SEMSEC News article - 29/09/04 

Where’s The Metro Bill?

"Keen eyed observers will have noticed something different about the Bill Richards Racing camp at the early September race meeting – there was only one car under the awning instead of the usual two.  So where was Bessie the Metro? 

The team had been invited up to Silverstone to take part in the ‘Fastest Mini In The World’ race that formed part of the 45^th anniversary celebrations for the Mini (the Metro was eligible for the race as a derivative model).  Testing on the Friday went well with the Metro trying out various different setups and putting in some seriously impressive lap times. 

The Saturday however did not go according to plan – qualifying was looking good with the Metro again setting some blistering lap times, then it all went quiet.  The Metro didn’t come back round past the team on the pit wall, the car had obviously stopped out on the circuit so the team returned to the paddock to try and find out what had happened. 

Bill arrived back on foot having got a tow back from the far reaches of the circuit, the car itself was abandoned at the far end of the paddock as in typical Bill style he’d forgotten where the team was!   After recovering the car (a lot of pushing – cheers Bill!) an initial check over confirmed Bills fears - the engine had let go in a big way and there was no way the car would make the race.

Fortunately all was not lost as the team had also taken the Mini that Bill also campaigns at the SEMSEC meetings - the car was originally intended to be used as a showcar at Silverstone but was pressed into service as a late substitute with the Metro then taking on the role of showcar (attracting a lot of attention – she may be old but she can still pull ‘em).  The Mini performed exceptionally well and was the highest placed steel shelled car in the final results. 

The nature of the Metros problem meant that it was unlikely the car would be ready for the next SEMSEC event so the decision was taken to run the Mini in both SEMSEC championships for the remainder of the season and retire the Metro for the year. 

So what now for the charismatic veteran? Bessie will be making a return to competition, she’s down but not out.  The team is currently assessing various options, the ageing BDA unit is repairable but newer alternatives are being assessed to ensure that Bessie will be fighting fit for years to come. 

It won’t be long until two cars are once again nestling in the Bill Richards Racing awning – until Bessie returns the Mini will hold the fort and hopefully continue to provide the close fought racing that we’ve seen so far this season."

Intermediate Saloons & Production Sports Car Championship & SEMSEC Super Saloons & Sports

After the initial slow laps to build up temperature in the engine and tyres the Mini began to put in some quick lap times although traffic hampered all attempts to find a clear lap.  It was whilst negotiating some slower traffic that the Mini had a brief airborne moment as it was forced onto the grass by another competitor.  Fortunately no damage was done and the Mini was able to continue the session.  The fastest time recorded was good enough for 5^th overall on the grid and yet again the Mini was at the head of its class. 

A great start in the race saw the Mini immediately gain a place and slot in behind a Cosworth as part of the leading pack of cars.  As is now customary the Mini had a great battle with the Cosworth, lap after lap the Mini was snapping at the heels of the more powerful machine never letting it rest for a second, mere inches separated the cars as they powered around the circuit.  It began to look as though the Mini wouldn’t be able to find a way through as the Cosworth held the line in all the right places, however, fate once again smiled on the cheeky little Mini – as they caught some backmarkers the Mini pounced!  The Mini sliced past not only the lapped traffic but also the bigger Cosworth that couldn’t fit through the same gap the Mini had made such good use of.  The Mini then gradually edged away from the Cosworth and took a superb 3^rd overall and another class win. 

South East Sports & Saloons & Credit Professionals Sports & SEMSEC Super Saloons & Sports

The Mini was again filling its role as ‘super-sub’ for the absent Metro, the car being tasked with bringing home as many points as possible to go towards the championship.  Before the qualifying session some minor changes were made to the suspension setup to fine tune the handling of the car, these changes worked wonders as the car was immediately on the pace and produced some very impressive quick laps that were an improvement on the first qualifying session.    The Minis best time put it amongst the front runners of the steel shelled cars and ahead of some of the sports specials! 

Another good start in the race saw the Mini gain several places that it was comfortably holding when the race was red flagged to allow the recovery of another competitors vehicle that was stranded in a dangerous position.  The cars reformed on the grid in their original starting positions so unfortunately all the Minis good work was undone.  The restart wasn’t as kind to the Mini as the first start - the tyres were beginning to wear and the Mini couldn’t get the necessary traction off the line.  Despite the tyre situation the Mini was still able to hold its own, again the Mini got ahead of a Cosworth and began to pull away lap by lap.  The Mini spent the remainder of the race running largely in clear air with no pressure from other competitors and was 2^nd home in its class – another useful haul of points for the championship. 

It was another great day for the team with the Mini again running faultlessly all day and putting in some great performances to take a 1^st and 2^nd in class – results that keep the Mini well in the hunt for both championships with one round to go!

Production Sports Car Championship & Intermediate Saloons Championship 

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A good start in the race saw the Mini going into the first corner in the leading pack although one of the Cosworths did manage to sneak past after getting a superb start.  The next ten laps saw the Mini battling with the Cosworth trying to regain the position, every corner presented the Mini with an opportunity to attack the more powerful machine, at times there were only inches separating the two cars.  Finally the pressure told – the Mini outbraking the Cosworth and holding the inside line for a corner.  Once in front the Mini was able to pull out a gap which steadily increased lap after lap until the flag, the Mini coming home a superb 3^rd overall and with yet another class win under its belt. 

Credit Professionals  SEMSEC Super Saloons & Sports Car & South East Sports & Saloons 

With the Metro still sidelined following the problems at Silverstone the Mini was entered for a second race to keep the teams championship alive.  To comply with the entry requirements for the class the Mini was transformed between the races by the addition of a modified bootlid with a unique in-house spoiler attached. 

Qualifying saw the Mini again setting consistently quick lap times although traffic was more of a problem as the entry for this race was very large.  The Mini secured the fastest qualifying time of any steel shelled car and lined up on the grid having set a time mere tenths away from the bike engined sports cars in front. 

The race followed a similar pattern to the first, the Mini got away from the line well but this time was jumped by an Escort.  The Mini hounded the Escort for a number of laps and picked off one of the Radicals in the chase.  As they encountered traffic at the tail end of the field the Mini was able to reduce the gap to the Escort further.  Whilst negotiating one of these back markers the Mini was able to take advantage of a mistake by the Escort and sneak past around the outside to grab the position.  The Mini then held its position comfortably to the flag for another class win and the honour of being the first steel shelled car across the line. 

Silverstone - Fastest Mini In The World Race 7th & 8th August 2004

As part of the event to celebrate the Minis 45^th anniversary a race was held to determine the fastest Mini (or derivative car), naturally the team jumped at the chance to mix it on track with the cream of the Mini world. 

Arriving at the circuit on Friday the advanced party set about testing the cars and determining race set-ups.  Both cars ran faultlessly throughout the day, the Metro having its set-up fine tuned throughout the day to achieve some seriously impressive lap times whilst the Mini was quick straight out of the box and immediately on the pace. 

Saturday morning saw very high temperatures for the qualifying session as the Metro took to the track, weather conditions that were to become a feature of the weekend. After a number of slow laps to build up tyre and engine temperature the Metro began to pick up the pace, after setting a blisteringly fast time the Metro suffered a technical problem and was forced to sit out the remainder of the qualifying session.  The time recorded was however 3^rd quickest overall. 

After an investigation into the problem it was deemed impossible to get the Metro back on track given the facilities at the teams disposal – this could have meant withdrawing from the event but fortunately the team was able to substitute the Mini for the Metro and go racing!  The Mini had to run out of session to qualify and put in a number of useful laps picking up the pace well. 

As a result of the vehicle switch the Mini had to start the first race from the back of the grid. As the lights went out the Mini rocketed off the line despatching a number of cars before the first corner, the quick lap times seen in testing were repeated in the race and the Mini scythed its way through the field.  The heat accounted for a number of other cars but the Mini didn’t miss a beat on it’s way to a superb 4^th place finish. 

Sunday saw the high temperatures return and the casualties from the previous days racing had also recuperated so it was again a full grid, this time with the Mini starting from its finishing position in the previous race of 4^th. 

Another great start saw the Mini challenging the leaders into the first corner, however, the spaceframe opposition was able to edge away and the Mini settled into 4^th place which it held for the opening laps until a hard charging spaceframe Mini came past after having started at the back of the grid following technical problems in the previous race. 

The Mini then joined battle with another Mini and spent the remainder of the race having a highly entertaining race with another Mini, the two cars frequently breaking the timing beam mere hundredths of a second apart – a great battle that was really appreciated by the crowd.  The Mini took the flag in 6^th place overall – another great result against some very impressive opposition. 

Over the course of the weekend the Mini proved itself to be incredibly quick and reliable, the car performing faultlessly throughout the whole weekend and showing itself to be the fastest steel shelled Mini over the two races.  On and off circuit the two cars attracted a great deal of attention from both the general public and racers alike, crowds regularly forming around the cars on their return to the paddock.