View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently March 28th, 2024, 9:17 pm



This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 1 post ] 
 Simon Crooks Racer 
Author Message
User avatar

Joined: March 14th, 2009, 6:47 pm
Posts: 7
Post Simon Crooks Racer
Hi, Thanks for taking the time to read our second feature in our Deuche Speciales.
Our second car is an a series from the UK racing scene. Owned by Simon Crook who lives in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Whilst not working on his racer his day job is a Location Manager where he has worked on some of the biggest films around the World – Mummy Returns, Alexander, Cold Mountain, Wanted and he has just finished on ‘Prince of Persia – Dagger of Time’ from the best selling computer game which is due to be released 2010.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Image

I got involved in stock car racing at around the age of 12, the guy across the road used to race, I started helping out at weekends then got the racing bug. I started racing Stock Rods at 18, my first race car being a Mini 1275GT up against MK1 escorts and Austin 1300gt’s The mini was great to drive in the wet but a nightmare when dry – running a lock diff is NO FUN! My second race car was a bit different still up against the Escorts and Austins as we were only allowed up to 1300cc we looked around and decided that a Lancia Beta Coupe should be fun, being twin cam, front wheel drive struts allround – it was great in a straight line A NIGHTMARE round the bends! From that day on I said that I WOULD NEVER RACE A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR AGAIN (how wrong I was) Racing was getting in the way of work, so I gave up until around 1999 I started to race again this time with a Toyota Starlet now with a new race number of 58 (which is the number I still run with today) 3 Toyota Starlets the last sporting the Mint Green Colour, with some good race succesess reaching Red Roof Grade and once holding Silver Roof (top of the points) then once again work gets in the way 2001 was my last year of racing…………………….

Image

Image

Image

Image

I stumbled upon 2cv racing when I had my 2nd stint short circuit racing, when one of my then sponsors (a windscreen company) were fitting a new windscreen into a 2cv race car (the Level 42 entry) for one of the 24 hour races and I thought then ‘that looks like fun’ so having looked at various other ‘fun formulas’ I decided that 2cv Racing was good for me (and my family) as we generally only race on one day of a weekend, makes family life a little easier, also the cost of running and entering the car was an issue, this is really a formula that you can run on a small budget, a club run by the club for the club.

I wanted a car that I could work on (part of the enjoyment) not needing specialist equipment, apart from the odd socket and a can of WD40.

Image

Image

I joined the 2cv Racing Club and started to ask the odd question on the forum, contacted a few members regarding race cars, and by a fortunate bit of luck Pete Sparrow (PTS Developments) four times 2cv Champion lived and had his workshop in the same area that I lived, a cheeky email later and I had met up with Pete within a few days, he knew of a car that was up for sale and he said it was a good deal. I bought that car (July 2006) along with what seemed tons of spares including a spare doner 2cv.

LUMACA RACING was born (Lumaca Italian for Snail)

Image

Porsche Mint Green was the colour I decided on, with the wait and the stick I got from a few of the 2cv Racing Club members regarding ‘would I ever race this car’ (mainly from Paul Robertson – Tower Citroen) I knew that ‘Pascal’ was going to be special……….. with the outside painted in the mint green and the inside painted battleship grey, I set about what to do with the inside and under the bonnet, I wanted the inside to look as good as the outside, everything tidy and a bit of a ‘Wow Factor’ I hope everyone likes what was acheived.

Image

Image

Sponsors

Sponsorship is always a funny thing, especially at the moment ‘Credit Crunch’ remember its not always about ‘cash’ its about ‘what they can bring to the table’
I am very lucky with the companies that are displaying their stickers on ‘Pascal’ and I thank them all for their constant support:

Translux
Dragon Boat Events
The Organisation
DHL
Location Secure
Herts Traffic Management
E-Z Up (NL)

Image

Image

2009 Season

So the first meeting at Silverstone was looming, everything on the ‘Pascal’ had been completed – all we needed to do was test drive the car at a circuit – Once again work commitments got in the way of this, tracks were booked then cancelled – So not only was Silverstone my first ever race on a ‘Big Circuit’ it was the very first time I had ever driven a 2cv which was interesting to say the least – ‘Pascal’ did feel a little under powererd which could have been more of a ‘not knowing how to drive a 2cv fast, if fact not knowing how to drive a 2cv at all’ We finished both races and with no damage which is a result.

Image

I hope that you have enjoyed this journey of how I got involved in Classic 2cv Racing, you never know it might give you that little nudge too get you out with us. I have met some truly nice friendly people who are only to lend a hand and take the P**S on more that one occasion.

If you see us at a race meeting come and say hello.

Cheers,

Simon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thankyou, The International2cvfriends.com team


April 24th, 2009, 12:13 am
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.   [ 1 post ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.