Club Arnage

For those of you that know or meet with Keith Dunstan (TKM271) eldest lad Tom at Le Mans some fantastic news.

Last wednesday whilst praticing and testing a new engine in his KnK kart he was asked if he could get out to Spain to the Formula BMW licence course. So on Sunday Tom is of to Valencia to take his Formula BMW licence - wich will let him have his National B Racing Licence - and have a shot at the scholaship, worth about £ 35,000.

If we can raise enough funds for next year he will be running in the Britsh Formula BMW Championship with we hope Nexus. So the big question is, anyone of you fellow CA's know of any freindly millonaires, or would like to help out.

Just to say as well that Tom's main ambition is not only to race, but to win Le Mans ;D

Congratulations Tom.  I'll buy an extra lottery ticket on Saturday.

you, me, both, Steve! :D

Has he considered setting up some sort of company?? I believe a few drivers have asked people to invest in their racing careers? (Justin Wilson PLC springs to mind)

Otherwise, if he is REALLY good I know someone who may be interested!!

To keep you up to date. Tom is enjoying himself and learning loads. Should have mor info by tonight.

If you would like to see Tom and his brother Micheal in action they will be at Red Lodge Kart Track (just of the A11) on Saturday 6th.

Or if you are around Silverstone on Thursday 4th, he should be testing a Ginetta Junior at about 4pm, on the the Stow track.

JPC I think he is that GOOD...................

OK more info for those that are following Toms Spanish adventure.

He now has his ARDS (I will have to change my tag, he now has a higher licence than me!)

In his first run he was not the quickest, but only 4 sec of the front runners. Thats not bad when you consider that Tom has only compeated in 4 Kart races and Steve of NEXA was expecting him to be about 10sec off! Also quite of few of Toms fellow students have driven the track and the BMW before. Through the afternoon runs his times came down. They were very very happy with his improvment

We will not know about the scholership shoot out untill middle of next week.

Sorry I've not been able to keep everyone up to date, but Tom has now been selected to go back to Valencia 26/27 October for the "Shootout".

We believe that only 12 have been selected to go back. So I hope no-one minds if I feel a little bit proud for him.

With regards to JP's question about how good he is, I think that's been answered, now. In the August test he was up against European and British kart Champions. For a few of them, this was their second attempt to get on the Scholarship course. Tom's only been karting for four months. The first ime he drove a geared car on a race track was three days before he left for Spain!

I know I sound a bit like a "pushy Dad", I don't mean to. I've always left it to everyone else to tell me how good he is. Now that he's convinced BMW, I think I can begin to accept it.

So, if anyone has got a spare £150 000......... Let's go racing!

Well done to him and the very best of luck with it - and I mean it.   

One thought (which you can take or leave, but it is meant to be helpful) if you are pitching to companies to provide sponsorship, pick ones to approach that have a connection with motorsport - either through technology or lifestyle (think Benetton, Red Bull etc, but on a less global scale).   Modify your pitch to each of the companies you approach as appropriate, and make your pitch based on what they can get out of connection, i.e. what you can do for them - product exposure to the right audience, promo work etc, particulary if there is a local connection as well.   All the best

MG Mark

Thanks for that, MG.

I keep hearing the word "Synergy", and I'm convinced that its all about "linking" companies together, but we've got to move quickly. Although the season doesn't start until March 2006, we've got to put our entry in by January. In the meantime, to give Tom a fair chance at the end of October, we need to get him some time in a Formula BMW car between the end of the season, Oct 2nd and when he goes back to Spain on 25th October. The cheapest day's testing so far is £1500!!!

He could do with three or four full days, and I know he'd be well on the pace by then. But that is a mere £6000.

There is little time for beating around the bush. I think I need a Bob Geldolf to go round some of our local companies and use those immortal words, "Give us your F*****g money!"

If you've got any ideas, or potential contacts, I'll be happy to give them my best shot!

Once again, thanks for the advice. I'll put it to good use

No problems - linking the companies together can be difficult, particularly at the changeover between the local/ national/ international levels - what's good for one might not be for the next level up.   Here's a few things to try (or not as appropriate):

Get some articles or two in the sports and/or motor section of your local paper - plus the free paper - you never know who is reading them and it's generally free to you - you know, local lad making good but now needs help etc

Find out who the local movers and shakers in business are in your area - do you know anyone in the local Rotary Club or the like?

Don't cold call on them or on offices. Try going through your local business directory - don't discount any to start with (remember Andrews Heat for Hire) and see what ideas spring to mind - for example, with Formula BMW, your local BMW dealership might be a good starting point.

A bit like a CV for a job, an initial letter needs to catch their attention and want to have a follow-up meeting to find out more - that's when your face-face pitch starrts.   Any approach needs to be individual, tailored to them - remember also that you are looking for sponsorship for something that is wider than local, so don't discount the local branch of a national business chain.

Some businesses may not be able to offer cash, but might be able to offer parts, tyres, free art work, website publicity etc.

Good Hunting,

MG Mark



 

Update time on Tom Dunstan

In the last few weeks Tom has had quite time of it. Pounding a two seater Radical around Sneterton, with Ben Elliot, at the end of the day going faster than his instruter! Plus a few shakedowns in the Cole Racing F BMW in Wales. Were it absoulutly sheeted it down. Again keeping up with a drivers with a lot more experianced than him. Rember till now Tom has only done 6 kart races!

He now out in Valencia about to take part in the F BMW Scholership shootout with 11 other drivers, it will be a tough job, but £35K is the prize for each of the 5 Scholership winners.

I wish him, as I am sure all the rest of CA do, the best of luck. GO FOR IT TOM!!!

Good luck Tom go get em

Go and get them, good luck.

Go Tom good luck and get them.  ;)

Knock 'em dead Tom.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Steve the idea is to make up a phrase containing the words - Good Tom go th(em) luck get AND and.

Do it again. 3/10 see me. I'll send you back to the Congo River for another round of punishment golf.

Update time!

Tom has finished the shoot out in Valencia, we now have to wait to hear from BMW in about 10 days time, so everything crossed. Wich makes driving a bit hard!

A big thank from Tom and all of us to you all for your support ;D

How did he do in Valencia? Obviously the guys offering the scholarship will make thier decision but did he do well in his own mind? How quick was he compared to the others?

We dont get to see the official times or the telemitry, Tom only gets a glance of his times if he is lucky. They tell the students that it is not about the fastest time but how they improve over the two days, how they get on with the crew and each other how quickly they learn. One thing they had to learn was how to hill start, using the paddle gearbox the clutch, brakes and throttle and there is no hand-brake! 

But for Tom it was a story of two days!

On the Thursday he realy struggled - a few days before he had had his first proper crash (looks like the diff locked at over 100mph!) so he was still a bit unseteld - he was not the slowest and beat his PB at the Valencia track. But was very upset by his performance.

Friday was a diffrent day, took 2 seconds out of his fastest lap time, was not the slowest by a long chalk, was only 3/2.5 seconds off the fastest, drove very smoothly and realy enjoyed himself. All the instructers were very pleased with the way he bounced back. He was up with two of the lads who were with him in Valancia the first time, so his improvment is incredable! I belive he even got the car to four wheel drift - I belive he was told off with a smile!!!! He has been told, more than once, that he is the smothest driver out on the track. Tom came back with a huge grin and a spring in his step

According to Robins stopwatch wich is the only timings we have the fastest kid out there was Sato (now were have I heard that name before!) but only improved his times by .02sec.

Its now wait and see time.  But his dad Kieth and all of us a Bobblehat Racing are so impressed with his improvement and just to be pick by BMW in the first place to compeat in the scholership is a very large feather in Toms cap. What ever happens, Tom will be racing next year and with experiance he will just get faster and faster!

Oh and to just make you all a bit green he is now going around Nurburgring.

If you whant to see Tom race he (and his brother) are at Red Lodge on Sat 5th in the KnK kart.

No news yet!

But we have launched the website, the full site will be up soon

www.tomdunstan.co.uk

Tom should be racing at Kimbolton Karting on Sunday 13th,

I notice there was an article about the F BMW Scholarship in Autosport this week, there's a picture of the lads taking part. I guess it's Tom's first pic in there, who knows maybe he'll be on the front cover in 5 years time as the UK's first GP winner since DC in Melbourne 2003 :)

Hope it goes well for you all!!

Unfortunatly Tom did not make the cut in Valencia. Tom's reaction was "stuff em, ill show em"

Tom and us have to decide were we are going next. F BMW would be the first choice, and Tom can still race in the championship, just meens that we have to find/raise a lot more money. But there is Ginetta Jr and the 750clubs Saxmax to look at, not to mention a full season of MSA Jr Rotax Karting too.

Once again thank you to everyone for your support. What ever happens I will keep you all posted. Tom will be on a track near you next year

If you can make it Tom will be at Kimbolton Kart Track on Sunday 13th

Chris: re Autosport, we are having a big debate over wether the chap on the left of the small insert pic, with the balaclava on, is Tom. Its a 50/50 split. Even Tom's not too shure!!

Update on Tom Dunstan.

Tom had his best karting weekend at Red Lodge. Pole, 1st in the 1st heat, 1st in the 2nd heat (from the back of the grid, reverse grid), 2nd in the 3rd heat and won the final, taking great presure from the reighning champ. Tom held on to 2nd in the championship, not bad since he only started in May!

We have also made the decision to push to get Tom into F BMW, we have a "letter of intent" from Nexa, basicly "Tom, your name is on a seat, if you come with the cash"

If you would like to see some pics of Tom (#5 &#51), and his younger brother Micheal (#30) in action, pop to 

http://www.conquest-tech.co.uk/index_files/slide0038.htm

If you would like to see Tom race he will be at Kimbolton on this Sunday (11th) lets hope that winning is habit forming!

Congratulations Tom. If you can finish second in the championship after only taking up the sport 7 months ago you have got to have a bright future. Good luck with your search for sponsorship, I'll do a couple of extra lines on the lottery this week with you in mind.

Bob.

Bump ;D

For those of you that live in East Anglia, Tom will be on "Look East" 6.30pm Friday 10th. Set your videos! He was filmed yesterday by the Beeb at Brands Hatch

An update:

Tom now has his National A karting license, got his final signiture in style by coming 2nd in the final of Jr Rotax class at Beccles Karting Track. Reciving the Novice Trophy and the Driver of the Day. Tom was only two tenths of a second of the leader 13 secs infront of 3rd and the leading pair were lapping within .3 sec of the lap record, and this was only Tom's 2nd vist!

In January Tom had a very sucseful test with Nexa Racing in a F BMW at Sneterton were they offerd him a seat.

Tom is now entered in the the Formula BMW UK Championship with Nexa Racing, car 10, he is also the youngest driver in the championship. Not only that when he takes his grid posision at Brands Hatch 9th April. Tom will not of been racing for a year.

Last week Tom tested at Silverstone (in the snow!), Tom's lap times consistantly came down. Fastest 60.111, which made Tom 2.17 sec of the leading car, beating some BMW scholership drivers. Some of the drivers banged in a couple of faster laps and then whent slower than Toms for the rest of the test run. Tom and the team came away very happy.

Now the sales pitch. We are still activly looking for sponsers, so if any one is intrested in getting there name on the car, big and small packages are avalible please PM me.

Also come along and give Tom a cheer, F BMW support the BTCC and will be also suporting the WTCC at Brands Hatch.

Well done :)

Good job and best of luck for Tom. Bobblehat, please give Shorty a slap on the sholder (and possibly a beer from hgb - you get it back at the poo bar) when you see him in the pub next time round. He's doing a tremendeous job too. BTW, try getting Tom into one of these SR9s. Seems to be an awesome car.

For everyone out side of East Anglia here is Tom on "Look East" click on the link and fast forward to about 8mins in (I do hope that it works but I am sure you will tell me if it dont!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/realmedia/lookeast/cambs_tvbull.ram

Bumped this thread up.

Tom, Robin aka Norbert Keith aka tkm271 (or VPD) and myself would like to say a big thank you to all the CA's who have supported Tom through this year, be it track side or through - rather infrequent (sorry) - updates.

What a season Tom has had. We knew it was going to be a steep learning curve, nigh on vertical, as when he sat on the grid at Brands Hatch he was the youngest single seater driver in the UK (15 years old!) and had only driven the race car about 5 times. Tom has worked hard and improved hand over fist. To give an idea at the first F BMW test on the Silverstone National Tom was 4 seconds of pole, last weekend he was .9 off pole. Tom has managed to finish almost all of his races better than his grid position (I say almost as there have been 3 non finishes, but only one of those was totaly his fault) Tom finished the Rookie Championship in 8th place beating a couple of Scholership drivers, wich in truth is lot high than we expected!

Tom's natural ablity has been paised and been spoted by other teams in other championships, we were offerd seats at this years Britcar 24hr. Somthing that Tom would love to do, his personal goal is to get to Le Mans, but an empty bank balance stoped the fun there, but there is next year guys if anyone is intrested in joining in the fun  ;D

Tom has caught the eye of some of the top F BMW teams and next up is the World Final in Valencia with one of these teams (can not say who untill its confiremed), wich we are looking for funding. Of course we have plans afoot for next year wich should see Tom challenging for the out right F BMW championship.

Starting to look forward to March already.

Thanks for the update Bob, and congratulations and well done to Tom and team for all the hard work in 2006.

Looks like 2007 will be a ground breaking year.

Fantastic news and jolly well done all the way round, can't imagine how tough it must be to secure all the necessaries to enable Tom to continue racing.  it would tremendous one day soon a CA member was actually competing at LM.

Wishing you every success for next year.

Well done for a very good 2005. I had the pleasure of meeting Tom in the paddock at Brands Hatch at the first race of the season (no Uncle Bobblehat tho!) and all the talk was of the two Mansell lads, which I think took some of the pressure off Tom's shoulders. Anyway Tom was terrifc, showing us around the car and explaining how the Formula worked, quite the young professional.

Anyway, I'm look forward to the return meeting at Brands next year. Bon Chance Tom and team!

Thanks very much for the update Bobblehat and congratulations from here, too. I wish all the best for next season.

'append to be in Italy, doing the day job, tasting wine.....what a tough life eh! ::)

Well done Tom and good luck for next year  8)

Update on the update.

The team that has asked Tom to race with them in Valencia in the Formula BMW World Finals - subject to raising £ 10K :o - is Team SWR/Loctite. This was the team that ran the Mansell boys and were subsquently "bought out" by our Nige and became Mansell Motorsport. Under the banner of Team Loctite for the rest of the season they ran Oliver Turvey in a very quick and well preped car.

Tom is not there to make up the numbers and he and the team belive he has a real chance of a good showing.

So if anybody is in the position to help out with sponsership and fancies some November (24th-26th) Spanish sunshine, please pm me.

All the best to Tom this weekend.  Wish him luck.

Thanks Termietermite.

Yep! Tom is out there with 37 other young F BMW drivers from around the world. Going to give it his best shot and learn loads, one fantastic experiance!

Unfortunatly no-one is broadcasting the race in the UK - you can watch on Motors TV this weekend the F BMW review, two hours long, you should be able to see Tom's flying display at Thruxton! Not to sure if its is being shown in France/Holand/Germany/USA, but if it is and anyone can, could you please record it for us. We will remburse etc

Yup, seems to be on here.  Will do my best.

Oh great if you could we would all be very greatfull. ;D

There seem to be a few repeats too (this is Motors, after all) so if I fail the first time, I can always have another go. :)

just to say well done, and good luck for 2007!

Valencia was a brilliant if frustrating time according to Keith and Robin.

Tom started out well in the practice, then came to 1st qualifing and the engine cut out putting him last 18/18. Not what he whanted. 1st heat fought his way up to 15th. Then was put back to 18th for the next heat for a "technical infringment" again fought tooth and nail to claim 17th. In Tom's final heat he was taken out by his former team mate Jack Clark on the last lap!

For the final on Sat Tom was 36/37 on the grid but battled through to 26th.

Team Loctite were happy with him, they were using this a learning excercise. Tom learn a lot, with all the problems he put his head down and just got on with it. All of the UK teams struggled, Tom's team mate Oliver Turvey was the highst placed Brit in 6th.

Many thanks for all of your support, fingers crossed we can get it together for 2007