Welcome to the Oddball Racing site. Here you'll find news and gossip from the soft white underbelly of Motorsport.  Well, National saloon car racing mostly (and some F1). There's also views, photos, reports and action from our very own Oddball Racing Team. We race, we have a laugh, and sometimes we win a bit too.

22nd August 2008
Britcar 24hr Tickets on Sale. 
19th, 20th and 21st September 2008 on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. It's the only GT & Saloon 24hr race in the UK, with entries from across the world. Sideshows include a fun fair, live music, air displays and much more.

Support races include the Toyo Tires Racing Saloons, Porsche GB Cup, Lotus Elise Trophy and Formula Palmer Audi.

http://www.oddballracing.com/24hrposter.pdf   (Adobe reader required).

21st August 2008
Mclaren gain 25bhp from oil.....?
Some interesting thoughts on gains made, engine freeze or not..

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/08/20/mclaren-mercedes-have-25bhp-more/

21st August 2008
Charlotte Vickers TKM 100 engine is, well, stuffed....
News from the engine builders adding the clutch is that it was in quite a state. So much for bargains on E-Bay with fresh engines, it seems the tolerances were a long way off and bits that should have rotated were sticking, and bits that needed to stay away from eachother were meeting very regularly. The engine builder has significant provenance and can demonstrate the problems so no doubt on that. Shame.

The engine should be back together next week, and along with some other tweaks the Kart should again be ready for the next Camberley Kart Club meeting.

We've been receiving lots of help from Jonny Goddard and his Karting Dad Paul, and hope to return the favour should 16 year old Johhny make the leap to cars.

http://www.jonnygoddard.webs.com

18th August 2008
Oddball Team Make Progress and Donington Takes Shape
The bodywork is now fully complete and the front suspension has now been installed on the Lotus Cortina, so expect an update later this week. The accident damaged VW Golf is ready for repair, and Tom has been cleaning the empty engine bay of the Scirocco of years of grime.

Elsewhere it transpires that Charlotte's TKM engine had very nearly popped and is being rebuilt (and a clutch is being fitted) and Donington looks like it's going ahead in 2010.. (Apologies for it being the Guardian).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/15/motorsports.formulaone

9th August 2008
Charlotte Vickers Takes the Stage!
Courtesy of E-Bay. Charlotte has started in the world of Junior TKM Karting. Read the first day report here.

8th August 2008
Pre66 Touring Cars at Cadwell Park
Andy Messham has purchased a grid slot at the 7th September 2008 meeting with the CSCC.

£165 for a 20minute race with a 15 minute qualifying, and a rebate system for cars over 20 on the grid. We'd be there with the Lotus Cortina, but sadly there's too much to do. Best of all, no membership of BARC or the CSCC is required, and CTCRC day membership is available.

A great one off opportunity to wheel out your classic on the mini Nurburgring. For some reason the CTCRC webmaster hasn't posted the details on their site in any public areas, so for more information call the CTCRC on 0870 321 2277.

6th August 2008
Noise problems at Croft?
Rumours reach us that new leaseholders and organizing club, the BARC, are falling foul of noise complaints at Croft circuit. It seems local residents are seeking judgements and compensation. If this proves to be the case, are we at OBR the only people to become more than slightly irritated by those who seek to use such suffocating regulations to achieve their own selfish ends?

It strikes us as unlikely that an individual could purchase a house next to, say, an airport and then be successful in stopping it's use on account of their beauty sleep being disturbed. Indeed the advice in that instance would be to question why you moved there in the first place, and advise you to move back out of your clearly unsuitable house.. The power of commerce one might cynically suggest dictates the approach.

Croft would not be the first circuit to come under attack, Castle Combe is under repeated mortaring, and MSV boss Jonathan Palmer was quoted as saying a large part of his entire day was spent on noise complaint management of one description or another.

Since the world is going mad and permitting the NIMBY's to have a voice far beyond logic dictates, we shortly expect the demise of Farnborough Airshow (noisy), Ascot races (traffic gets bad), Windsor Castle (too many tourists) and the local school fete (well it's just a pain in the ar*e).  

As it's unlikely these people will be machine gunned and dumped in the river, you can instead buy some time by filling in the below petition - it's self explanatory. The powers that be will ignore it of course, but at least we tried.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/livewithit/

31st July 2008
It's a funny old world!
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20612.html

30th July 2008
Stacy Joins the CTCRC
During the summer break for TTRS there are racing opportunities with the CTCRC. Stacy is considering fast tracking the MK1 Golf work to come out in class D of Group 1 Touring Cars, or resetting the RX7 to Group 1 specification for old times sake, but with Stacy and other ex Group 1 pace setter Don Hughes no longer present, he is concerned about affecting the championship for those remaining. 

Other potential opportunities exist in Pre-93's and Modified Saloons for the RX7, and of course Pre-66 Touring Cars if the Lotus Cortina can be completed in time. More soon.

His membership card is of "access all areas" type (as displayed below), so we are sure something can be made to fit in one of their many series. Either way, the CTCRC is where Stacy started racing in earnest and he has a number of friends there too.

They have a meeting at Donington Park this weekend, and are expecting their largest grid of the year. Stacy may be popping up to check out some of the Lotus Cortina's in Pre-66 Touring Cars, and say hello to some people. Lets hope the weather stays good.

27th July 2008
The Scirocco has run a bearing
The engine has been lifted out of the Scirocco this weekend, and we found that it had been detonating badly in number 3 cylinder. It has also ran the bearing as well. Confusion abounds in the team as it looks as though Tom buzzed the engine, but neither Stacy nor Will can see how he managed it with all the time Tom has in the cockpit.. The stripped engine is now off to the engineering shop for some remedial work before it comes back for assembly.

At least we have time on our side, as there is a summer break in the TTRS calendar up until the 19th/20th September. Tom is still under pressure though, and says "I've got 6hrs to get 15 fags smoked, and then 4 weeks to clean the crap from everything. Deep joy.".

21st July 2008
Hot News from us and the Toyo Tires Racing Saloons at Snetterton
A really eventful weekends racing at Snetterton in Norfolk this weekend. The Oddball team found themselves in what they regarded as the worst hotel in the world (the Thomas Paine Hotel) in Thetford (Just around the corner from their other worst hotel in the world, the Breckland Lodge), and decamped themselves to the nearest available rooms instead - the trouble was that they were in Ipswich..

Tom had a sugar low at 2.30am in the morning in their new residence, and was found in his pyjama bottoms wandering around reception shaking a lot and asking for chocolate. Bless the receptionist, as he wasn't sectioned. He was however, understandably a little slower than usual the next day.. Despite this, the VW engine still managed to let go and the guys now have some work to do before the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit round in September.

Will finished 9th overall and won class D (on a full grid of 35 cars), and managed to lose a front splitter in the process.

Andy Hayne's racing debut was cut short after he understeered off at the Bomb Hole and hit the tyres. The damage looked significant but seems as though it's limited to a wing, a door skin, and some paintwork. Again, the guys have some work to do before Silverstone.

Stacy bagged Pole for the TTRS race, but ended up 5th on the first lap. After many position changes in an action packed close race between John Willcocks (E30 M3), Ken Lark (Corrado VR6), Rob Sadler (E30 325), and Kevin Guinness (E36 M3), Stacy took the win by just a few tenths. Stacy is now 5 points behind John Willcocks in the series, with 4 rounds still to run.

The Last Chance Saloons Race (to allow all the TTRS reserves to race) was won by John Willcocks who made an early break from Stacy, Ken Lark and Kevin Guinness.  

Drivers at this event would have noticed something rarely seen at club racing - crowds. Cars in the car parks, and people in the stands not related to competitors. Would you believe it.

Racing Saloons Announce an MSVR deal for 2009 and Beyond
The premier circuit owner in the UK has backed Racing Saloons and associated Production BMW Cup series confirming their long term future, and providing them with a premium calendar along with a permanent Clerk of the Course and Eligibility Scrutineer.

The series will run variously alongside the other series in the MSVR stable, such as GT Cup, Formula Palmer Audi and the Lotus Elise Series with timetabling and paddock allocation shared equally between the groups.

Crucially Project 8 Racing (Organizers) retain full financial control of the series, allowing it to continue the low cost entries enjoyed this year, and allowing them to secure other races where they feel it would add to the 2009 offering.  

http://www.racingsaloons.com

14th July 2008
Thirteen Ways to Spray Champagne
This made us chuckle. Just a bit, but enough to warrant an entry.
http://www.gridcrasher.com/index.php/2008/07/08/f1-manual-thirteen-ways-to-spray-victory-champagne  

13th July 2008
A GT Race Engineer Speaks
An insight into British GT engineering.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/motorsport/default.asp?storyId=18349

11th July 2008
Toyo Tires Racing Saloons Standings
With one week until Snetterton, the top of the TTRS table looks like this (using the British GT points system);

1. John Willcocks - BMW M3 - 53
2. Stacy Vickers - Mazda RX7 - 46
3. Leigh Franklin - Lotus Sunbeam - 46
...
8. Will McAteer - VW Golf GTi - 37 

Can Stacy overhaul John Willcocks before seasons end? Can Will McAteer stay in the top ten? How far down will Tom be? Do we care? Answers over the next few weeks!

TTRS organizers are considering applying for MSA championship status as they have hit well over the 20 car average required. They are evaluating several points systems so they can make an intelligent decision on which one to choose nearer the time. The GT system (halving points for low class numbers) has the drivers approval in discussions so far.    

9th July 2008
More Images from Paul Belson
Paul Belson has been in touch regarding the archive photos of Stacy's Mazda RX7 (2nd July entry).
The two have been chatting and decided that it was Stacy after all, but apparently the oversteer is from some over exuberence coming out of the chicane and starting the long climb onto the start/finish straight, rather than exiting Coram. Paul has very kindly posted up some more images of the Mazda at Snetterton in 2000, and Cadwell Park in 2002.  The latter was the first year of the newly built orange car, and we understand it was not on top form at that meeting due to fuel problems.
It was a tough event by all accounts with the problem not being traced all weekend. Richard Eslick and Stacy were running the car alone unusually. During Friday's test day all the electrical equipment was steadily swapped over with spares, then the fuelling was checked - filters, fuel replaced, and the fuel tank breather verified as working.
Stacy checked the fuel tank breather was clear by climbing under the car and blowing into it. When that appears inconclusive he sucked hard, and promptly passed out from the race fuel fumes. He really should stick to driving..
They did improve the situation, and Stacy just won the class (but not the race) maintaining a 100% class winning record for the season which was later reported on in Motorsport News and Autosport.
After the meeting the mystery was solved. The initial issues were due to contaminated fuel during it's storage between meetings, but during the frenzied diagnosis the carburettor and airbox were removed, and some mastic had made it's way into the carb blocking a jet. Once blown through with an airline the rotary screamed back into life..   

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8829172@N02/2641946066/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8829172@N02/2641948972/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8829172@N02/2641952158/

9th July 2008
Right of Reply for Andy Messham
Regular readers will know how fond we are of these. Please see the 26th June entry for an update from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club's Competition Secretary.

7th July 2008
Fairly amusing Sniff Petrol column this month..
http://www.sniffpetrol.com/

6th July 2008
Another car to the Oddball Stable, and on the TTRS grid

 Will McAteer - "I have been very busy over the past two weekends,  preparing cars ready for Snetterton on the 20th July.  Last weekend it was the Scirocco's turn for her long overdue service and spanner check. Apart from the rear calipers hanging off and a slight misfire I can report she was in rude health!
This weekend was the turn of Oddball's latest recruit - Andy Haines Mk1 Golf GTI. This is my old MK1 from our Group 1 Touring Cars day - you may remember its distinctive red and green colour scheme and recall how very competitive it was.  It even beat Don Hughes' yellow/white Mk1 which is now competing in TTRS. Andy raced the car in Group 1 a couple of seasons ago.

   
After many conversations with Andy on the virtues of TTRS, he was persuaded to join us for the remainder of this season as a warm up to next.
The Golf didn't need too much work, just the usual pre-season servicing and check over. We were however able to remove the 50kg of lead which the CTCRC made us carry to stop the Escort and Fiesta racers whinging!! With this removed and the added bonus of running Toyos the car should be very competitive and even give Don's 2008 car a good race."

4th July 2008
Silverstone Loses the Grand Prix
News reports suggest the British Grand Prix will run from 2010 to 2020 at Donington Park. Donington came up with a £100m investment to improve facilities (including the access roads one hopes!). Rumour has it that Mr Ecclestone himself is an investor.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7489662.stm

3rd July 2008
Karting  Dads are Hard to Shift
Keen followers of Lewis Hamilton's rise through the motorsport ranks won't have missed his claim that he's fitter than Jensen Button. The response from Button was predictably to challenge Lewis to take part in the Triathlon at the end of the month. Jensen put his money where his mouth is and offered £10k to Lewis's favorite charity if he won, and Lewis accepted. Entertaining stuff.
30 Minutes later though and it's all over, Metro reports that Lewis's omnipresent Old Man put a stop to their shenanigans. Shame. There was us thinking a twenty-something millionaire tax exile F1 champion in waiting could make his own decisions..

3rd July 2008
Toyo Tires Racing Saloons - Extra Race Purchased at Snetterton
Reserves kept coming in for this race on the 20th July, and as a result the organizers have purchased a further race slot, effectively making the day a double header. This one was offered to competitors for the princely sum of £80. Top stuff.
This is of course the reason why competitors are encouraged to keep sending in their entries for events already full, as if enough are received solutions can be found.

2nd July 2008
Found on the Web - An old picture of Stacy?
We were sent this photo apparently of Stacy driving an RX3 at Snetterton in 2000.
On closer examination it's clearly a Mazda RX7, not an RX3, which Stacy did drive in that year. It is chasing a Mustang, which again Stacy said could well be Leo Voyazides from that era. What doesn't stack up is the sticker on the back of the car which Stacy doesn't remember, and the description of "chasing someone down".
Given the corner is Coram, which is close to 100mph, looking at the RX7 and the fact that it's off the racing line, it suggests that Stacy isn't "chasing someone down" at all. Instead he's arrived at the chicane out of control and with a full pair of trousers. This is of course if it is him at all. The wonders of the Internet! 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8829172@N02/2600459471/in/set-72157605481490480/

1st July 2008
As we look forward to Toyo Tires Racing Saloons visiting the high speed Snetterton circuit, we've found the following setup guide from a GT racer.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/motorsport/default.asp?storyId=18151

29th June 2008
Race Reports - Rockingham, Brands Hatch uploaded

28th June 2008
Toyo Tires Racing Saloons - Full Grids Again
5 reserves confirmed at Snetterton on the 19th July, and no less than 12 reserves confirmed for Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in late September. See www.racingsaloons.com for more. Spaces are still available for Spa Francorchamps in Belgium in early October, but move quickly if you're interested. They are sure to disappear soon for a full grid of 65 cars to finish the season.

26th June 2008
Hot News from the CTCRC - Competition Secretary Resigns
A communique was received confirming the Competition Secretary of the Classic Touring Car Racing Club has taken the unprecedented (to our knowledge) step of resigning mid-term, including his committee role.
The new Competition Secretary is the well respected figure of seasoned racer and current Mini pilot Andy Messham (previously Pre-66 Co-ordinator). Andy will bring calmness, maturity, and a strategic view to the role. He's also very quick, and so understands first hand the potentially negatively competitive nature of the paddock.
Now he's in charge so to speak (with the eminently sensible Richard Langeveld of course) we think he should be nicknamed "Napoleon". All of us at Oddball Racing wish him the best of luck in his new role, and hope he is able to take the club forward once again.

* Right of Reply 10th July 2008  - Andy Messham would like it to be known that Napoleon was a French loser and objects to the nickname most vociferously.  

25th June 2008
Testing with the Williams F1 Team
Stacy was testing with the Williams F1 Team at Silverstone on Wednesday. He says he leant loads and obviously had never got closer to the action. He even managed to bag a pair of Nico Rosberg's gloves (duly signed) which are now hiding in his kit bag. He reckons they've got to be worth 1/2 a second a lap around Snetterton in July.

23rd June 2008
Very nearly added a new car to the stable..
After spotting what appeared to be a bargain Alfa Romeo 33 race car, Stacy and Will hatched a plan to add it to the stable. The plan was for the car to be tidied up, used as a spare car for non "championship" meetings, for a young Charlotte Vickers to grow into, and even to rent it out to budding TTRS drivers. Of course all that glitters usually isn't gold, and the car turned out to require a lot of work in terms of electricals and worse - it hadn't seen any water in the cooling system for a while. Oops.. Young Charlotte will have to make do with some karting, and a certain old MK1 Golf GTi when the time is right..

14th June 2008
Stacy does the double at the TTRS Brands Hatch meeting
With the RX7 sporting some extra torque following a WGT dyno session, and with some other tweaks fitted such as a GRP bonnet and a revised cold air feed, Stacy stuck the RX7 on pole just in front of the Lotus Sunbeam of Leigh Franklin, and the BMW M3 of John Willcocks. Leigh got away in the lead, but Stacy made the move into Paddock Hill and held him at bay until the end.
For race two Stacy led from Leigh, but then the Sunbeam slowed with fuel problems. John Willcocks took up the cudgels but after 4 changes of the lead Stacy took the win by a tenth from John Willcocks who set fastest lap. The racers then took to the podium and sprayed the champagne. Just like it should be.

Visit the Race Report Section

7th June 2008
Stacy breaks his TTRS duck at Rockingham, Will wins his class, and Tom sets a lap record..
In a wet and oil soaked practice Stacy qualifies 2nd next to a flying Don Hughes on pole. In the race Stacy took the win from John Willcocks, and Will took class honours. Tom looked fabulous while taking the fastest lap in his class. Didn't he do well!?

Visit the Race Report Section

4th June 2008
Whooops! Will's dapper electrically operated fire extinguisher has been accidentally activated..
Fear not. Stacy is just round the corner able to supply, er, a camera, in your hour of need.

1st June 2008
Lotus Cortina update
Check out the Cars section.

15th May 2008
Stacy emerges unscathed from the FIA in Paris following the 2007 Ford Type 9 gearbox case enquiry.