Sarah Wherry #4

Sarah`s racing exposure profile

2010-12-25T10:52:00.001Z

please try this link to read my racing exposures profile .

Birmingham NEC The MR2 Drivers Club stand

2010-12-09T20:01:00.007Z

I was kindly invited once again too attend and show my car and racing footage at this years Classic Sports Car Show at the Birmingham NEC O2 Arena, the show was in November and runs for three days, during which over 50,000 people visit the show and attend the live MPH Shows.
The MR2 Drivers Club stand is always very busy and I find it enjoyable too do meeting people every year who love cars and motor sport.

2010-12-08T12:17:00.002Z

Press release for Grimsby Telegraph...

Grimsby`s lady car race driver Sarah Wherry has just completed a busy four days at the N.E.C O2 Arena in Birmingham, at the Classic Sports Car Show, Sarah was displaying her Toyota MR2 MK1 race car on one of her sponsors show stands "The MR2 Drivers Club".
we travelled down on Thursday too arrive and set up the car and stand ready for the public, we set up the large monitor too show all the in-car footage which the public love too watch and also the display stand too sell the R.S.P.C.A merchandise, Sarah helps too raise funds for the local R.S.P.C.A by selling bears and also raising funds in the store she manages in Freshney Place in Grimsby, her store "Bonmarche" is also a pet food collection point if you would like too donate!
They were very long days, we arrived for 8:00am every morning and on Friday and Saturday the opening hours were extended from 5:30 until 7:00pm, it was estimated 50,000 people visited the show over the three days .

Sarah has had a fairly good year in racing this year at some of the top circuits in the UK, competing at Brands Hatch,Snetterton,Castle Combe,Lydden Hill,Mallory Park and her beloved local circuit Cadwell Park with two third place podium finishes locally and consistently many top five finishes through the year, Sarah has been presented with the Lady driver of 2010 cup as there are other ladies in the series but over all she has finished joint tenth out of forty two drivers.

Sarah is looking forwards too next year and would like too thank her local sponsors: RASP Race and track performance preparation, AUTODESIGNS and The MR2 Driver Club for all there support and help .

two podiums for Sarah!

2010-08-29T15:18:00.005Z

Sarah Wherry was on great form at Cadwell Park on August 22nd. Sarah racing against 32 other racers managed two 3rd place podium finishes, "it was a great weekend for me and I love Cadwell its such a challenging circuit and only down the road to myself".
Sarah has only been racing for six years in her Toyota MR2 MK1, it`s been a tough time this season the grids have increased to maximum, so most of the meetings I am racing against 35 aggressive guys , and I was unfortunately involved in a major accident this year when I got tagged and turned around at the first corner, I was hit numerous times by the grid behind me at almost 100 mph head on, the car was totally written off and luckily for me I was only bruised and shacked with minor injuries, but my partner Stuart Skinner built another car and I have been fighting back so far, I am currently in the top eight drivers in the series, with races at Mallory Park and Brands Hatch to go this season.
Sarah is assisted by the MR2 DRIVERS CLUB and local companies RASP motor sport and the cars livery designed and maintained by AUTODESIGNS , and Sarah is promoting and fund raising for the North east Lincolnshire RSPCA who drastically need our help to survive in these very tough times.

RACING EXPOSURE REPORT:http://www.racingexposure.com/blog/2010/08/mr2-racing-at-cadwell-park-august-22nd/

GIRLRACER REPORT:http://www.girlracer.co.uk/motorsport/msnews/6391-podium-for-sarah-wherry.html

2010-05-18T16:43:00.002Z

CAR #4 dyno work with one of my sponsors:Rasp Ltd Road & Stage Performance from sarah wherry on Vimeo.

found the car to be down on power at Mallory, I was struggling on the straights and exiting Gerrards the car seemed flat , so we let one of my sponsors run it up a few times and in between we changed filters and ecu`s and exhaust`s eventually found the power and torque again thank goodness, so full on for Snetterton in a couple of weeks, thanks to Rasp Ltd, Road and Stage Performance for your time,equipment and expertise, cheers john!

Mallory first rounds 2010

2010-05-02T21:36:00.003Z

Mallory Park April 18^th 2010

After a long cold winter break the 2010 mr2 racing series kicked off at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on April the 18^th.

As I had a day off work on the Saturday before the meeting we drove down mid afternoon to arrive at the circuit by 6:00 pm, drivers were already setting up the BBQ`s , we unloaded the car and set up our tent and air bed “then crossed our fingers it stayed inflated”, we then joined people and chatted and found a BBQ and asked if we could pop our food on, we ate and then had various discussions with racers new and old before it turned cold and we decided to nip into the van and go and find a warm pub for a night cap, we returned about midnight and climbed in the tent relived to find the bed okay we soon fell asleep.

A fine sunny day greeted the racers and with record entries of 41 cars it looked set to be interesting! We got up and showered then to sort the car out and the paperwork, first to sign on and get my scrutineering ticket, then to scrutineering with the car, it all passed so back to the van and fuel the car and set the tyre pressures.

We were called for qualifying and I went out doing first three steady laps and then my race pace, that’s when I noticed something, was not right, I had to use loads of lock and struggled to hold the car tight to line and the hairpin was a nightmare I had to change hands on the wheel to turn, it knocked loads of time off me I thought I had a flat tyre! I came in and to say the least I was not happy I knew before I got the times I would not be good news and it wasn`t, Stu jacked up the car after I had informed him of the steering issues, Stu found the O/S/F camber bolts loose, he fitted some new shake proof washers and tightened everything up. I had qualified in 12^th place not good at all and a lot of work to do on the shortest circuit in our calendar.

During the lunch break that was now happening we get a visit from members of the MR2 Drivers Club, Brian Elliot and some friends plus some of our motorsport friends came out for the day.

So to race 1

I got a reasonable start but got blocked by three cars coming together in the first corner, I got clear of the accident and settled down to gain some places, the car seemed sorted now anyway but with the first corner hold up the front guys had got away and pretty much where I was, was my finishing position I had made it up to ninth place in that race, and finished with no marks on the car and a better start position hopefully for the second race.

Race 2

Due to accident damage on cars in the first race and a couple of cars with mechanical issues I found that I was starting race 2 in 6^th place now, so as I sat doing the green flag lap in the car I was planning my start weighing up who I was next to etc, all lined up ready to go and I went but stupidly, missed the second gear change “furious with myself I never fluff the starts!” I pulled my driving in and tried to make the most of a wrecked opportunity and lost places to boot. So down to 10^th by my own mistake I got involved in a good race with car 75 Matt Coggins, unfortunately Matt got a bit over ambitious and as a result I turned into Devils elbow on line and Matt was trying to go under my car as a result the rear quarter of my car got pushed and put me into a spin, luckily I just missed the inside barrier kept the throttle and got straight back on, I worked my way back to 14^th from there and finished with minor damage, I wanted a lot more from my first races but that’s motorsport unfortunately, so Stuart has some cosmetics to do before the next meeting at Snetterton on May 30^th and a little bit of panel straightening but apart from that we got off unscathed and had two races, thanks to Brain and friends for coming to see us and the racing we hope to see some other members throughout the year at meetings.

Nippon & MR2 Racing Highlights - Mallory Park April 2010

2010-05-02T11:22:00.000Z

New web site for my sponsor

2010-03-21T22:41:00.004Z

Fantastic new web site for my sponsor "the MR2 DRIVERS CLUB", work has finally finished on the new site and forum, now all my videos and footage can be seen plus my race reports on-line, writtern for the Drivers Club and published by the "MR2 Only magazine".

http://www.mr2dc.com/

2010 meet and greet

2010-03-14T19:20:00.006Z

a great day my car felt good we had a slight issue with the alternator, we found it had picked up a stone and this was trapped and had bit into the belt, so that replaced we are ready for the first meeting at Mallory on April the 18th, however i have booked a track day at Cadwell on the 26th March a low priced day at £125 that i could not miss , open pit all day because I feel Cadwell is the best test for a driver and car and plus Cadwell is only 20 mins away from me, bonus!

oh and the new decals on the car, I am no longer that little red car with silver stripes, now check out the black and gold!
here is a slide show of the day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7399275@N08/sets/72157623570878542/show/

Podium at Silverstone

2009-08-26T13:26:00.004Z

Silverstone June 7th

Round 3 of the MR2 Racing series takes us to the home of British motor sport, Silverstone, we travelled down after work on the Saturday and arrived in the paddock at about 10pm, dropped off the car and trailer then a quick round in the paddock as some of the other racers were camping the night and had settled in for late evening BBQ`s and we just had a few words with them and a drink.

Sunday morning brought torrential rain, the circuit was flooded so much so the qualifying was delayed until the track sweepers had tried to clear the flooded track. We had fitted two new near side tyres and needed to scrub them in to get them to work, you see the new Silverstone tyres when new have a coating on them and that needs scrubbing off before you have any grip its like driving on ice until its rubbed off abrasively, and to go out on a water logged circuit with outside tyres with no grip that meant I would not get much speed up which meant no heat which in turn not much grip, I would usually nip off in the rear of the car park and scrub the tyres that way but by the time the tyres were fitted we were then called, no time I would just have to see how it went, I headed out and let most cars by just circulating at a driving pace trying to scrub my tyres were I could safely this was in between waved yellow flags and the spray I began to think I needed to just go for it what the hell as I was sure I was nearly out of qualifying time, I pressed as hard as I dare and had a little slide but it was a smooth lap and it was as fast as I could go with the circuit and my tyres at that point so session over I was thinking 18th/ninteenth on the grid with work to do but, I ended up 8th and shocked but relived as you could imagine!

Race one, by now the sun was out and the circuit was bone dry so a fast start was not a problem and with Silverstone being so wide I had loads of room, so we got gridded up we also had the biggest ever grid or MR2 MK1`s at a race meeting thirty two to be exact all within the same spec of each other new racers and seasoned racers, looking back in the rear view it was brilliant this was going to be great!
We did our green flag lap, that’s a lap of the circuit in grid formation to make us aware of the marshals posts and circuit conditions, then re-grid and wait for the boards and lights, light on then out and away by the first corner I was in 4th place, I was then involved in one of the best MR2 races I have ever been in, and Stuart said one of the best he has ever seen, six cars were swapping places every corner every lap, it was great, I was one of these cars and from my point of the race it was such a great place to be but the closeness of the racing demanded complete focus, I did finish third but the race was red flagged and the result was rolled back a lap before the cause of the red flag and at that point I was fourth, this result was not made until after the cars were back in the paddock so I did appear on the podium for the finish.

During the break between races we had lots of spectators coming up and asking about the car and the series and also the Drivers Club, we gave out a lot of literature so hopefully more members will come of it and we hope you all enjoyed the day.

Race two I was nearer the front as you start were you finished the first race ie 4th for me, I got a good start and was with the leaders going into Copse Corner, the race soon settled into a four car dice for the lead, I sat behind the leaders to watch the action, I had decided to push with two laps to go and was pulling them in down the back straight, just as I pulled out to make a stab at a pass, yellow flags were being waved(no overtaking) and then the chance had gone! So I finished in 4th it had been a good day for me and now we had a long drive home.

I am looking forward to the next rounds at my local circuit Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire and its only 20 mins from our house BONUS! We have friends going to be at the circuit to watch this one so the pressure is on me for this one, we hope to see some Drivers Club members and of course please come and say hi if you

Pembrey good and bad

2009-08-26T13:16:00.002Z

Pembrey 16th & 17th May 2009

For the second round of the MR2 racing series we go to Pembrey on the South Wales coast, as we live in Grimsby in north east Lincolnshire this is our longest drive to get to a race meeting just over six hours one way.
We decided to do the test day scheduled for the Friday, so set off Thursday at 4pm getting to a very wet Pembrey at 10pm, we parked the car and trailer at the circuit then set off again to find our B&B for the weekend.

Friday morning up for testing, the circuit was very wet from overnight rain but it had stopped, Stuart did tyre pressures and fuel while I went and signed on for the day, testing started at 9am and was split into sessions between saloons and caterhams, I had got kitted up at our B&B so I was ready, I have been to Pembrey before about 4 years ago so I knew where I was going, its one of those circuits you either get on with or hate it! I quite like it but I didn’t 4 years ago but I learnt a lot. I wanted to try some faster lines and different settings plus the last time I was here I was on Yokohama tyres not Silverstone, saying that I did not want to wear out the race tyres so I used Toyo R888 for most of the day, my best previous time round Pembrey was a 1:16 sec, so I was out to improve as I knew I could now be more aggressive, I went well all day and the rain held off although it was threatening to drench us, by mid afternoon after I had settled for my new lines Stuart quoted I had managed laps in the 1:13`s I was happy with that and then we decided to try the Silverstone tyres, and yes we got rain drizzle at first but the drenching kind and the circuit was soon wet all over so I didn’t really get a chance to push the tyres but did get a feel for them in those conditions so that was a plus.

So off back to the B&B and then out for some food and fuel, if you ever track day or test/race at Pembrey they do not have or sell fuel at the circuit so you need to take plenty.
Then to Saturday, today we have our qualifying and first race, the track was dry so I was pretty confident of a good qualifying time, we had a grid of 29 cars entered so it was difficult to get good track space, but for once I was lucky and managed clear laps when I needed them and thanks to some good awareness by some slower drivers realising a faster car was coming and adjusting there lines so not to slow me down, all to often less experienced drivers get in the mood of racing and wreck your qualifying for you as the marshals don’t always blue flag them (this means faster car approaching be aware), anyway the few I met on circuit for qualifying were on the ball and driving well, “thanks again you know who you are”!
When I came in and got the times at the end of the session I had qualified 5th on the grid with a fastest lap of 1:12 sec, the times were very close the top 7 cars on the grid was covered by 1 second.

RACE 1
I got a nice start and got clear of the first hairpin with all wheels and panels intact, if you don’t know Pembrey the start line heads straight into a 10 degree right hand hairpin on a slightly declining slope, defiantly designed by someone with a sense of humour ,a recipe for issues! I then settled into a nice pace with the leaders, I lost a place to Alex Gassman car 48, then Ross Stoner car22 dropped out with a mechanical problem, it was good close racing and I finished in 4th place with a fastest lap of 1:11 sec, this would give me a grid spot of p4 for the second race tomorrow.

SUNDAY RACE DAY
Some free practise today then two 20 minuet races, there had been a lot of over night rain and the circuit was wet, just one dry line, Stuart wanted to try some different tyre pressures in these conditions, so I went out for 15 minuets of the 30 minuet practise, Stuart asked how the car felt, I was pleased with the car so decided to leave it and only change it if the weather dried up.

RACE 2
I was starting in fourth place on the grid for this race and was looking for another good result, the track was still a little damp so I had to be a bit cautious, I got a good start and was running in 4th place, I was being chased closely by car 2 Liam O`Toole and had to take some more defensive lines than I would like and because of this I was loosing touch with the leading cars, I had decided to let Liam through at the end of the start/finish straight and hope he would pull me up to the leaders again, when I made a mistake, I missed my turn in point by a fraction on the fast left hander past the pits and got a wheel on the grass, wet grass! So now no control I was speeding sideways picking up speed towards the tyre wall , I was hoping as it was along way I might stop but no such luck more speed I found myself thinking should I try and get the car turned for a rear impact, but I decided to take it all side ways to spread the impact only issue was it was going to be drivers side hitting but I made ready for the inevitable, I walloped the tyres at about 70 mph stuffing most of the car into and under the tyre wall so that all I could see through half of the screen was tyres, I could not believe the screen or side windows bit not break but luckily they didn’t. now I had to get out! So unclip the belts and climb over the central tunnel and out of the passenger door to be greeted by some great marshals who then helped me to safety. When we pulled the car out actually it was not that bad a bit of pulling of panels and a new door mirror mainly the front wing just needed pulling off the tyre, Liam`s dad made me a cuppa while Stuart checked the front suspension but it had no damage or got knocked out so I was ready to go again with the tyre pressures checked, Stuart fuelled the car and said its ready if you are going out? In my mind I had not even thought of missing the race but I had taken a big knock, I had been cleared by the medical unit after the crash but only time would tell as now I was still on adrenalin a bit anyway on to the next race.

RACE 3
Due to my crash I had not finished the previous race so they started me on the back of the grid so I had to carve my way through the entire grid of cars, no mean feet but what a challenge! To say I need one of my best starts now would be a large understatement, but I did get one and I got a real flier!
At the end of the start/finish straight I was 15th from last on the grid and by the end of the first lap I was 12th, I was being a bit cautious and was staying clear of the damp edges of the circuit, I kept picking cars off and had reached 7th place but actually I did feel not myself and eased off and just drove for a finish, I ended the race in 9th place and was content with that all I wanted was to get out of the car and get some fresh air as I was now not feeling my best in a hot car and helmet.
Back in the pits I got out of the car and wanted my own space and company for a few moments and I did need to sit down , I went to freshen up and settle myself and then a slow walk back to the cars, it appears I had given myself a hard knock earlier and now I had stopped thinking of racing it might just have crept up on me but I was okay after the little time on my own and suddenly surrounded by drivers and pats on the back and hand shakes etc, I reassured Stu I was fine now and popped over to the marshals post I had visited earlier and thanked them once again, they had been waving and cheering me on in the final race and congratulated me on my efforts and getting back out there after the crash earlier I did enquire if they had any doughnuts left but they assured me they had all gone and said you should have had one earlier!
When I returned to Stuart and the car he had got it on the trailer and was ready to be off so I jumped in the van and waved as we set off home a six hour drive ahead of which I did not see much of, yes I fell asleep!
Stuart has fixed the car and we will be ready for Silverstone in three weeks time, as for me I have a soar neck but I will live thanks for all the phone calls and emails from people asking after me, I was quite touched by the concern thank you all.

meet and greet at Silverstone Feb 27th 09

2009-03-01T08:16:00.007Z

so I am now racing under the #4 in the MR2 Racing series and selected Nippon Challenge races, and as for the meet and greet day , nice! good weather although a bit cold to the end of the day but this was actually good as it gave us more feedback on the new regulation tyre the Silverstone FTZ sport RR ,in the conditions of the day I was pleased to find the tyre does perform better on my car than the Toyo r888 , it is a harder tyre and thicker on the walls but is a race tyre not as the Toyo a road/race tyre however the Silverstone is legal on the road if you wanted.
the main difference I found is that on a Mk1 the Toyo did come up to heat but when I had the Toyos on my mk2 the grip was pretty much a lap and a half in and it really did grip (it felt like a power steering failure they gripped that much), this was not what happened on the mk1 it did build up good grip but did not have the weight as the mk2 did to make the tyres work as well or as quickly, but because of this when heat did build up it lasted longer and the tyres did not cook.
The Silverstone tyres reacted like my mk1 was a mk2 they worked brilliantly with my suspension and the feedback through the car was so good, as for when we had run a session and they had cooled in the next session a good 45 mins later the tyres came straight in perfect, the continued to deliver grip on race speeds around Silverstone itself a very abrasive circuit for a good 5 laps before the rear was getting loose all be that now in cooler conditions.

another tyre bonus Silverstone tyres are sponsoring the Nippon and the MR2 racing and will be with us every event as support, so NO carriage charges for tyres yey! all brought to the circuit fitted and balanced free, plus these guys are rally tyre specialists and have all on board equipment for tyre information so no issues for us this year the guys are there at the front line ready to deal face to face with any issues.

lots of new drivers out to play...

top day! the car felt good and the tyres even better and as for me well fitness is my thing this year!

Revelation Motorsport

2008-10-18T08:07:00.002Z

next years Nippon introduces the REVELATION a new light weight single seater aimed at affordable racing for more details of this new concept and pricing www.revelationmotorsport.com

Rockingham june 7th

2008-08-31T10:32:00.001Z

so the first time i have raced at Rockingham, not to proud of my debut but i survived and gained track knowledge.

silverstone 2nd race of the season

2008-05-25T07:13:00.001Z

so the 2nd race of the season started at silverstone, i had an under steer problem until sorted for the race so i qualified 13th not that impressive but with a car i could now drive i managed a respectable start and made my way up to finish 8th, i was content with this and i have some more laps of silverstone under my belt.

next round Mallory par bank holiday Monday my favorite track and as i type the forecast is WET yey i do love the rain......

first round Nippon shame

2008-04-24T21:16:00.008Z

Almost ready but not this time! my mk2 racing car for the Nippon challenge sadly will not be ready for the Silverstone round, I was going to have a play but time has run out on my new toy, new suspension and a full engine build has taken its time and the car will not be ready for this round, my MK1 is ready to go MR2racing with no issues and I am really looking forward to racing her but the mk2 debut will have to wait sadly......

All decaled up and no were to go, but a full shake down at Cadwell Park before Rockingham will bed in the new engine and let us set up the car , the big problem is we seem to be short of a purpose built exhaust that was on order and promised delivery the week before hand, I honestly am deflated that its not ready but when I do race her I will have got used to the car and it will be set up ready, no point in trying to race a car that I have not even driven before or race a non run in engine thats heading for disaster.

Se you at Silverstone!

NEC VIDEOS CADWELL

2008-02-07T22:08:00.001Z

NEC PROMO VIDEO "enjoy!"

GO 2008 MR2 RACING!

2008-01-01T14:42:00.001Z

MySpace Countdowns

mallory race oct 14th

2007-10-20T22:31:00.001Z

great race for the final of the season, I got blocked in off the start which was a shame but held on to the lead pack so i had the chance to fight through....... .and i did and finished 2nd, TOP RESULT!

Now prepairing the MK2 ready for next year and looking forward to a track day in November.

brands hatch qualifying

2007-09-03T17:53:00.001Z

So to Brands Hatch for the next round, i enjoy Brands but not on these tyres the car felt unsettled and no driver feed back, but hey we are all stuck with them!

brands first start

2007-09-03T17:51:00.001Z

so to the race we got red flagged and i nearly got collected but survived....

brands restarted race

2007-09-03T17:49:00.001Z

here we are restarted i got on well but was not comfortable on the tyres and decided to trust them in the wrong place and at the wrong pace my error and i paid.

snetterton 2nd race july 15th

2007-07-22T07:15:00.001Z

so this is the second race good start but i let myself get held up to much,"my fault!"

pictures of Snetterton july 15th

2007-07-21T11:23:00.000Z

some pictures taken by my fella of the mr2 challenge rounds at Snetterton circuit on July 15th
http://www.flickr.com/gp/7399275@N08/9x2Kk8

snetterton first race july 15th o7

2007-07-20T17:07:00.001Z

This is when i saw the blue smoke 2nd to last lap comming out of the back esses, yes i spun(STUPID) but I had a good fight back.
I finished in 10th place for this race from 27th on the grid(not all bad then!)

mr2 challenge snetterton 2nd race(TRACKSIDE)

2007-07-20T13:39:00.001Z

I have purchased a second camcorder, it`s for Stu to play with at the moment and then will be run in his race car next year for in-car footage, this is the second race at Snetterton a not so good meeting for me as we had a problem with oil returning to the inlet side of the engine, (now fixed) but it did give me a scare as I had a rear view mirror full of blue smoke in the first race and I was down on power significantly, after we got home Stu pulled the head off and diagnosed the problem at the meeting we were waiting for it to go bang and possibly not finish "phew", it did and full power will be resumed for Brands (in-car vids on the way).

Mallory timed practise

2007-07-01T09:08:00.001Z

So a wet Mallory Park then, that's just fine as the wet Set up that we have perfected combined with the car being perfectly balanced and weighted thanks to "RASPmotorsport", drives like a dream in these conditions and even I was surprised with the result of two pole positions , and the scary part is it was not hard apart from catching a tyre on the paint and loosing it as consequence the practise was enjoyable and even fun!

However what happened next was infuriating and costly, I was gridded up in pole and given instruction from the paddock marshal that differed from the final instructions of race confirmation, I stupidly followed the marshals verbal instruction and despite my camcorder having the proof of this conversation (the last thing communicated to me before entering the grid), the clerk and later after I appealed the steward just said "we didn`t say it so it never happened!"

So I was excluded and given six points, I will not dredge over it and now I have moved on thinking only of Snetterton the next round on July 15th and how I will be scoring well with now a very sorted car, thank you "RASP & my mechanic Stuart Skinner".

It`s fixed up again ready for battle

2007-06-14T22:04:00.000Z

So after the Cadwell Park fun and games the car has had a new wing again a new corner valance and a new front bumper and indicator, the head light was salvaged in the end with no damage to the mechanisms, the drivers side had been crushed over the rear wheel and intake vent so some body work and filler followed by respray, this was all done thankfully before the bad weather set in that looks to be here for the rest of this week.
I also have used the window chip guys to drill and stop a crack that was threatening to cost me another screen I think that was picked up from Snetterton practising but it is hopefully sorted out now.
So all is ready for Mallory Park in a weeks time the car has been totally re aliened by "RASP Motor sport", and is perfectly balanced again ready for another lightning start I hope, Mallory is my 2nd favourite circuit after Cadwell and I have some very good lap times under my belt around this circuit in the dry and the wet so what ever the sky holds in store I will be ready with confidence.

Local headlines again

2007-05-16T07:38:00.000Z

Please click on the picture to enlarge for reading....
first podium yey!
local paper the Grimsby Evening Telegraph ran a story on my success leading into there sport section last week.......

So to Cadwell Park 7th May

2007-05-12T21:12:00.000Z

a short video to show my ill fated first race at Cadwell....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yzbQbRihkE

top start i qualified 5th for both races and then a mistake made by a fellow racer that cost me a decent position in the first race and damage, well it happens you know.
we have had worse, i cannot say it was not my fault because ultimately if i had not made that mistake on the lap before when i lost the ground i would not have been that far back in the pack to get involved but, it happened, i finished 13th after limping home with steering issues and the old duct tape came out to play again.

in-car footage of the second race.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSIycUPz_8c
the second race now that's a different animal, i had my start planned and boy did i get it right, straight from 5th to first before the first corner, i did however know that i was not going to be there long as i had car handling issues and Bradley the winning driver was quicker than me and on better tyres, so i let him through to save any problems and i could have held 2nd but thought better of the fight in a car that was not right and i needed a good score so i settled for 3rd and was not going to yield to Liam on this place come what may.
i was however very pleased to see the chequered flag as my tyres were failing me in places i was really struggling as the new tarmac on the circuit was not a pleasure to drive, it was very slippery and i cannot say i got used to it at all.

so a 3rd place and trophies to boot "yey", and a big surprise my lap times, i lapped in a 1.54 my best yet and really surprising....... in qualifying my time was a 1.55.6 in a 1.6 MK1 , and P.Mortell in a mk2 2L did A 1.55.3 .............That's only 0.3 of a second faster than me in a 2L car!

RASP MOTORSPORT another sponsor

2007-05-05T11:50:00.000Z

RASP performance--track day---motor sport----tuning---servicing.

a new company local to ourselves in Grimsby, has already proved there worth with the rally scene, mainly working on Subaru & Mitsubishi , and soon to own a rolling road which would have a hugh advantage to us in the future, they have been checking over the car and MODIFICATIONS! have been made the race car has now been weighed and balanced corner to corner and weighted to suit , so now the car has near perfect balance, the car is primed and so am i thanks to RASP and all FREE for the advertising and you guessed it i will be playing in his track day toy when it is ready ........EVO!

Rockingham MR2 record attempt

2007-04-29T20:20:00.000Z

The race car and road car taking part...........

So then we were summoned to the circuit.....
well it was supposed to be warm! but it was not raining at leased, our drive started at 6:00 am Sunday morning, we had both my race car and my road car booked in on this so the van and trailer were needed.
A great showing and loads of nice cars, as always a great deal of interest in the Challenge so i was pleased we made the effort to take the race car, i don't think we made the record for the same model of car on a circuit but we did beat the MR2 record on a circuit.
First we were all lined up to go in as they wanted us in colour groups, "problem my road car is black and race car red!" so alot of mad hand waving was employed to sort out were to off load the race car. the lining up outside the circuit.........................

Celine from the MR2 Drivers Club sitting in my car & myself ..............................

So a fun day had by all in the end from a spectator it must have been a sight!

Cadwell Park next two rounds WOW

2007-04-28T08:44:00.000Z

Great news.....
the next round of the mr2 challenge at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire (my home circuit) will be as Snetterton two separate grids for mk1's & mk2's, the series has grown so we have such grid sizes that Robin Knight (750 MC ) has arranged two races for each mark on Monday the 7th .
class A =MK1 CLASS B =MK2

class A timed practice 9:00 am
class B -- -- -- -- -- - 9:25 am

class A first race 13 mins + 1 lap at 11:35
class B -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at 12:00

class A second race 13 mins + 1 lap at 3:20
class B -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- at 3:50
all times approx events of the day may change the times.

DO NOT MISS THIS! This will be fabulous on the UK`S best circuit... the narrow,twisty,bendy,hilly Cadwell Park, close racing at its extreme! this promises to be a hugh mile stone in the MR2 Challenge, I cannot wait!

and another sponsor

2007-04-10T17:46:00.000Z

autodeSigns Ltd.
coming on board with decaling up the car and some other signage required plus extra`s, a new firm with all the latest high tech equipment, a local business to ourselves based in Grimsby.
Matt has done work on the car before and he comes highly recommended from us.

soon to be an on line business watch this space "and the space on my car!"

More help onboard

2007-03-26T07:44:00.000Z

GIRLRACER .co.uk
Fabulouse people who love cars, these Lads & Ladetts are interested in all types of racing and motorsport, they are keen to follow my racing year and help me with extra coverage and promotions,
(not sure about the pink, but I am sure it will go well on my black car in a month or so).

so running out of space on the car now, replacing the front wing because of damage from last season, oh yes two front wings loads of space, "anyone interested? a small fee would secure a deal honest".

Track day booked

2007-02-14T16:44:00.000Z

So a new year, as I have said previously I want to be out in the car at least twice before the first round of the Challenge.

So the first outing will be a track day at my beloved Cadwell Park, just down the road from me on the 19th of March, this should sort out any niggles with the car, then hopefully a test day at Mallory Park the following week, that for me so I can give it full tilt(Hugh grin) I love that circuit almost as much as Cadwell!

Then I am set, I will be in last years car for a couple of meetings, (photo by Liam Stimpson)
Unfortunately time has been our enemy again, and having no workshop or garage the weather has stopped progress on a number of occasions.

Stuarts new toy

2007-01-31T16:26:00.000Z

Well, time the enemy again because I want to get out in the race car before the season starts I will be using last years car for a couple of races while my new black Mk1 gets finished, my fault if I didn't want to test myself before the season the new car would be ready, but I feel last year I missed out on valuable points early in the season through pants driving on my part, so no mistakes this year as its my last in a Mk1 I want do do well.

So to the story in hand, Stuart has purchased a new toy..... an engine crane/winch "sigh", he loves it, and because of the change around in cars being used , the engine and gearbox that he had already put in the new car needed changing back to whence it came...my 2006 car, but!
With his new toy..........................

It is a far quicker job!
So a very happy man, twenty minuets it was, and that was to transplant the whole engine and gearbox secure on the engine mounts, when with out his new toy it had taken lots of blocks of wood, lots of swearing and about a half a day.

Road car damage TESCO`S not again

2007-01-30T22:55:00.000Z

As she was before the bread loaf,

AFTER SOME LITTLE b*****rd decided to rearrange the styling.........

So thanks for that! I did like it as it was, so SPRAYBAY to the rescue, it will be fixed up again in a week or so, and i have now lost my little savings you pests! learn to drive, it was all on its own you didn`t need to go near it did you but you just had to meddle with some one elses property and then run off and say nothing, and thanks to the security guards who just stood back and ignored my car alarm screaming and flashing,"cheers guys i hope you get job satisfaction" NOT!

2008 mk2 race car

2007-01-13T18:38:00.000Z

We picked her up last week end from Manchester, she will be in storage for a while and then we will be stripping her down to the bare bones and staring at her frillies.

A full rebuild and refurbe this will be one of the lightest MK2`s on the grid "we promise", the car will be ready before the end of 2007 so I want to do some testing and get a feel for racing a MK2.

As you know I have a MK2 Turbo on the road so I am no stranger to how these cars react to speed but my race car will have LEDA units on and that makes a world of difference, this would be one of my best purchases in racing as i had them refurb my MK1 units, they will be refurbish my original units on the new racing MK2 and re-damping them, absolutely would not want to race with out them...brilliant!

Mr2 MK1 repair panels (via MR2DC)

2007-01-01T23:16:00.000Z

So do you need a repair panel? eveything is available via my sponsors the MR2DC....Lots of information to be had, have a look at their site!

Body Repair Panel "C"High quality wheel arch repair panels for AW11 Mk1.The original mk1 wheel arch repair panels in production since 1998. Each panel is hand made using jigs that have been reproduced to original specifications with the kind help and permission of Toyota GB. We use higher grade sheet steel to help minimise any risk of distortion when fitting as well as to provide a long life repair. There are 4 panels available in both near side and off side configurations. By using various combinations you will be able to repair all variations of those rotten arches."C" Panel This panel forms the top of the wheel arch and is approx 4.5" wide around the arch joining panels A and B. it runs down to just above the panel creases either side of the wheel arch. View Full Details
£81.07
Body Repair Panel "A"High quality wheel arch repair panels for AW11 Mk1.The original mk1 wheel arch repair panels in production since 1998. Each panel is hand made using jigs that have been reproduced to original specifications with the kind help and permission of Toyota GB. We use higher grade sheet steel to help minimise any risk of distortion when fitting as well as to provide a long life repair. There are 4 panels available in both near side and off side configurations. By using various combinations you will be able to repair all variations of those rotten arches."A" Panel This panel runs from the rear door opening forming the rear most part of the sill up to just above the panel crease - approx. 6" above the bottom of the door and rearward to the wheel arch. View Full Details
£66.98
Body Repair Panel "B"High quality wheel arch repair panels for AW11 Mk1.The original mk1 wheel arch repair panels in production since 1998. Each panel is hand made using jigs that have been reproduced to original specifications with the kind help and permission of Toyota GB. We use higher grade sheet steel to help minimise any risk of distortion when fitting as well as to provide a long life repair. There are 4 panels available in both near side and off side configurations. By using various combinations you will be able to repair all variations of those rotten arches."B" Panel This panel runs from the welded joint under the corner of the rear bumper up to just above the panel crease which is approx. 6" above the bottom of the panel and forward to the wheel arch. Part of this panel goes behind the rear bumperView Full Details
£106.00
Body Repair Panel "D"High quality wheel arch repair panels for AW11 Mk1.The original mk1 wheel arch repair panels in production since 1998. Each panel is hand made using jigs that have been reproduced to original specifications with the kind help and permission of Toyota GB. We use higher grade sheet steel to help minimise any risk of distortion when fitting as well as to provide a long life repair. There are 4 panels available in both near side and off side configurations. By using various combinations you will be able to repair all variations of those rotten arches."D" Panel This panel runs approx. 4.5" wide all the way around the wheel arch going under the car at both sides. It DOES NOT extend to the rear door or wrap around the rear box section. View Full Details
£119.85

Look what Santa brought me!

2006-12-25T15:56:00.000Z

Yeah! shiny bits, all pretty and new, Stuart has put a lot of work into this engine my only hope is as a driver I can stay in front of him, "yes you did here correct news flash Stu will be racing in the Challenge, and people he is kinda quick I am intimidated....NOT!

No seriously this year is gonna be soooooo much fun for me, I`ll make him eat some of those words about ,"you should have taken that flat out, or you can go faster round that corner, or you are loosing so much time if you just did it like this", well we will see now wont we..snigger, oh this year will be fun.

At the moment I am dealing on a MK2 so we can be getting that ready for 2008, nothing like being organised, but Stu will stay to give the MK1`s a run for there money ," he will be on pace by then I`m sure".

Why I had to retire at Snetterton last races of 2006

2006-12-11T09:33:00.000Z

Since the end of the racing season Stuart has stripped and inspected my race engine. If you remember i had to retire from the last two races at Snetterton at the end of the year, due to a smoking engine. As Snetterton is a long, fast circuit the engine rev`s are held higher and longer than any other circuit we have raced it, this causes a higher oil pressure than normal, the exess pressure in the MR2 engine is relived by an oil pump relif valve, which dumps the excess back to the sump. This was my problem on stripping the engine Stuart found the relif valve stuck. This would cause the excess oil to fill up the cylinder head, leading to it getting into the inlet side, causing the smoking. Stuart had intended to fully strip the engine at the end of the season this was fully rebuilt engine for this year so things needed checking, he has re-honed the cylinders to help it rev a bit more as after a season racing we have only done 680 miles on the engine, he has replaced the piston rings, main and big end bearings,he is also fitting a new cambelt and clutch plate(just to be sure i`ve had problems before and while its stripped down we gave it some xmas prezzies) so hoping for a mechanically sound year . we have also had the cylinder head apart, checked the valve seats, and springs, replaced the valve seals and reset the tappets. so all rebuilt and ready to go into my new car.....looking forward to 2007.

Making head lines

2006-12-05T20:06:00.000Z

Our local paper is hot on the press with my updates, and have just printed my yearly results and accomplishments, being female I have the luxury of being popular with the press, but it is earned!

I would like to thank the Evening Telegraph for all there efforts in printing my reports through this year,
and I hope our great relationship will continue.

contact me at........

2006-11-22T18:37:00.000Z

s.j.wherry@btinternet.com

please use code word (MR2 BLOG) as subject thank you.

The Provisional dates for 2007 MR2 Challenge

2006-11-22T15:56:00.000Z

These dates are as i say provisional and may be changed before the racing season starts in 2007.
we will still have 12 rounds to compete in however the same as last year, but four of those hopefully will stay double headers thus helping to keep down the racing costs.

April 6th & 7th......double header(one race each day) at Snetterton.
May 6th & 7th.......double header(one race each day) at Cadwell Park, my local circuit!
June 2nd...............single round at Donnington Park
June 24th.............double header(two races in one day) at Mallory Park
July 28th..............single round at Brands Hatch
Aug 25th...............single round at Silvertone, on the international circuit!
Sept 28th..............double header(two races in one day) at Snetterton
Oct 14th................single round at Mallory Park

should be great!

2006-11-20T14:10:00.000Z

So to who we are, Stuart has been a racer for many years in 250 National Karts on long circuits, and me, well i started in 2005 and i chose the MR2 Challenge to play in, this made sense to me as i have had MR2`s for many years on the road, but now i was going to race a MK1 not a MK2 Turbo (big difference), however the little MK1 handles superbly against the MK2 and i am loving it.

But one more year of learning race craft and i will move on to a MK2 in 2008 , but for this year i will have a flying little car as light as you can get a MK1.

Getting ready for 2007

2006-11-18T22:58:00.000Z

So it starts again! This nice little 1989 MK1 will be my weapon of choice
next year , at this moment being made as light as possible "as you can see ", not a lot will remain!

It will be resprayed in "PANTHER BLACK" meow! All done in the drive again, so Stu needs thermals for
Christmas.

LEDA Suspension will be sent off to be refurbed,and this year a real treat, the car is going to be fully
weighed and balanced "with me in it", on each corner. this we are told will dramatically improve the car over all in the balance stakes "you will think it is a different car", Pete Morgan said the owner of Balmuir Garage who set my car up for me , Pete has also raced for many years with Stu in karts and has been more than successful in car racing for many seasons, he now professionally tunes cars and runs a rolling road service.

http://www.petemorganracing.co.uk/

So i have no excuses, "I should spin with style now!" Only joking this year is my real test, i had third place over all taken away from me due to mechanical issues last year and i do not intend to have a repeat of history this year. i have proved i am not a slow racer, and now i intend to prove i can be a consistent front runner as well!