News
Welcome to the Archived news page. This is all the news from 2008
Some of the stories will take you to a new page with more info by clicking on the date.
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[16th December 2009]
Mike Webb's Saxo VTR receives a fresh built engine and will be availble for Hire in 2010. Please contact MWR/AHM for more detials on mikewebb@ntlworld.com. This Saxo is also up for Sale if any one is interested please call us. Alan Hassell sets about building another new Saxo VTR from a shell we have already prepared.
[16th November 2009]
Brands Hatch MSV track day event, launches new MWR/AHM driver Tom into the Black Alan Hassell Saxo (bum in seat, first try out of freshly rebuild axo VTR, some practise and first step towards his ARDS course due soon)
Also sees Rory Cooper re-test his 2009 acquired and raced Saxo VTR and his mates, Terry and Kirk out in their newly built and prepared XR2i and Saxo VTR respectively.
Steve Noble also put in an appearance in his newly purchased Ford Sport KA. It was time to settle into a new car and did so many laps he wore out a set of front tyres. He loved it, and the car ran like a dream.
[25th September 2009]
Results for Snetterton now up - Click for more
[12th September 2009]
Mike & Focus reappear at Brighton and Hove Motor Club, Brighton Speed Trials on Maderia Drive, Brighton Seafront.
Mike Managed a time of 14.17 Seconds with a finish line speed of 105 Mile per Hour.
[6th September 2009]
Results page updated with results from Oulton Park, Pictures to follow - Click for more
[23rd August 2009]
Results page updated with results from Silverstone, Pictures to follow - Click for more
[11th August 2009]
The MWR/AHM team go to Silverstone for the Bentley day allcomers handicap race - Click for more
[6th August 2009]
Results page updated with results from Mallory Park, Pictures uploaded - Click for more
[22nd June 2009]
Results page updated with results from Anglesea and Brands Hatch, news storys and pictures to follow - Click for more
[20th May 2009]
Results page updated - all drivers added to the table so you can keep up to date with how they are doing in the championship - Click for more
[7th April 2009 ]
Good day all,
I thought it time to give you a run down on the state of play from our first outing of the season at Snetterton.
This was my first full race weekend in the capacity as a dad and friend helping and was it tiring to say the least!
Firstly ~ a big thank you again to our Sponsors for the financial support, it is greatly appreciated.
A bit of back ground for you.
* 14 Rounds in this years Championship.
* The Championship is the 750 Motor Club Stock Hatch series. www.750motorclub
* Points scoring in all rounds but only the best 13 counting towards the final Championship places.
We have 4 cars in the AVS sponsored team (MWR/AHM) for the season ~ 3 Citroen Saxo VTR’s and 1 Ford Fiesta XR2i. In terms of the AVS sponsorship, Mike Webb (No 1 driver) in one of the Saxo's and Rory Cooper in the Fiesta ( No 2 ~ first year in racing) are the key cars that are supporting. The other 2 will display your logo's as an extra but have other independent sponsorship. We are pretty well set up for the meetings with the ability to provide food and cover from the elements ~ so please have a look at the dates and come and join us.
If we know in advance we may be able to source extra tickets through Mike's contacts.
So to the weekend!! The weekend was eventful right from the off on Friday with Mike delayed down in Brighton due to problems his end and for my part as the car & trailer nose wheel collapsed on me as we were just leaving. The plan was sound and we all intended to be at Snetterton for early evening to set up & get sorted out well in advance ~ fat chance. Never mind in the end all was well and despite relocating again in the morning due to invaders of our space we got sorted & ready to race.
I have to say the malaise of activity when timescales are tight does add to the stress with the cars, all 4 of them, needing windscreens front and back cleaning, oil checking, water checking, tyre pressures agreed & done, fuel quantities agreed and done just to name but a few.
Then we have the driver briefings and of course scrutineering ~ will the car pass or fail?.........this was fun for me on the Saturday running around the pit lane to sort one or two bits out. All just in time for the qualifying. Our qualifying was held up due to a bad accident in the preceding race that needed clearing so with drivers fully clothed and engines running in the paddock waiting temperatures started to rise.
Alan's car, one of the other Saxo's in the team, decided that that was it and was not going to start. Ironic and frustrating as the week before when Rory's Fiesta and Alan’s Saxo went to Brands to test the new tyres it was as sweet as a nut? The benefit was that Rory then inherited Alan whose skills as both as a engineer/mechanic and a very experienced driver are well known in the racing circles.
Qualifying was a learning curve for all, Rory first ever Stock Hatch, Mike in a new type of car and much less powered than he is used to. Only Steve, who was in the remaining Saxo, was on familiar ground. The end result was predicable really for the first race of the season with the Top 10 & Championship winners from last year heading the way and with no incidents all were able to progress their lap times.
In the end Rory moved from 1.44's to 1.36's and Mike down to the 1.30's. Neither were happy with this and in terms of the grid not ideal with work needed for the afternoon heats for sure. This is where Rory having Alan, was a real asset, changing fuel mixtures and reducing tyre pressures. As for Mike a bit of tinkering here and there plus adjustments to the tyre pressures and we were ready for the off. We could just not believe it when on starting the cars to warm them up ready for the race Rory's would not start!! 20 minutes of frantic work by Mike and Alan sorted it just in time as the guys were all called to Assembly Area.
Anyway they all went and raced only for a series of bad accidents to bring the heat to an early conclusion just as all of the guys were building momentum and taking places from the disappointing qualifying positions. I think it must have been the Mad March as out of the 8 races that day 6 were stopped and red flagged due to accidents and in 2 of these (ours included) races stopped twice and abandoned.
Extra briefings for the drivers with the Clerk of the Course were organised to curtail some of the silly and over aggressive driving displayed by some of the drivers. Rory was even hit in qualifying which beggars belief really with the whole weekend still to go. This left Rory 26th, Steve 17th and Mike a creditable 10th all gaining valuable points for the Championship with Mike leading the way on 24 points, Steve on 21 points and Rory on 12 points. In addition, Rory is in the Class B category and here he finished 9th and gained and additional 10 points ~not bad all in all for a hectic day.
Time to tidy up, pack away for the night and head to the hotel for a shower & change before heading to the pub for beers and food!!
Sunday was a bright and sunny start and with the progress made on Saturday we were all full of optimism. A sound breakfast at the Little Chef ~ Full English of course and we were off to the circuit.
No issues today ~ great news and we were able to settle and get straight on with the business.
Mike finished 14th, Steve 17th and Rory 24th. Points again Mike 21 points, Steve 18 points and Rory 11 points. Again Rory gained points in the Class B 10th again and a further 9 points (Less points due to more taking part)
Total points for the weekend as follows: Mike is on 45 points, Steve on 39 points and Rory finished on 23 points. In the Class B Rory finished with 19 points and is placed 8th in the B Class Championship overall
Jez Cooper
[16th March 2009 ]
Round 1 & 2 Snetterton results in, see the results page for the write up. - Click for more
[Mar Update 2009 ]
Barkers Engineering, from Stoke-on-Trent, joined the clan of AVS Suppliers now supporting the MWR/AHM team drivers and cars.
Thanks to the recent partnership struck up between AVS and Barkers, AVS has seen a massive increase in business in the security market and palisade products. The pairing of the two businesses has enhanced both parties and its great to get their support on the cars this year.
Russell Ridgway, Sales Director, and his team are keen to see MWR/AHM drivers do well. Please check out their link in our sponsors page.
[Mar 6th 2009 ]
Malcolm Blackford and Anna Wellman, of Tornado Wire, in Warwickshire, confirmed their support for the AVS backed drivers under the MWR/AHM race team.
Anna and Malcolm are keen to attend trackside to watch and capture the excitment of racing, and intend on publishing updates in their supplier newsletters in 2009.
Expect photos and commentary from this dynamic duo in the coming months. Welcome on board!
You will see their logos adorned on the car for the entire 2009 season. A big thank you from Mike and Jez (Rory's dad) for your involvement. See their web-site link in our sponsors
page.
[Feb 20th 2009 ]
The team arrived bright an early at a damp Brands Hatch for the track day today, Alan, Mike, Rory and Steve all turned up to test out Alan's Saxo and Rory's Fiesta for this seasons racing.
With new tyres this season the handling of the cars would be different to what everyone was used to, so everyone wanted to get familiar with them.
All went well during the day, Rory's Fiesta had done enough by lunchtime, and shortly afterwards we had concluded the trials in the Saxo and decided to save the tyre wear.
Both cars proved to handle very well on the new tyres. Keep your eyes open for the first race of the season at Snetterton on March the 14th & 15th
See you there MWR/AHM Ltd
[Feb Update #2 2009 ]
Brighton Signs, suppliers of our decals and team sign writing, have confirmed their support for 2009. Brighton Signs have partnered Mike and the Team for 4 years and its good to keep them on board. Our cars livery can now be planned and incorporate the new sponsors’ logos. Thanks to Andy and Norman from Brighton Signs we will look the biz again as all 4 cars take part in the first round at Snetterton mid-March. You can't miss our new style livery.
[Feb Update 2009 ]
Mike hopes to secure, with the assistance of co-AVS Director Jez Cooper, (Rory's dad), further sponsorship from some of AVS Fencing's key suppliers. These partnership deals can only encourage the promotional activity of these companies as the 2009 Stock Hatch Championship events take the team to all corners of the UK's racing circuits. These include the likes of Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Silverstone and Donington to name a few.
[Feb 11th 2009 ]
NEW SPONSOR for the MWR/AHM Team and linked with AVS Fencing Supplies Ltd.
The 4 Race Cars in the team will all carry an additional livery in 2009 in the form of ECC TEO, who are new suppliers to the AVS branches. ECC supplies Timber products to the AVS Fencing Group.
Daryl Fahy, Director of ECC, met with the AVS Management Team in February and is also a keen motor sport fan. We hope to see him and his colleagues track side during the coming season. Thank you for your support. Mike Webb
[Jan Update 2009 ]
Mike Webb and Steve Noble attended the presentations ceremony at the 750MC Dinner and Dance event at the Warwick Hilton on 31st January, and both received awards for the 2008 season and the Hot Hatch Championship. Mike collected 3rd in class A with his drive in the Ford Focus ST and Steve 3rd in class C, in his rookie year when only racing in this championship to gain experience for the Stock Hatch events. Well done to both on collecting the silverware.
[Jan 2009]
Mike Webb will contend in the Stock Hatch Championship in 2009.
Following the demise of the Hot Hatch Championship run by the 750MC. Mike will compete with the 2 drivers from 2008 in a similar Citroen Saxo with Steve Noble and engine builder and partner in the business, Alan Hassell. Along side these 3 will be new recruit Rory Cooper in his newly acquired Alan Hassell built Ford Fiesta XR2i.
Alan at 60 years of age will compete under the same number on his car, Mike retains his old favorite number 64, Steve 65 and Rory 55. Keep an eye out for them on the track