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Jez is currently rebuilding Ollie Jackson's Caterham R400 and both are hoping to compete in the car at some point in the season, possibly Spa Franchorchamps in June.
This is dependant on OJ's BTCC commitments, where after a strong showing in the first rounds at Brands Hatch, we hope he will be able to go forward and demonstrate his full driving potential in the Speedworks run Toyota Avensis.
Meanwhile, once the Caterham is completed, Jez shall be restoring his newly acquired classic Crossle 41F Formula Ford 2000 with the view to compete in the Historic Sports Car Club Championships and in Europe in 2013/2014.
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written by Jeremy - 28.02.2013 - 08:52 |
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The Snetterton Charity Race Day Experience which took place on Sunday 18 November raised an incredible £40.795.85 for our Charity! The event included thrilling rides, trade stands, children’s activities, refreshments and the opportunity to see some amazing cars up close. Families, supporters and racing enthusiasts all enjoyed the surprisingly sunny day and contributed to almost doubling the amount raised last year by the event.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE NEWS ITEMS, FACTS AND RACE REPORTS |
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written by Jeremy - 01.12.2012 - 11:42 |
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Jeremy is joining forces with Paul Sommerville and Ollie Jackson, using Paul's newly acquired Porsche 968 racing car and taking part in this popular Charity event at Snetterton 18th November 2012.
The Charity Race Experience Day 2012 combines exhilarating passenger car rides, a motor show and jaw-dropping aerobatic air displays!
The event is open to all and from just £10 passengers can enjoy three thrilling laps of racetrack experience around Snetterton race circuit, choosing from an impressive line up of classic cars, performance cars, racing cars and supercars.There are over 150 cars already confirmed including a Lamborghini LP640 Murcielago Roadster, a Ferrari F430, an Aston Martin V12 Vantage, a rare MG X Power SV, a VX220 Time Attack, a Caterham 7 and a Gordon Keeble from 1964.
Well known names from the world of motorsport and TV including former F1 star Martin Donnelly, BTCC racers Shaun Hollamby and Ollie Jackson, former Carrera Cup racer Jeremy Clark and Historic single seater racer Paul Sommerville.
For those motor enthusiasts looking to test drive a new car local dealerships will be running ‘ride and drives’ around the 100 circuit and in between rides, or for those who simply want to come along and watch the action, there will be numerous car club exhibits and trade stands to browse.
During the lunch break show visitors can watch a stunning aerobatic display headlined by the Wildcat Aerobatics formation display team, accompanied by Matt Summers and GBR Advanced Aerobatics team member David Jenkins, and if that all sounds a bit tiring Monster will be sending their Monster Truck and glamorous pit babes to hand out free samples of their energy drinks.
The Charity Race Experience Day raises vital funds for The Ronald McDonald House Charity, providing free accommodation in or close to hospitals and hospices throughout the UK, so families of seriously ill children can stay together whilst their child is being treated. For further details about the charity please visit www.rmhc.org.uk
All welcome. Entry is £5 per vehicle. No pre-booking for passenger rides required. Purchase passenger ride tickets on the day. Classic cars from £10, Race cars from £20 and Supercars from £60. Gates open 9am – 4pm. Sunday 18 November, Snetterton Race Circuit, Norfolk. |
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written by Jeremy - 07.11.2012 - 14:14 |
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96 victories (66 overall, 30 in Class), 165 overall top 3 places in 236 races
2011 Spa franchorchamps Ardennes Challenge Overall and Crossle Race Winner (with Mark Hobbs)
2010 Spa Franchorchamps Ardennes Challenge Overall and Crossle Race Winner (with Mark Hobbs)
2009 Porsche Club Motorsport Champion Overall
2009 Porsche Club Motorsport Class 2 Champion
2008 Porsche Club Motorsport Champion Overall
2008 Porsche Club Motorsport Class 3 Champion
2007 MAX5 Championship 4th Place
2006 MAX5 Championship 6th place (Highest placed 'Rookie')
2004 UK Formula Vee Championship 3rd
2003 UK Formula Vee Champion
2nd in 2002 British Formula Vee Championship
2001 UK Formula Vee Champion
2000 UK Formula Vee Champion
2nd in 1999 British Formula Vee Championship
2nd in 1998 British Formula Vee Championship
2nd in 1994 British Formula Vee Championship
2nd in 1993 British FVee Championship
Winner of Anglo Irish Formula Vee Festival (similar in format to UK Formula Ford Festival) (Mondello Park 1993)
Winner of Ian Flux Trophy (most fastest laps) 1994, 2000 and 2001
Winner of Torco Oils Fastest Lap award 1993
Winner of Paddytune Trophy (most pole positions) 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001
Best prepared car award 1993 and 1994
Wins his first motor race at third attempt! (Silverstone April 1992)
7th in first ever motor race at Cadwell Park in October 1992.
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written by Jeremy - 25.07.2012 - 21:15 |
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Team Rapid (drivers Mark Hobbs, Jez Clark and Mick Martin/Pit Crew) earned a well fought victory for the second year in succession beating 15 other Crossles along with another 46 Classic racing cars of various vintage and performance.
With no time (or funds) for testing, and with the Crossle needing 'finishing time' following a recent gearbox overhaul, the team spent the Friday before qualifying, preparing the car and making adjustments for competing at this magnificent circuit.
Nerves were a little strained for Jez who had not sat in a race car since the same event in 2010, and with Qualifying taking place on a drying (but still damp) circuit he miscalculated his laps bringing the car into the pits a lap earlier than necessary, creating a slightly panicky situation in the pits as the team hurriedly changed drivers for the second stint of qualifying.
There were mixed feelings about the performance of the car, Jez set the team's fastest lap on his very first 'hot lap' the second lap being lost to a wild slide at Eau Rouge as he hit a damp patch of circuit.
The time was good enough for 6th place on the grid but neither driver was happy with the gear change or the brake pedal that was sinking very low, and so they set to work to cure the problem, Mick using his customary 'wizardry' to bring the car back into shape.
With the race at 11.00am the following day, the team prepared for a night out with the rest of the Crossle drivers at a dinner hosted by Arnie Black (Crossle Cars Ltd), a clear demonstration of the huge support shown by the manufacturer to its drivers and teams.
Race day began with a bright blue sky , cool temperatures, perfect for a day of racing.
The Crossles headed the huge field of cars onto the warm up lap following the safety car with what would be a rolling start.
Jez made a good start with a plan to use the outside line at the La Source hairpin only to find a car spinning across his bows, taking avoiding action cost him another 3 places and as the field headed down into Eau Rouge, Jez was still busy picking off cars well into mid corner.
Back up to fifth place by the end of the first lap, Jez could see the familiar Yellow Crossle of Arnie Black dicing with one of the Swiss cars for the lead, picking off cars under the braking zone, Jez was soon on Arnie's tail and took the lead on lap 4, opening up a gap of around 3 seconds and setting fastest lap of the entire race.
The next laps were hectic as both the front runners caught up the backmarkers, and using as much care as possible, in the circumstances, succeeded in avoiding any incidents, a challenge bearing in mind some of the speed differentials between the faster and slower cars on the grid.
On or around 12, Jez pitted, and handed over the car to Mark, no fuel stop this time, but the brake pedal was getting longer and inconsistent and the tyres past their best.
Mark went about his business in dramatic fashion, chasing down the leading Crossle (who had taken the lead thanks to a very fast pitstop/driver change). With pressure mounting they made a mistake while lapping a backmarker and Mark dived through to take the lead while the second driver recovered from his spin.
Mark was never headed again, lap after lap, putting in fast and consistent times, and bringing the car home as leading Crossle and 1st place overall.
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written by Jeremy - 27.06.2011 - 18:55 |
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Spa Franchorchamps Ardennes Challenge
The format for this event is a 100 minute race around the famous 4.3 mile Spa circuit, the entry list this year consisting of 57 cars ranging from 7 litre Ram Cobra's and Mustangs, Porsche 911 RS, Ason Martin's, Jaguar D and E types, to Alfa Romeo's, Zakspeed Escorts and Capri's, Mini Coopers and 6 Crossle's.
Mark Hobbs (2009 SRGT Champion) invited Jez Clark to join his Rapid Racking Race Team driving the Crossle 9S once again in an attempt to not only beat last years victors, the Swiss team of Crossles, but also to attempt to beat the hugely powerful and impressive Ram Cobra owned by Cheng Lim with ex TVR racer Phil James co driving.
Friday was set aside for testing which was a ten lap affair with Jez running for 3 laps and Mark for 7 as the two re acquainted themselves with this exciting circuit, qualifying took place later in the day at 4pm, but with an ambient temperature of 35' and a track temperature of 51' it would place considerable strain on the car and driver.
Jez took 4 laps of qualifying, surprising many by setting a pole position time on only his 3rd lap and with the car still relatively heavy on fuel. Mark drove the next 6 or 7 laps not quite managing to match the time set by his co driver. he Ram cobra was 2nd on the grid with 3rd grid spot being taken by Arnie Black (Crossle driver and managing director) and Gwyn Pollard. Many were concerned at the high temperatures being reached by both engines and tyres and so most teams set about working on how to keep their cars cool for tomorrows race.
At 2.45pm and with the race scheduled to start at 4pm, a huge thunderstorm and soaked the waiting competitors and forced many into a panic as they desperately re planned their race strategy with both fuel and the choice of tyres to be re considered.
Team Rapid Racking judged that with such previously high temperatures and the fact that the downpour had ceased, that the circuit would dry very quickly and so decided to stay on dry settings and dry tyres, which may be tricky in the first few laps but would benefit later on.
As it turned out, the circuit did dry very quickly and most competitors switched back to dry settings, before the start of the race.
The rolling start took place at 4pm and Clark held his nerve making sure that the Crossle was in the optimum gear and revs to keep the lead into the first corner, which was successful, but heading out of La Source onto the steep downhill straight the Cobra shot past using all its power heading down into the famous Eau Rouge complex. Jez left his braking as late as possible and was hustling the Crossle through at unabated speed in an effort to put pressure on the Cobra.
Within 3 laps the top three cars (Arnie Black in the 2nd Crossle having joined the fray), came up against the slower cars and started lapping them at very high speed and with little room given.
After 6 laps of extreme pressure (often taking the lead only to be re passed on the straights) Jez could see that the tyres were starting to show signs of overheating on the Cobra, the driver missing the apexes as it started to slide more and more, this was going to plan. Then, out of the blue, as Jeremy crossed the start finish line, this time in front of the Cobra, he spotted a warning board from the gantry showing that he had been given a 'drive through' penalty (it later transpired this was for an alleged overtake under a yellow flag, which none of the other competitors in the top three saw occur).
Feeling sure that this was a mistake but knowing the consequences of not taking the penalty, Jez angrily and disappointingly entered the pitlane to serve the penalty, exiting back on circuit some 75 seconds later due to the nature of the extended pitlane at Spa.
Not wanting to give up and feeling responsible for the team, Jez set off in pursuit of the leaders who were by now far off in the distance.
In his race to get back to the front, Jez set a new fastest lap lap after lap, some 2 seconds quicker than his qualifying time (set with a relatively low fuel load), and took no prisoners, overtaking cars without any hesitation such was his desire to make up for the lost time, this created quite a spectacle as it included overtaking in the middle of Eau Rouge and on the outside of the famous Blanchimont where he eventually caught and passed the second placed car of Arnie Black.
After 20 flat out laps Jez came in for the refuelling and driver change over , which took place with Rapid Racking pit crew Mick Martinadding just 20 litres of fuel to get Mark to the finish.
In all the confusion of so many pit stops it was difficult to know where the team were placed, and so Marks orders from the pit wall were 'GFI' (go for it'), and soon Mark's pace was electric as he scythed through the field in pursuit of the win.
Despite two safety car issues, and nursing seriously worn tyres Mark drove the socks off the car and eventually crossed the finish line a comfortable 33 seconds ahead of the second place Crossle of Gwynn Pollard who had chased hard, with Chen Lim just over 3 seconds behind in third place, the long awaited threat from the professional Swiss Crossle teams failing to materialise as they suffered engine problems.
http://www.sportscardigest.com/spa-summer-classic-2010-report-and-photos/ |
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written by Jeremy - 05.07.2010 - 20:51 |
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