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MY MOTOR SPORT RACE
A Q&A with Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy What made you switch from fan to competitor?
More than 2,500 people attended the inaugural event
DEVELOPMENT
GO MOTORSPORT LIVE! SET FOR 2014 RETURN AFTER DEBUT SUCCESS Go Motorsport Live! is set to become an annual fixture after more than 2,500 people flocked to the inaugural event at Silverstone in July to find out how to get involved in grassroots motor sport. More than 50 clubs, teams and manufacturers exhibited, showcasing the breadth of UK club motor sport. Oxford Motor Club organised an AutoSOLO that ran over 500 free passenger rides, while some of the country’s top Autotest drivers showed off their skills in a live demonstration. The British Motorsport Marshals Club described the event as “brilliant” after signing up almost 90 prospective new members. Meanwhile 60 show-goers won exclusive trips to the Sahara Force India F1 Team factory, while Silverstone sold out of discounted ‘hot lap’ experiences and tours of its famous Wing building. Peter Richings, the Clubmans’ Register, lauded the event for attracting the target audience of motor sport fans with a genuine desire to get involved. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with Go Motorsport Live!” he said. “We thought it was very efficiently organised whilst retaining an informal and friendly atmosphere.
It also hit the spot very accurately, attracting the target audience very successfully. We will definitely be exhibiting again in 2014!” Among those inspired to get started in grass-roots motor sport after visiting the show was Scott Whitehead. “I have a keen interest in motor sport but had the opinion it was expensive to get into,” he said. “However at Go Motorsport Live! I came across the AutoSOLO and Autotest disciplines, and having spoken to numerous competitors and having had some passenger rides on the day I’m now gearing up for my first event with Loughborough Car Club.” Ben Taylor, MSA Director of Development & Communications, said: “Hundreds of people gave up watching the Wimbledon final or spending the day in the garden in order to stand in the midday sun and spread the word of motor sport to the 2,500 people that came through the gates of Silverstone for Go Motorsport Live! The efforts of every exhibitor, volunteer and helper ensured not only that the visitors had a great day, but also that we set many of them off along the road to getting involved in motor sport for the first time.”
I was certainly a massive fan thanks to my support of Colin McRae. I only met him once but I loved watching him at work and my real love of the sport started with rallying. But to go from fan to driver is a little daunting and motor sport is not like cycling or football; learning your craft is more complicated and more expensive – or at least so it seems! Actually I was pleasantly surprised and was eased into the sport after experiencing one of the MSV track days at Bedford. So when did you make the move onto the track?
I had started my little ambition four years earlier when I bought a Caterham to take part in some track days, and I would drive it to Oulton Park and enjoy flinging it around the track. That is a great way to learn and takes away some of the fear of the sport. It is quite intimidating when you walk into a paddock for the first time, however I soon realised that it is actually a very friendly sport and as a novice I really felt welcome. How were those initial experiences of motor sport?
For me motor sport makes me feel like I did when I was in my early teens and messing about on mountain bikes. I loved the competition and the spirit of racing but it was not all about winning; I know it sounds corny but it was the fun of taking part. This is what I get from motor sport. Why did you choose to race Radicals in particular?
I chose the Radical SR1 Cup because I enjoyed driving the car and also because it has been designed with the busy amateur at heart. I can really learn balance and race craft in this car and this series, but they condense the events The 2014 SR1 into one day and spread Cup intake is them out to approximately now open. Visit one day a month. They www.radical also help with turning you sportscars. from a track-day enthusiast com into an amateur racing driver providing tuition and help with the ARDS test – which I took as part of the whole package. My introduction has been fantastic, and now I’m pretty hooked!
Autumn 2013 www.msauk.org
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02/08/2013 11:46