Revolution Racing Team News Centre
25/08/09 - Last Chance To See NASCAR Style Race Cars Compete In The UK in 2009 - Get To Hednesford Hills Raceway This Bank Holiday Monday!!
Revolution Racing and the European Late Model Series hits the British Midlands this weekend, with the latest round of the trans-European NASCAR style racing series visiting Hednesford Hills Raceway on 31st August. This event is sure to be a real spectacle with the Late Model 'NASCAR' style racers putting on a great show for British oval racing fans for the third and final time in 2009. Fans have given the series a big 'thumbs up' on both sides of the Channel as the championship has progressed during the year. Foxhall Heath in Ipswich.played host to the American stock cars two weeks ago with Kelvin Hasell and Gary Ellis taking the honours. Revolution Racing's Lee Maddox put on a great display in the newly painted #99 Monte Carlo and Miguel Gomes from Portugal made his short track debut in the #46 ASCAR with a return to the Series scheduled for next month. Lee Maddox hands the keys to the #99 back to Daniel Boys who is aiming to equal Tony Hurdle's record of winning a Euro Late Model Series race in ASCAR machinery. With Legends and National Hot Rods sharing the bill with the Euro Late Models this is one event not be missed!
Prospective drivers are welcome to join the team in pit row for an informal discussion about joining the Series.
Hednesford Hills Raceway is a stone's throw from Birmingham and easily accessible from the M6 toll road (junction 7). Visit the Incarace Hednesford Hills website >>>>
(Filed by Daniel Boys)
10/08/09 - Revolution Racing Enjoy New Support, New Drivers During Second Half Of Euro Late Model Championship!
The next 3 meetings at Foxhall Heath in Ipswich, Hendesford Hills Raceway and Warneton in September are to form the backbone of our season with Revolution running 4 ASCAR race cars at each; Tony Hurdle will be in his customary #98 entry and hoping to build on his win earlier in the season. Paul Bowman will be out in his #39 ASCAR after joining us at the Lydden/Warneton double header in June and the #99 will have Tractorboy, Lee Maddox, driving at his local Ipswich meeting on August 15th with Dan Boys taking over for Hednesford on 31st August and Warneton on the first Sunday of September.
Portuguese driver Miguel Gomes will drive at all 3 meetings in the #46 ASCAR. It will be his first outing on the short ovals in an ASCAR and make him one of only 4 drivers who will have competed at the long oval of Rockingham, the road course of Brands Hatch and short ovals in our American-style race cars.
New Support For Revolution
Last week, to kick off the mid-season campaign, the #99 was shown at our local Suffolk Racing Car Show. The event allowed us to show off some of our new-for-2009 partners. Body Plastics of Rougham Industrial Estate (near Bury St Edmunds) are now our official paint sprayers. Body Plastics did an outstanding job at very short notice and the new paint scheme allowed us to present one of the best cars we have ever put together. I can't say enough about the work they have already done for us! Miguel’s #46 is next up for a revised livery!
Coastline Graphics of Bury St Edmunds are once again back as our Graphics partner, they have been preparing our decals on and off for a number of years and we are pleased to be partnered with them full time now. Not only do they produce first class graphics but Scott understands our needs better than myself and designs to match our cars before i ask!
Ixworth Stores have once again stepped up to help with some of our Hospitality needs, owner Adrian has been keen on our racing over the years and has very kindly offered to help out once again.
One man who has helped us no end is Malcolm Redpath, our local MAC TOOLS representative who covers east of Bury St Edmunds and the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Malcolm has been a massive help with our transition from Corby. Last but not least is Driver Solutions of Thetford. Director Neil Hart not only backs the team but also gives up his time with mechanic and truck driving duties on race weekends. Neil’s help along with the rest of the team is why we have been able to morph over the past 2 years so well. If you would also like to help and partner with Revolution please contact us! Its painless and fun and if you would like to join our growing list of short oval drivers then just ask - its less than £1000 per meeting you know!
5 great partners with 5 drivers for 3 meetings- hope to see you all over what is sure to be a mad few weeks!!!
Duane
Also check out Revolution Racing on Facebook!!!
(Filed by Daniel Boys)
25/07/09 - Revolution Unveil Their New Colours
The 99 Revolution Racing European Late Model race car enjoyed its first outing with a new paint scheme. The cars new colours were shown off at the Bury St. Edmonds motorsport show over the weekend. Fans of US style stock car racing can catch the 99 in race action on 15th August at Foxhall Raceway in Ipswich with Lee Maddox at the helm. Dan Boys debuted the 99 in the Euro Late Model Series in Belgium earlier this year and will return to the cockpit at Hednesford Hills Raceway on 31st August with sponsorship from Speedway Designs Ltd and The Limo People Ltd. View new colours >>>
(Filed by Daniel Boys)
Revolution Racing - Paul Bowman Race Report
The Ambulance Service Benevolent Fund Ascar’s first race weekend was the busy weekend of the 27th- 28th June. With 6 races being packed in it was to be a steep learning curve for Paul.
The weekend started early, with final preparations on the #39 Ambulance Service Benevolent Fund Ascar going on until the early hours of Saturday morning. An early start saw the #39 reach Lydden Hill circuit in plenty of time for the first practice. A few last minute setup changes saw Paul in the #39 for the first time. Practice went well with Paul getting used to the #39, the handled well, thanks to the efforts of Lee ‘TractorBoy’ Maddox & Chris Richardson who had been working tirelessly during the previous week to set the car up.
The first race saw the #39 start at the back of the ASCAR group of cars, with Paul keeping up with the other Ascar's until entering turn 2 on the second lap, when the #39 went into a spin, a spot of grass cutting later, and the #39 rejoined the track. A lap later going into the bomb hole saw the #39 spin again. With a poorly handling car Paul carried on to finish the race. Afterwards Paul said “it felt like a tyre had gone down “. Returning to the pits damage from the trip across the grass became apparent; the front splitter had been slightly damaged and needed repairing. Brake fluid was found to be leaking from a rear calliper and then spilling onto the tyre, the tyre that had felt like it had gone down. The Revolution crew worked tirelessly to have the car ready for race two, but unfortunately Paul was feeling unwell and unable to race. Missing race two Paul was able to recover enough to be ready for race three. For race 3 the #39 would start on the front row next to ‘Tractorboy’ in the 99. With the #39 car now handling a lot better, Paul felt more confident. At the start ‘Tractorboy’ Lee Maddox took the lead closely followed by, Keith Whalley in the #88 Ascar, Paul had a busy but uneventful race, ultimately finishing in tenth place, a good result to build upon in the future. A rapid pack up of the equipment, followed a short trophy presentation, and then the race was on to get to Warneton, ready for Sundays race. The journey proved to be eventful. Just before getting on the train to go through the Channel Tunnel, Paul and the race crew of Roger Scotland, Kevin Borland and Lee Maddox, made a brief pit stop for some food in Folkestone. Owing to a communication breakdown Lee was left in the chip shop, this wasn’t realised until we had entered the one way system to get on to the train. Luckily the nice people at the Channel Tunnel let Kev go back out to get Lee and the crew were reunited. Once off the train we headed for Warneton, with the road looking like something out of wacky races, as we came upon other ELMS cars returning to Warneton.
The Sunday at Warneton was a bright hot sunny day, with the car unloaded and prepped ready for the days racing, we were told that there would be a ten minute practice session, With that news Paul was readied and took the car out for the ten minute session, the car was handling very well on the banked Warneton Oval. The first race saw the #39 start on the front row next to Colin White in the #78; Colin took the lead going into the first corner with Paul managing to keep the former Camso cars behind him for a few laps. Paul came up to lap the cars of Sam Collins and former Formula student racer Eric Schmidt. With the setup of the #39 car still being refined Paul found he was unable to take the highline and pass the two cars, finishing in a creditable 13th in his first race on a purpose built short oval.
Following the first race Paul was interviewed by the Motors TV crew, another first. The interview should be broadcast on the 25th July. Race 2 of the day, saw Paul Again start on the front row, this time on the outside of Colin White, Colin again took the early lead with Paul chasing, a little too hard, having a spin in turn one and causing a caution period. The #39 would have to start at the back to the pack. A good restart saw the #39 progress up the field again to battle with Sam Collins in the #4. With the #39 to finish in 11th Place. Back in the pits, the car was checked and Paul was given some helpful advice by the Kev, Lee and Roger. Race three saw the #39 car start alongside the #5 car of Eric Schmidt, being on the outside is a definite disadvantage currently for the former Ascar’s, whilst the setup is honed for the Warneton speedway. At the start #5 took the lead with the #39 in close pursuit. A number of safety car periods saw the #39 shuffled back down the pack. The race was quite eventful with the 39 car swapping paint with a number of other cars as the #39 car started to push out of the corners. The #39 would finish in 12th place. Overall an excellent weekends racing, a steep, but very enjoyable, learning curve. Roll on Ipswich on the 15th August.
And Finally thanks to everyone involved in getting the Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund ASCAR, ready and racing in the European Late Model Series.
(Written by Paul Bowman, Filed by Daniel Boys)
Late Models Make First UK Visit!
The European Late Model Series makes its first visit to the UK this weekend, as part of a packed program at Lydden Hill in Kent. Why not head down on Saturday to experience the noise of our V8s and meet the drivers and teams. Visit the Lydden Hill website for directions!
(Filed by Daniel Boys)
Revolution Racing Launch New Testing & Race Packages
Revolution Racing have created two new packages that allow prospective and established drivers the chance to drive an ASCAR American Stock Car. No previous racing licenses are required for these sessions. Go to the new Test And Race page for further details.
(Filed by Duane Kidd)
Bowman Joins Revolution For Euro Late Model Series
Paramedic Paul Bowman, who is normally responding to emergencies in Northamptonshire, will be racing in the European Late Model Series in an ASCAR. The car will be liveried to raise awareness of the Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund (ASBF), a charity that helps serving or retired members of the NHS Ambulance Services when in need. ASBF press officer Stephen Evans said “We are delighted that Paul has made this gesture to help raise the profile of the Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund, and look forward to seeing the car race!”
Paul is joining the Revolution Racing team who are providing car preparation and trackside support. The team has previously helped the Fire Services Benevolent Fund and BEN (the motor industry Benevolent Fund). Team Principal Duane Kidd said “We are delighted to be running Paul. His passion for our sport mirrors that of our team, we all know Paul well, he tested with us and was quick so we should see some good showings for the #39 car during the remainder of the 2009 European late model series season.”
Graphics for the car have been kindly donated by Wellingborough Signwriter, A G Sign and Display.
The ASBF car will be racing on the following dates:-
27th June – Lydden Hill, Kent
28th June – Warneton Belgium
15th August – Ipswich, Suffolk
31st August – Hednesford Hills, Staffordshire
6th September – Warneton, Belgium
27th September – Warneton, Belgium
11th October – Warneton, Belgium
The racing is being shown on Motors TV
For more information and images please contact:
Paul Bowman
Tel:- 01933 224296 or 07973424417
Email:- p.bowman@btinternet.com
(Filed by Paul Bowman)
Duane's Roundup Of May's Late Model Racing Action!
Thursday night had 6 of us travelling over in the motorhome to warnerton for testing and fixing of Tony Hurdles car, we travelled through the tunnel on a 1.20 crossing and with the 1 hr time change got to the track at 4.15-ish along with day break, Jean Vassuer let us in the gates at around 6.30, so that would be 2hrs sleep then !!!!!
Paul Bowman tested in the #99 for the day whilst Tractor was shaking down the #98 having the fuel pressure problem solved with a new fuel pump, he showed Paul the lines around the track helping the #99 to circulate around the 3/8th of a mile oval in the mid 14 second bracket, everyone was happy with the days work so the #98 was sent out for a final check when the throttle stuck open……!!!£££$$$!!! and launched Tractor into turn 1 a little faster than intended, the subsequent damage gave us 7 hrs work but it looked and handled ok for Tony in practice on Saturday so all was not lost.
Along with all the practicing we get out in Belgium we also get a very good social life, all the CAMSO guy's are very open and the get together of an evening in Gary Ellis's garage is not to be missed, but don't ask Gary about West Ham….cause he is Mr Gary "I am West Ham" Ellis, ha ha…..there is plenty of drink on tap just sling in the kitty and as long as the barrel is covered Gary is happy.
So Sunday, I will let Matts race report fill you in but suffice to say our first of many wins to come with Tony Hurdle in the second race was very special, not only due to it being our first win but also an ASCAR first win coupled with the state the #98 just 48 hrs earlier you would not of believed it possible, also from a team perspective, Tony had the last class win in an ASCAR on road courses at Mallory last year and at the last race at Rockingham in 07 the #99 won with Lee O'keefe in the drivers seat for us at Revolution.xxxxx Overall we are getting quicker in Belgium after what is now 10 days over there in total, in Race 2 Tony was lapping cars that started just behind him on the grid and the faster cars could not get him even on the re-start, more time and confidence will see us much more competitive, our next aim is to break into the 13's in the race, Tony and Tractor both did 14.2's in the final race so its not far away now.
Lydden next, hope to see you there
Duane, Revolution 2009
(Filed by Duane Kidd)
Hurdle Takes Maiden ASCAR Win In Late Model Series!
Congratulations to our Tony in his #98 Chevrolet Monte Carlo from all here at Revolution Racing. Tony Hurdle becomes the first driver to post a European Late Model series win in ASCAR machinery!
GOOD JOB!
(Filed by Duane Kidd)
Looking At The Euro Late Model Season Ahead
With the first weekend over the former ASCAR machines have shown good pace, and there is the promise of more to come. Hard work by both the Revolution and Steward Racing crews has seen them make a great start towards making these cars competitive, despite having lost some time changing from road course settings.
Doubtless there is more to come, gear ratios can still be perfected, and there is work to be done to get the cars working better on the exit of the corners, especially so they can race on the high line, but these changes cannot be expected overnight. It has taken 6 years for the CAMSO machines to reach their current pace, but they can be caught, and we expect the ASCARs to be able to run at the front and challenge for victories before the end of the season.
Even with the current pace of the ASCARs, the racing this weekend was still close - nose to tail, wheel to wheel racing. With a grid a of thunderous V8 engines and the prospect of more competition from the former ASCAR machines, we are certainly in for a fantastic year of racing from the European Late Model Series, and that could well prove to be the perfect home for the next chapter of the ASCAR story. Next Meeting: 3rd May Warneton Speedway, Belgium
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Monday - Final
The final race of the weekend was by far the most controversial. From the start #75 made a good initial getaway but had a big slide coming out of Turn 2. The action up and down the field was close and frantic, with cars racing wheel to wheel at each turn. It was a little too close between Boys and Zore, as the two collided whilst Boys was defending his position, the contact just enough to tip the #71 machine into a spin.
No contact was made with the Turn 1 wall, but the car was in a precarious position and the first yellow flag was thrown. At the restart contact was made between leader Tony Hurdle and Frederic Bernier in the #4 Ford. Both appeared to lose the back end as they got on the power coming out of Turn 4, Hurdle managed to straighten up the #98 very quickly whereas Bernier seemed to turn down the track and made contact with Hurdle's car. A number of other drivers had complained that #4 was squeezing them down the straight on previous restarts, and as such Hurdle was fired up. "Rubbing is racing," he said after the race, "but that wasn't rubbing, he just clean turned left into the side of my car."
Just a few laps after the restart Steward left the door open for Gonnissen to put the #22 Pontiac Grand Prix up the inside of Turn 1. Gonnissen drifted slightly wide on the exit of the corner and at the same time Steward came down the track slightly. The resulting contact pitched Steward hard into the inside wall before bouncing back across the track into the path of oncoming cars. It was the unfortunate Hurdle who had nowhere to go, as the #75 speared back up the track and into his driver's side door, pitching him into a spin and ripping the bodywork off the side of the #98 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
A puncture curtailed his race early shortly after the restart. Gonniseen had only minimal damage to his machine, having only gently hit the inside wall. Steward's car was severely damaged however, his crew commenting after the race that the car has sustained more damage here than in some high-speed impacts on the Rockingham oval.
Gary Ellis took another win to round off the weekend, but behind him it was a close battle between Vasseur, Vandekerckhove and Vandermeersch. Eventually the #77 secured second ahead of Vandermeersch and Frenchman Vasseur. In the championship Hurdle is the best placed ASCAR driver in sixth with 292 points. Steward is next up in 9th with 248 points, with Boys just 4 points back in 11th.
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Monday - Heat 2
In the second race Hurdle tried to go to the outside in Turn 1 and nearly made it stick, but Steward kept the place. He was caught and subsequently passed by Moonen and Vandermeersch. Dan Boys suffered some light bodywork damage to the #99 as Anton Gonnissen and Ellis muscled past on their way to the front, and they were soon in front of Hurdle (who suffered with a puncture towards the end of the race) and catching Steward.
Passing Steward proved more difficult though, as the ASCAR veteran had been defending his line strongly all weekend. Ellis tried to make it round the outside of the #75 in Turn 1, but as he squeezed John down the #75 came up the track slightly and the two made contact - Ellis running over the front right corner of Steward's car and causing a puncture. Steward came to a stop high on the exit of Turn 4 but there was no caution.
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Monday - Heat 1
Monday's first race passed without incident for the three SCSA machines - a race which would have likely been won by John Steward were it not for an ill-timed yellow flag. Hurdle said afterwards, "The car doesn't seem quite so good today, it was pushing on the way and still a little wayward on the exit, so we'll have to look at the ambient temperature and make some changes - we're still learning how these tyres work in the heat".
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Sunday - Final
The final race of the day meant another ASCAR 1-2-3 on the grid, this time with Dan Boys having his chance to start from pole. He got a good start, and led Steward out of Turn 2 before pulling out a gap. Changes to the three ASCARs over the course of the meant their pace was improving all the time, with laptimes becoming more consistent also. Hurdle passed the #75 Ford Taurus of Steward early on, and the three continued in that order for the first half of the race.
Their run was halted when Steward locked his left front tyre going into Turn 3 and nudged Hurdle into a spin. This brought out the yellow flags and closed the field up once more. The restart was frantic, with Jean Vasseur and Gary Ellis setting the pace. Christof Vandekerckhove was with them too initially, until his bonnet went flying up into the air on the backstretch. Ellis though was once again the victor, narrowly holding off Vasseur at the line.
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Sunday - Heat 2
Race Two saw Dan Boys beaten off the start by Hurdle, but he stayed with him throughout the opening laps before the #98 started to pull out a gap. Steward stayed close to the pair in third whilst the #19 and #95 made their way through from the back of the pack. Up front the #98 was beginning to lap the tail-enders and was a little hesitant at first, before moving through with ease.
John Steward then brought out the Caution, having a spin and almost making contact with the #19 Dodge Intrepid. As in the first race, the yellow meant that Ellis and Vandermeersch who had been catching the leading pack slowly would have an excellent chance to take the lead at the restart, being able to get up to speed quicker in their CAMSO V8s. In his efforts to get a better restart than in the first race Hurdle spun the rear tyres, and allowed the #19 to get by, with Ellis and Vandekerckhove following shortly afterwards. On the outside line Dan Boys was helpless in the #99, and was freight-trained, losing out to Moonen, Vasseur, Bruce Andrews, Kelvin Hassell and Jos Jansen in the Raptor Racing #222 Dodge Charger.
More work needs to be done at the rear of the ASCARs to give them more grip in order for them to be able to get on the power earlier coming out of the turns. The #19 took the win, with Hurdle best of the ASCAR runners once again in fourth.
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Easter Sunday Heat 1 Report
On race day the three ASCARs were placed at the head of the grid, with the rest of the field staggered behind them with the faster cars at the back. With a half-lap head start they were caught slowly at first whilst the faster cars made their way through the rest of the pack. At this point it seemed that the ex-ASCARs had enough pace to run in the midfield on their own merit, and it was only the high line that was causing them problems.
Their progress was halted when the yellow flags flew for the first time this year when Frenchman Jean Vasseur spun in Turn 4. The yellow closed up the field, and allowed Gary Ellis (#95), along with Xavier Vandermeersch (#19), Christof Vandekerckhove (subbing for Tony Roots in the #77), and Wim Moonen (#73) to close up to the leading trio of ASCARs. Hurdle passed team-mate Boys shortly after the restart, and #95 immediately got around Steward's #75 - the ASCARs not yet able to utilise their power advantage until more work is done to find the optimum gear ratios for the short Belgian track.
Ellis continued to pull away, beating Vandermeersch and Vandekerckhove to the flag after a close battle with Hurdle in the #98, who proved that after only a little testing time the ASCARs could be a serious threat, securing a fourth place in his first outing. "It was good stuff out there, we were a bit tail happy on the exit but apart from that there isn't much in it", commented Hurdle after the race. "I could probably have taken Dan a bit earlier, but things are still a bit unpredictable and there is not point coming back to the pits with two pieces of scrap." Team-mate Boys added "The racing is close, but the #222 tried to pass me unfairly down the straights even though I'd already committed to the low line. That's something we've got to watch out for, but I was getting more and more confident as the race went on, both in myself and in the car."
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)
Revolution Lead The Way In Season Opener At Warneton
Easter Weekend sees the first two rounds of the new for 2009 'European Late Model Series' take place at Warneton International Speedway, in Belgium. The new series marks the start of the former ASCAR machines competing against the cars from Belgium's CAMSO V8 series.
At first glance the cars are similar to look at, but under the skin there are a number of substantial differences, meaning that the ASCAR teams had plenty of work to do in order to keep pace with the CAMSO machines. For a start the CAMSOs are specifically designed to turn left, and only turn left. The Howe ASA chassis used for the ASCAR championship is narrower than the CAMSO, and is also designed to turn left, but is also versatile enough to be changed so the cars can be raced on road courses too; as seen in the GT America series, and proved in the UK last season when V8 Trophy raced on the traditional circuits of Britain.
Pre-Event Testing
The 'Offset' CAMSO chassis is also lighter than the ASCAR, not having as much framework to cope with the high speed impacts seen on the 1.5 mile ovals used in the last years of the ASA National Tour and at Rockingham. Conversely the ASCARs have more power from their engines, so before the race weekend began hopes were high that competition would be fairly close.
Having raced on the UK's road courses last year, Revolution Racing's two cars were still set up for turning both left and right, so the first day and a half of the meeting were spent changing the cars back to a basic oval setup. After some exceptionally hard work from the crew Tony Hurdle was ready to take to the 3/8s mile banked oval on Saturday afternoon. After some installation laps Tony came back into the pits to begin making changes to improve the car's set up.
Revolution's #99 Pontiac Grand Prix was being driven by Daniel Boys. The Brit has competed in a number of Late Model races out in the USA over the past four years, and was hoping to use the experience of racing on similar tracks to good use here at Warneton. Also in Belgium were John Steward and the Steward Racing boys. Apart from an appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow last summer, the #75 Ford Taurus hasn't turned a wheel since V8 Trophy's last race on the Rockingham oval at the end of 2007. With only minimal changes John was out on track with the same setup used at Rockingham, before coming in to make some changes to make the car more competitive.
All three ASCARs went out a number of times over the course of practice on Saturday afternoon, constantly coming back into the pits to changes spring rates and tyre pressures. The crews were extremely professional going about their business, keeping a log of tyre temperatures and pressures before and after each run, and monitoring any patterns that emerged. By the end of the session all three crews had made significant progress, and it was hoped that after only two days they wouldn't be too far off the pace that the CAMSOs have had six years to achieve.
(Filed by Matt Screaton - MSM Designs.co.uk)