8, Nov, 2015
Rob’s Blog.
According to my dad I didn’t like carrots when I was a lad! But it wasn’t so much seeing in the dark that caused me trouble during the night race at Brands Hatch on Halloween night, in fact there was too much light and most of it was coming from my main competitor. As we threaded our way past the other 30 or so cars sharing the one-mile Indy circuit Pascal Green’s lights were dazzling me so much that it was hard to see the entry point for the corners. Druids was the most difficult. Even opting to take the mandatory pit stop early in the 40-minute race didn’t help.
When I saw that the Classic Sports Car Club was organising a night race at its Halloween meeting I was really excited. I was also a little apprehensive because it wasn’t something I’d ever done before. When I discussed it with Colin Watson and Tim Davis I found they agreed it was something we couldn’t miss. The other races on the programme set the scene for us. In the Gold Arts Magnificent Sevens 40-minute thrash I was first reserve but the organisers said I wouldn’t be able to start the night race if I didn’t compete during the afternoon. So I shared the drive with Colin in the Caterham R300/C400. We finished fifth overall and second in Class G. Graham Charman was eighth and first in Class D, Hugh Coulter came twelfth and third in class D.
It was Tim Davis’ chance to shine in the New Millennium and Dunlop Puma Cup 40-minuter. He, though, had to pay the price of success. CSCC rules say race winners have to carry a 60-sec pit-stop penalty: Tim had to pause for a minute. Overcoming such a penalty was a big ask but Tim very nearly pulled it off. He’d qualified on the inside of row three but soon bustled the silver TVR into the lead. The race’s second half was really tense as the big Tuscan rumbled around, chopping into the lead of Dan Wylie’s M3. But the race wasn’t long enough and Tim had to be content with a brave second place just 22 seconds in arrears.
In the interval before the night race we fitted the three cars – Colin’s R300, Tim’s Tuscan and my C400 – with LED lights and anti-dazzle covers for the rear-view mirrors. Tim qualified fourth, Colin eighth and I was 12th. In free practice, though, I found myself quickest with Tim and Colin just behind. I looked like being a good race. I got a good start Pascal Green in his C400 started from 5th on the grid. We’d worked our way to the front by the fourth lap and I reckoned I was the faster but when I got past I found Pascal’s lights dazzling me so much I was having trouble placing the car. I decided the best thing to do was to come in for my pit stop as soon as possible. But as I turned into the pit lane entry I clipped the front of a Lotus Elise I was lapping with my back tyre. I apologised to the driver after the race. When I stopped I got the guys to check the tyre but it was OK. What I hadn’t expected was that Pascal had also decided to make his stop at the same time. I left the pit lane with him right behind. And we went at it again. At one point we were three abreast with an Alfa GTV: Pascal on one side and me on the other. Fortunately, the Alfa driver kept it straight! Then I managed to put a lapped competitor between us and that gave me the break I needed.
By the end I was near 10 seconds ahead. My biggest problem, as it turned out, was that the race officials wanted to bring me in to check my lights. As Pascal’s were causing me so much trouble I thought I’d return the favour by distracting him when he was ahead. Operating the switch under the dashboard was a bit of a fumble so there was a bit more flashing than I’d intended. When the officials told my crew to bring me in the guys insisted I was flashing deliberately. Fortunately, the officials accepted that and allowed me to continue.
It was a great race, really exciting. I don’t think I’ve come down yet! Colin was third and Tim fifth so it was another great result for Team Boss. Pass the carrots!
Click here to ride on board with me!
Tags: Brands Hatch, caterham, Caterham C400, CSCC, Halloween, Mag 7 Series, New Millenium, Racing
14, Jun, 2015
Rob’s Blog.
What a difference a week makes! On our last visit to Brands it was wet and cold and Dean Cook retired. Last Sunday it was warm and sunny and Dean was the hero of the hour with two dominating performances.
The spectacular and well-attended American Speedfest, the third in the series, included two rounds of the popular Bernie’s V8 Challenge, plus two for SpeedFest Silhouettes in which drivers could earn points towards the 2015 Avon Intermarque Championship.
In the first silhouettes dash our man Paul Adams in his Mercedes SLK look-alike took seventh spot on the grid and finished sixth. He started the second from the front row but was unable tom capitalise on this because a first lap accident at Druids caused him to take evasive action. Out came the safety car meaning that when racing re-started Paul had a fair bit of work to do and he clawed his way up to eighth at the finish.
Dean, meanwhile, had dominated the V8s, heading the growling, grumbling, snarling, popping and banging field from the start of both rounds. In the first he was passed by Tim, although the silver TVR Tuscan retired on the ninth lap. This left the red Cerbera free to clear off at the head of the pack to a win a fast and furious race that had to be red-flagged after 16 of the planned 20-minutes.
Sadly, the battle between the two TVRs had been cut short when Tim was forced to pull off. His engine had started making “clanking noises” when suspected lubrication system troubles intervened, causing him to miss the second round. Dean sportingly offered Tim the loan of his car for the race but the Brands officials ruled that he couldn’t compete in a car he hadn’t driven that day. “Far enough, I suppose,” was Tim’s rueful comment.
He absence left the way clear for Dean to lead the second 30 minute race which also featured a mandatory pit stop. He was kept honest first by the Lim/James Ram Cobra and then by surprisingly rapid Sunbeam Tiger of William Smallridge
Despite the heavy traffic Dean appeared to have matters well in hand. “It’s been a great day,” was his comment from the top step of the podium, as well it might after such a totally convincing performance.
As ever, both the Brands Bernie’s V8 rounds were characterised by a large and varied entry featuring British, American and Anglo-American machinery ranging from TVRs and MGs to Mustangs and amazing V8-motivated Mk 1 Escorts.
But Dean had the measure of them all, as did Tim while he lasted. Dean set fastest lap in both rounds and in fact, he and Tim were the only drivers to lap within 52 seconds.
Ah, yes, Tim. With his next outing being at Spa in three weeks’ time it’s not hard to guess how the Boss Racing team will be spending the intervening time. Well, it is what we do.
Tags: Boss Racing, Brands Hatch, Classic Sports Car Club, CSCC, Racing, Tim Davis, TVR, Winning
14, Jun, 2015
Rob’s Blog.
It may have started all grey and damp, but for Team Boss the last day of May ended with a nice drop of sunshine – and it wasn’t entirely to do with the brightening weather.
Two class wins and a memorable fastest lap wasn’t a bad day’s work and being at our home track, Brands Hatch, just added to the pleasure.
We were there with seven assorted Caterhams and a brace of TVRs to contest three events at the Classic Sports Car Club’s third meeting of 2015 and it’s first of two visits to the Indy circuit.
In the Gold Arts Magnificent Sevens Group 2 we had six cars running in three classes in a 40-minute race which also involved a mandatory pit stop. It rained during qualifying but our runners certainly didn’t disgrace themselves.
Christian Pittard had the best of it with sixth spot on the grid. Graham Charman started two places further back with Jonathan Pittard another two places behind him.
And it was Jonathan who did best in the race itself. He took seventh overall with his 1998cc Superlight R and first in class E for cars with up to 220bhp. Graham was 16th with his Superlight 400 and third in class D, while Colin Watson was 11th overall and third in class H with his R300. C400-mounted Mark Simmons also took a class third – in class E – on his way to 14th overall, while Hugh Coulter in his R300 was fourth in a class D.
By the time the group 1 cars came out to play the track was beginning to dry but it was still slippery as I was to discover. It was my first time in our number 90 Superlight and my first time out since I’d stuffed number 92 nose-first into the bank at Mallory Park a week earlier.
Nineteenth on the grid wasn’t much to shout about so I felt I should be able to improve on that in the race. The pit stop went OK – thanks, guys – but at one point during the race I made contact with another competitor while trying to pass. The result was a 360-degree spin plus a stalled engine. That cost me some time plus a wing.
Despite that I had a great time. I finished eighth and first in class A for the lowest power cars. At one point I thought I’d inadvertently held up the winning Roadsport shared by Wil Arif and Stephen Mansell. But after the race Wil – in his first ever Caterham race – was kind enough to say he hadn’t noticed. “We all have to drive our own races,” said the veteran Brands instructor.
In between the two Caterham races came the fast and furious New Millenium and Dunlop Puma Cup race. Another 40-minuter with mandatory pit stop, this event attracted a very mixed bag of quick cars including our two TVRs, the grey Tuscan of Tim Davis and the red Sagaris of Dean Cook.
Qualifying had been wet but Tim took fourth spot on the grid with Dean, a little unhappy with the conditions, down in 23rd. Indeed, the damp track didn’t suit the powerful V8s but Tim kept his well in contention until his pit-stop.
Thanks to his success at Silverstone earlier in the month Tim had a 30-second winner’s penalty added to his time in the pits. Once that had been counted down he rocketed back a lap down on the race-leading Porsche Boxter of James and Alan Broad. As the track surface dried, though, Tim’s race came alive.
You didn’t need a stop watch to tell he was the fastest out there. As the race wound down Tim had the big Tuscan well wound up as it rumbled round visibly quicker than anything else on the circuit. Tim not only got back on to the lead lap but hauled himself up to fifth by the flag – not bad for someone with a 30 secs handicap to overcome. Tim’s best lap was 57.463 sec: only he and the winning Porsche went round inside a minute.
Dean, meanwhile, was out soon after the pit stop window opened. The car trickled down the pit lane in a manner which, according to race commentator Mark Werrell, didn’t suggest “the body language of a car heading for a mandatory pit stop.” He wasn’t wrong: the wicked looking coupe with the bulge in the roof to accommodate its driver was suffering from fuel pressure problems.
But even that couldn’t dampen our spirits. And as we were packing up to go home the sun broke through the clouds. Next week-end we’re back at Brands for one of its landmark meetings of the year, the American Speedfest. See you there.
Tags: Boss Racing, Brands Hatch, caterham, Caterham C400, Caterham K Series, Christian Pittard, Classic Sports Car Club, colin watson, CSCC, Hugh Coulter, Jonny Pittard, Mag 7 Series, Mark Simmons, Racing, Robert Singleton, TVR, Winning
What’s in your Garage? April 2015
5, Apr, 2015
What’s in your garage?
The start of the racing season is a busy time for any garage, but here at Boss Racing it is manic! We have a range of road cars and race cars at the moment, and they’re not just Caterhams, we have TVRs as well! This is also a chance for us to showcase all of the garage services we offer.
Caterham wise we have three of our own cars to get ready this season, the familiar nose cones of Numbers 92 and 93 will be out on track, but also the debut of the newest addition to the team, Number 91, who should be making an appearance at Snetterton. This is alongside the three Caterhams that we run for our racing customers, Christian and Jonny Pittard, and Hugh Coulter. Christians car from last season, and the one he will be starting the 2015 season in is to the left in the picture, the grey number 45, his new CSR is on the first floor, painted but not completely built yet. Jonnys car is almost hidden from view behind his brothers, and Hughs is the white with blue stripe Caterham behind the front yellow one.
As ou may know we don’t just run Caterhams, we also have TVR customers. You can see one of Tim Davis’ TVRs to the right of the picture, his grey Tuscan which he drove to victory at Donington Park last weekend. At the back to the left, under the cover is Deans bright red Sagaris.
And that’s just the race cars in the garage! We also offer full garage services for road Caterhams, and the purple one under the ramp is just one of those we have at the moment.
And there’s plenty more cars that you can’t see in the picture, at least another 5! After counting we are sure we have 15 full cars, at least 3 in a state of repair and goodness knows how many spare parts dotted around the shop!
Tags: caterham, Garage Services, Race Cars, Racing, Road Cars, TVR
Rob’s Blog: The Start of the TVR Season
5, Apr, 2015
Rob’s Blog.
The first race meeting of the season is always a bit special, it’s a chance to blow out the cobwebs and set out the goals for the new year. But last weekend at Donington Park was even better than usual for us. We came away with two podium finishes, a win and a second place, or rather, Tim Davis did. But it should have been two firsts if you ask us!
Inevitably, Tim’s engine was installed in his silver TVR Tuscan just before we left for Donington, obviously this wasn’t idea but we’d already planned to use this meeting, which featured the first two rounds of Bernie’s V8 Challenge, as something of a shakedown.
Even though the Tuscan, with its 4.5 litre AJP V8 lump has proved pretty reliable and won last year’s Dunlop TVR Challenge, we always have to expect the unexpected, especially at the beginning if the season. But we encountered no issues in practice or qualifying. In fact, Tim qualified in pole position for both the combined SR> Challenge and Bernie’s V8 events by a comfortable margin.
Back in the garage following a successful weekend
There was a problem, though, and it surfaced during the first race. Tim was well up and just about to mount a challenge for the lead when he found his gearbox stuck in second. That meant settling for the runner-up slot behind the rapid Ram Cobra of Cheng Lim. We later found that the linkage between the gear lever and the gearboxbox had parted company.
In the second race Tim was able to capitalise on his pole position but dropped back to third. When the second-place man’s exhaust parted company Tim was forced to take avoiding action. But that certainly didn’t disturb him and he was soon able to put the Ram Cobra behind him. By the time the race entered its closing stages Tim was actually lapping 2 seconds faster than the rest of the field and was able to win comfortably.
So that was it – a pretty decent weekend. All that took the edge off of it for me was developing a cold. I was pretty husky on Friday but Donington was chilly, so I wasn’t entirely unhappy that our races were both on Saturday. That meant I could go home and spend the rest of the weekend in bed. The (medicinal) whisky was some compensation, though.
Cheers!
Tags: Donington Park, Dunlop TVR Challenge, Racing, TVR, TVR Tuscan
A New Car for Christian Pittard
28, Jan, 2015
At the moment Boss Racing is busy building a new Caterham for Christian Pittard, Number 45, for the 2015 CSCC Mag 7 Series season.
Christian has been racing with Boss Racing, as well as in the CSCC Mag 7 Series for the past three years. He has been successful in this series, with a out-right win in his first race at Snetterton in 2012. In 2014 Christian was racing his 20L Vauxhall powered Caterham in class H in 2014. However 2015 is bringing Christian something new and shiny, and supercharged! Christian will remain in Class H but with a brand new CSR Supercharged Caterham.
This is the new car being prepped for painting by us. We will be updating this as the build goes on!
Tags: caterham, Christian Pittard, CSCC, Mag 7 Series, Racing
Classic Sports Car Club Mag 7 Series 2015
13, Jan, 2015
Boss Racing is well versed when it comes to the CSCC Mag 7 Series. We have had four drivers in the series for the past two years, well as class and championship wins. This year is an exciting time for the team as we are expanding.
So, let’s meet our drivers…
Hugh Coulter #10
Hugh Coulter #10
Hugh is the newest driver to join the Boss Racing Mag 7 team. From Surrey, Hugh will be driving his new Caterham duratec powered R300, and he will be competing in Class D. Hugh is experienced in the Mag 7 series, having competed for the past five years and he has a number of impressive class wins to his name.
Graham Charman #22
Graham Charman #22
Graham will be racing his R4oo K series powered Caterham also in class D. He started racing back in 2013 with the CSCC, and within only 3 months he upgraded his race license to be able to race at our favourite track, Spa Francorchamps. At Spas Summer Classic a Graham took the class win and a he also has a number of other class wins from the past two years.
Rob Grant #34
Rob Grant #34
Rob is new to the CSCC, having only competing in one round of the Mag 7 series last year, at Donnington Park. The Kent based driver found the 250bhp Duratec Caterham a little different to his motor bike powered RGB 750 race car that he was used to. However we have high hopes for Rob, and he will be racing in class G.
Christian Pittard #45
Christian Pittard #45
Christian has raced with Boss Racing, in the CSCC MAg 7 series for the past three years. He had a out right win in his first race at Snetterton in 2012 and was racing his 20L Vauxhall powered Caterham in class H in 2014. However 2015 brings some new changes for Christian, and this year he will remain in Class H, with his new CSR supercharged Caterham.
Julian Sage #66
Julian Sage #66
Julian has raced his Caterham R500 Knseries on and off for many years, and last year he tried the CSCC Mag 7 series and enjoyed a couple of podium finishes. The Kent based driver will be competing in Class F this year.
Jonny Pittard #81
Jonny Pittard #81
Jonny is the second Pittard brother we have here at Boss Racing. He has raced his 2oL powered K series Caterham in the series for the past two years., and in that time he has taken some class wins. This year Jonny will be racing in class E.
Colin Watson & Rob Singleton #92/ #91
Colin Watson & Rob Singleton #92/ #91
Colin started his racing career in the National Hotrod Series, and since then has moved to, and now cannot imagine racing anything but Caterhams. Colin has raced in the CSCC for the past three years and in 2013 he took over all honours in the series and in 2014 also took the class E honours. The Kent based driver is expecting big things for the new year, and is looking to move up to class H for 2015.
Rob also has experience out of Caterhams, starting in 2L Nationals. Rob has also raced in the Mag 7 series for three years and has been runner up to Colin in bth 2013 and 2014 in class E. Rob also took an outright win at Anglesey and a podium at Spa Francorchamps in 2014.
Mark Rider #93
Mark Rider #93
Mark started racing last year and had a very successful year, including a class E win in his second race with the CSCC. The Kent based driver is looking forward to another year with Boss Racing and will running again in class E for 2015.
Mark Simmons #93
Mark Simmons #93
Mark raced in the CSCC last year for the first time after 15 years away from racing. He quickly got back up to speed and took a class E win at Oulton Park in 2014. Hoping for another exciting season Mark is also running in class E.
Peter Hargroves #10
Peter Hargroves #10
Peter has raced his 260bhp Caterham in other series and is looking to compete in the CSCC Mag 7 series this year at selected rounds. We look forward to having him onboard.
Tags: caterham, CSCC, Donington Park, Drivers, Mag 7 Series, Magnificent Sevens, Oulten Park, Racing, Snetterton
9, Jan, 2015
Today Boss Racing had its annual outing to Autosport International 2015. This show is held every year in Birmingham, and brings together racers and suppliers from every level, from karting right up to F1, and it is something we try to do every year.
It is a great opportunity for us to meet like minded people, pick up a few tips and to buy some great products. There’s always so much to see and do, it’s something the we would really recommend!
If you’re interested in seeing what was there this year, or even looking ahead to 2016 already then have a look at the website here.
Tags: Autosport International 2015, birmingham, Car show, Racing, racing show, Suppliers
26, Nov, 2014
2015 looks like an exciting year for Boss Racing!
We have so much lined up! This website is due to launch on January 1st 2015, with that comes a monthly newsletter, as well as an exciting competition for you to enter! We have more full time customers joining Rob at the workshop for racing services, and they will be racing under the Boss Racing banner. The 2015 Racing season starts on April 11th at Snetterton and Colin and Rob have a title to defend, whilst looking to join the next class up. See here for the full CSCC 2015 dates.
We would love for all of you to get involved, to come and support us at meetings near you. As well as coming along to see us doing promotional work at big meetings. We will be posting to let you know where we will be and when, so you can pop along and see us, and maybe even the cars.We will also be keeping you updated on what we are up to at races, with the Caterhams and the TVRs, as well as what is happening a the workshop.
Here at Boss Racing we really do appreciate the support we get from you all and we look forward to seeing you all in 2015!
Tags: 2015, caterham, CSCC, Racing, Snetterton, support, TVR
The 2014 Racing Season Comes to an End
26, Nov, 2014
The 2014 racing season had a lot to live up to, and it certainly did that!
In 2013 Colin and Rob cleaned up at the Classic Sports Car Club awards at the dinner and dance. They were racing in the Magnificent Sevens, and they shared the car Number 95. Colin finished first in class, with Rob coming second in class, and Colin was also the overall CSCC Group 2 winner.
The 2014 season brought with it new challenges, the Boss Racing fleet had grown, with four cars racing under the Boss banner. Colin and Rob in car #92 and Mark Rider in car #93 in Boss Racing colours, as well as brothers Johnny and Christian Pittard. And there were three more cars running with Boss engines. Another challenge were the few DNFs (Did Not Finish) that Colin and Rob experience with car # 92.
The 2014 season results unexpected but great news to the whole team. Colin won the Magnificent Sevens class again, and Rob was second in class. (This is a sore subject to Rob, keep coming in behind Colin!) Winning and coming Second in class for two years in a row shows that Boss Racing truly dominates their class in the CSCC.
The Boss Racing TVRs also had a great 2014 season.
Tim Davis was crowned class A champion and Dunlop TVR champion, and Dean Cook was crowned class A+ champion, after his seven wins this year
Tags: 2014, cars, caterham, Classic Sports Car Club, CSCC, Dunlop, Magnificent Sevens, Racing, Racing Season, TVR, Winning
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