Tuesday 29th August 2006

Track day held for charity

Drive Brands Hatch and help beat cancer

---

Brands Hatch

Circuit Driver magazine is holding a charity track day in memory of Bob MacLaren at Brands Hatch on 4 September. It costs £199.

McLaren, who died of cancer last November, was the company's MD. He was the driving force behind Circuit Driver magazine and a strong supporter of track days. Before he died, he had been working on plans for a charity track day event with Jonathan Palmer in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital, Ipswich hospital's Sommersham Ward and the St Elizabeth Hospice, where he underwent treatment.

Those at Circuit Driver want to carry on the good work and to raise as much for Bob’s chosen charities as possible. hence 'Drive for Life', next month's track day in aid of the Royal Marsden.

Jonathan Palmer has donated the track for free and support has been given by Porsche Cars GB, Caterham Cars and Subaru. All will be bringing cars along for hot laps. Also available for passenger rides will be Nick Mason's Le Mans Ferrari Daytona. Derek Bell will be a special guest and while it's not been confirmed, but seems very likely that there be an auction for a ride with Derek in the Daytona.

On top of this there is a charity lunch with a tombola and some great prizes -- definitely not your usual tat.

• www.motorsportvision.co.uk/bobtrackday

[jim..c]

Toniq-R will also be giving passenger rides on the track - with both the Fireblade and the Duratec variant there.

[Guillotine]

We would definately have supported this event with our cars had we not been previously booked.

All the best for a safe and enjoyable day.

andy
www.tvrmonster.com
www.tvrcc.com

[track86]

For anyone interested in this day the Ferrari Daytona has been replaced with Nick Mason's McLaren F1 GTR. You will be able to ride in this for a mere £40 with Mark Hales. Derek Bell will be hosting the event and we're confident that we will be auctioning a ride with Derek in the Macca too. Porsche GB will be supplying two 911s with instructors and Caterham will also be supplying cars for rides. Raffle prizes range from Road Angels to Mini and BMW pedal cars and a week in St Lucia.
Circuit Driver

[godzilla]

You're kidding; £40 for a lap in an F1 with Mark Hales? Where do I sign?!

If there are still spaces I'd like to take the Z06 out too.

[godzilla]

Booked it! They still have places. A very worthwhile cause.

[track86]

Well done. How about a few more? There's still places and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

[godzilla]

track86 said:

Well done. How about a few more? There's still places and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Is there any way of pre-booking a ride in the F1? I imagine that's going to be pretty popular!

[godzilla]

Well that was one of the best track days ever!

Very relaxed, not too many cars and some great characters like Derek Bell and Mark Hales there (and a certain Mr P Ted )

I got there at about 10:30am and put myself down for the F1 p-ride and got in just before the end of the day at 4:45pm! Well worth the wait as Mark Hales is such a relaxed and smooth driver and the Macca was amazing despite being on 10yr+ old Michelin MXXs that had age-hardened into Bakelite!

Of course in the meantime I was having a ball in my Z06 which surprised and impressed some people I think...

There was a surprisingly good charity lunch at the Kentagon hosted by Derek who gamely drew loads of raffle tickets to raise more money for the Royal Marsden.

A great day which I hope will become an annual event.

Emma, I hope you think that Bob would have been proud of the day. Our thoughts are with you and your daughter...

[legaleagleboy]

It was certainly a good day, I endorse everything godzilla posted -- (I for one was impressed how fast his Corvette went)

What made it so good was the sense of everyone supporting a common cause, something that is not there on a plain trackday - some famous names made it special - a civilised lunch all together was a nice touch as well -- got close but missed out on the raffle, wow! some of the items well worth having.

Special mention to Jonathan Palmer (who was not in attendance) but who gave the circuit for free. Had a Pink Floyd album ready for Nick Mason to sign, we got his McLaren F1 GTR but he was apparently en route to the States -- so put the CD on and played it Stig like as I lapped round!

The sun shone, driving standards were good and I suspect a good load of money was raised for Bob's good causes.

Very well done to all.

paul (white 968 porker)

[biglump]

Hello, I have to say that you all looked like you were having a blast, quite literally! I came in very late for the Novice evening afterwards in my Vauxhall "are brakes an optional extra?" Monaro - If I'd have thought about it I'd hve dropped in much earlier and tagged a ride with you boys (and yes the 'vette was flying!) Some other fantastic motors aswell - Well done to whoever organised it and I hope you managed to raise a few quid! Keep it sideway....Mike

[calypsoelise]

just like to add my thanks to everyone involved at both CD and MSV.

was a fantastic day - even the sun shone which makes a change recently

track maners were superb - especially with such a wide range of machinery

organisation was perfect - from sign on to the great lunch and raffle (nice prize in pocket )

i'm sure lots of money was raised and those that knew bob thought it was a fiting tribute - which was what it was all about.

would love to see it again next year as well.

red s1 elise..

[jim..c]

What a great day. Will treasure Bob's Garage thermometer - won in the raffle, and well, for a small company doing a big launch some priceless moments, Petrol Ted's laps included:



We couldn't get this gentlemen out of the car!



Great bloke, rather intimidating to give a passenger ride to, and then fast straight out of the box, funnily enough! We had to flag him down after 6 laps as we were worried that he'd run out of fuel...

Edited by jim..c on Tuesday 5th September 09:49

[track86]

Many thanks to all the PH members that came along to Brands. We had a great day and we're determined to make this an annual event. We've certainly got something build on and Bob would have loved it. We haven't got a final total yet but it will certainly be in excess of £10,000.
Steve Bennett,
Circuit Driver

[shutter-nutter]

For anyone interested, the pictures are now available from Monday's Charity Track Day at Brands. Go to What A Picture.

All proceeds taken from web orders will go to the selected charities (The Royal Marsden Hospital, Ipswich Hospital's Somersham Ward and St Elizabeth's Hospice, Ipswich).

Enjoy and please dig deep!

Thanks

Charlie Robinson and Antony Fraser

Edited by shutter-nutter on Wednesday 6th September 22:35