Bill Richards Racing 2007 Season Review - 03/01/07 

2007 has been a busy year for the Bill Richards Racing team with multiple cars being campaigned throughout the season.  The main focus for the team this year has been the BARC Dunlop Motorsport News Saloon Car Championship in which Bill competed using his 8-port Clubman.  The DMN Championship attracts a wide variety of machinery from flame spitting WRC cars to lightly modified hatchbacks.  The Clubman competed in Class E for cars up to 1600cc, this class featured a glut of Minis (a large proportion of which are BRR prepared!) as well as hot hatch Fiestas and Novas. 

As ever the mixed class racing provided some interesting on track battles, one of the most memorable moments from the season was the sight of Bills Clubman overtaking an ex-DTM Mercedes around the outside of Druids at Brands Hatch!  The battles within Class E were fierce, throughout the season the main opposition came from Peter Crewes with his 7 port Mini and Lees BRR powered machine.  Going in to the final round at Brands Hatch any one of the three drivers was in with a chance of winning the championship as the Minis dominated the class.  With the Championship at stake Bill pulled out another vintage performance and took the title. 

Over the course of the season the Clubman once again proved to be a highly competitive package even winning races outright on the tight confines of Lydden Hill – no mean feat given the strength of the opposition.  The results gained throughout the year once again prove Bills credentials as both a driver and engineer with the Clubman being seen by many as the ultimate steel shelled Mini.  The championship win is a richly deserved reward for the teams hard work throughout the season and demonstrates that although the Mini may not be the most modern car out there it is still a very competitive option. 

The Hire Car made a number of appearances throughout the season at SEMSEC meetings (often alongside the Clubman) and also in the BARC Tin Tops where it produced some truly remarkable giant killing performances and never failed to provide entertaining racing.  The Hire Car also undertook its role of ‘taxi’ for the Miniworld action day at Castle Combe where it provided high speed rides for sponsors as well as raising money for the Kent Autistic Trust. 

The team will certainly be busy over the winter, the Clubman will receive an overhaul whilst the Hire Car will be reshelled following the damage it sustained in its final outing of the year.  In addition work will continue on the Metro and it is anticipated that the veteran spaceframe will be back in action next season. 

P.S. I'm sure that I speak for the rest of the Bill Richards Racing team when I offer my most heartfelt thanks to Bert Mk II for his sterling efforts in providing us with prompt race reports and excellent quality photos throughout the year. Good luck with your rallying in 2008,

BARC Dunlop/Motorsport News Saloon Championship at Brands Hatch 03 and 04 November 2007 

The team headed to Brands Hatch for the final two rounds of the BARC DMN championship.  The meeting was sure to be exciting as any one of three cars could win the class championship with the Clubman sitting second in the standings prior to the meeting.  Various scenarios had been calculated and the Clubmans targets were clear – beat the green and pink Mini and match whatever the yellow Mini could do – other permutations could come into play but were out of the Clubmans hands so the strategies were built around these objectives. 

Qualifying 

The Clubman headed out into the qualifying session with the circuit bathed in weak autumnal sunshine.  The early part of the session was used to build tyre and brake temperature before attempting to set a quick time, with a capacity entry plus reserves traffic would prove to be a problem throughout the session.  The Clubman managed to find some clear air and began to bring down the lap times improving steadily as the session drew on.  

The improvements were brought to a shuddering halt when a Cosworth turned in as the Clubman was passing it and dealt a shattering blow to the Clubmans nearside front wheel.  With the cars geometry upset by the knock the Clubman returned to the paddock where the team were able to carry out repairs that would see the Clubman able to take the race start later in the day although the setup of the car was now compromised.  Despite the set back the Clubman had secured a position in the middle of the grid and 2^nd in class behind the yellow Mini but ahead of the green and pink machine. 

Race 1 

For this final meeting of the year standing starts were being used and as the lights went out the Clubman rocketed off the line and passed five cars on the run to the first corner including the yellow peril!  It wasn’t long before the more powerful cars that the Clubman passed into the first corner were lining up behind the Clubman and attempting to pass the cheeky blue machine.  After fending off an Impreza for the opening stages the Clubman finally yielded as the turbo engined machine used its power advantage to pass the Clubman along the straight. 

The Clubman still enjoyed a comfortable cushion back to the yellow peril as there were still several cars between them thanks to the Clubmans demon start.  At this stage the green and pink Mini was out of the picture and falling away form the other title contenders.  An extra factor was soon thrown into the equation when a car dropped oil onto the circuit – this seemed to effect the Clubman more dramatically than expected as the handling was still far from ideal after the qualifying incident.  As the race entered its closing stages the Clubman eased off the pace and played safe electing to manage the gap to the yellow Mini behind rather than trying to increase the margin and risk going off on the oil.  As the chequered flag came out the Clubman stormed across the line to take a well deserved class win – a result which would give the Clubman the title if it could either repeat the feat in the second race or follow the yellow Mini home. 

Race 2 

As the lights went out the Clubman once again got a great start but this time the yellow peril stayed with the Clubman on the run to the first corner.  The two cars negotiated the corner nose to tail but all around them chaos reigned as contact forced other cars off the circuit.  The red flags came out to stop the race but the unsighted yellow Mini failed to see them and ploughed in to the back of the slowing Clubman!  The impact knocked the rear suspension out of alignment and would cause handling problems throughout the entire rerun. 

The restart saw the Clubman again get away well but this time it was the yellow peril that had the advantage going into the first corner.  All cars made it successfully through at the second attempt and the race was on.  The Clubman was soon hard on the heels on the yellow peril and searching for a way past whilst the green and pink machine sought to pass the Clubman.  For several laps this pattern repeated until the yellow Mini and the Clubman made a decisive break and continued the dogfight as a pair.  After getting a good exit from the final corner the Clubman ran in the slipstream of the yellow Mini along the main straight before out-braking it into Paddock Hill Bend and retaking the class lead. 

The fight was not over though as the yellow peril sought to regain the upper hand, the Clubman fought valiantly but the damage sustained at the aborted first start was severely effecting the handling of the car and the yellow machine found a way past.  The position held by the Clubman at this stage was good enough to take the Championship so the Clubman once again elected to hold station rather than risk the car with a death or glory passing attempt on the yellow peril.  The two cars flashed across the line seconds apart taking the chequered flag to end another season of fantastic racing. 

The team can once again be very pleased with their weekends performance – the Clubman delivered another class win (and a second in class) as well as setting the outright lap record for the class during the first race!  Knowing the required results from the meeting also allowed the team to manage the race strategies – this became crucial after the damage received in the aborted start of the second race and ensured that no unnecessary risks were taken. 

The results gained at this meeting also give the team the class Championship win for the season – a great reward after a long hard season of racing and once again proves that the Clubman is a highly competitive package.  Once again the Clubman also proved the popularity of the classic Mini with the public as the packed grandstands cheered the plucky little machine throughout both races and flocked to see the car in the paddock between races. 

Your Webmaster goes racing too - 20/10/07

Rather than let Bill get all the glory, your webmaster has also been involved in a bit of racing.......except mine has been on water. The weekend of the 20th/21st October 2007 saw me involved in the FatFace/Gul RS inlands at Rutland Water. My class racing was for single handed sailing dinghies, called RS Vareos. I finished the event in 18th position out of 22 entrants, not brilliant , but one place better that my previous race, an improvement especially as winds were very light (not good for a lardy bloke).  

See race report at: Yachts and Yachting.com 

Many thanks to 'Fotoboat' for the excellent photo, yes that really is me sailing it ! 

SEMSEC Championship at  Lydden Hill - 27/10/07 

The team headed to Lydden Hill for the final time this season and the last round of the SEMSEC championship.  With the Clubman only having participated in selected meetings during the season the teams objective for the day was to give the Clubman a shakedown after its problems at the last event and prepare for the final round of the BARC championship. 

Saloons & Sports Car Championship Qualifying

The Clubman headed out onto the circuit under grey skies for the fifteen minute qualifying session as part of a large field.  The early laps of the session were used to warm the tyres and brakes as normal but also to check that the freshly rebuilt engine was performing as expected.  With a number of laps under its belt and all systems working as expected the Clubman upped the pace and began to set about the business of setting fast laps. 

Throughout the session traffic remained a problem but the Clubman found enough clear air to post a succession of fast laps.  As the session drew to a close the Clubman returned to the paddock for a check over prior to the first race.  The engine had proved its strength with a stunning lap time that put the Clubman firmly on pole position! 

Saloons & Sports Car Championship Race 

The Clubman lined up on pole position once more for the start of the race but as expected as the lights went out the Clubman was jumped by a fast starting space-framed Starlet and Imp, the space-frames making good use of their weight advantage and rear wheel drive to leapfrog the Clubman on the run to the first corner.  As ever the Clubman immediately sought to regain the lost positions and set about harrying the space-frames.  The Starlet soon took the lead from the Imp and the Clubman swiftly demoted the Imp to third with a well executed pass.  The Clubman was soon hot on the heels of the Starlet with the Imp also in close attendance and the three battling protagonists soon pulled away from the rest of the field. 

The scrapping trio continued to lap nose to tail with the Clubman continually searching to find a way past the Starlet, several times the Clubman pulled alongside the space-framed car but a decisive move just eluded the hard charging Mini.  After several more laps of thrilling wheel to wheel racing the Clubman seemed to have a good run on the Starlet and made a move on the entry to the hairpin – the Starlet closed the door very late and the Clubman took avoiding action across the kerbs.  The jolt received as the Clubman crashed to earth took its toll and the gear linkage failed jamming the Clubman in gear.  With the chance of the victory gone the Clubman retired to the paddock after a stirring drive. 

Dunlop Motorsport News Championship at  Lydden Hill - 06/10/07 

The DMN Championship returned to Lydden Hill for the final time this season under clear blue skies.  The field would once again be running with split grids, Classes A and B would run together and Classes C, D and E would form the second grid. 

Qualifying 

The Clubman headed out into the Qualifying session hoping to continue its recent run of good form during the short sessions.  After some slow early laps to build up tyre and brake temperature the Clubman picked up the pace and began to bring down the lap times.  As the session wore on the Clubman found a gap in the traffic and put in a blistering flying lap that would give the Clubman 2^nd on the grid and a place on the front row. 

Race 1 

Standing starts were the order of the day and as the lights went out for the first time the Clubman rocketed off the line and took the lead on the run to the first corner.  The pole sitter was soon under attack as the rest of the pack closed in and this allowed the Clubman to make an early break.  With the cars behind squabbling for position the Clubman took full advantage and opened up a big gap to the rest of the field. 

With the Clubman now fully in control of the race it eased off the pace and held the gap to the chasing pack.  Finally a Megane broke free of the chasing pack and began to close the gap to the Clubman.  Seeing the gap reducing the Clubman once more picker up the pace and began to edge away again.  The race seemed to be in the bag but then disaster struck with the Clubman pulling off onto the infield and retiring, having suddenly lost drive there was no option but to pull the car off the circuit to safety and retire from the race. 

Race 2 

The team were unable to repair the Clubman in time for the second race but with the agreement of the Clerk of the course the Hire car was able to step in and compete in the second race (thanks must go to Gemma Morris for the loan of a set of wheels and slicks!).  With the non-finish in the first race the Hire Car would start from the back of the grid. 

As the lights went out the Hire Car rocketed off the line and passed four cars on the run to the first corner!  The Hire Car continued to make good progress through the field briefly battling with a pair of Escorts before pulling clear and setting off in pursuit of the leading pack.  The Hire Car closed down the leaders and was soon hot on the heels of the 3^rd placed Mini, the Hire Cars power deficit showed on the run up the hill but it was able to regain the lost ground under braking and tenaciously hung on to the leading trio. 

Just as it seemed that a phenomenal result was possible fate dealt another cruel blow, one of the tyres had been rubbing on the bodywork and as the Hire Car accelerated out of Pilgrims the tyre exploded pitching the Hire Car off the circuit and into the tyre wall.  The Hire Car sustained heavy front end damage that ended its race on the spot, fortunately Bill was unhurt in the incident. 

A double DNF for the team shows that sometimes motorsport can deal a very cruel hand – the Clubman was leading comfortably until its retirement and posted the fastest race lap whilst the Hire Car punched well above its weight until the tyre exploded.  The Hire Cars performance was all the more impressive as it wasn’t due to be raced and therefore still had the long gearing used at Castle Combe for the Miniworld Action Day.  Its charge through the field and subsequent pursuit of the leaders showed that whilst it may not be as high a specification as the Clubman it is still a very potent package and it certainly surprised a few people!