Thursday 6th May 2004

Stars out at CSMA Brands Meeting

Meet some legends at Brands Hatch and do your bit for charity

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racingforcharity.com, a fundraising organisation for children’s charities, supported by racing drivers worldwide have announced their first “Meet and Greet” event to be held at Brands Hatch at the busy CSMA meeting on 22nd May 2004.

Star guests, and supporters of racingforcharity, Damon Hill, Sir Jack Brabham and David Brabham are confirmed attendees. Other attendees confirmed include Johnny Dumfries, Martin Donnelly and Julian Bailey.

Ticket-holders will be able to watch all on-track activities and meet & greet the stars in the comfort of an exclusive suite in the Foulston Centre, where complimentary refreshments will be available all day. Off–track activities will include Q&A and autograph sessions with the drivers, a live auction of a wide range of motorsport memorabilia and the sale of merchandising.   

All proceeds from the “Meet and Greet” event will go to children’s charities supported by racingforcharity.com, a non-profit, fundraising organisation set up by David Brabham and a small group of enthusiasts. Further details can be found at www.racingforcharity.com ; the credit card hotline for tickets is 01273 744773.

The “Meet and Greet” event is part of the weekend at Brands Hatch that hosts the CSMA Classic Festival Meeting, a highlight of which will be Damon Hill driving the Lotus 49 driven by his father, Graham Hill, in the 1968 season.

[apguy]

You could also get to meet me!

I'm racing at the CSMA weekend in Group 1 Touring Cars - the series for pre 1983 saloons. Assuming of course that my engine comes back from yet another rebuild.

Having done the CSMA weekend a few times, its a stonker of a day. Its the largest club meeting of the year and they can typically have 20-30,000 spectators on the Sunday. The CSMA and Brands always lay on a family treat, so as well as the racing there is normally funfairs, on track displays and for the last few years an air display.

Look out for a 7.5 tonne blue/white truck in the paddock with a red/white Escort RS1600i (no 24) sat next to it.

[steviebee]

apguy said:

<Tongue in cheek mode> You could also get to meet me! I'm racing at the CSMA weekend in Group 1 Touring Cars - the series for pre 1983 saloons. Assuming of course that my engine comes back from yet another rebuild. Having done the CSMA weekend a few times, its a stonker of a day. Its the largest club meeting of the year and they can typically have 20-30,000 spectators on the Sunday. The CSMA and Brands always lay on a family treat, so as well as the racing there is normally funfairs, on track displays and for the last few years an air display. Look out for a 7.5 tonne blue/white truck in the paddock with a red/white Escort RS1600i (no 24) sat next to it.

Having already met the others, I will be making a bee line for your "enclave!!"

It is a great weekend.

Does anyone know if there's camping available?

[apguy]

Please come across and introduce yourself.

I'm not sure about camping - as I'll be in the paddock in the truck. The CSMA website at
www.motoringandleisure.uk.com/brandshatch.html has more details.

[boxbush]

I don't know about camping, but there were still rooms available at the Maidstone (Allington) Travel Inn when I booked last week. It's about 8 miles away (so I'm told) and only £45.95 per room.

apguy - I'll search you out in the paddock.

Peter.

[boxbush]

Andrew - It was good to meet you in the paddock on Saturday. I was in the paddock again on Sunday but you had the engine reduced to componant parts in the lorry so I though you wouldn't welcome another distraction.

If any other PHers were at Brands at the weekend, I'm sure you'll agree it was a cracking event with excellent racing and even a new Indy circuit track record.

[RichB]

Indeed a good days racing although I must say the format of qualification on Sunday morning offering only a half day's racing caught me out. Most race weekends normally have quali' on Sat and a full days racing on the Sunday. Also with only 5 cars and much quicker than the rest, the Euro BOSS was a bit of a bore, they really need to get another 5 or 6 cars to complete before that will become a series worth watching. Best racing was (as usual) the Mini's closely followed by the Healey and MG's. A decent day though and the air display during the BOSS was timed to perfection! Rich...

[apguy]

Boxbush,

Thanks for coming along and saying hi - its always nice to meet fellow pistonheads.

I had a nightmare Sunday. I blew a headgasket in qualifying and had 2 hours to do a rebuild. Hence the mayhem in the paddock. Found I had a slightly warped head but took the decision to punt a new head gasket in and hope that it would last 14 laps. Unfortunately it blew again the moment I started it up

It was however a cracking weekend for everyone else.

[williamp]

I was there all weekend, but didnt read pistonheads beforehand so didnt say hi to anyone. Doh!

Anyhow, I manged to get into the pits (why more people dont, i never know...) when the Lotus F1 cars were around. I say Damon Hill et al, but unfortunantly I didnt recognise martin Donnelly so I didnt say Hi.

I was also there for the EuroBOSS race, and saw 3 Penthouse Centrefolds. Oh well...

A great weekend's racing. And nice to see the Grandstand free on siuch a busy day

Will

PS Did anyone else see the Mini with its head off? One piston had a valve gone through it, and you could see the pin!!!

[steviebee]

Was a great day although I agree with the comments on the Sunday qualifying.

EuroBORE needs at least 10 cars to make it a worthwhile series IMO. Scott Mansell may be a half decent driver but put my wife in an old Benetton and she'd win against a Footwork and F3000 car!

Watched the GP in the Kentagon which was great fun - particularly when MS planted it into the wall - oh, how we all cheered!

[sb-1]

steviebee said:

Was a great day although I agree with the comments on the Sunday qualifying. EuroBORE needs at least 10 cars to make it a worthwhile series IMO. Scott Mansell may be a half decent driver but put my wife in an old Benetton and she'd win against a Footwork and F3000 car! Watched the GP in the Kentagon which was great fun - particularly when MS planted it into the wall - oh, how we all cheered!

To be fair.he did beat the outright circuit record for the Indy Circuit though!!

[RichB]

sb-1 said:

steviebee said: Was a great day although I agree with the comments on the Sunday qualifying. EuroBORE needs at least 10 cars to make it a worthwhile series IMO. Scott Mansell may be a half decent driver but put my wife in an old Benetton and she'd win against a Footwork and F3000 car! Watched the GP in the Kentagon which was great fun - particularly when MS planted it into the wall - oh, how we all cheered! To be fair.he did beat the outright circuit record for the Indy Circuit though!!

Yes but it was billed as a race not a speed display...

[williamp]

sb-1 said:

steviebee said: Was a great day although I agree with the comments on the Sunday qualifying. EuroBORE needs at least 10 cars to make it a worthwhile series IMO. Scott Mansell may be a half decent driver but put my wife in an old Benetton and she'd win against a Footwork and F3000 car! Watched the GP in the Kentagon which was great fun - particularly when MS planted it into the wall - oh, how we all cheered! To be fair.he did beat the outright circuit record for the Indy Circuit though!!

Yes, but he wasn't at all smooth. I watched it from the back of the pits, and every lap he has to correct his line all the time....

Still, good to have a Brit hold the lap record. As well as Silverstone International and Donnington and...

[bazbarrow]

Williamp said:,

"Yes, but he wasn't at all smooth. I watched it from the back of the pits, and every lap he has to correct his line all the time...."

Williamp, I also watched Scott Mansell for many laps from the pits, so please explain what you are talking about when you say he wasn't smooth!!

Scott is a very consistant driver and he his also a very smooth driver. I would love to understand where on the track you thought he wasn't smooth and had to keep correcting his line? Please explain what you mean.

If you go to [url]www.scottmansell.com[/url] you will find on board video footage of a 38.29 second lap from the morning warm up session. Please have a look and explain to me what you mean, when you say he had to keep correcting?

Thanks
Baz Barrow