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[04th November 2011]
Videos page updated.
[31st October 2011]
The events of 2011 as they unfolded.
I took the decision early on in 2011 to enter the newly formed championship running under the BARC (British Autmobile Racing Club) called Blue Oval Saloon Series (BOSS). Having ran the car in a couple of the BARC events in 2010 when BOSS was run as part of the Thunder Saloons Championship which it did in order to establish its own grids and championship rights, I thought this series, which itself stemmed from Ford Saloon Car Championship in which I raced in up to 2003, was the best place to show off the Ford Focus’s potential.
I was not proved wrong with the BOSS subscribed with sufficient machinery to warrant its own grids and races, the season started well. BOSS is a multi-class formula with Class 1 turbos and Cosworth machinery, Class 2 for up to 2000cc non-turbo, then a 1600cc Class, a Group N standard spec Class and finally Class 5 for 4 wheel drive cars again in the main Cosworths.
Focus fitted into Class 2, hoping it could allow me to challenge for podiums as well as nibble at the heals of the more powerful Cosworth turbo machinery, and this is exactly what happened and it gave me some good races.
All started very well with the first weekend Race 1 at Outlon Park, Cheshire. Straight from the off I was mixing it with the Class 1 cars and more importantly showing the way in Class 2 against my new rivals. Race 1 paid off with pole in class, fastest lap in class and 1st in class with an overall 6th in qualifying and 5th in the race.
Races 2 & 3 were at Snetterton, Norfiolk. Here all started well on its new 300 Circuit configuration, a new and demanding layout extending the circuit to 3 miles per lap. Qualifying gave little time to learn the circuit but managed 2nd in class, 5th overall and splitting the Class 1 cars. In race one of the weekend & by the end of lap one, I had taken the class lead and was 3rd overall. Snapping at my tail was my class 2 rival in a similar powered ST150 Fiesta and previous class champion, Terence Clark. We had 5 laps of very close racing both losing out on the fast Snetterton straights to one of the Cosworths, but holding strong in 4th and 5th overall. This is where it all ended for me as on the next lap the Focus suffered a mechanical problem sidelining me with what we later discovered was a terminal engine problem. Having wrecked no.4 conrod, the crank, oil pump and many internal components damaged by debris, race 3 of the championship would not be run. Despite my seemingly disastrous outcome, lady luck was looking down on me as 2 of my closer rivals both suffered issues during the 2nd race and therefore did not finish in the points. It meant my initial lead from Oulton was not too badly affected. Could I repair mine before Brands Hatch?
Simple answer was not. Unfortunately the damage was more severe and also required some new parts, which took an age to arrive. It meant I missed the meeting at Brands and this is one of my favourite events and the place where I usually get good support at this our most local circuit.
Finally repaired we headed to Mallory, Leicester for a double race weekend and also the annual BARC festival, a big meeting with lots to keep us occupied between our own races. Here comes my second bit of bad luck. 3 laps into Qualifying on the Saturday and the repaired & overhauled oil pump let go. For some unknown reason it seized up. With 2 races due and with only 3 laps qualifying I had managed 2nd in class and 8th overall. We decided to set about and investigate the issue and then repair it. We completed the oil pump rebuild by late evening hoping to run Sunday in both races. Post race video footage then showed that I had travelled to far without oil pressure and had probably damaged some internal bearings. To play it safe we decided to abstain and come back to fight another day. On further examining the engine after the weekend it was the right decision, had I raced I would more than likely done more damage or an entire engine which would have probably put me out for the rest of the season. Instead we could overcome the issues, return the oil pump for further rectification and live for another day.
With now 5 races missed the points looked unattainable, but pride and honour are still good motivators and I intended, funds allowing, to finish the championship as best as possible and go for wins if not the championship.
With oil pump rebuilt by the supplier for a 2nd time, I took the opportunity to go test it at a 750MC meeting at Donington Park, Derbyshire. We already had 3 other MWR/AHM race drivers out in the Stock Hatch Championship, the same event that Rory Cooper from Rudgwick competes in. There was an Allcomers event and this gave me the perfect chance to test how the Focus performed before my next main BOSS event. Good idea, but once again the gremlins struck, this time just at the end of qualifying. After about 10 laps and the car had been going well, I suddenly lost the clutch pedal and could not change gear. I coasted back in 4th gear to the pits and parked up. Clutch fluid was evident from a gearbox leak, probably meaning the slave cylinder had given up the ghost. As this was only a test event what should I do? After a little convincing I decided to change it, meaning I would need to remove the gearbox to change the internal component. With 3 other cars to prepare my colleagues pretty much left me to get on with it and I accomplished the task in about 3hrs start to finish. Clutch working I then I found that I had qualified a respectable 9th overall so was now looking forward to the race. Race went well as I chased the faster yet lighter space framed kit cars for 20 minutes. Completing the race in 6th overall I was also the fastest saloon car on track. It came as a surprise to hear my name called over the tannoy, but it was only to discover that under the Allcomers handicap rules I had won the race. Technically something about my consistent lap times with less than x % off qualifying times, hey I’ll take that and say thanks all the same. All the grief had now made it all worthwhile, the smile on my face was a picture.
The next BOSS event would be Pembrey, South Wales, a long haul but 2 races. Qualifying went well, split the Class 1 cars by putting the Focus 5th on the grid, pole for Class 2 - we were back in action. Always something this year and the next thing to happen was to encounter a problem post qualifying and finding a hole in the gearbox, oil everywhere but just enough remained which helped me run to the end of the session, none the wiser at the time.
Once more it was time to sort it and with only one friend with me that weekend but luckily both races on Sunday we set about on Saturday replacing the gearbox. It had to be with a standard road going spare that I carry (for such eventualities!!).
All concluded and a good nights rest saw us back at the circuit for the first BOSS race on the Sunday. Little did I know that during the gearbox change we had damaged some electrical cabling and on lap one I developed a misfire and went from 5th to last. I had to pull into the pits at the end of the lap, jump out and my one crew member and I examined under the bonnet. We found the culprit, overcame it with some basic manhandling and out I went. I was now a lap down as I exited the pits but now the bad luck turned to my class 2 challengers and both were sidelined in the coming laps. I therefore scored maximum points and even took the class win.
Race 2 with some quick repairs we had all to play for. As we took to the warm up lap the same electrically issue arose, this time with some quick thinking I pulled into the pits before the race start, once more manhandled the problem and go out on track 30 secs after the green light. I set off to chased the pack from last place and although finally being lapped by 2 of the leading Cosworths towards the end of the 20 minute race, I had managed to claw my way back to 5th overall, 1st in class & fastest class lap, all of which earned me some valuable championship points.
A few weeks on and it was off to Thurxton, Hampshire for rounds 9 and 10. The points scoring now meant I had a chance of making a good dent in the championship standings and I was up for it at this my only 2nd ever visit to this track. We also found ourselves mixed in with the Thunder Saloons, slick shod monster power machines, ex Touring cars and the like and as this was a fast circuit it was going to be interesting. I qualified well and found myself 3rd fastest Ford, pole for class and 12th overall with the other racers. Race one on Saturday was a mega event, and I was now watching my mirrors for my class competitors but also looking to score maximum points. Technically it had become possible to still win the Class 2 BOSS championship. Race one went to plan as I pulled away from my class competitors and had a great battle with 3 of the Thunder Saloons. I kept out of trouble, eventually piping all 3 Thunder Saloons around me to come across the line in 3rd for the Fords and 10th overall.
Race 2 on Sunday was looking good, starting where race one finished, but yet again things come along when least expect and today was to be more bad luck. I made it ¾ of the way round lap one, leading the class at the time, when at over 130mph the front left drive shaft let go. Lucky for me the car stayed under control as I brought it to a halt on the grass verge but it could have been a lot worse. I then had to endure standing on the side line watching my rivals finish and score valuable points.
Surviving the weekend had been more important than points and at least the car was soon mended and ready for the penultimate round at Cadwell.
Cadwell, Lincs another long haul for just one race and again the organisers would mix us in with the Thunder Saloons. A reasonable qualifying 14th but more important was 2nd in class. A tight grid here makes for an interesting start, add to that a rolling start which us BOSS cars don’t usually get made it all that more interesting. I grabbed first place into the first corner of the race to liven up the challenge. As I was chased down by one of my class rivals whilst mixing it up in with the Thunder Saloons, the first 3 laps were close. It was then that the same electrical issue from Pembrey reappeared. Suddenly I lost all power with the engine cutting out I had to coast to a safe place. As I got out a Marshall approached asking is I was OK and I gestured I knew what the problem was. Ok can you fix it he asked, a big Yes I replied as I lifted the bonnet, found a loose wire that had been shorting out the ECU and voila it restarted immediately. I jumped back in, belted up and back on track. Little did I know at the time that I was 2 laps down and thinking it was only 1 I set off in pursuit. I managed to pass all but one Class 2 racer, thinking I must now be 2nd in class, I even set fastest class lap in the process. After the race results were published my excitement dwindled as I found I had only un-lapped myself the once and therefore finished last in class. I had got the one extra point for fastest lap, and it had made all the difference.
Just before the last BOSS meeting I squeezed in the Brighton Speed Trials. Being practically on my door step, plus having the chance to take part in an historic event which has been run for over 100 years was not to be missed. I entered under the Brighton & Hove Motor Club (BHMC) which allows me to run in the handicap class. This only gives you one practice run and one timed run along the ¼ mile seafront on Madeira Drive. The car was still running its standard road going gearbox so the day was all about showing off the Focus, promoting the hobby and meeting the local motor enthusiast. Here once again, taking part for fun was to reap a reward and I surprised myself by running a personal best qtr mile time. Together with my handicap this resulted in finishing 3rd overall in the BHMC handicap class. What a great day.
With just one BOSS round left at Rockingham, Northants, I found myself now only 1 point behind the class leader and it would now come down to this last event. It did not start well at an unfamiliar circuit, my first ever visit here saw qualifying go from bad to worse. The fuel pump started to whine whilst readying to go out onto the track and only got worse the more laps I drove, eventually causing me to coast around with little fuel supply to the engine. I had qualified last in class and being once more mixed in with the Thunder Saloons I was down in 20th place overall, 4 places behind the points leading class rival. During the break between qualifying and the race it became a mad scramble to dismantle the fuel pump system, try to source something that could work in its place, later find debris in the tank that had caused a blockage and fix it all back in order to be ready to race. We did it with an hour to spare, just enough to get a bite to eat and then crunch time, fingers crossed.
Again a rolling start saw me with a big disadvantage as back in 20th is where most of the slower machinery reside from the other classes, and not being quickest off the mark, I got baulked in and it took a good lap to get past the slower cars and to catch site of the points leader that I needed to beat. It was looking more and more unlikely as the laps passed as I slowly gained time in catching him. Finally lady luck fell in my direction and on lap 9 I managed to pass for position as he suffered some gear change problems. Little did I also know that I had moved up from 8th in the BOSS to 3rd in the process and 2nd in class by the chequered flag. I was so exited about the class placing that I did not realise my 3rd overall BOSS result and even missed the podium presentation. The belated champagne was greatly appreciated and my supporters, team & car all got a taste of success from the spray of the bubbly. I may not have won the class today but that one place was sufficient to award me the points & gain the Class Championship in my first full season (well nearly!) with BOSS.
[22nd September 2011]
A little update! Sorry to all the avid fans out there, the website has been a little neglacted over the past couple of months so we thought it right to update you all!
First to Mallory, With a brilliant qualifying in only 3 laps it was shame to retire for the weekend due to a fault with the car.
Onto Pembrey next! With all results 1st in class its was a brilliant weekend for Mike and the focus, claiming the fastest laps in class in both races also, brilliant work by the AHM & MWR crew to bring it home top of the table!
Thruxton was another brilliant result with Mike posting 1st in class for qualifying and race one, unfortunatly starting from pole in class the frun hub sheared off in the first corner at around 110mph! Scary stuff but the car and mike survived for Cadwell
Cadwell was the next stop on the csccgb calendar, and another good result for Mike in the focus, qualifying second in class and finishing 2nd claiming yet another fastest lap this season!
Our final stop for the moment is the brigton speed trials
running in the handicap class Mike managed to do the run in a brilliant 14.06s and came 3rd overall in class!
Look out for another update after Rockingham!
[06th May 2011]
Check us out on Facebook by clicking here.
[06th May 2011]
Videos page now has videos from Stock Hatch at Mallory Park, Blue Oval Saloon Series from Oulton Park and the new Snetterton 300 Circuit. Click to see
[28th April 2011]
Videos page now live! Click the link at the top of the page to see.
[26th April 2011]
The Results for the new Snetterton 300 Circuit are in, Mike had a great result in qualifying managing an impressive 5th on the grid for race one.
With an impressive start to the race Mike managed 3rd position by the second corner and was chasing Craig Jamieson the eventual winner for 2nd place.
Graham Wait made his way past in the Turbo powered Sierra Cosworth, but as he was having troubles Mike managed to gain 3rd back for a short time, before being overtaken by another Turbo driven by Jeffery Windsor at the start of lap two. The remainder of the lap saw Mike and Terence Clark in the Fiesta ST have a great battle.
Unfortunately on lap four the Focus suffered a mechanical failure forcing him to retire for the remainder of the race weekend.
[31st March 2011]
The Results for Oulton park are in, Mike had a tremendous race, Qualifying 6th on the grid being Pole for Class2, With a great race finishing 5th overall winning Class 2! This puts Mike Joint 1st place in the overall championship with Demitris Neophytou in Class 3, well done Mike & Team!
You can find the Points table here: http://www.csccgb.co.uk/points_downloads/2011/BOSS.pdf
[04th February 2011]
The Results page has been updated with all of the race events for this season with the Blue Oval Saloon Series. Mike's Focus will be wearing the Number 13 this year, so keep an eye out for us in the Paddock.
You can find more information about the events from the Classic Touring Car Racing Club's website - http://csccgb.co.uk/dates.html.