For Heroes when he hosted a scam charity race day at Gloucestershire Airport".
Thankfully, he is now serving 18 years at Her Majesty's pleasure for his drug dealing antics. Sadly, this doesn't do anything for the worthy charity we thought we were supporting. Maybe someone should arrange another evening!
Thanks for posting - very interesting and did not know this. Not only did I go just to watch the ajec track day (main memory: how cool the cars looked on track, and being overtaken by a dismally driven 306 diesel chavmobile on the way there and feeling the event was being overrun by chavs) I also used to enjoy watching a Laurence Kilby and co racing Evos at Castle Combe. Kind of a shame to see this. Racing always was an expensive habit (see Jerry Mahony, 80s BTCC driver also at HM's pleasure right now).
Yep, I went to that event. I remember at the time finding it odd that no grand total of all the money raised was ever announced. We all dug deep that day, so it really is a massive insult to both the charity and those that got their wallets out. I read about the story yesterday, but I was too enraged about it to post anything on here. I had felt really proud that we had all come together to raise valuable funds for such a worthy cause, now this just makes me feel sick. With any luck VBRJ will prevail whilst he's in the clink.
Edited by blueroom on Saturday 25th August 12:25
bulldog5046 said:
I remember hearing about their raids last year. I passed their business recently as it's near work and they still seem to be trading.
It did seem odd how much of a presence they made at castle combe all of a sudden some years ago, they jsut came out of nowhere!
You're right. Suddenly sponsoring action days with big marquees, promo girls and Matt black supercars to go with the Evo race car. I presume it was trying to live the lifestyle as a racer and feeding his business ego that saw him looking for those 'alternative' revenue streams!It did seem odd how much of a presence they made at castle combe all of a sudden some years ago, they jsut came out of nowhere!
blueg33 said:
I went on that track day, I knew he had been busted for drugs (AJEC was a front) but I didnt know about the Help for Heroes money! That really pisses me off.
Quite, there were quite a few unsavoury characters up there. I spent quite a few quid that day. Seems H4H is a victim of it's own success and as a result gets abused by these sorts of clowns. As the Operations Director at Gloucestershire Airport, who ultimately gave approval for the event to go ahead, I have to express our sadness that somewhere between £3-4000 was stolen from Help for Heroes. That Mr. Kilby pleaded guilty to the charges is no consolation to the AJEC staff and my own teams, who worked exceptionally hard to put on what we believe was an enjoyable event. I'd also like to express my thanks to all of you who participated and gave so generously for an exceptionally worthy cause.
From the Airport's perspective, we were, at the time, happy to allow Mr. Kilby to undertake all the administration and paperwork for the event, especially as AJEC were providing the rolling road sessions and charging participants directly. We did this in good faith and the theft itself was only brought to light following an anonymous tip off form a member of the public.
It is very unlikely that such an event will be staged here again. The logistics involved and preparations required are too onerous to integrate with the day-to-day operations of what is the UK's busiest general aviation airport. Nevertheless, the Airport has continued to support Help for Heroes and other charities in various other ways and will continue to do so. The Aviator Restaurant continues to be a popular meeting venue for bikers, vintage enthusiasts and other 'pistonheads' and I'd encourage you all to visit and perhaps give flying a try while you're here!
From the Airport's perspective, we were, at the time, happy to allow Mr. Kilby to undertake all the administration and paperwork for the event, especially as AJEC were providing the rolling road sessions and charging participants directly. We did this in good faith and the theft itself was only brought to light following an anonymous tip off form a member of the public.
It is very unlikely that such an event will be staged here again. The logistics involved and preparations required are too onerous to integrate with the day-to-day operations of what is the UK's busiest general aviation airport. Nevertheless, the Airport has continued to support Help for Heroes and other charities in various other ways and will continue to do so. The Aviator Restaurant continues to be a popular meeting venue for bikers, vintage enthusiasts and other 'pistonheads' and I'd encourage you all to visit and perhaps give flying a try while you're here!
Yup, I was there too, I'm surprised it's only £3-£4k, I would have expected a lot more given the turnout. Maybe it was?
When I arrived, I was expecting a handful of PHers to have a razzle round the airfield, so the turnout was a big surprise. But agreed with above, too many chavs.... If I'd known it was going to be so busy, I would have suggested us lot have a meeting point separately, as it was, I spent the evening chatting to people I know rather than mingle with the Evo IV-with-huge-wing crowd.
Shame it's unlikely there will be another one, but totally appreciate the logistics must be incredibly difficult for a 'working' airfield. Even the MSE track days must be difficult to organise, and they're on totally closed airfields!
I guess if it was a regular thing it would be easier to arrange, but for a one-off event, hats-off to the airport guys for letting it happen.
When I arrived, I was expecting a handful of PHers to have a razzle round the airfield, so the turnout was a big surprise. But agreed with above, too many chavs.... If I'd known it was going to be so busy, I would have suggested us lot have a meeting point separately, as it was, I spent the evening chatting to people I know rather than mingle with the Evo IV-with-huge-wing crowd.
Shame it's unlikely there will be another one, but totally appreciate the logistics must be incredibly difficult for a 'working' airfield. Even the MSE track days must be difficult to organise, and they're on totally closed airfields!
I guess if it was a regular thing it would be easier to arrange, but for a one-off event, hats-off to the airport guys for letting it happen.
Darren Lewington said:
As the Operations Director at Gloucestershire Airport... The Aviator Restaurant continues to be a popular meeting venue for bikers, vintage enthusiasts and other 'pistonheads' and I'd encourage you all to visit and perhaps give flying a try while you're here!
Interesting, and thanks for posting here with the offer and woth your side of things.Perhaps there could be a pistonheads meet at The Aviator. A la Virgina Waters meet.
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