Tag Archives: UK

2017 Formula Vee Calendar

14 Tuesday Mar 2017

Posted by in Formula Vee, Racing, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

2017 Formula Vee Calendar

01 April – Oulton Park

01 May – Brands Hatch GP

27/28 May – Croft

8/9 July – Anglesey Coastal

29/30 July – Cadwell Park (non-championship 50th Anniversary Festival)

19/20 August – Silverstone International

9 September – Rockingham ISSL

30 Sept – 1 Oct – Donington GP

75020snet20002_zpse4hqkjec

And so the 2017 season is fast approaching!

With the legendary Paul Smith leaving Vee in favour of the RGB championship, the battle for the top spot is the most open it’s been for a fair few years.

Martin Farmer is always a threat if he’s able to commit to a full season. Or sticking with Bears, Paul Taylor and Dave Hughes could finally make the impression they’ve been pushing towards for the last few seasons. Graham Gant is always a serious contender in his Worms Eye View car – with the ever-charging James Harridge improving his own home built Maverick and as hungry as ever.

Whenever John Hughes and Pete Belsey put in an appearance they’re straight on the pace, but then Steve Ough is making his return to Vee after picking up a few wins in the Crossle Sportscar in his time away. Ian Jordan must get some luck from his Superman t-shirt soon! Then there are Ben Miloudi, Tim Probert, Craig Pollard, Jack Wilkinson and Maurice Gloster always pushing up to the pointy end – if they can keep some more consistancy they could be in there, too.

Or will Adam Macaulay – the only other person to beat Smith last year – take the British title to add to his Irish success? He’d have to scrape in as favourite for this year.

We may not see Ian Buxton for a while, as his crash at Brands Hatch at the end of last year leaves him still recovering from a broken back, but hopefully he’ll be back on track soon. I think Harry Webb could have been up there if he tried a second season in Vee, but he’s pushing for bigger and better things, and I hope that comes together for him.

Or there are the real outsiders, either brand new to Vee this year, or those like myself – still learning and getting faster all the time, just waiting for everything to click into place. And we’re the underdogs, so everyone wants us to win!

Whatever happens, we’re sure to see a lot of great racing all through the pack – and that’s what always makes Formula Vee such a favourite with spectators and drivers!

I’ll look forward to seeing you all out there!

sjn20photography20fvee-83wm2003_zps08xb6jir

First round of the UK Formula Vee Championship

24 Friday Apr 2015

Posted by in Formula Vee, Racing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

First round of the UK Formula Vee Championship

The UK Formula Vee championship kicks off tomorrow at Brands Hatch!

Unfortunately, I’m not going to be there…

Glenn’s had the heads off the Sheane, and they look fine, so we’re expecting to find ‘problems’ with the crank. Especially as it’s still seized solid.

I shall know more shortly, and try to get pics/vids and stuff, and of course keep everyone updated.

We’ll get out there testing as soon as possible, and have a bit of support from a company who sell action cameras and lots of tech malarkey – there will be far more on this soon, and I’ll do a full blog on camera mounting and what cameras we’ll be using to capture all the action this year.

In the meantime, Brands Hatch should be fantastic!

Paul Smith will be hungry to get some results this year, especially with Martin Farmer not currently planning any Vee races as he concentrates on his excellent HRX racewear brand (seriously, check them out if you’re after a new suit etc).

The usual contenders – Buxton, Belsey, Gant, Pitchford, Probert, Ough, Jordan, Taylor – will all be out this year, and all in for a shout of at least a podium.

Ben Miloudi is still sunning himself in the Bahamas but might fly back for Silverstone, as all those beaches must get boring.

Craig Pollard is bound to be a contender again – especially if it rains!

However, my money for the championship this year is on James Harridge.

The Maverick chassis seems excellent, and was only crippled by the withheld secrets of Formula Vee engines.  They’ve put their aspirations of building their own engines on hold and got a lump in there which may not be the greatest on the grid, but should be enough to see James on the top step.  Maybe even at Brands Hatch.

I’m sure there will be a few rookies making a surprising entrance into the championship *waves frantically whilst trying to look nonchalent*, and some of the other drivers may make that leap to the front pack.

As ever, there will be live timing of qualifying and races online:

Motors TV will be filming at all the rounds (as far as I know), and so it looks like yet another cracking season is about to take off thanks to 750 Motor Club.

I’m going to be glued to the live timing, but my body will be at Prescott Hillclimb this weekend to have a look at something different for the first time.

I’ll probably do a write-up of that, but if you’re anywhere near Brands, get yourself down there for the best motor racing action in the UK this weekend!

Hopefully I’ll be joining them out there soon!

Who’s your money on for this year?

Old Formula Vee Pictures

18 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Formula Vee, Racing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Old Formula Vee Pictures

I know a lot of you who read my blogs are from the Formula Vee world, past and present. 

As you know, the car that I’m driving is owned and prepared by Glenn Hay, who’s been involved with Formula Vee and Super Vee in the UK since it began.  This means there are a few classic pictures around of Glenn and a few of the other racers, and I’m sure some of you will be interested in seeing them!

So sit back and enjoy a few vintage photographs!

Helmet Upgrade: Koden KSC25 Carbon

26 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Formula Vee, Racing, Rules & Regulations, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Helmet Upgrade: Koden KSC25 Carbon

Much as I love my floro yellow Koden, the move to using a HANS device meant my hand was forced, and I needed to buy a new helmet with the SAH2010 approval with the HANS posts drilled.

It was always my intention to get a ‘better’ helmet when I could, so I figured now I might as well spend and get something I’d be happy with for many years to come.

Most of the big names sell their entry level helmet for around £400+, then the HANS posts will cost another £40+. That’s all a lot of money for someone with an Oliver Twist style race budget like mine!

Having been happy with the fit of my Koden, I looked at their more expensive models at the Autosport International Show, and found the fit equally as good, but the quality of their later helmets noticeable better.

Their base helmet with HANS fitments could be had for around £250!  The only limit is that you have to have black or white, so no gaudy glowing colours this time…

However, if I’d bought one of these (and I’d be happy to race in them) I’d have always been kicking myself for not buying the full carbon fiber version – so I did!

The show price from Mark at M&P was an absolute bargain of £350 INCLUDING the HANS fitments!  So for that extra £100, I’d be getting a Koden KSC25 in real life carbon – the likes of which would set you back, ooh, one or two thousand for one of the ‘big name’ brands!

Quality is excellent.  Nothing is flimsy, all the bits join together perfectly, and even the Nomex lining is well-stitched and as good as any I’ve seen.  Weight is a stunning 1330g.  To put that into perspective, as a biker of 15 years riding daily, I buy the best kit I can.  I have never worn a helmet as light as the Koden KSC25, and it’s very, very noticeable as soon as you put it on!

It’s got a trusty double D-ring fastener, and holds my noggin like a sensuous lover.  Or a wrestler about to crush your head like a grapefruit.  Whatever makes you feel safer!  And the button on the front is to release the visor – so no more fumbling around for the lift tab!

As you can see from the first picture, you get a few accessories, too.  There’s the peaked bit, for people who drive closed cars and are deluded into thinking nothing can ever possibly get through the windscreen, so don’t need a visor.  And another bit that I think is a spoiler.  I’ll put that on, if I can – I need to check clearance in the Vee cockpit with the HANS kit, first, though.

You can get spare visors, but I forgot to get one!  I think you can get black/smoke or blue iridium.  I wear blue iridium on my bike, because a) it looks cool, and b) the blue tint gives better viewing definition in cloudy or overcast conditions – perfect for the UK!

I am chuffed to bits with my Koden KSC25.  For the price it’s unbelievable value – but just as a race helmet for ANY money, it’s a damned fine buy!  I’m sure it will do me proud.