Messages

Hi Nick,

Thanks again for helping at the race.
Let me have a postal address, use the e mail address above. Unfortunately I can't get Broadband where I am now living, so the pictures will come to you on a Disc (perhaps you will help by distributing them on to your colleagues.)
Due to the limitations of my Camera, and the lighting conditions some of the pictures are not fantastic, but will , no doubt, revive memories of the night.

Regarding your book, the last I remember was that 'e mail' addresses were being written in it, prior to them being passed to Pete. If, or should I say when, it is returned to you, please can you let me have a copy of the times etc. It would be helpful in my analysis of the race.

thanks again

Bob

Hi Matt,

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the weekend, I was afraid that you might have gone away disappointed considering our lowly finishing position, we did however try our hardest to ensure that you got your full quota of driving time, hopefully we succeeded.
Also, hopefully, if all goes well, you will consider driving for our team again next year, however, if you were, understandably, drawn toward another team, I would be pleased to endorse your suitability
The Car 29 team of Student helpers I thought were amazing, especially considering their lack of any 2CV experience, and I would be more than happy, indeed keen to work with them again.
I believe some mistakes, errors of judgement and unfortunate decisions, occured before the event and for my part in any of that I apologise, especially for failing to have my race engine completed in time for you Guys to use.
So, as Race Manager for the team on the day, I would like to thank you, our other Drivers and our 'Students' for your patience, commitment, feedback and understanding throughout the race. I admit to having various reservations concerning the lack of 24 hour race, and 2CV Racing experience of our Team Drivers, all reservations proved to be unfounded.
For my part, I departed the Circuit disappointed of course, but amazingly, less disillusioned than in 2007...............but still don't ask me to drive Keith!

Perhaps Keith could remind me how many engines now need to be salvaged or rebuilt, is it 6, or maybe 8, then again it might be 7.........I suppose the Porsche will have to be pushed outside to make room in the Garage!

Finally, I took a limited number of pictures in and around our Pit, if anyone wants copies, please e mail on [email protected].


Well done everyone at Snetterton.

The only way from here is Up................top ten finish in 2009?


Bob Rice

Hi Nathan,

Yes they are, I a have one fitted as a hi intensity fog light on my Caterham, and we ran one as a brake light on the 2CV this year (Keith and/or Steve could tell you more).
I haven't used a resistor on the Caterham, and have had no problems, whether or not Keith has used a resistor on the 2CV i'm afraid I don't know.
Hope this helps, Happy New Year to everyone.

It's a while since I last checked, but measurements, LED spec etc, were all identical to DT units.

I guess you pays your money etc. etc.

I use these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=12696&doy=4m12

Scrutineers seem happy with them, they appear to be the same as Demon Tweeks, obviously you have to sort out the wiring yourself.

I've been trying to avoid commenting on this thread, because I have been misquoted, or maybe misunderstood , from an identical thread last year. If you want to know my views they are still there to be read.

However, the comments here regarding the later running of the 24 hours concern me, do people not realise that the Silverstone / Britcar 24hours runs in September, about two weeks after the August Bank Holiday, this is attracting more and more teams each year. Try thinking about the effect that will have on attracting the pay drivers, and what about the recruiting of Marshalls.

Three 24 hours per year - ask yourself the same questions as above.

think again!

So who were the lucky recipients of free fuel?

Pete, thanks, I appreciate your comments. Please don't misunderstand, as stated my decision to 'step down' was taken before the race, indeed even before the weekend and not as a result of the conditions. Indeed I have never enjoyed exceptional success in racing, so would argue that I have always Raced for 'fun'.
Also, my decision was implemented only at a time when I was confident that we could put together a team for next years 24hrs.
I would like to think that Keith and Steve (finances allowing) will continue to make good use of the car particularly as they both enjoy the driving more than I do, I am happy to continue investing time and, as part owner, where appropriate money into the Car.
As for me, family (who don't share my interest), and work commitments (to Caterham and Everyman), which I enjoy, are beginning to intrude more and more into my weekends. Therefore my opportunities to give up entire weekends without letting someone down are becoming more and more difficult. It's all a question of priorities.
And finally, just to confirm that as far as I am aware, our Car is not up for sale, and is a possible, I believe for Spa.

[though I will be even less involved in the racing next year]

How did I get labeled with the "campaigning hardest" tag? I admit to playing the Devils advocate but would refer to the following quotes from last years forum..

Whatever you do it will need to be radical, from my own experience of two seasons involvement, I can tell you that I can't see me ever prefering this series over my Club level Caterham races (and believe me that has cost me less than the 2CV over the last two seasons), unless something changes.

and this...

Regarding the Chairmanship comments, I tried to make my position on all of this clear by comments within my postings such as "I don't pretend to know how to do that" and "See you at Silverstone - 9th, 10th September". But please don't interperate that as me not caring about the club, though I will be even less involved in the racing next year.

no change there then!

I will continue as always to prefer my Caterham racing, I will possibly race again in the Brit Car 24hrs, I will still wherever possible support our car, Keith, Steve and anyone else who elects to drive it.

Oh! and not having been at the AGM, I certainly didn't get to vote on this years format. But regardless of all of that, am I mistaken, or aren't the Grids so far this year bigger than in the recent past...I wonder why...

[Prediction]

As we shared the Pit with you Rod, we may as well join in -

Prediction

Car 44 - BRM's
Bob Rice and Keith Shoebridge are two of the keenest supporters of the new enduro race formula the club has adopted this year. Yet again they and Steve Cowell bring the BRM car to Snetterton in great expectation. Another difficult one to predict. Keep the car on the track and pitstops to a minimum and this could make a top ten finish. Predict 10th - 20th.

Reality

Keith and Steve made it to Friday testing and posted some encouraging times, however disappointingly for Steve, who had great expectations,  this translated to start position 20 after qualifying.
The car was nevertheless running well, and excepting some problems with the lighting we retired contentedly to our sacks on Saturday.
Sunday free practice, disaster, the Car refused to play, and the session passed into the distant past before a fault was found and repaired in the ignition loom.
The car ran well in the early stages of the race, climbing to a heady 14th (I think), before dropping back down the field following a fractured oil feed pipe, gear lever problems and finally a late engine change, which was rapidly followed by another engine out to fix a clutch 'problem. Eventually finishing 24th with Keith at the wheel.
"Banger Racing?, I thought it better resembled Autocross racing, certainly it was difficult to determine where the tarmac finished and the fields began!!
Steve and Keith enjoyed the racing, experiencing one or two 'offs' or spins, but Bob who was unable to match their wet weather pace had a miserable time, also declining to do his final stint, having, on Saturday evening, announced his intention to retire from 2CV race driving after the event. Certainly the conditions didn't diminish this intention.

So definitely a Race of mixed fortunes, as to next year, that depends on Keith and Steve....watch this space!!

Nice pictures Dick, you must have got very wet.

Well done and thanks from the BRM's

Saturday!

Wife, Bobbie, with broken wrist still can't drive, hence Friday school runs, shopping and daughter, Emma, to dance school in the evening.

Leaving Bobbie and Emma stranded at home over the weekend is giving me big headaches!!!!

thanks for the info Trevor, see you Saturday.

anybody received their final reg's and pass's yet?

107 and 113

Bob Rice