Monte Carlo Historique 2007 - A report from Geoff O'Nion

Following the disappointing events of last year where a broken rear radius arm reduced our efforts to that of survival to finish, in this years event the 997 Mini went well with the only mechanical delay due to a sticking valve in one SU float chamber after a rough ride around the Serre Chevalier ice circuit which was quickly fixed. The conditions for the event were perfect with the arrival of snow two days before the start which provided for a classic Monte. From the start we were holding our position of around 70th position and either 3rd or 4th in class. This remained through to the last leg, the classic night circuit behind Monaco. As we left Monaco there was only 36 second between the top four cars in our class. Unfortunately due to pressure of work leading up to the rally we had only prepared detailed marked up maps of the route up to the final leg and had nothing prepared for the night loop. At the time this was not really a worry as I know the roads behind Monaco and Dave only had to call the times on the regularities. This worked well for the first two stages of the night loop but on the last stage all changed, first we suffered during the climb out of Lantosque with the 997 engine not having the pull on the series of tight consecutive hairpins but the worse was to come on the last 8 kms over and down the Col de L'Orme we hit thick FOG. Now knowing the roads in respect to direction is one thing but to know every bend was another. So sorry to say having already lost time on the climb up there we were both driver and navigator with no means to call the bends, nose to the wind screen trying to judge the road and losing even more time on the way down. So we dropped to 99th position but, we did keep 4th in class.

A good rally and we thoroughly enjoyed it especially the opportunity to drive fast around Monaco on the lower part of the GP circuit and a pleasure to drive with little thought to the reliability of the car which went like a dream. What now, well the car needs a little TLC as the gearbox is extremely tired (drops out of second gear without warning) so as soon as can be arranged the car will be back in the UK with Bill and then next year.....

Geoff O'nion

Happy New Year - The Metro goes Duratec for 2007 ? - 01/01/07

The teams racing commitments have now finished for 2006 but this doesn’t mean that there is no news to report!  The winter months may not see the team in action on the track but there is feverish activity behind the scenes to ensure that the cars are refreshed and ready to tackle another season of hard fought racing next year.  The Hire car will also be making an appearance at the London Motorsport Show promoting the BARC tin top series in which it performed so well during the season. 

Once in the workshop the Mini and Hire car will both be thoroughly checked over and the engines will receive a winter refresh.  The Minis bodywork will also receive some attention as the late season battle damage can now be rectified at leisure.  Both cars will be up and running as good as new for the start of the new season 

The Metro is to be put through a larger program of work as it is upgraded to enable it to take the fight to the turbo charged four wheel drive monsters it now competes against.  Whilst the Metro put in some astounding performances during the season the gearbox failure at Lydden provided the impetus to give the Metro a thorough refresh.  Various options have been assessed and work is currently underway on a trial fitting of a Ford Duratec engine coupled to a Quaife gearbox. 

This will involve some adjustments to the Metros spaceframe chassis as the mounting points need to be modified.  The opportunity will also be taken to remove the Metros bodyshell and give the entire spaceframe a thorough inspection.  Once the final engine installation has taken place the Metros bodywork requirements can be assessed – it’s possible that the pronounced bonnet bulge of the current bodywork may be reduced in size as potentially the total height of the Duratec installation will be less than that of the Cosworth BDH unit it replaces. 

Bill Richards Racing, SEMSEC at Lydden Hill - 28/10/06 

The meeting would be the teams final trip to Lydden Hill of the year as the SEMSEC championship reached its conclusion. With the Metro sidelined by the gearbox problems encountered at the previous meeting the Mini would be the main focus of the teams attention. The Hire Car was also present at the meeting being driven by Mary Grinham who returned to action after a long sabbatical. 

Intermediate Saloons Qualifying 

The Mini was sent out for the qualifying session sporting new wider front wheels and tyres – the understeer encountered throughout the year has lessened but it was felt that an experiment with larger front tyres may offer further improvements. After some slow early laps to scrub in the new tyres the Mini began to up the pace, it soon became clear that the new tyres were working well and the understeer had gone. The session wasn’t all plain sailing however as the Minis accident at the previous meeting had caused previously undetected damage to the Minis steering rack.  In addition to the steering problem the Minis gearbox was also beginning to show signs of end of season wear and tear with gear selection becoming problematic. Despite the problems encountered the Mini posted some impressive lap times and would line up 3^rd on the grid for the race. 

Intermediate Saloons Race 

The team gave the Mini a thorough check over after qualifying to ensure that the car was fit to compete in the race.  With the Mini given the all clear to race some minor suspension changes were carried out before the car was sent out onto the grid. A fantastic start saw the Mini fly off the grid and briefly snatch the lead on the run to first corner! As the pole sitting Escort got up to speed it found a way past the Mini, this manoeuvre also allowed a Midget to pass the Mini and a space-framed Imp also joined the fray. A frantic opening period saw the Imp snatch third from the Mini but as ever the Mini fought back, the two cars going side by side through the hairpin before the Imp managed to finally shut the door on the Mini. 

The Mini continued to hustle the Imp and Midget with the Escort starting to break clear at the head of the field. The pressure exerted by the Mini and Imp eventually told and the Midget made a mistake and span off the circuit and out of contention. The Mini continued to press as the Imp tried to make good its escape the two cars pulling well clear of the chasing pack. With the race at its mid point the Imp slowed and joined the midget in retirement leaving the Mini in a comfortable second place. With no threat to its position the Mini opted to reduce the pace and ease the strain on its damaged steering and ailing gearbox. Even with reduced pace the Mini took the chequered flag in a very comfortable second position to end its season on a high. 

Lydden Hill - Dunlop Track & Race championship - 07/10/06

The team returned to Lydden Hill for the latest round of the Dunlop Track & Race championship, the team would again be fielding all three race cars with the Hire car once more venturing out in one of the supporting races. 

Metro Qualifying 

The Metro had a superb qualifying session, after using the early laps of the session to build up brake and tyre temperature the Metro timed its quick laps to perfection. Finding clear space on the circuit with no traffic the Metro set some consistently quick laptimes in a short burst of high intensity action.  After these blistering laps the Metro finally encountered some traffic and returned to the paddock early to prepare for the race.  The times set during the quick stint would see the Metro lining up on the front row of the grid – a superb performance against very quick opposition. 

Mini Qualifying 

The Mini returned to action with a re-jigged and rebuilt front end after the tie-bar failure in its last outing.  The early laps of the qualifying session were used to not only build brake and tyre temperature but also to ensure that the handling of the car was as expected.  Satisfied that all was well the Mini upped the pace – like the Metro the Mini soon found some clear air and as a result the lap times started to fall.  The session ended with the Mini having recorded a lap time good enough for 5^th on the grid well up amongst the more powerful machinery. 

Hire Car Qualifying 

The qualifying session for the Hire car was stopped before most cars had completed a lap to allow the recovery of a stranded vehicle that had come to grief on its out lap.  Whilst this was recovered the cars formed up on the circuit ready for the all clear.  When the session resumed the hire car struggled to find the same amount of clear air as the metro and Mini before it, the large grid ensuring that track space was at a premium.  After finding a clear lap to record its best time the Hire car returned early to the paddock to allow the team to prepare for the races.  The time set by the Hire car placed it in the front half of the grid mixed in with the sports cars! 

Metro Race 1 

As the lights went out the Metro was immediately passed by an Evo that flew off the line to snatch the lead of the race, as ever the Metro immediately fought back with the front three cars making a clean break from the following pack.  As the Evos lead came under threat from a marauding Escort WRC the metro was snapping at their heels hoping to find a way past the duelling pair.  As the three protagonists continued to jostle for position they were joined by a Mercedes that was recovering from a poor start.  The Metro fought off the advances of the Mercedes the lighter more agile Metro being able to successfully defend its line through the corners.  Just as it seemed that the Metro would prevail gearbox gremlins began to creep in and the Mercedes was able to find a way past.  With the gearbox trouble worsening the Metro pulled off the circuit to retire from the race.  The Metro returned to the paddock behind a tow truck whilst Bill sped back thanks to a taxi ride from Rod Birley.  With the Metro returned to the paddock the team was able to assess the damage – unfortunately the Metro would not be able to start the second race as the damage to the gearbox was not fixable at the circuit. 

Mini Race 1 

The Minis race was to last an even shorter period. A fantastic start saw the Mini immediately snatch third place but before even reaching the first corner the Mini received some heavy contact from a Sierra (incidentally the same Sierra that damaged the Mini in its last outing) – this resulted in a broken wheel, punctured tyre and a broken radius arm as well as damage to the wheel arches, sill and door.  With the damage sustained the Mini had no option but to limp back to the paddock to join the Metro in retirement for the day. 

Hire Car Race 1 

Another great start saw the Hire car launch off the line and head down towards the first corner amongst a pack of Tiger sportscars.  The Hire car held its own within the squabbling pack as it repeatedly traded places with the Tigers as each sought to find a decisive advantage.  The tussling continued through the remainder of the race and the Hire car crossed the line within the same group of cars but more importantly as the first tin topped car home. 

Hire Car Race 2 

With the Metro and Mini forced into retirement it was left to the hire car to uphold the teams honour – and once more it did not disappoint!  In a virtual re-run of the first race the Hire car once more battled from lights to flag within a pack of Tigers time and again stunning the sportscars by passing them and then successfully holding them off for considerable lengths of time.  This dogged battling provided some superb entertainment and once more gave the Hire car the distinction of being the first tin topped car to take the flag – and by a considerable margin! 

The team had a difficult day with the uncharacteristic retirement for the Metro and the Mini being forced out of a second consecutive race through damage caused by another car.  The news wasn’t all bad however with the Metro once again proving that although it may be the oldest car on the grid it’s no slouch and more than capable of holding its own.  The Mini too proved that the speed is there with another great qualifying performance, the great start from the Mini also promised much for the race.  The Hire car punched above its weight all day and romped home in both its races as the first tin topped car home – and it certainly gave the Tigers something to think about!

MiniWorld Action Day 2006 - Castle Combe 

The team made a welcome return to Castle Combe for the annual Miniworld action day, after missing last years event due to racing commitments the team was looking forward to taking part in the popular event.  As in previous years the Bill Richards Racing hire car had a second seat fitted for the day and was used to provide high speed ‘taxi’ rides around the circuit for sponsors, team members, customers, motoring journalists and other interested parties.  This is an opportunity not to be missed as it provides a fascinating insight into just how much work goes on inside the car during a flying lap of a circuit. 

With a long list of prospective passengers the team sent the car out onto the circuit as soon as the pitlane opened, after completing a session the Mini was turned around in as short a time as possible and sent back out with the next passenger on board.  The ever changing weather conditions added an extra dimension to proceedings and certainly kept the team on their feet with frequent setup changes between sessions and tyre changes as required to suit the prevailing track conditions. 

As the day progressed the Mini continued to pound around the circuit, the on track performance of the car and the committed driving style attracting a great deal of attention and many positive comments from those watching.  Indeed the presence of the car on the circuit brought many people over to the teams awning to inspect the car between runs and peruse the merchandise the team had available from sponsors AWS, KAD and Piper Cams. 

After successfully completing runs throughout the morning and early afternoon the Mini developed a minor gearbox problem, with a race for the car looming large the following weekend and with the safety of the passengers in mind the team took the decision to retire the car for the few remaining sessions of the day.  As ever Bill refused to let this dampen his spirits and he promptly set off in search of another car to drive.  This proved to be an easy task and Bill was soon back on the circuit in a turbo charged Mini giving its owner the ride of his life!  

Your webmaster goes racing.....on water, and without an engine !

Since moving away from Kent, your webmaster has also been involved in some racing, mine however does not involve a powerplant built by Bill Richards Racing, instead it's a sailing dinghy, a 'Topper Topaz Race X' called 'Purple Thing' produced by Topper International,  just around the corner from the BRR headquarters at Ashford. I learnt to sail last year at Easter and took part in my first race in the Autumn of 2005. We've just finished competing in the 'Summer Race Series' at our local reservoir and I was placed 2nd overall for the series (I would like to add that this reflects my ability to turn up regularly for races rather than any great prowess at sailing) however I'm absolutely delighted at this small improvement over my previous results. I managed to persuade a local photographer to take some photos of me in action (thanks Roy) as it's quite unusual to see decent photos of a boat in action! The photos were taken on day with particularly light winds although I can assure you that given slightly stronger winds, this particular dinghy has enough power to both excite and scare in equal measure.

Bill Richards Racing - Lydden Hill Festival Of Motorsport 

The team headed to Lydden Hill for the annual Festival Of Motorsport which incorporated the latest rounds of the Dunlop Track & Race Car championship.  As with the previous round of this championship at Lydden the Metro would be making an appearance alongside the Mini as the size of the entry ensured the split grids necessary to run both cars.  As if running two cars wasn’t enough of a challenge the team also entered the hire car into the ‘tin top’ category that was also running at the festival! 

Qualifying - Dunlop Track & Race Classes B,D,E 

The Mini headed out onto the circuit on new tyres and the suspension settings restored to the pre-test setup as this proved to be the most effective.  The early laps of the session were spent bedding in the new tyres and trying to find a gap in the traffic.  With this achieved the Mini picked up the pace and began to record some competitive lap times, it was on one of these hot laps that disaster struck – under braking for the hairpin a tie bar broke on the front suspension.  With the suspension collapsed the Mini did well to get back to the paddock so the team could set about repairing it before the first race. 

Dunlop Track & Race Classes A,C, I 

Whilst the team started work on the crippled Mini the Metro set out onto the circuit, quickly finding clear air the Metro posted some early fast laps before encountering traffic later in the session.  Whilst passing a slower car the Metro was forced to take avoiding action and took to the grass at 100mph!  With traffic an increasing problem the Metro returned to the paddock early as there was nothing to be gained by staying out on the circuit. 

Tin Tops 

After the frantic nature of the previous two sessions the Hire Car had a much quieter excursion – finding clear space throughout the session and avoiding any major incidents the Hire Car was able to put in some quick laps and go about its business unmolested. 

Dunlop Track & Race Classes B,D,E Race 1 

The repairs to the Mini were being completed as the cars were called to the grid for the first race, a final effort from the team got the car to the grid in time – no mean feat considering the work involved in repairing the damage from qualifying.  Rolling starts were once again the order of the day with all the races starting in this manner.  The Mini got off to a fantastic start and headed into the first corner hot on the heels of the leading pack.  As the race developed the Mini entered into a tussle with a Cosworth (a familiar foe around Lydden), the two cars were spurred on by the speed of the other and they closed on the leaders.  However, the race was soon over for the Mini as once again it suffered a component failure – this time a ball joint failed (having been weakened in the qualifying incident – the damage not being visible during the inspection by the team).  The Mini was able to return to the paddock once more for the team to try and get it ready for its final race of the day. 

Dunlop Track & Race Classes A,C, I Race 1 

The Metros first race was action packed from start, a fast starting Evo passed the Metro on the run to the first corner and the Metro immediately set about regaining the lost position.  It wasn’t long before the Metro was able to duck past the Evo and set off in pursuit of the leaders.  Having quickly closed the gap the Metro joined a four way fight for the lead, the group of cars circulating nose to tail separated by inches.  This tussle continued for the rest of the race with the four cars constantly attacking each other for position and the group gradually edging away from those behind.  The Metro took the flag in a fine 4^th position having pushed hard throughout the race. 

Tin Tops Race 1 

A good qualifying session saw the Hire Car lining up in a superb third place for the start of the race.  A good start saw the Hire Car retain its position throughout the first lap and start to open out a gap to those behind.  The leading pair pulled away from the Hire Car through the opening laps as the Hire Car extended its advantage over the chasing pack.  As the race wore on the Hire Car began to gradually reel in the Tomcat that held second position, lap by lap the gap became smaller until finally the Hire Car was in a position to make its move.  As the pair approached some backmarkers the Hire Car seized its opportunity – carrying far greater speed through Paddock the Hire Car was able to pull alongside the Tomcat and take the line for the next corner.  However, the Tomcat was unaware of the Hire Cars positioning and turned into the corner forcing the Hire Car off the circuit!  After a brief trip across the grass and through a drainage culvert the Hire Car returned to the circuit and took the chequered flag in third place.  Inspection of the car showed the damage from the incident to be – a broken tie bar! 

Dunlop Track & Race Classes B,D,E Race 2 

With the Mini repaired once more the team sent the car out for its final race of the day, the non-finish in the previous race meant that the Mini would be starting at the vary back of the large field of cars.  A superb opening lap saw the Mini pick off five of its opponents in quick succession as it began its climb through the order.  As the race progressed the Mini continued to make good progress gaining places lap after lap and gradually closing on the leading pack.  With the race entering its final stages the Mini passed a Sierra but took a hard impact to its own rear wheel as the Sierra tried to fend off the Minis assault.  With the wheel broken and the tyre deflating the Mini had no option other than to return to the paddock once more to complete a day of wretched luck for the plucky battler. 

Dunlop Track & Race Classes A,C, I Race 2 

The Metros second race started in similar fashion to the first – being passed by the Evo on the run to the first corner!  Once again the Metro immediately fought back and retook the place with a superb passing move.  Ahead once more the Metro set off in pursuit of the Tigra holding 3^rd place with the Evo in hot pursuit.  The Metro soon closed the gap to the Tigra and began to search for a way past, as the duelling cars fought for supremacy the Evo was able to take advantage and slip past the Metro to take 4^th!  Once again the Metro became embroiled in a four car dogfight along with the Evo, Tigra and a spaceframed Mercedes.  The duelling cars pushed ever harder and the Metro was able to follow the Evo as it passed the Mercedes.  Once clear of the Mercedes the Metro set about the task of passing the Evo once more but the laps ran out before the Metro could make a telling move and the pair crossed the line separated by the smallest of margins. 

Tin Tops Race 2 

The team worked flat out to get the Hire Car ready for its second race and sure enough it was there to take the start.  With the Tomcat having swapped drivers it would start from the back of the field immediately promoting the Hire Car to second.  The race followed a similar pattern to the first with the leader breaking clear of the field and the Hire Car also pulling out a sizeable gap to the rest of the pack.  After the dramas of the earlier races the Hire Car had a very quiet time running in second place comfortably quicker than those behind.  In the latter stages the Hire Car once more began to close on the car ahead but the flag fell before the Hire Car was able to make a decisive move – the Hire Car finished in a very creditable second place. 

The day was certainly a busy one for the team – running three cars each with a qualifying session and two races all in the space of 3 hours!  Throughout the morning there was a Bill Richards Racing car on the circuit in every session – a fantastic effort by the team.  This feat was all the more impressive considering the amount of work required to patch up the two Minis between races. 

The Mini suffered appalling luck throughout the day  and was always on the back foot after the breakage in qualifying but even with the setup on the car being far from ideal (due to the limited time available to fix the car) the Mini proved that in a race situation it is always a force to be reckoned with.  This was amply demonstrated on the blistering opening lap in the second race when the Mini scythed through the field, the early laps in qualifying also proved that the recent suspension work has paid dividends. 

As ever the Metro proved to be hugely popular, the distinctive sight and sound combining to make the car an immediately identifiable feature of any race in which it participates and it remains a favourite with the spectators. 

The Hire Car exceeded all expectations and gave a superb performance throughout the day and gaining two fantastic results in the races – it may not be as developed as the race Mini but it showed that it possesses the same feisty attitude that serves its thoroughbred brethren so well. 

All in all it was a great day for the team with all three cars able to take positives from the days action and the team can be rightly proud of their efforts during the day.  The team would also like to extend their thanks to Mike Edgell for the spare tie bars!

Stolen Rally Car - Can you help ? - 01/08/06

An appeal from our ace reporter Bert Mk 2:

"Our white Ford Escort Mk2 rally car was stolen from Maidstone at around 10:30pm on the 30^th of July.  The registration number of the car is NLF227V, the bodyshell is fitted with forest arches, a roof vent, Perspex windows and a welded in custom cages roll cage with double diagonal door and rear bars.  The engine is a 2 litre Zetec mated to a Sierra gearbox.  Any information regarding its whereabouts would be greatly appreciated  - bertmk2@fsmail.net "

Dunlop Track & Race Cars Championship, Brands Hatch - 23/07/06 

Qualifying 

The Mini headed out into the qualifying session with the experimental front anti-roll bar fitted once more as the team wanted to evaluate the parts performance on the higher speed sections of the circuit.  The early laps of the session were also used to bed in a new set of brake pads and scrub in a new set of front tyres.  It soon became apparent that the new anti-roll bar was having the desired effect of stiffening the front of the car but the effect was too strong and the car had lost some of its nimbleness through the corners as a result.  A quick dash into the pitlane allowed the team to soften the suspension settings and return the Mini to the track for the remainder of the qualifying session.  A busy session saw the Mini struggling to find a clear lap and even passing slower cars was hazardous as the Mini was forced onto the grass by a slower car inadvertently moving over on the Mini as another car passed it!  Despite all the trials and tribulations the Mini claimed a spot in the middle of the grid - well up amongst some of the more powerful opponents. 

Race 1 

The Mini was sent out for the race with the new anti-roll bar removed and the suspension setup back on a more familiar level.  Rolling starts were the order of the day and the Mini got away well as the lights went out and managed to avoid trouble on the first lap as other cars went off the road in front.  As the race settled down the Mini was closed upon by a Vento and a flying Fiesta, the tussles began and eventually both found a way past the dogged Mini despite the valiant defence it put up.  As ever the Mini fought back immediately latching onto the boot lid of the Vento as the Fiesta made good its escape.  Lap after lap the Mini screamed down the pit straight mere inches from the back of the Vento never giving it a moments respite, as the two cars duelled they pushed ever harder and began to close once more on the Fiesta ahead.  The squabbling pair had soon cut the gap to nothing and both made their moves in quick succession the Fiesta succumbing to the onslaught and falling away.  The battle continued with the Mini continuing to harass the Vento and again they closed on the car ahead - an Audi TT Quattro.  With the Mini pushing the Vento along the pair soon made inroads into the TT's advantage and once again both pounced at the same time to snatch places away from the TT.  As they entered the final lap the gap between the two cars was as small as ever and the two cars flashed across the line a fraction of a second apart with the Vento just holding the advantage. 

Race 2 

The Mini lined up for the second race alongside its sparring partner from the first race - the Vento.  This promised more fireworks throughout the race and once again the two cars delivered.  From the rolling start the Vento just held onto its advantage over the Mini but from the first corner the Mini was snapping at the Ventos heels just looking for the one opportunity it needed to make the pass.  The Minis constant harassing eventually paid off as the Vento left a small gap which the Mini immediately darted into taking the line for the corner and the place.  Once ahead the Mini pulled out a small advantage over the Vento but was soon under attack from a Cosworth that had started at the back of the grid due to an off in the first race.  The Mini couldn't compete with the Cosworths power and was passed along the pit straight, the attack weren't over however as the TT once more joined battle with the Mini.  The Mini began to take more defensive lines through the corners to try and fend off the TT, this allowed the Vento to catch the pair of them and join in the dogfight.  The three cars circulated nose to tail, each seeking to gain the upper hand.  The battle raged on around the whole circuit until the Mini ran over a stray engine part from a detonating Cosworth!  The Mini eased off the pace to check if any damage or punctures had been sustained, this allowed the TT to slip past and take the place.  Happy that there were no problems the Mini once again picked up the pace and closed up on the TT, the two cars separated by the smallest margin.  The Mini was perfectly placed to seize on a small mistake by the TT and nipped through to take the place back, the TT fought back and tried everything to pass the Mini but as ever the Mini proved a difficult beast to pass and valiantly held on to the finish. 

Bill Richards Racing - SEMSEC at Lydden Hill - 08/07/06

The latest rounds of the SEMSEC championship took place at a bright and sunny Lydden Hill, once again Bills day started long before the racing as he again took on an instructional role during the morning track day sessions.  With the track day complete the focus once again switched to racing, but before a wheel was turned in anger there was an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of Nikki Stevens who recently passed away. 

South East Sports & Saloons Qualifying  

The Metro headed out into qualifying amongst a mixed group of Radicals, Caterhams and Global GT Lights as well as a menacing ex Formula Saloons turbo charged Prelude - some seriously quick opposition!  As is customary the Metro used the early laps of the session to build temperature in the tyres and brakes before picking up the pace and putting in some flying laps.  The Metro was able to find plenty of clear air during the session and managed to avoid any serious problems negotiating traffic although the Metro did enjoy a brief run alongside the Prelude as the two cars sized each other up ahead of the race.  With some quick laps under its belt the Metro returned to the paddock early to prepare for the race. 

Intermediate Saloons Qualifying  

The Mini was once again trying out some new front suspension components as the team continues to develop the car, consequently the early laps of the qualifying session were used not only to gain tyre and brake temperature but also to assess the 'feel' of the new components before exploring the performance limits of the car in its new configuration.  With the exploratory laps complete the Mini upped the pace in pursuit of the ultimate lap time, with several quick laps under its belt the Mini returned to the paddock to allow the team to make some further adjustments to the front suspension before the race. 

South East Sports & Saloons Race  

The Metro lined up in the middle of the grid for the race amongst a gaggle of the sports specials - a great performance against the more modern machinery.  The green flag lap saw the Prelude and pole sitting Jade fall to the back of the field as each had mechanical gremlins that would compromise their starts - the speed of the two would ensure that their relegation would only be a temporary measure though.  As the lights went out the Metro flew off the line immediately gaining places as it passed a Global and a Caterham on the run to the first corner, the Metro clung tenaciously to the tail of another of the Globals as the cars competed their first racing lap.  The Metro soon came under pressure from the trailing Global but successfully held off the attacks for several laps before the Global was able to slip past, at this point the recovering Jade also passed the Metro as it sliced its way through the field.  As expected the Prelude soon moved up onto the tail of the Metro, the Prelude tried several times to pass the nimble Metro but was thwarted time and again before finally using its superior power to slip ahead.  As ever though the Metro refused to concede the place without a fight and ducked back past the Prelude under braking the two cars mere inches apart.  The battle continued with the Preludes power once again allowing it to surge ahead on the run down the hill but once again the Metro clawed back the lost ground through the braking areas 

Intermediate Saloons Race  

The start saw the Mini flying off the line once more, gaining places through the first corner and ending the first lap in a superb second position hot on the heels of the race leading Escort.  The leading pair were soon joined by a Cosworth and the Prelude that had once again started from the rear.  The four way fight raged with none of the protagonists able to make a clear break and places swapping corner by corner.  The Cosworth finally managed to muscle past the Mini but as ever the battling Mini refused to give up the chase and several times got alongside the larger machine but was unable to make a telling move.  This dogfight allowed the Prelude to pounce and it swiftly despatched both the Mini and Cosworth but once again the more powerful car had to fend off the Minis darting counter attacks as the nimble battler fought back.  The remainder of the race was a calmer affair with the Mini running in clear air comfortably quicker than all those behind, the only drama being a near miss with an early braking back marker going into Paddock corner and crossing the line to take another class win. 

It was another busy but successful weekend for the team with both cars again running well throughout the day and the testing carried out on the Mini provided the team with some valuable data that will help the onward development of the car.  The Mini also proved once again what a tenacious dogfighter it can be and showed that a well driven small car can take the fight to much more powerful machinery around the tight confines of Lydden Hill.

SEMSEC Announcement - Nikki Stevens - 22/06/06

Bill Richards Racing Hire Car, SEMSEC at Lydden Hill - 03/06/06 

The teams third car was in action again with the now familiar figure of Geoff O’Nion taking the wheel once again. 

Intermediate Saloons Qualifying 

The early part of the session served two purposes – it allowed Geoff to reacquaint himself with the car and circuit whilst also allowing him to bed in a newly fitted set of brake pads.  With the brakes settled in and Geoff comfortable with the car the pace began to increase with the lap times steadily improving.  A half spin at the hairpin (neatly avoiding contact with scenery or competitors) proved just how hard Geoff was pushing the car! 

When the session was red flagged to allow the recovery of a stranded competitor a number of cars returned to the paddock.  Geoff however elected to stay out for the conclusion of the session to get more track time and take advantage of the now largely empty circuit.  

Intermediate Saloons Race 

A good start saw Geoff immediately gain a place off the line and head into the first corner hard on the heels of another BRR fettled Mini.  The two Minis ran nose to tail for a number of laps as Geoff sought a way past the machine ahead.  The pressure finally told as Geoffs opponent made a small error, this allowed Geoff to make a move and take the position.  The battle was far from over and the Mini fought back, each car seeming to have an advantage on different parts of the circuit the gap between the cars ebbed and flowed but the two were never far apart. 

Bill Richards Racing - SEMSEC at Lydden Hill - 03/06/06   

It was another trip to Lydden Hill for the team and a busy afternoon was in store with all three cars in action – Bill driving the race Mini and the Metro with Geoff O’Nion once again taking to the circuit in the hire car.  The team was using this meeting as a test session for upcoming events and both the Mini and Metro were running new tyre compounds from Avon whilst the Mini also returned to the coil spring suspension setup trialled when the car ran on 10” wheels last season. 

Intermediate Saloons Qualifying 

The Mini spent the early part of the qualifying session bedding in the new tyres and building up temperature in the brakes, once this was accomplished the Mini began to pick up the pace.  After a number of laps it became clear that the coil spring setup did not suit the 13” wheels now fitted to the car as the lap times were slower than those recorded on the conventional suspension setup.  The Mini ducked back into the paddock as the session was red flagged to retrieve a stranded vehicle from the circuit.  It was decided to switch back to the standard suspension setup for the race as the testing had proved this to be the best solution. 

South East Sports & Saloons Qualifying 

The Metros qualifying session started in a similar fashion to that of the Mini – slow laps early on to bed in the new tyres before picking up the pace as the session wore on.  Once the Metro got the glorious BDH engine opened up the lap times fell rapidly, the Metro setting a blistering pace around the circuit.  With a number of fast laps in the bank the Metro returned early to the paddock to allow the team more time to get the Mini prepared for its race. 

Intermediate Saloons Race 

With the team having completed the suspension changes in double quick time the Mini headed out to the grid for the race.  A good start saw the Mini battling with the leading pack heading into the first corner, the leading cars establishing a good margin over the bulk of the field very early in the race.  The Mini held on to this group constantly snapping at the heels of the more powerful cars ahead. 

As the race wore on the leading group began to encounter back markers, as ever the Mini was superb through traffic and closed up on the tail of the Cosworth immediately ahead.  As the two cars sliced through the tail end of the field the Mini crept ever closer to the Cosworth and even managed to get alongside the turbocharged beast on several occasions.  Each time however, the power of the Cosworth was just enough to hold off the more agile Mini and the chequered flag fell with the Mini still close on the tail of the larger machine. 

South East Sports & Saloons Race 

The Metro lined up on the grid with its sparring partner from the previous SEMSEC meeting – the monster 5 litre V8 powered Escort, the proximity of the two cars on the grid promised to provide some superb action once the lights went out.  As expected the Metro and Escort rocketed off the line and immediately joined combat, the major difference in this race however was the presence of a Caterham interloping in the battle for the lead!  The three cars quickly dropped the rest of the field as they fought for the lead, the Escort holding the advantage with the Metro constantly threatening to snatch the lead whilst the Caterham tried to find a way past the Metro.  This pattern continued for a number of laps with the entire dogfight separated by the smallest of margins as each of the protagonists fought for supremacy. 

In the closing stages of the race the Caterham slipped past the Metro and the leading pair began to edge away as the Metro lost power.  An electrical fault had brought a cruel end to the Metros race and denied those watching a spectacular finish, the Metro returned to the paddock leaving track strangely quiet in its absence.