The Race | The Team | The Charity | Thanks & WebLinks
Photos

 

A team of Caterhams

Racing in The Birkett

in aid of the charity Teenage Cancer Trust. org

About The Race

This year at Silverstone on 29th October 2005
the "Holly" Birkett Handicap 6 Hour Relay Race

This is a unique event in the world of motor racing and was conceived to give cars of differing performance the opportunity of competing on "equal" terms. This is a prestigious and popular event, and this is its 56th consecutive year.

Cars are individually handicapped and teams are awarded credit laps accordingly, such that (in theory) all teams should have an equal chance of completing the same number of laps by the end of the event. The race lasts for six hours and one car at a time from each team of six cars takes it in turn to compete on the track.

There are 41 teams providing a field of approximately 240 racing cars (except single-seaters) of all shapes, sizes and ages. Consequently, there is a vast performance differential between the acceleration, top speed, braking and cornering capabilities of the cars competing. So with 41 cars on the track at any one time, there is plenty of action and excitement (eat your heart out F1!). It is not uncommon for cars to be three abreast through the corners, all on the limit of their capabilities!!

About The Team

We have a team of six drivers entered who formed friendships during their first year's racing in the 2003 evo Caterham Academy.
Five of the drivers are in the Caterham Graduates Racing Club and the sixth continues to race in the Caterham Roadsport series.

 

Matthew Gillbanks A commercial property developer from Cheshire. Races with the Caterham Graduates Racing Club, just finished his 2nd full season's racing in his Super Graduate car, managing 3rd last year and 4th this year, picking up his first podiums on the way. Looking forward to racing again next year in his new Mega Graduate spec car supplied by McMillan Motorsport.

James Weedon IT Director from Milton Keynes James fulfilled a lifetimes ambition by entering the Caterham Academy in 2003. The highlights of the year were two second places and briefly leading the season finale at Brands Hatch. James finished the year a very satisfied 7th overall and was delighted to get a mention in Autosport having been an avid reader for more years than he would care to mention! Since then the need to balance a young family with racing aspirations has seen James race just twice in 2004 and four times in 2005, with a best result of second in the '04 Supergrads round at Silverstone.

Dave Jones

Simon Powell

Stuart Dixon

Team Support:-

Simon Fletcher, Gareth Hendley and Simon Baker

Racing for Charity

Each race driver has committed himself to attempting to personally raise £500 towards our chosen charity - two - now three(!) - of the drivers have already exceeded that.
We also have other plans for further fund raising on the day.

As end-of-season-broke-racing-drivers our goal is for the team to attempt to raise £3,000 for TeenageCancerTrust and, of course, also have some major fun participating in this prestigious race.

"I know £3k is not a lot of money in view of the fact most of the units being built cost in excess of £1M but I am of the opinion every £1 towards a brick counts!"
Gail - Team Manager

About the Charity

copy to follow once approved by TCT

 

HUGE "Thanks" go to the following
for their £haritable donations to our team's fund raising efforts:-

Jemmac Software are a specialist Software Development company based within the M1/M40 technology arc in the UK.

High performance air filters, oil filters & Induction Kits

Thornhill Technology Thornhill is the no 1 supplier of aftermarket plate heat exchanger spares to the United Kingdom and the world market.

Building Quality Homes in North Devon Tel: 01237 478053

Dixon Construction Ltd

Totom Construction produce any type of set or prop utilising Timber, Metal, Fibre Glass, Plaster and Drapes. Primarily for T.V., Exhibitions, Film, Retail Display and Events.

Ross Advisory Services Ltd

The complete relocation and storage solutions company

Nationwide Digital Satellite Systems Ltd Providing warranty for All Sky Satellite Systems

Suppliers of our race tyres

Professional tachometer and shiftlight products

The famous 750 Motor Club - organisers of the Birkett

Meet at Last events are parties without the pressure for unattached people in and around London - choose which type of event appeals, book online and turn up.

Thanks to the following for their £50 donations:-

Mrs Griffin David Hart (Alcester) Ltd R D Design Ltd C A Howe

Other Thanks go to:-

For our raffle:- Silverstone Circuit for donating "race meeting of your choice tickets"

Special Thanks go to Graduates Racer Simon "Fletch" Fletcher for a) his personal fund raising efforts prior to the event, b) contributions to the raffle prizes, c) selling and organising the raffle tickets, d) Team Support on the day e) remembering to bring a spare gas bottle in case Sheila's ran out! additional thanks to Mr & Mrs Squire and their punters of The Railway Inn, Station Rd, Pelsall Walsall, West Midlands

Thank You "Fletch"

Thanks to the "Trolley Dolleys"

Thanks to all those who helped man our hospitality marquee where for a small donation you could have a 'free' cup of tea, coffee and cake. Angie, Ruth, Athelia, Mark and Claudia - you were great!

McMillan Motorsport Caterham Race Preparation Specialists - for providing their hospitality marquee!!

Caterham Graduates Racing Club - for lending their tables and chairs to use in the marquee, the urn for making hot drinks and Sheila for the use of her gas!