Old racers

[Steelrat]

I recently sent an e-mail to a friend of mine saying that he really should go to Brands in August as this years BTCC is looking to be one of the best. In his reply he mentioned something that may be of interest to some:

"I was watching British Superbikes at Oulton Park over the weekend, which was fun because I've both driven a Maserati 3200GTs round that circuit and been driven round it in a Ferrari F40 and 512M by an ex BTCC driver! I'm not sure if he ever won the championship - his name is Vince Woodman, he drove for BMW and Vauxhall, and it was he apparently who brought John Cleland into the Vauxhall team, to give you some kind of timeline.

Vince looks like everyone's favourite granddad these days - until he gets into a car - and then it really is astonishing to be driven round a track with someone of that level of skill. Very very impressive - especially when it was peeing down and he controlled a tail-happy Ferrari to the extent that he was still cornering and braking way in excess of anything I'd ever attempt in the dry! There were other owners and tutors on the circuit of course but Vince - when I was his passenger at least - was pissing past everyone else irrespective of car or conditions."

Now, I do vaguely remember Vince as he used to drive a Capri and I think a Lotus Cortina. And I'm pretty sure I remember him tussling (on the track) with Gerry Marshall at Brands back in '76 ...

Anyway, I suppose the point of this message is "where are they now?". Anyone else have a tale of encountering ex-racers?

P

[The mad monk]

Well,I'm on here!
and you can see me in the paddock at all BTCC events.....
Vince is a great bloke,racing his Cologne capri shortly which has been totally restored by Roger King(who owns the Kelvin Burt Porky)or whats left of it.
There are loads of us still around,just keep a fairly low profile.
CH

[Big Boonster]

Low profile thats down to your height isn't it........ha, Boonie

[Big Boonster]

and another thing, got pickie of Vince driving his Escort following my brother in his Mini at Silverstone, circa 1970'ish. This was the time of the Tricentol and Hepolite Glacier Special Saloon Car Championships, with the likes of Richard Longman (until his crash), he then put Jonathon Buncombe in his "works" car. Then of course it was the time of Big Gerry and I remember watching at Thruxton with Gerry, in his first Viva, JB in his Mini and big bro, driving his Vitbe sponsored Mini. Commentator getting all excited as they circulated as one, one lap it was Buncombe, Marshall, Boon then he made the classic line "this time its Freeman, Hardy and Willis (for you young ones that's a shoe shop, not a series of racers..!), ah them were the days when they managed to race without bashing each other off despite some very very close racing

[Ed]

who is mad monk? chris Hodgets?

[Big Boonster]

who else would/could it be?

[kmchow]

You could keep an eye on

http://www.closeratio.com/asp/default.asp?dynamic=results&category=2&subcategory=62&imageField.x=45&imageField.y=13

http://www.motorsportads.co.uk/race-cars/historic.htm

[Jimmy Magnusson]

who is mad monk? chris Hodgets?

I was under the impression that Lee Brookes was a member on the forum, but I can't recall if it's mad monk.

[Alfa Fan]

madmonk is Chris Hodgetts, hence he signs his posts CH, and posts about Matt Jackson (who he coaches) and his son Stefan a lot!

[AlexD]

I'm guessing that's the same Hodgetts who raced that blue Marcos at Le Mans in 1995?

[Iain]

The very same.

[The mad monk]

For forum info:
this is what I am doing at present:
I coach/engineer/generally look after the following drivers:
Matt Jackson/Andy Jordan/Mel Healey/Tim Bevan/Stefano Hodgetto.
In addition,I am a consultant for Fionna Leggate/James Pickford and help and advise Danny Watts and a few more of my mates!
In between,I instruct at Silverstone(mainly in Ferrari 360's).
Regarding the Matt Jackson arrangement,I do as above,plus race strategy/tyre useage and am the direct link via radio to Matt when on circuit;basically,I am driving the car with him!
Many ask if I am going to race myself again,well,thats possible,but it has to be a car that 'lights my fire' and deserves respect(aussie V8 would do the job),as I have driven virtually everything up to and including a few F1 cars,so at my time of life it has to be very quick and meet fairly recent safety levels.I have tested the clios pre-season,and yep,no problem with being 'on the pace' myself,but I have my hands full with my drivers;I am still racing,but on the pit wall or spotting on a bank somewhere!
Days off?....chugging down the Stratford canal on my narrow boat...a COMPLETE opposite to cars and speed....brilliant.The Lister diesel sounds as
sweet as a F1 Ferrari at 19000!
All we need now is to get Stef in a Touring car.

[reidy_fan]

never have thought of you as a narrowboat person, bit like caravanning but in slow motion

Agree totally about Stef, he definately deserves a chance at a higher level must be gut wrenching to see him struggle for ££££

[Robinho]

is the idea to pass of Stef as an Italian these days to try to get him a drive (Stefano Hodgetto?)

he certainly seems to be doing all the right things so far in the clio's, that'll put him in the front of peoples minds at the very least.

Hows Andrew Jordan doing, i'm expecting him to do very well, but i imagine its a steep learning curve for him and up against some very quick and experienced fwd racers in the clio's this year?

[The mad monk]

Andy is a great lad,loads of car control and pace,however he hasn't spent the time in karting compared to others(like Stef),and therefore just needs more racing to enhance his racecraft,but he is certainly getting there and Stef and Andy are pretty good mates;quite ironic really,as stefan has been doing some tuition with him since Sep 06!
Quite a nice podium at Thruxton,as Stefan looked after Ben Winrow last year in the Seat's,just needed Andy there as well,but that will come soon I hope.

[PDS]

All we need now is to get Stef in a Touring car.

If you can't do that... then there's no justice!

It's where he should be.

[daz90]

You could keep an eye on

http://www.closeratio.com/asp/default.asp?dynamic=results&category=2&subcategory=62&imageField.x=45&imageField.y=13

http://www.motorsportads.co.uk/race-cars/historic.htm

Great sites those, excelant for a bit of window shopping, you can forget autotrader and eBay, i want a race car now :)

[kmchow]

This could be worth checking on occassionally.

http://www.racecarwarehouse.co.uk