Team Foskett -Noughties

With Christmas present voucher in hand Malcolm made the trip to Brands Hatch for a Rally School session. Smiffyman was on hand with his camera as always. Trying to stay quiet about previous racing experience was difficult as the Instructor spotted the racing boots.! Anyhow, Malcolm was duly strapped into a Rally prepared Peugeot 206 and off they went. The instructor questioned Malcolm as they launched themselves into a slide and after that she held on tightly.!
A very entertaining afternoon. The report at the end mentioned something about Beirut Taxi driver.......

Sunday 5th October saw the Stock Karts press test/press/practise day at Skegness. More details will follow in Short Circuit magazine in November, but it was a very interesting day..

The first testing of the Ex Neal Smith National Hot Rod took place at the Rolling Thunder test day at Arena Essex on Saturday. With the added assistance of World Champion Dave Longhurst who was there to try out a few different cars including a Sprint Car, the shake down laps went very well. We still have a lot of preparation work to do but its coming together quite nicely.
To read more about the 'Longun Experience' Click HERE

Unfortunately Smiffyman couldn't fit into the race seat of the Fiesta so we strapped him into a Hot Hatch and let him loose.... After a few constructive comments from Malcolm off he went...and we stood back.! To read a little more about Smiffyman Click HERE

A test day behind closed doors with George and Barry and their Retro Rods is being planned for a Short Circuit article very shortly. As our Fiesta is somewhere between Retro and recent maybe we can persuade them to have a go in it.!! ( We've done it and it will make fascinating reading.. see below)

The Canada trip is coming along nicely with a couple more drives planned in the two weeks we are there. Smiffyman is a bit concerned about the weather as the forecast is subzero at the moment.! June should be fine though.! Huggy is busy sorting out the itinery which is looking busier by the day.

Exclusive extract from Malcolms April Short Circuit column.....What a day.!!!!!!!!

''We have had a great time this month testing cars but even I was surprised to get a call from George ‘the driver’ Polley. Fozzy fancy a run out in the old angle box,

I don’t remember what I said first but ‘does Smiffy like pies’ followed YES PLEASE, not only that but after getting the OK from The Management that is Malcolm Forbes the deal was Both the Cars seen and debuted at the NEC and interviews with both Barry Lee and GP, we have done it and it was a day we will remember for ever.''

So, with a full write up WITH photos (Smiffy and Trevor took nearly 400.!!) coming soon in Short Circuit...dreams do come true.......

With phase two of the National Hot Rod now complete we have decided to take a month off to go testing on our own and repair the damage from Ipswich. ( We have a video of the incident and it will appear on this website VERY soon..!!)
We have been encouraged by the pace of the Hot Rod and the basic handling. A test day not at race conditions should allow us to fine tune the car to us so that we can move on to qualifying for the 2005 World Championships.
The next planned meeting is on the 31st May at Ipswich which maybe the last before we go to Canada and the World Championships in July.
The Polley/Lee test has gone down very well with everyone and more of the same is planned upon our return from Canada. Malcolm has a few tests planned including a Spedeworth V8 Stock Car and a Rookie Rod.
Dave Baldwin at 'Graphics by Dave' and Smiffyman have produced some Souvenir mugs with Polley and Lee on them and should be available soon. Dave also has done some for our team and can easily make them up for any purpose with your photos.
You can contact Dave on 01323 848795 or dave@graphicsbydave.co.uk or CLICK HERE

Thanks to John Steward Racing, Team Foskett goes Days of Thunder this weekend May 1/2. We have exclusive access to the teams preparations for the opening round of this years Days of Thunder at Rockingham Motor Speedway for a Short Circuit testers article. Malcolm will be joining the Pit Crew on Sunday and will be getting a few laps in the drivers seat of the Steward teams new Virgin sponsored car..!!

Thanks to the Steward Team for their hospitality and we were proud to be part of a very successful weekend for the team.

Team Foskett/Short Circuit test day in a TOP BRISCA F1 Stockcar.!! More details to come....

Back to Rockingham this weekend for rounds 3 & 4 of Days Of Thunder. Team Foskett has now been 'adopted' by Team Steward so we shall be present for all the rounds this year. Malcolm will be Jack man again, Smiffyman will be snapping away and Trevor may well be in 'Spotter' training in the stands and the two Lees' making the teas.!
The Short Circuit magazine will be out with the front cover dedicated to the Steward team and a multipage article inside.. ORDER IT NOW ..!!!!!!!!

Ipswich Spedeweekend is getting close now. Stock Karts are there with a few guest drivers and there may well be a few surprises with the Hot Rods. See the Hot Rod page for more details..
The Canada trip is gaining momentum with only a few days to go until take off.! Rick Young has been busy over there organising the festivities and a bit of accommodation.... Rumour has it that its a bit dusty at the tracks..I wonder if it could be as bad as Wimbledon.??

Having made it back from Canada Lee received some good news in that she can resume driving and work after the heart problems experienced whilst we were away. No further complications are expected so good news.!!!

The Hot Rod is up for sale as the running costs and time required has exceeded what we had planned even though we havnt crashed it.! The car is good and quick and is on the pace and hasnt caused us any real trouble.
No plans as yet for the next project.

Malcolm has been testing more cars for Short Circuit, including Grand Prix Midgets and more are in the pipeline. Thanks to all the GP Midget drivers who made the Swaffham test day an enjoyable one. Special note to Barry & Anne Goldsby as on the last lap of the test the car suffered and engine failure due to a bent cam follower and couldnt race that night. Rob Sayell supplied them with a replacement part so that Barry could race at Gt Yarmouth the following day.

Following up John Stewards success at Round 6 Days of Thunder at Rockingham, this weekend brings us the next two rounds with Malcolm on the jack once again. This is turning out to be a very successful season for the team and we hope it continues.

After successful sessions in Currall Motorsports Baby Grands we have been given the opportunity to run one ourselves and do the tour with the other regular drivers. Click here to find out more about these Yamaha motorcycle engined NASCAR look-alikes.

A busy weekend for Team Foskett in the Short Circuit testing department. With Smiffyman on holiday it was Trevor on camera duties. Saturday began with a trip to Ringwood for the Grand Prix Midgets and the Baby Grands. Following on from the testing session at Swaffham, Steve Terry of the GP Midget Club kindly offered the loan of his Suzuki Swift powered Dastle Midget. Starting from the rear of the grid alongside newly crowned World Champ Rob Sayell Malcolm soon became accustomed to the car and finished the night with good top ten places including a good tussle with current British Champ Ez Walker. Ez finally managed to pass Malcolm in the final with Malcolm coming home 5th. On the same program were the Baby Grands and with Malcolms regular sessions at the Rolling Thunder Show this was a new track to master these very potent Yamaha engined Winston Cup replica cars. With a hire driver out in the regular 94 car Malcolm was in the rebodied Colin White car. After a couple of hectic heats, Malcolm took the final with some ease. Back to work for Malcolm on Sunday meant very little sleep before the trip to the Oval Race Club at Angmering on BH Monday. This trip had been arranged after an earlier visit and a successfull Nudge and Spin session at Croydon last weekend. Upon arrival at the very busy circuit we found that not only was Malcolm taking part in a ramp jump and another nudge and spin session, Promotor Jim had arranged a 325 BMW for the pre 1980 races. In the loosly termed nudge and spin race the 1400cc Escort ground to a halt after a heavy coming together with a rival Cortina.! A few cable ties for the radiator and a good tug at the front end Malcolm made it back out for the Final. The wrong end of a heavy follow in failed to halt things and a last lap blocking effort also failed to stop the second Final win of the weekend.
The ramp jump car had been excellently prepared by a local college's students and was a fine example of a Vauxhall Cavalier. Malcolm managed to clear 9 cars landing on the 10th car quite safely. Definatly a one off I think.!! The Pre 1980's included a fine Mk1 Consul Cortina and XJS Jaguar. The first race was won by a trusty Ford Capri from Malcolms BMW with Malcolm taking the final win, making it 3 wins out of four finals over the weekend

With October being the last Rolling Thunder Show of 2004 Team Foskett had a bit of a job swap night. Malcolm and Smiffyman had a go on the Starters Rostrum and Trevor had a run out in the BabyGrands for the first time. As the 94 car that DOT driver Skid 'Cortina' Carrera raced at the September meeting was driverless for the night Alan Currell kindly offered it to Trevor. After a few suspension adjustments after practise, Heats one and two were completed successfully and well placed which led to the feature race. After a crash for Paul Bond in the #7 car Malcolm and Trevor lined up side by side for the restart. The whole race had all the cars dicing for the lead and as all the cars exited the last corner to take the flag it was a dead heat win for Malcolm & Trevor ( brings back memories of Alwalton Economy Rods.!) with #00 Stu Thompson VERY close behind.! SO another successful night racing for Team Foskett and the BabyGrands.

The new car is on show at the Brentwood Show January 8th & 9th 2005 or click here for a sneak preview.!!

On a cold wet and windy day at Swaffham raceway last Saturday, the new Baby Grand being driven by Malcolm Foskett was given some shakedown tests. The main aim for the day was to check out the handling, try out some new tyres and generally give the car a good run out. On the day due to the poor track conditions the tyre testing proved inconclusive, but the car drove well and things should be set for the coming season. Malcolm will be joined this year by several new drivers to the baby Grand’s, and all will be chasing the silverware in the Ian Gosling Ltd. AutoSmart International Baby Grand Challenge. Look out for the 2005 schedule on the Baby Grand web site www.currallmotorsport.com

Smiffyman

Photos of the first BabyGrand meeting for 2005 at Great Yarmouth on Sunday 17th April are now online at the new photo section Click here

BabyGrands to run the Rock.
Yarmouth 31st July (Shortest oval track) to Rockingham 7th August (Longest UK Oval.!) a true crossover formula.!

Two race wins out of three as Malcolm entertains the holiday crowd at Gt Yarmouth. Following on from the hattrick at the previous Gt Yarmouth meeting Malcolm came through from a seriously handicapped start position to take the chequered flag. The car performed faultlessly all night and the team wrapped up the night with a 'full bag' of do-nuts in front of the main grandstand that left the holidaymakers with big grin on their faces and a happy promotor.

After a brilliant weekend at Rockingham on the 6th/7th August hopes are high that the Babygrands will be invited back hopefully for a series in 2006. All doubts that the cars (and drivers) would not last the pace have been wiped away and some very positive comments have been made.

Angmering on the 13th August was successful with Trevor taking two wins out of three and taking the overall meeting points trophy. Apart from a spin in practise on a patch of water the car was faultless all weekend with only a small adjustment required to stop the body rubbing the ground under braking.!

The next meeting for the Babygrands is at Lydden Hill on the 10th September. Malcolm should be at the wheel for this as Trevor and Lindsey will be watching the Nascar Chevy Rock & Roll at Richmond, Virginia USA.